July 18, 2022
Do you create your own covers? Work with a cover artist to design them? Hand your ideas over to a professional and let them come up with a design? Buy a pre-made cover?
Before I begin, let me update you. We are in our new home on Pennsylvania but nowhere near settled. We’re working hard to get the basics in place—its nice to sleep in our bed again—but there’s lots of unpacking to do. Since I have officially retired from my day job, we can tackle it a little at a time, at least until we get tired of boxes everywhere. One of my goals once we are at basic functionality is to put together my new writing space. That room is currently not usable because it’s filled with boxes and furniture that needs reassembled, but soon I will have a real office. I’ll share pictures when I can.
Now, on to the topic—covers.
I have several artistic hobbies I enjoy, but making covers isn’t one of them. Heck, I can barely pull together a post for social media using Canva. I know enough to know that a cover is beyond my skill level.
Luckily, I have a talented sister who is trained in graphic arts and helps me. (As always, thank you, K.M.!) We’ve developed a ‘standard” process for cover designing.
We start with the blurb so she can get a ‘feel’ for the story. Then we spend time scanning photo sites for ‘the’ picture that will become the basis of the cover. I’ll send her links to several I think have potential, and she’ll use them to find one that’s better. That’s just a starting point—she will end up combining several pictures to create her final design.
Fonts are another aspect of covers I leave to her. She understands how to combine them—or not—what size they should be, and which style works with the overall theme. Things I am clueless about.
What do I do besides watch her create a masterpiece? I get final approval. Tough job, but someone has to take the responsibility!
I’d love to show you a few of the preliminary designs in contrast to the ultimate covers, but my PC with those files is still packed away. Instead, I’ll share my top three favorites.
Three different styles of covers reflecting three very different books. I think the first one is my all-time favorite because of the intensity in the model’s face, but the last one I love because it showcases the skill of my cover artist. The middle one made the list because of its seeming simplicity, but a closer look reveals semi-hidden details that elevate it to one of my favorites.
I believe we have at least one regular on this hop that designs their own covers. It’ll be interesting to hear their take on this topic, as well as everyone else’s. Just follow the links below!
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
July 18, 2022
Do you create your own covers? Work with a cover artist to design them? Hand your ideas over to a professional and let them come up with a design? Buy a pre-made cover?