Indie and Proud discussion

Please tell us how you feel about self published cover art, share your faves and any thoughts you have about cover art in general.

Jessica wrote: "Please tell us how you feel about self published cover art, share your faves and any thoughts you have about cover art in general."

I don't always like self published covers. You can tell they're self published, including mine! :)

Are you talking bout Midnight??? That's a great cover! I do my own cover art because I'm in design, but what other options do self published authors have? Who did your cover?

Jessica wrote: "Please tell us how you feel about self published cover art, share your faves and any thoughts you have about cover art in general."

I've seen some really good cover art, and some really bad cover art. The cover art that I don't like is the ones that you can tell parts where photoshoped in from different photographs. I like book covers that actually have meaning behind the novel. I am not a fan of covers that are basically the same with a few elements changed. I think a books cover should help it stand apart.

I actually own a publications marketing company that specializes in one of a kind book design that is affordable. Here are some samples of my stock photography work--I also do photo shoots for covers.
Photo credit: Brandon Christopher Warren / Foter.com / CC BY-NC
Non-Commercial: These covers are NOT for sale and are samples.
Photo credit: Brandon Christopher Warren / Foter.com / CC BY-NC
Non-Commercial: These covers are NOT for sale and are samples.

Photo credit: Sprengben [why not get a friend] / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Non-Commercial: These covers are NOT for sale and are samples. 

Photo credit: Taylor Dawn Fortune / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
Non-Commercial: These covers are NOT for sale and are samples.

] Photo Credit: Public Domain
This is for the novel that inspired Walking in the Shadows and is my personal favorite.
Pricing:
E-BOOK

Stock Photography Cover Front Only: $20.00
Stock Photography Front & Back: $25.00

PAPERBACK (Full: front, spine, back)

Stock Photography: $30.00

Thanks! I really like losing time and the crimson reign images :)

I have to date done all my covers with either pictures on the computer, or with my own artwork, but I still feel they look a little self-published. I was more happy with my last novel though By Blood or By Bond because I didn't use a Createspace template for it like I did with my other books.

I do have a question that someone might be able to answer though. I'm currently looking for an actual artist to do a cover for my WIP steampunk novel since I can't draw steampunk, and I was wondering whether anyone knew where I might start looking for someone.

I like this one...

Jessica wrote: "Are you talking bout Midnight??? That's a great cover! I do my own cover art because I'm in design, but what other options do self published authors have? Who did your cover?"

It is a nice cover but you can still tell its self published. you can tell Professional cover from a self published done.

Hazel wrote: "I have to date done all my covers with either pictures on the computer, or with my own artwork, but I still feel they look a little self-published. I was more happy with my last novel though By Blo..."

If you email me with the specifics I can mock something up for you. What are you thinking for your cover? Is there a specific scene you want to represent? You can see my pricing above. giodesignstudios@gmail.com

Jessica wrote: "Thanks! I really like losing time and the crimson reign images :)"

Those are my two favorites as well. They were mock ups for actual novels so it made it easier.

So what elements make a cover look "not self-pub"?

I've done some "research" and I've come to the conclusion that most covers that are popular have a person on them, and that illustrated/animated covers aren't as popular if they have people on them. I could be wrong but that's what I've been seeing lately.
Girls in poofy dresses are really popular...

Cassandra wrote: "Hazel wrote: "I have to date done all my covers with either pictures on the computer, or with my own artwork, but I still feel they look a little self-published. I was more happy with my last novel..."

Thanks Cassandra, I'll definitely keep that in mind. I'm still not sure exactly what I want, but I usually get more ideas once I actually finish the first draft :)

I'd be interested in helping too. I hardly ever get to work on my art anymore, so I love to do covers. I'm also a huge fan of steampunk! I worked on the concept art for a steampunk video game and I love the style. you can email me at jessica@writtenreveries.com

Hazel wrote: "Cassandra wrote: "Hazel wrote: "I have to date done all my covers with either pictures on the computer, or with my own artwork, but I still feel they look a little self-published. I was more happy ..."

