As a winning participant in NaNoWriMo, we are offered the opportunity of creating proof copies of our November novel. Part of this process is of course deciding on a cover for the book. I created one for my latest narrative, The Giving Thief. I liked the basic design and inserted a photo of a forest cabin. It will give me a good starting point when I design the final cover as I would like more texture in the final image. Once the narrative has been edited and revised I will be able to create a cover to intrigue my readers.
How did you decide on your proof copy cover?
Was it a generic one or did you design your own?
I found these links, which are really cool. Can you pick one or two?
Quote – probably the most famous of all when it comes to a book cover:
Never judge a book by its cover
The external appearance is not a reliable guide to the quality of what lies within. So today’s prompt is: Find a cover you enjoy and then describe it.
Some of you may know I’m in the midst of working with an illustrator for my upcoming children’s chapter book, Ockleberries to the Rescue. Each chapter will have a drawing of the animal or event that is within the narrative. I count myself lucky to know my artist from within my writing group. Not only is he the current President but a good friend. Joe McKnight’s pencil drawings are similar in style to Bernie Brown’s wonderful pictures. This is the reason I choose him, I want realistic drawings of the animals. As most of the internal pictures are completed, my thoughts have turned to the cover. I have a specific image in mind, which will reveal the woodland sprites home, however I am not including an image of the sprites, I want the children to imagine them.
When we work with an artist it is paramount to have good communication and be able to describe the ‘vision’ we have for the illustrations. With Joe, I can have face to face discussions as well as email communication and have supplied him with sketches/images to assist him. When I worked with Matty McClatchie on Rumble’s First Scare, we only had the option of email as he was in Australia and I was in Canada. His style is wonderfully stylized and suited Rumble’s world so well. We frequently underestimate the power of technology but this is proof it can work to our advantage. No matter where our artist may be situated we can work together to create our ideal images.
With a cover we must take into account the initial response of our potential readers and ensure it has its own style. Ask yourself:
Does the cover reflect the story?
Is it eye catching?
Does it reflect the genre?
As you can see from these revised covers for the Harry Potter saga, covers can evolved.
It is interesting how much more ‘action’ there is in the new covers and the style is more dramatic. Understand you can change your cover at any time – feedback from readers is important in ensuring the book cover encourages more people to purchase it. You can have a re-launch, an anniversary re-issue or upload a new cover for an e-book. Just because your book is published doesn’t mean you should forget about it. Constant promotion and revision will keep it fresh and engage new readers.
A cover is an important part of any book and time should be spent in creating it. Here are some useful tips for cover design:
This is my blog’s 4th anniversary on WordPress so of course, I wanted to celebrate. With some help from a great friend, I have a new banner, which displays my published books (so far!).
What do you think of it?
When the next four are finished/completed/ published, I will have to re-think the banner for sure.
My blog has grown over the last four years with numerous followers and commenters and a wealth of information and fun. I love the connections I make through this medium – writers from all over the world. People I would never have the pleasure of ‘meeting’ in any other way. Proof of these connections are the number of flags I have managed to collect on my flag counter, which gives me a real kick when I see another one added. (I know I’m a kid, but it makes me happy. For example I just purchased 3 Minion soft toys to hang near my writing desk – never underestimate the power of a smile.)
My blog has developed over the years and I have maintained and updated it as my experience and body of work has increased. It is my own personal showcase in many ways and I am honored so many of you share it with me. None of us know what the future holds but I hope to continue developing this blog and connecting with more of you. Sharing our writing journey is a wonderful way to support and encourage each other.
Quotes:
“Blogging is a communications mechanism handed to us by the long tail of the Internet.” Tom Foremski
“Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.” Brian Clark
Today’s prompt is – What quote would you devise to sum up your feelings about your blog?
Grungy – definition: 1. ugly, run-down, or dilapidated; 2. dirty or filthy
Fashion through out the ages has seen some really bizarre trends. As young people we imagined ourselves as trend setters and the ‘older’ generation as boring in their fashion sense. However, as we become older and watch the younger generation wear styles that we would never be seen dead on – we are reminded of our own outfits. Some of these make a reappearance and we laugh at the ‘new’ styles, knowing only too well – been there, done that.
We all rebel against the ‘establishment’ when we are young. Fashion is just one of the more interesting devices to do so.
A knowledge of style and fashion is also important when we are writing about a certain era. Pop socks would not be suitable in a 1940’s office setting or a deer-stalker in a futuristic world. Garments can be a good indicator of the time period without having to write long exposition.
In my re-incarnation romance, The Twesome Loop, I worked between two eras, 2000 and 1875. Clothing became a part of the narrative to show when the period had changed but also when the two merged.
Have you utilized costumes or fashion in your stories?
Rip-roaring – definition: boisterously wild and exciting
The first thing that came to my mind was the twenties, with the outrageous indulgences of the wealthy. The strangest thing, was the fashion of wearing dresses with no shape to them but masses of long necklaces and fringes. It was as though every female became androgynous with their shape and relied on adornments to feminize themselves.
The most identifiable movie for this period is, of course, The Great Gatsby. I have watched the original but as yet not the newer version. When we compare the two main characters, there is a resemblance between each movie. Have you seen the newer version – what were your thoughts?
In reality the 1920’s were a time of change in America. “The Roaring Twenties” impacted the economy, social standards and everyday life. Industry production of consumer goods was up 60% thus affecting American families, with higher wages and shorter working hours. However, the down side was adversity and opposition against immigrants and farmers. Immigrants were not treated fairly by Americans, depending on where they came from and what they believed, making finding employment difficult. Because the price of food kept reducing, farmers were paid very little. Added to that was the worry of the Dust Bowl, making a two tier system.
When researching periods for our projects these type of details are vital, enabling us to reflect the time period correctly.
So today’s prompt is: Find a cover you enjoy and then describe it.
Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers 