Behind the Scenes: Why Canva is the Creative Engine Behind Little Boola Books

As an indie publisher, I know how precious time is. Most of us didn't get into this work because we wanted to become graphic designers or video editors - we got into to tell stories. But in today's publishing world, writing the book is just the beginning (well that's what I keep telling Jennifer anyways). Covers, marketing materials, social media, press kits, videos - it all adds up, and it can easily swallow up the hours we should be spending creating (or in my case enjoying my retirement years!).

That's why I want to share a behind-the-scene look at the one creative tool that I use more than anything else: Canva.

Why Canva Works for Indie Authors and Publishers

I've tested plenty of apps, but Canva stands out for one simple reason: it saves time without sacrificing quality. It's quick, intuitive, and powerful, which means I don't have to wrestle with complicated software just to make a simple graphic.

Here's what I rely on Canva for every single week at Little Boola Books (note: I have a Canva Pro subscription - not all features described below are available in the free version).

• Social Media Posts in Minutes - Instead of staring at a blank page, I start with Canva templates and adapt them to fit our brand. I can design Instragram carousels, Facebook headers, or Pinterest pins in a fraction of the time.

• Resizing and Reformatting Without Headaches - One design - Multiple Platforms. Canva's "magic resize" saves me hours when I need the same ad to fit YouTube, TikTok, and Amazon A+ content requirements.

• Video Creation Made Simple - Canva takes still images and turns them into engaging motion videos with text, transitions, and background tracks. I use it to build short trailers and book promos without touching complex video-editing software.

• PDF and Press Kit Tweaks - From editing teacher packs to updating metadata sheets, Canva handles PDFs better than a lot of dedicated editors. I can rearrange pages, drop in logos, or export polished files in minutes.

• Background Remover and Quick Photo Fixes - Need a clean cut-out of Casper? One click. Want to swap a cluttered background for something brighter? Easy.

• Music and Sound Effects Without Extra Subscriptions - Canva's built-in audio library save me from hunting around other sites for licensed tracks.

The following video showcases all of the Canva features - background music, sound effects, still image movement (animation), animated text elements etc. The only element not created in Canva is the voice over track - which will be the subject of a future post - so stay tuned!

The Only Catch

Because Canva is cloud-powered, you do need a reliable internet connection. For us, traveling through Africa in an old campervan, this could have been a deal-breaker. But thanks to Starlink, we're almost always connected - and Canva just hums along wherever we are.

Why I Recommend It

For indie authors, Canva is more than a design app - it's a time-saving strategy. It lets you produce professional, branded content without pulling you away from the real work: writing and creating.

And honestly, that's the advice I'd give to any indie publisher or author: choose tools that take work off your plate, not add to it. Canva does exactly that.

Canva Hacks Every Indie Author Should Know

1. Magic Resize = One Design, All Platforms - Create once, instantly reformat for Instagram, Facebook or A4 print.

2. Brand Kit = Consistency Without Thinking - Store your brand fonts, logos, and colors, then apply them with one click to keep everything on brand.

3. Text to Image (AI Art) - Generate quick placeholder images or blog headers with Canva's built-in AI art tool.

4. Background Remover and Magic Eraser - One click to cut out characters or erase clutter in an image.

5. Instant Animation - Animate text and elements for quick video ads - no editing software required.

6. Drag-and-Drop Replacement - Swap images into a frame by dragging - no need to resize from scratch.

7. Smart Mockups - Drop your book covet into a phone, tablet or lifestyle scene without leaving Canva.

8. Bulk Create = Mass Content in Minutes - Import a spreadsheet of quotes, titles, or testimonials and generate 20+ branded graphics in one go.

Final Thoughts

For indie authors and publishers, Canva is more than a nice-to-have. It's a time-saving lifeline. The more you learn its hidden tricks, the more you can keep your focus where it belongs: on writing, creating, and sharing stories with the world.