Write Boldly. Launch Smart. Grow Your Fanbase.
I help indie sci-fi and fantasy authors get their books publish-ready, attract first-time readers, build a loyal fanbase, and spend less time marketing while focusing more on writing.
The Transformation
The Author Alignment Process is a done-for-you book branding and marketing system designed to help indie sci-fi and fantasy authors attract more readers, show up with the same quality and confidence as their stories, and spend less time stressing over promotion while focusing more on writing.
Attract More Readers
Look Like a Serious Author
Market with Confidence
More Time to Write
The Author Alignment Process
A twelve-week partnership that aligns your author brand with your story, guiding you from creative clarity to a confident, magnetic debut.
Phase 1 / Your True North
Weeks 1–3
We begin by clarifying your creative direction and laying the foundation for a brand that truly aligns with your stories. This phase reconnects you with your vision while setting you up to stand out on shelves, present yourself professionally, and move through the self-publishing process with greater ease and confidence.
What we'll do:
Uncover your goals, values, genre intentions, and what makes your ideal reader feel at home in your world. So your brand feels authentic, resonates with readers, and aligns with where you're headed.
Analyze your current work, past cover(s), and platform to find where your brand is already telling the truth about your stories, and where it's not. To identify what's working, what's not, and where we can create stronger consistency across your presence.
Begin discovering the visual voice of your author brand. To set the tone for a look and feel that supports your stories and helps you stand out in your genre.
Gather inspiration for your cover and brand toolkit. So we have a creative starting point rooted in intention, not just aesthetics.
Phase 2 / World-Building the Brand
Weeks 4–6
With your strong True North set, we'll build your brand world. Designing your cover and visual identity to draw in the readers who are already searching for their next sci-fi or fantasy escape. You'll emerge with a toolkit that tells your story before they even open the book and helps you show up with confidence everywhere your work appears.
What we'll do:
Design a custom, genre-appropriate cover that reflects your narrative. So it grabs the ideal reader, instantly communicates what kind of story they're in for, and holds its own alongside bestsellers in your category.
Build a flexible, story-forward visual brand identity. So you can show up consistently and professionally across all platforms, with visuals that support your voice and genre.
Create launch-ready graphics for socials, banners, and ads. So you're equipped to confidently promote your work without scrambling to design assets at the last minute.
Begin crafting your single-page author website to tie everything together. So readers have a place to explore your world, join your list, and stay connected between launches.
Phase 3 / Your Magnetic Debut
Weeks 7–9
Now that your visuals are set, we'll turn our attention to how you use them. Helping you use your new brand materials confidently and consistently, so you're showing up in ways that grow your audience, spark industry interest, and make your presence unmistakable.
What we'll do:
Finalize and launch your author website (based on provided copy). So you have a polished, professional hub that grows with you and gives readers a place to land, explore, and sign up for more.
Build a simple plan for using your toolkit pre- and post-launch. So you know exactly how to apply your brand visuals with confidence, whether you're promoting your next release or engaging your community.
Create templates and go-to visuals you'll return to long after launch. So you can keep showing up consistently without reinventing the wheel every time you share something new.
Optional check-ins or buffer time to accommodate feedback, life, or inspiration. So the process supports your creativity instead of rushing it, and you have space to breathe (or pivot) as needed.
Phase 4 / In Orbit
Weeks 10–12
This is a flexible closing chapter designed to give you breathing room, support final refinements, or provide extra guidance as you launch. Whether you're prepping a reader magnet, booking events, or lining up the next book, I'm here to help you stay aligned.
What we'll do:
Final polish and tweaks to anything we've built together. So everything feels refined, cohesive, and truly ready to represent your work out in the world.
An optional, one-time check-in to talk through how to carry your brand forward with confidence. So you can get clarity on how to roll out your brand with impact and keep building momentum post-launch.
Guidance on next steps for growing visibility or building your universe. So you leave with a clear path forward. Whether that means connecting with more readers, expanding your series, or planning your next big creative move.
Interested in getting aligned?
Check Out Some of My Work
Every project starts with a story worth telling.
What My Clients Are Saying
Real stories from authors who trusted me with their vision.
"Patient, thoughtful, thorough, and collaborative."
