BOOK DESIGNING

So you've written a book and don't want to use the free "cookie cutter" book covers offered by the publisher. What is the next step? There are several possibilities.

First, if you are a photographer, you might try taking your own shot, making sure you have the proper dpi and balance. Don't make the mistake of overcrowding and not leaving room for the book title, subtitle, and author name.
The second possibility is purchasing a royalty free image from a reputable stock photo site online. The problem with doing this is that other authors have the same chance to select the same cover as you. This could get confusing to the public seeing two books with the same cover but different titles and interior.

The third option is to use graphic design and text to create a pleasing-to-the-eye cover. It's all about style and balance.

Making sure the title and the image compliment each other can make or break the book. For example.

I've finished my manuscript about the struggles and survival of the years I spent as a caregiver for my mama. Presently, I have three titles for the book and about four or five covers. Three of the covers are my designs and two are using images.

Cover #1: the Caregiver's Story is an image that shows the whole concept of being a loving, caring daughter/caregiver. The image fits the title of the book.

Cover #2:The Refining Fire is my own creation. I believe God allowed me to go through a refining fire to be purified and fit for His work. When I felt the heat from the challenges, trials, and struggles, I knew God had His eye on me, and would not let me be destroyed.

Cover #3: Three Wishes has the image of a small girl smelling a red rose. Mama had three wishes which came true before her passing, and her favorite flower was red roses. She loved the color red.

Now comes my problem. I love all three covers and titles. Cover #2 is my own design so no copyright problem or expense here.

Cover #1 will cost quite a lot for the image you see, but I love the whole idea of this cover.

Cover #3 is cute and the image has been purchased for under $10.

Here is where you can help me out. Vote for which cover you feel is best for the book.

Thanks for you help and I hope you've learned a bit about book cover designing.

~Vada M. Wolter

BOOK COVER DESIGNING

How many of you take books for granite? You notice the title, the subtitle, and cover. An author is lucky to have the right combination that will capture a reader and hold their interest...enough to purchase their book.

The cover has to be attractive, eye catching, and balanced in harmony and color. I'm sure many readers have never thought about the type, size, style, or color of a font.

 

Prior to being published, I never paid attention to the copyright page. Was I ever so naive! Should a book have an introduction, preface, prologue, epilogue, or table of contents? What is right or wrong?

 

Sentence spacing for the interior of the book is another thing a designer has to consider. Will it be easy reading? Is the font size too small, light, or an uncomfortable style and spacing?

The author has eight seconds to grab the readers attention with what is on the back cover. Therefore the synopsis must be an attention grabber that will cause the reader to want to purchase the book.

Taking all of this into consideration, I have designed two possible book covers for our upcoming book. The book is titled Treasured Memories: A Collection of Short Stories.

The six interior categories are: Childhood, The Fifties, Love, Faith, Memorable Moments, and Special Men. For each category, a gemstone was selected that best suited each section. In order to pull the whole idea together of treasured memories and gemstones, I've designed the two covers.

The first cover is an actual photo album that was my mama's. I liked the delicate gold framing and felt a couple of old photographs, some antique jewelry, and an orchid like the one I ALWAYS gave Mama for Mother's Day would be perfect.

The second cover I've designed for the book has the idea of a treasure chest filled with treasured memories, i.e., photographs, postcards, greeting cards, and jewelry (gemstones).

For this cover I substituted the orchid for a silk corsage from my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary.

The next time you look at a book...take time to REALLY LOOK AT IT. So much goes into the writing and designing of a book for your reading enjoyment.

Thanks for reading,

Vada and Joseph