Honor Thy Book Designers and Why

This isn’t the blog I had intended to write last week, but I happened to walk into a couple social media conversations that rankled me so much that I had to change course. I tell you this because as wonderful as social media can be (fun, playful and informative), social media also can be ugly. Besides often spreading lies and promoting bullies, various platforms are places where you can learn how others really feel about people and life while cloaked behind a computer screen. And what I heard both shocked and angered me so much that I’m on a crusade. Stay with me as I explain.

During my usual perusal of Facebook and Twitter, I happened upon three separate conversations by some authors in various stages of book publication. In one case, the writer was asking about finding a book cover and asked where to get a good premade (because couldn’t afford to pay a lot of money). Several others (I can’t tell you whether or not they were all authors or writers), advised the writer to do her own cover and save money. When that was shot down (due to lack of experience or creative juice), another advised to “go to [this place]  and spend $5 because no one gives a crap about the cover anyway. It’s what’s inside that counts.”

That lone comment started a firestorm and where I decided to join the fray.

More comments flew and I offered my input (and I’ll get to those in a moment). About an hour later, I drifted into another online conversation (on Facebook) based on a post by a cover designer/interior formatter/photographer who was asking folks to please give appropriate credit to whomever designs the books. Turns out that this issue had been raging for a while and I’m only now seeing the terrible unfairness and dishonor that’s been happening. This post really riled me to speak out for designers against bloggers and writers who seem intent on denigrating them or belittling them.

First the basics. A book cover is the first thing that folks see. Whether you do an ebook, audio book or print book, the book cover is the first impression and what draws in the reader. A lousy book cover is the first reason why your book doesn’t sell beyond your mom and her book club. So, the first thing a writer needs to do (after finishing the novel), is to plan for the best book cover possible.

Can you do your own? Sure. Should you? Well, if you understand genre styles and fonts, if you know what the successful trends are, if you know what not to do, if you know how to use design programs like Adobe and Photoshop, if you understand templates and the difference between CMYK (for print) and RGB color (for digital/online work), then by all means do your own cover. You obviously are more talented than I am!

But if you are like the rest of us normals (haha), you will need to get a good cover designer. Think of the books that you like. Look at the books that you purchased and see the covers. Do you know anything about your genre? No? That is your first assignment. Go to bookstores, and look at other covers. Go to websites and learn about good cover designs. People like Joel Friedlander of The Book Designer offer wonderful information about book cover do’s and don’ts. In other words, learn something before you wander off to spend money. Before I self-published my first book, Paper Bones, I spent a YEAR learning about self-publishing, including book covers (trends, styles, how-to, prices, pitfalls). In other words, do your homework. It will help prevent your being scammed.

Once armed with knowledge, then it’s time to seek a cover designer. Now be careful. It’s a jungle out there. Shop. Shop s’more. Then shop even more. KNOW what you want. Be prepared to spend money. A lot of money? Not really. A good cover will run you anywhere from about $99 for ebook cover and some extra goodies, to around $400 if you need ebook, print, audio, extra goodies (like banners for social media and print ads). Will you use stock photography or a model? Plan to pay for your own media that the designer will use and for the model’s time.  Premade covers will run the gamut in price from as low as $5 to as high as $200 depending on where you go and who did them. Again, shop.

Finally, if you decide to use a cover designer, check out their work and chose an established designer with a strong resume who will work with you and provide you with a product you will be proud of. This will be the first thing people see about your book. Demand the best of you and your designer and pay good money to see your dreams become reality.

This is where I entered the discussion when it was said no one cared about the cover.

Really???

WRONG. Covers are EVERYTHING. What’s more, the designers who create them spend countless hours planning them, then creating them. Often there are photo shoots to build stock to work from, models to deal with, programs to use (requiring purchase and knowledge how to use), font libraries to keep and know how to use, understanding trends, market demands, dealing with multiple templates from various publishing houses (no one has the same requirements), and individual client requests. In short, cover designers are just as special as the writers. Really.

The sad thing is that writers forget that without the designer’s lovely cover, there is a chance no one will pay any attention to the writer. For this reason, if not for professional respect, every writer owes cover designers recognition for their work. This happens inside the book or on the cover itself (I’ve seen it done both ways).

WRITERS OWE DESIGNERS RECOGNITION.

There is NO exception to this rule.

I’ve been blessed with exceptional, award-winning covers. I chose my designers carefully and I conveyed my wishes well, but I also listened and learned from each different designer. I continue to read and learn about covers despite the fact that I don’t design. I want to know what works so when I do my next book, I have some idea what I need besides what I want. This helps my designer as much as me. But I never forget that they are the designers, not me.

In the end, when the book is done, I give my designer (interior designers/formatters too!), all the respect and adulation I can. I acknowledge them by displaying their copyright of the work.

And that’s my final point. THEY own the work. Did you hear that? THEY OWN the work. Yes, they provide to you and you own the book cover for your use and sale. But they designed it. They created it. They are the copyright owners. You USE it.  Got it?

Say thank you by giving designers their due. Honor them. Respect them. Cherish them. They take our words and make pictures for us. That’s magic. Honor them and they will honor you.

Here are some wonderful designers that I have worked with who might work with you.

Sean Foley, designer of my award-winning cover of Paper Bones.

Pro Book Covers,  with Travis Miles, designer of my award-winning cover of By Light Betrayed.

Robin Ludwig Designs, designer of my award-winning cover of Midnight Assassin.

Cover Me Darling, owned by Marisa-rose Shor, designer of my latest two releases, The Book of Now and Breaking the Glass Slipper (hoping they will win awards this year).

Pink Ink Designs, owned by Cassy Roop who did the striking interior formatting for The Book of Now and Breaking the Glass Slipper. She is also an excellent cover designer.

Castelane for the Prose, designers of book trailer for By Light Betrayed, also provide full service book designs.

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Say, did you miss my live chat? You can watch here on Facebook. More of those to come. Plus I have plans to appear on You Tube regularly.

Thanks for letting me vent. Stay tuned for more rants and raves and information on writing, self-publishing, and other oddities.

Yours Between the Lines,
Sherry