A note on free fonts: Make sure that they’re free for commercial use specifically. Many free font sites (like dafont) have fonts that are free to use for personal use only. Google fonts, and I think Font Squirrel too, are okay to use for commercial use. In short, read the fine print :)
As far as a funding campaign goes, or your book page, you don’t need a back cover. You’ll need one when you’ve reached Quill. At full Inkshares they work with you to create a cover.
A related question: how do back covers work? The lovely friend who is doing art for the front book cover asked whether I would like a little design on the back or spine, and I’ve not been able to find anything as far as guidelines for that. Thanks!
Thanks everyone for the responses! We have found the free font sites and are making some serious progress. I have also passed along the suggestions about DPI minimums.
@Lauren Levis I’m sure your graphic designer sister-in-law will be able to create something that will be useful. Any of the many free fonts sites should be usable (1001freefonts, dafont, google fonts, etc...). Just have her create it no less than 300 DPI. There are many different file formats that can be used, including PSD, TIF, EPS, or even a high quality uncompressed JPG.
Just make sure she keeps to the average 9"x6" with .25 bleed (she should know what that means) and she should be set.
I don’t know for sure about Quill but I had interactions with a publisher once while self publishing a children’s book and the image quality needed there was at least 300 dpi.
I highly suggest having her check out Google Fonts. All of them are free for commercial use. Font Squirrel also has some really great fonts for free. The key is to use them in high resolution so they are clean when you print them on a cover.
I was wondering if anyone had any information on the use of fonts for Quill Collection covers. My cover is being designed by my sister-in-law who is a graphic designer, but her experience in the world of books is extremely limited. Are there fonts that are free to use that anyone knows of? Or how to go about getting permission from a font designer? Any info at all of where to start would be super helpful!