GETTING A GREAT BOOK COVER

Getting a good book cover is so important to the success of your book. If it's your first time working with a cover designer, you may not be sure of what to expect. I've put together some information here to help you get started. 

Some Tips

• First, it's okay if you don't know exactly what you want. On the other hand, it is also okay to have a clear vision and ask your designer to work with your ideas. You may need to be flexible depending on the stock art available, and it's great to come with more than one possible idea to give the designer some room to work, but your ideas are an important part of the design process! I view design as a collaboration between author and artist, and I'm not happy until you are. 

• Make sure to get a good sense of your artist's skillset and style before booking. For example, I am a composite artist, so I use existing licensed photographs and art and manipulate them for your cover. Other artists may do original digital illustrations, while others may do hand-drawn art. It's important to pick an artist who does what you are looking for. Ask people whose covers you admire who did their art. Word of mouth is the best way to find a book cover artist. Your artist should have a portfolio and samples of their work you can look at and clients you can talk to. 

• Your Query: In your query email, let your artist know your title, your author name, your genre, and a brief synopsis of your book (this doesn't have to be the synopsis that will go on the back). Tell them if you have a certain vision for your cover. It's very helpful to attach samples of covers you like. If you want a character on the cover, it's good to share age, skin color, hair color, etc. Share your timeframe and whether you need an ebook only, a paperback, a hardback, or an audiobook. Finally, it's nice to know if you are publishing through Amazon, Ingram, or somewhere else. Feel free to ask any questions that are part of your decision-making process. A query is not a commitment to hire a cover artist; you want to get all of your questions answered before you decide to book in. 

• Payment: Different designers may structure payment in different ways. For a commission, I ask for fifty percent down and fifty percent when the wrap is designed. When you are ready for sizing and back copy and all of that good stuff, there is no additional charge. 

• The design process: In the draft stage, we work together and revise until you like the concept. Be honest about your likes and dislikes right from the beginning. I can make up to three drafts for you to choose from if the first one isn't striking your fancy. Once the draft is approved, small revisions such as font or color are totally doable. A major rework after approval of the draft can be negotiated. 

• Licensing: Your book's images should always be licensed. If you choose to make your own cover or have a friend do it, this is the most important thing to know. My images come exclusively from Deposit Photos and Adobe Stock.  These are licensed up to 500,000 views. If you sell more than 500,000 copies, you will need the Extended License for each image. It generally costs about $60. Your book cover is not automatically licensed for use with your merchandising such as t-shirts and bookmarks. Make sure to ask your designer for permission to use it for this purpose. 

• AI: I don't use any generative AI in my work and I don't use images that were generated using AI to the best of my knowledge. If AI inadvertently creeps in (it can sometimes be difficult to discern, even with checkers), I will make you a new cover at no charge. I do not work with AI images you have generated, sorry. 

• Finishing your book cover:  One of the elements that trips first-time self-publishers up is the process of getting ready for your full wrap. Here is everything you need to know. 

A full wrap is the front cover, spine, and back cover in one document ready for uploading to Amazon, Ingram, or other publishing site. 

• Trim size: This is the size of your front cover. Common sizes are 5x8 and 6x9, but there are a wide variety of options. Your formatter and your cover designer need to have the same trim size, and it needs to match what you put in Amazon or Ingram, etc.

• Synopsis: The main text on the back cover telling what your story is about

• Tagline: These are good to have but not required. They can go on the front or the back, and act as a teaser to your story.

• Blurb quote: Also optional but nice. This is a quote about your book from an author or reviewer. These can go on the front or back or both.

• Paper color: Amazon's options are cream or white. Ingram has groundwood, cream, and two different types of white paper.

• Page count: This is your number of pages AFTER formatting. Your formatter will need to know your trim size in order for this to be correct. 

• Template: For Amazon, your cover designer can generate your template with the above information. For Ingram, you use your ISBN and this site to generate your template. 

• Uploading to your publisher: You need a jpg for your ebook and a pdf for your paperback. If you are doing a hardcover, that is a different file and a different template. From time to time there are small glitches when you upload your cover. Just reach out to your cover designer and we'll get it squared away. Chances are it's something we've come across before and a quick fix. Don't try to fix it yourself; there's no need. We've got your back!

That's all I can think of for now! I'm always happy to answer questions, whether you use me as your designer or not. You can reach me at ruthannaevansdesigns@gmail.com.