LaTeX script that produces the front matter and first page of my novel
% !TeX TS-program = lualatex
% !TeX encoding = UTF-8
\documentclass{novel}
% Metadata
\SetTitle{Flight of Souls}
\SetAuthor{Jade Valent}
\SetPDFX{X-1a:2001}
% Dimensions
\SetTrimSize{5.5in}{8.5in} % width, height
\SetMargins{0.32in}{0.5in}{0.32in}{0.75in} % top, outer, bottom, inner
\SetLinesPerPage{29} % this is how to adjust the line spacing. Here, I am trying to emulate a line spacing of 1.3.
% Fonts
% If you do not have these free fonts installed, you will need to install them before the document will compile.
\SetParentFont[
SmallCapsFeatures={Renderer=Basic},% Effective when small caps requested locally.
Kerning=On,
Ligatures=TeX,
]{Libertinus Serif} % The main font for the novel
\SetDecoFont[Scale = 1.3]{NovelDeco.otf} % Font for the decorative element in my scene breaks
\NewFontFace\firstletter{MySoul-Regular.ttf} % Command to set the font for the first letter of every chapter
\SetFontSize{11.3pt}
% Headers and Footers
\SetHeadFootStyle{5} % Header alternates title and author; footer has centered page numbers
\SetHeadJump{1.8} % Controls separation between header and main text
\SetFootJump{1.8} % Controls separation between footer and main text
\SetLooseHead{60} % Spaces out letters in headings; values are 0-100.
\SetPageNumberStyle{{\decofont{\thepage{}}}}
\SetVersoHeadText{\theAuthor}
\SetRectoHeadText{\theTitle}
% Chapters
\SetChapterStartStyle{empty} % No header or footer on first page of chapters
\SetChapterStartHeight{12} % Default height of chapter start, measured in lines.
\SetChapterFont[Scale = 2.5, Letters = SmallCaps, LetterSpace = 4.0]{Libertinus Serif} % Scaling up the font size of chapter headers
\SetSubchFont[Scale = 3, Letters = SmallCaps, LetterSpace = 4.0]{Libertinus Serif} % Same for the subchapter headers
% Scene Breaks
\newcommand{\scene}{
\vspace{.75\nbs}
\begin{center}\ChapterDeco[1.4]{\decoglyph{n10059}}\end{center}
\vspace{0.25\nbs}
}
\begin{document}
% Begin Frontmatter
\frontmatter
% Half-title Page (recto)
% I used a black and white image file for my half-title page. You could also type out your title here. Remove the call to “HalfTitle.png” if you want to try compiling this document.
\thispagestyle{empty}
\FloatImage[ht, 0pt, 5pt]{HalfTitle.png}
% Empty page (verso)
\clearpage
\thispagestyle{empty}
\null
% Title Page (recto)
% I used a black and white image file for my title page. You could also type out your title here. Remove the call to “TitlePage.png” if you want to try compiling this document.
\clearpage
\thispagestyle{empty}
\FloatImage[ht, 0pt, 5pt]{TitlePage.png}
% Copyright Page (verso)
\clearpage
\thispagestyle{empty}
\vspace*{14\nbs}
\begin{parascale}[0.85]
\centering
Copyright {\copyright} {\addfontfeature{Numbers=Lining}2025} M. L. Press, LLC\\
\vspace*{.85\nbs}
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher.\\
\vspace*{.85\nbs}
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, cultures, locations, events, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental.\\
\vspace*{.85\nbs}
Cover art and design by Emmeli Markeg{\aa}rd\\
www.emmelibm.com\\
\vspace*{.85\nbs}
ISBN:\\{\addfontfeature{Numbers=Lining}979-8-9930368-1-6 (Paperback)\\ 979-8-9930368-0-9 (Hardcover)}
\end{parascale}
% Dedication (recto)
\clearpage
\thispagestyle{empty}
\vspace*{8\nbs}
\begin{center}
\emph{For Angela and Cloe, my very first supporters.}
\end{center}
% Empty page (verso)
\clearpage
\thispagestyle{empty}
\null
% Begin main matter
\clearpage
\mainmatter
%%%%%%%%% CHAPTER 1 %%%%%%%%%
\begin{ChapterStart}
\vspace*{4\nbs} % Space above chapter title. \nbs = normal baseline skip.
\ChapterTitle{Chapter}
\vspace*{1.3\nbs}
\ChapterSubtitle{1}
% The chapter title and subtitle combined will read “Chapter 1”.
\end{ChapterStart}
% For the first letter in every chapter, I enlarge the font size by setting “charscale” to larger than 1, and use a different typeface as specified by “firstletter” in the preamble. I fine tune the space between the letter and the adjacent word by adjusting “\hspace.”
\noindent\charscale[1.6]{\firstletter I}\hspace{0.14em} stifled a sigh of relief when the sacred fire flickered to life. The flames blossomed upward, dancing beneath my fingertips, averting the ill omen of a faltering spark. I could afford no hesitation to admire the victory. I masked my fear with practiced composure as I placed the bowl of fire onto its stand and strode across the marble floor toward the dying man.\par
Damarion’s breaths were slight, his eyes closed, his elderly countenance pale. The cup of sleep I’d administered moments ago had already taken hold. The family members at his bedside, five in total, gathered with grim understanding of what was soon to come. They waited in silence, with one adult son holding each of his hands, flanked by three younger women. Now that the flame was lit, all of their eyes were on me. Expectant.\par
My heartbeat quickened. I narrowed my concentration and took another step forward, black ceremonial linen swishing around my ankles. Ornamental jewels glittered on my wrists and fingers as I extended my hands over Damarion’s body.\par
\end{document}