Alright, I do my mock-ups for free, and then if you like it you would pay for it.

Thanks very much ladies!

Hi friends!

Much like a few other ladies here, I also design book covers. I'm a graphic designer, and I've professionally done book covers, but those are never as fun as ones of your own where you have free rein!
So I'd also love to help out. If anyone needs any advice or something, I'd be more than willing to help out for fun!
If you're interested in contracting me to design a book cover, feel free to pm me!
Here are a couple of covers I did for things I'm still currently working on, just with free stock photography.
Also take a look at my website if you want to have a gander at some illustrations(most of my professional stuff isn't on here).
http://www.natashasnow.com/
http://bookdesign.natashasnow.com

Thanks!

Here are two of my favorites:



I think some indie covers are awesome.
My husband does the cover for my books.



I am really excited the one for the third one, The Dragon Carnivale, hopefully we will be able to do a cover reveal in not too long!

Heidi

I haven't published it yet...it's in progress... this made once when sitting idle after doing some visual effects works...am a VFX artist...& this I made in photoshop...didn't use pen tablet or anything just mouse.. Thanks

Natasha wrote: "Hi friends!

Much like a few other ladies here, I also design book covers. I'm a graphic designer, and I've professionally done book covers, but those are never as fun as ones of your own where you..."

Natasha, your covers are lovely:)

Natasha, you're covers are beautiful! & Unni, it's looking good so far :)

Thanks Jessica :)

Heidi wrote: "Natasha wrote: "Hi friends!

Much like a few other ladies here, I also design book covers. I'm a graphic designer, and I've professionally done book covers, but those are never as fun as ones of yo..."

Thanks Heidi!
Thanks Jessica!

Hi!

I've got a few book covers I did for my own work. I was just thinking about this topic today.



(This was my first time using a tablet)

I'd love feedback. It's not published yet, but it's coming out this month.

I think it's super cute and for a first time with the tablet I'm impressed. I could hardly write my name with the Wacom pen at first. I'm assuming this is a middle grade novel based on the style. If so, I think you've done a wonderful job! If its an adult novel, I've got some pointers I won't go into detail about here, but you can private message me :)

Covers are important: they're the first thing a reader sees and generally the first impression you make on a reader. Sure, it's what's inside that matters, but it's an attractive chassis that gets things started if you aren't an established name.

Cassandra, I love "Losing Time" & "Crimson Reign"!

I know we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I think it's something we all do anyway. :P I know I do. I'm a graphic designer, so I take care of my own. I think for those without experience, it can be a very good idea to hire a professional. If you're on a tight budget, you can still design a very sharp cover with minimal experience. Research is probably the biggest factor in making sure your self-published title doesn't look self-published. An hour or two on Amazon, shuffling through book covers in your genre, is sure to turn up some good, simple ideas.
Here are a few of my covers. The first 2 are published, the third one should be out in April, and the last one is a draft for a future project. Let me know what you think. Feedback is always appreciated. :)

ooooooooh... Refuge is perty. I like the common theme in the Lana Harvey books. The style is great and the use of the red design in all of them really ties it together. "For the Birds" is my fave :)

Jessica wrote: "ooooooooh... Refuge is perty. I like the common theme in the Lana Harvey books. The style is great and the use of the red design in all of them really ties it together. "For the Birds" is my fave :)"

Thanks! :) I used photoshop to make all of these covers. I really enjoy having the freedom to do this with self-publishing.

Angela wrote: "Cassandra, I love "Losing Time" & "Crimson Reign"!

I know we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I think it's something we all do anyway. :P I know I do. I'm a graphic designer, so ..."

Thanks--those are my favs as well. The others were fake mock-ups, but those two were for actual real books, so it made it a lot easier. I agree with Jessica and love Refuge as well. I think font has a lot to do with the appeal of a cover, along with balance of colors.

