A Cumbrian graphic designer is celebrating getting authors into print with his 200th book project.

Pixel Tweaks, founded by Russell Holden in 2012, is based in Ulverston.

Russell’s services have seen books, mostly by Cumbrian authors, go from manuscript to printed page in all genres, including poetry, non-fiction, thrillers, memoirs, local history, children’s books and travel.

The Mail: Felicette The Space Cat by Stuart Atkinson.Felicette The Space Cat by Stuart Atkinson. (Image: Submitted)

“The 200th book is Felicette: The Space Cat by Stuart Atkinson of Kendal, telling the story of the first cat who was launched into space 60 years ago. Stuart has been writing and editing books about astronomy and space for 30 years,” said Russell.

"I aim to take the pain out of self-publishing. I provide advice about layout and size to set up, cover design and outputting to PDF along with getting the book to print,” says Russell, who before setting up his business, was a senior designer at educational publisher at Coordination Group Publications in Broughton-in-Furness.

"Luckily I founded my business at the same time that self-publishing was becoming more popular. I began by producing an airfield book for Cumbrian writer, John Nixon, who recommended me to other writers."

Many of the books Pixel Tweaks has produced have been entered into the annual Lakeland Book of the Year Awards, with several books short- or longlisted.

Russell's book, My Acoustic Nemesis, also received a ‘special mention’ and was reviewed by Hunter Davies.

He said: "It’s an account of my operation and recuperation from having an acoustic neuroma - a tumour on my hearing nerve that was touching my brain stem. That left me with single-sided deafness and balance issues. It’s a guide for all those who may be facing the same procedure."

Russell has produced several books for John Fox and Sue Gill, formerly of Welfare State International, including Eighty-Something about growing old together, commissioned by the Leeds Art Festival.

Russell’s graphic design has played a part in the success of the award-winning Ulverston-based gin distillery, Shed One. He worked with owners Andy and Zoe to design the branding and the labels for the gin, marmalade and promotional and business material, too.

Today, it is the book business that forms the bulk of his work, and he is proud to fly the flag for Cumbrian authors, having 'fallen in love with Ulverston' in the 1980s, settling on the Furness Peninsula in 1996. 

"My maternal family, the de Lacys, were once prominent landowners in Lancashire, with holdings that included Clitheroe Castle and Whalley Abbey. Interestingly, Ulverston was historically a part of Lancashire.

"On our Charter Day, we commemorate the charter from around 1280 that granted Ulverston the status of a market town. Notably, one of the original signatories of that charter was Henry de Lacy. I suppose my decision to move here was meant to be."