@Maggie Haberman, thank you; great question. This book felt like my first book; I was a lot more confused after I was done writing. I did this book on a shoestring budget, so I had to get creative with vendors and the process. The biggest lesson: you can stage the book process to fit your budget even when you're in a rush to publish. Be willing to end vendor relationships when they do not serve your goals. I had two editors, one who was more of a line editor (but said they were a copyeditor) and one who was a true copyeditor and book guide. Moving from one to the other in the middle was challenging, but I persevered. The process took a lot longer than I wanted, but I sat in each delay and worked through it.

@Kevin Hall thank you. We were trying to drive presales but it’s all good. I’m releasing the paperback copy first then kindle. Then audio. I will just add the book and schedule the go live release date. Order author copies.

Any suggestions on excellent interior page designers?

I think A is the best option. It's clean, clear, and has a welcoming aesthetic. Plus it highlights your title. The ladder is very common, maybe you could find something else instead of the ladder.

@Roger Magalhaes have you ever used 99Designs to do a cover contest?

@Rich Gomez This is my favorite too.