Carrie wrote: "Hi!

I've got a few book covers I did for my own work. I was just thinking about this topic today.

As a child, I read all 36 of the original Oz books (my grandmother didn't have TV but had a great library.) I think this a great takeoff on that style with a updated touch. Is this a middle grades book?



(This was my first time using a tablet)

I'd love feedback. It's not published yet, but it..."

Covers I've loved lately. You can tell I go for old paintings. And I guess for portraits.



A thing about indie covers: when I know the author has chosen them, then, if I feel an affinity with the cover, I figure I've got a chance with the book.

I've only read one of these yet--the fiction on young Shakespeare, 3rd in the row, and the intimacy of those eyes grew on me as I got to know him in the novel; I turned to it often, even on a Kindle.

That's a great point ;) I like simple covers that are different from my own so I was immediately drawn to "Skye"

Cassandra, your covers are great! Do you have a site for cover sales?

Michaela wrote: "Cassandra, your covers are great! Do you have a site for cover sales?"

Yes, www.giodesignstudios.wordpress.com --I also offer other services like advertisements, book trailers and book formatting.
You can contact me directly at giodesignstudios@gmail.com
I'm also a photographer, so I also do custom photo shoots for even more unique covers and advertisements!

Oh, and thanks!

I really want a different cover for my book. I created one, but getting it uploaded is much more difficult than I thought :(

What are you having trouble with?

Cassandra wrote: Yes, www.giodesignstudios.wordpress.com --I also offer other services like advertisements, book trailers and..."

Thanks for the info! =)

I would like feedback on my cover for Bats and Bones. It's a light camping mystery.

Looking at it as a thumbnail I love that you can see the title clearly. The font is a really good fit. Looking closer I like the cross hatch details and the empty space that the trees create. The sketchy style is cool. If I had to say anything, I think the fire could be a little more vibrant or detailed so that the thumbnail draws my attention to it. It is obvious that it's a fire in thumbnail too, so that's probably just a critique for critique's sake. I Love when things are black and white or monotone with just a little pop of color. In short, I think it's a very successful cover :)

I love sketchy covers, and they just aren't seen very often which is why I was excited about the cover for I agree that the fire could be a little brighter, but I like it, and it looks like a cozy mystery. I love to draw pictures like that with my sepia pencil where I only use that and one other color so that it looks like an antiqued picture.

Jessica wrote: "Looking at it as a thumbnail I love that you can see the title clearly. The font is a really good fit. Looking closer I like the cross hatch details and the empty space that the trees create. The s..."

Thank you! I always loved the Edward Gorey drawings at the beginning of "Mystery" on public television and it reminds me a little of that.

Some covers are amazing, some are really horrible. It really hurts my ability to appreciate a book when the whole thing looks sloppy. I did my own cover for Devotion, but I did my best to keep it simple and easy without using photographs. It‘s hard to paste together photos and get the light sources to all match up, etc.

I know what you mean! I've got degrees in digital art and it's hard for me to get it all to look like a serious novel so I can't imagine what level of hell other authors go through if they don't want to contract someone to do it for them. That's why I always offer my help for anyone who doesn't want to pay a bunch of money for a cover they are taking a chance self publishing :/

I'm redoing my covers for my spy series right now. This is the proposed first cover:

Lynn wrote: "I'm redoing my covers for my spy series right now. This is the proposed first cover:

"
That's an amazing cover--it doesn't look self-pub at all! Great job!

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Here's mine, I used Gimp but I would normally use photoshop. It cost under $20 to make I'm sure, didn't take very long at all once I had what I wanted planned out on paper. I think it's important to make a few mock ups to share with friends before settling on one. Sometimes something looks awesome to you, but only you.

I love that one, Trystan.

I wondered, how much can you see in thumbnail? but the thumbnail's fine too.

Which Thumbnail do you mean?