House style for our Folklore Classic editions

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1. Editorial voice (non-negotiable)

Narrative posture

• Oral storyteller meets careful curator
• Respectful, timeless, culturally grounded
• Never academic, never casual slang

Language rules

• Warm, descriptive introductions
• No modern commentary inside the story text
• Cultural explanations placed before or after, never interrupting

Point of view

• Third-person
• Neutral but evocative
• No author intrusion inside the tale

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2. Book structure (fixed across all titles)

Front matter (always in this order)

1. Series title page
2. Book title page
3. Cultural origin page
4. Editor’s Foreword (1–2 pages)
5. Table of Contents

Body

• Story text OR curated story collection
• Each story starts on a right-hand page

Back matter

• Notes on the Tradition
• Glossary (if needed)
• Reading Guide or Reflection
• About the Series

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3. Typography system (locked)

Body text

• Font: EB Garamond
• Size: 11 pt
• Leading: 1.3
• Alignment: Justified
• Hyphenation: On

Chapter titles

• Font: Cinzel or Garamond SC
• Size: 16–18 pt
• Style: Small caps
• Placement: Centered, ⅓ down page

Paragraphs

• First-line indent: 0.25 in
• No space between paragraphs
• No indent after scene breaks

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4. Margins & page geometry (5″ × 8″ trim)

Area	Size
Inside (gutter)	0.75 in
Outside	0.5 in
Top	0.75 in
Bottom	0.75 in

Running headers start after chapter openers only.

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5. Chapter opening style (signature look)

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Mandatory elements

• Chapter opens on odd page
• No header or page number
• Decorative initial (drop cap or ornament)
• Optional thin divider under title

This page is your brand moment.

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6. Illustrations & ornaments (controlled use)

Allowed

• Black-and-white engravings
• Cultural motifs
• Chapter ornaments
• Section dividers

Rules

• Never more than one illustration per chapter
• Always centered
• No captions inside story flow
• Credit in back matter only

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7. Headers, footers & pagination

Headers

• Left pages: Book title
• Right pages: Story or chapter title
• Small caps or italic
• 8–9 pt

Page numbers

• Bottom outside corner
• Arabic numerals
• Start after front matter

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8. Paper & print intent (Lulu-friendly)

• Black ink only
• Cream paper preferred
• No bleed
• No color elements

Designed for hardcover & paperback parity.

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9. Cover alignment (interior must match)

Cover promise

• Vintage illustration or symbolic motif
• No modern photography
• Muted, earthy palette

Spine

• Series name
• Volume number
• Consistent typography

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10. What makes this house style unique

You are not selling:

• Just a story
• Just folklore

You are selling:

• Preservation
• Respect
• Cultural continuity
• Timeless reading experience

This style signals:

“This book belongs on a shelf for generations.”

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11. Locked rules (never break these)

• Same trim size across series
• Same fonts across all titles
• Same chapter structure
• Same voice discipline
• Same editorial framing

Consistency = authority.

PART 2

Classic Folklore Books, Reader’s Edition

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1. EXACT placement of the edition name (do not vary)

A. Series title page (mandatory)

This is where the edition name officially lives.

Page order

1. Series title page
2. Book title page

Series title page layout

CLASSIC FOLKLORE BOOKS

Reader’s Edition

• Centered vertically and horizontally
• Same font across all books
• No author name
• No artwork
• No ISBN

This page establishes brand authority.

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B. Book title page (secondary reference)

On the book title page, include it subtly:

Book Title

Author Name

Classic Folklore Books
Reader’s Edition

• Edition line is smaller than title
• Same placement in every volume

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C. Back of title page (copyright page)

Include one neutral line:

This volume is published as part of the Classic Folklore Books, Reader’s Edition series.

That’s it. No repetition elsewhere.

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D. Cover (optional but recommended)

Front cover:

• ❌ Do not clutter the front

Spine:

Book Title
Classic Folklore Books

Back cover (bottom line):

Reader’s Edition

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2. WHAT GOES ON EVERY PAGE (LOCKED RULES)

This is what creates consistency and professionalism.

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A. Running headers (mandatory)

Left-hand (even) pages

Classic Folklore Books

Right-hand (odd) pages

Book Title

Formatting:

• Small caps or italic
• 8–9 pt
• Starts after chapter opening pages
• Never on chapter openers

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B. Page numbers (mandatory)

• Bottom outside corner
• Arabic numerals
• Start after front matter
• Same font as body, smaller size

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C. Margins (never change)

• Inside (gutter): 0.75 in
• Outside: 0.5 in
• Top: 0.75 in
• Bottom: 0.75 in

This applies to every page.

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D. Typography rules (never break)

• Same body font across all books
• Same paragraph indent
• Same line spacing
• No extra spacing between paragraphs

Readers subconsciously notice uniformity.

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3. WHAT MUST NEVER APPEAR ON EVERY PAGE

This is as important as what does appear.

❌ Edition name on every page
❌ Logos
❌ Decorative ornaments in running text
❌ Footers with marketing text
❌ Inconsistent headers

Books are not websites.

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4. WHERE THE EDITION IDENTITY LIVES (summary)

Location	Included?
Series title page	✅ YES
Book title page	✅ YES
Copyright page	✅ YES (one line)
Running headers	❌ NO
Every page footer	❌ NO

This balance feels professional, restrained, and permanent.

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5. WHY THIS WORKS (important logic)

• Readers recognize the edition early
• It does not distract from reading
• It builds series identity quietly
• It mirrors how major publishers do it

Authority comes from restraint, not repetition.

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6. FINAL LOCKED DECISION (confirming)

Edition name:
Classic Folklore Books, Reader’s Edition

Appears:

• Series title page
• Book title page
• Copyright page

Every page includes only:

• Running header (series + title)
• Page number
• Consistent margins and type