How it works
Creating a Heart Surprise book takes just a few minutes to start, and you shape every part of it along the way. Here's exactly what happens, from your first idea to the finished keepsake in your hands.
From first idea to finished keepsake
1. Tell us their story
Fill out a short design brief. You'll add up to four main characters and three meaningful places, ideally with an uploaded photo for each so we capture a real likeness, not a generic cartoon. Then tell us the plot, the theme, the values you'd like woven in, and anything else that makes this child who they are. Most families finish this in a few minutes.
2. Review the plan, and change anything
Within minutes, we'll email you a link to your story plan: the cast of characters, the settings, and a synopsis of the plot. Look it over and adjust anything you like from swapping a character detail, reworking a location, reshaping the story, all before a single page is illustrated. Nothing moves forward until you're happy with the plan.
3. We craft the whole book
Once you approve the plan, your full book is written and illustrated from scratch, every page built around the child at its heart, in the art style you chose. When it's ready, we'll email you a link to review the complete book.
4. Approve every page, then print if you'd like
Review your finished book page by page. Love an illustration? Keep it. Want a change? Swap any image until it's right. When everything's perfect, download your digital copy, and if you'd like a physical keepsake, order printed copies then, and only then. You never pay for a printed book until you've approved every page.
Simple, honest pricing
Every book begins as a $10 digital story. If you love it, printed keepsakes are a separate, optional purchase ordered only after you've approved every page.
Digital book — $10
This is where every book begins. For $10 you create your book, shape the plot, review the full story, swap any illustration, and download your finished PDF to keep, print at home, or read on any device.
Printed keepsakes
(Order after you've approved your digital book)
Paperback, black & white: $10
Paperback, color: $20
Hardcover, black & white: $20
Hardcover, color: $30
Taxes are already included, and shipping is calculated at checkout. Your $10 digital book is a separate purchase from any printed copies. The Middle Grade Novel is available in black & white only.
Common questions
Absolutely! That's the whole point. You may upload photos of up to four characters, and we illustrate them to capture a real likeness in the art style you choose. And before anything is finalized, you review every image and can swap any that doesn't feel right.
You're in control at two points: first you approve the story plan (characters, settings, plot), then you review the entire finished book and can swap any illustration. Nothing prints until you've approved every page.
Starting takes just a few minutes. You'll get your story plan to review within minutes, and your full book to review shortly after. Printed copies are made to order and shipped after you approve, shipping times are shown at checkout but take roughly 1-2 weeks after checkout.
It's made for exactly that. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents, and family friends create Heart Surprise books all the time — you just need photos and a few details about the child. It's the gift that shows how deeply you know and love them.
They're used only to create your book. We're a private studio and your photos and memories are never sold, traded, or used for advertising.
Absolutely. Once your book is approved, you can order as many printed copies as you like, perfect for grandparents, siblings, and keepsakes. Digital and printed copies are purchased separately.
Ready to begin their story?
It starts with a few minutes and a $10 digital book, and you're in control every step of the way.