The experience was gratifying! Leanne's process was patient, thoughtful, thorough and collaborative. Her communication skills streamlined the process by finding out my preferences for the design options up front. I look forward to working with her again!
Jenny Hogan, Author
"A true creative partner from start to finish."
Leanne was a true creative partner from start to finish. She listens closely, asks smart questions, and helps you think more deeply about your goals. I don't have an artistic bone in my body, and her approach took a huge weight off my shoulders and brought the project to life in exactly the right way.
Alyssa Romeo, Author
"I've sold more books and even won a cover design award."
Our session was exactly what I needed to find the right illustrator. Leanne gave me clear direction, connected me to helpful resources, and helped me present a more professional series to readers. Since then, I've sold more books and even won a cover design award.
Alyssa Romeo, Author
Hey 👋 I'm Leanne.
Hi, I'm Leanne Bowers, a designer and marketing expert who loves watching indie sci-fi and fantasy authors do their thing, and a long-time fan of sci-fi and fantasy works like Frankenstein, The Windup Girl, The Mercy Thompson Series, and The Heart Goes Last.
Though I've worked as an in-house and freelance designer for over a decade (in what I affectionately call "corporate-land") my real passion is in stories: books, comics, games, and movies.
During my time at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, I had the opportunity to meet so many passionate authors, Including the very memorable time I got to talk to Ursula K. Le Guin, who is such a kind amazing soul.
These days, I continue to support my creative friends and colleagues who went on to write their own books. It's these experiences that drew me into the indie sci-fi and fantasy world. In a market where quality varies and many authors are competing with bots, my mission is to help stand-out authors present themselves professionally and build lasting trust with their audience.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Answers to the questions authors ask me most.
I haven't finished my manuscript yet, is it too early to start?
Not at all! If your story and vision are taking shape, we can start laying the groundwork for your brand alongside your writing.
That said, if you're still very early in drafting, the full Author Alignment Process might not be the right fit yet and that's okay. The best next step is a discovery call, where we'll talk through:
- Where you are in your writing and publishing journey
- What actually needs your attention first
- Whether the full Process makes sense now, or if something smaller (like a Power Hour) is a better starting point
No pressure either way, just a conversation to figure out what's right for you.
What if I already have a cover I like, but the rest of my brand feels scattered?
That's a really common starting point! The Author Alignment Process isn't just about the cover, it's about making sure your whole presence tells one consistent story, including your:
- Website
- Social media graphics
- Launch materials
- Future book covers, if you're planning a series
We can build around what's already working and bring everything else into alignment with it.
How is this different from just hiring a cover illustrator?
A great illustrator can create a beautiful image, but the Author Alignment Process goes further. It's strategy first, then visuals, so your cover, website, and marketing materials all come from the same clear creative direction instead of being pieced together separately.
If all you need right now is help finding the right illustrator for your specific genre and budget, that's worth talking through on a discovery call, there may be a smaller offering that fits better than the full Process.
I've been burned by a publishing service before. How do I know this will be different?
I hear this more than you'd think, and I take it seriously. Every step of this process is collaborative, you're never handed a finished product out of nowhere. Here's what that looks like in practice:
- Regular check-ins throughout every phase
- Your feedback shapes each creative direction before we move forward
- Nothing is finalized without your buy-in
You stay in the driver's seat the whole time.
Do you only work with sci-fi and fantasy authors?
Sci-fi and fantasy is where I have deep genre expertise but I've worked with authors across other genres too. If you're not sure whether it's a fit, reach out and we can talk it through. No pressure, just a conversation.
What's the investment, and are there payment options?
The full Author Alignment Process is a twelve-week partnership. If the full investment isn't the right fit right now, that's exactly what a discovery call is for. We'll figure out together what makes sense for your budget and where you're at.
Payment plans are available for the full Process, just ask when we connect.
What if I don't know what my "brand" even is yet?
That's exactly what Phase 1: Your True North is for! You don't need to walk in with a fully-formed vision.
Together, we'll uncover:
- Your goals and values
- Your genre intentions
- What makes your ideal reader feel at home in your world
Your brand grows out of what's already true about your stories, not the other way around.
