Book
Covers.
It's
no secret they can make or break a novel. Your prose may be brilliant, your
story gripping from start to finish, but if your cover's a dud, you'd might as
well kiss your sweet sales goodbye—because unless you build it….they won't come
(a great cover, that is).
Linda
Boulanger knows covers.
That's
because she's created hundreds of them, including several for fellow CFC
blogmate, Jenny Hilborne. Folks, I’m not exaggerating when I say Linda
does an amazing job at it. So I thought I'd have her here for a little cover cyber
chat, to talk about what it takes to attract readers rather than repel them and
hopefully bring in those sales.
Drew: As a cover artist,
what are the most important elements for having a successful/impactful book
cover?
Linda: I think the majority
of designers would agree that the #1 element you’ll see on successful covers
has to be the achievement of a true focal point. The eye needs a place to land
and linger before beginning to take in the rest of the cover. If you don’t want
your cover overlooked, it needs to grab a potential reader’s attention—and
quickly—or they’re going to choose one that does. That focal point can be the
first step in making yours the cover they look at long enough to click the
magic button.
Drew: What are some of the
mistakes you see with covers?
Linda: I would say the
biggest mistake I see are ones that don’t tell me a thing about the story or fail
to draw me in—that, and covers that lose all appeal in the “postage stamp”
test. Looking at Amazon’s Top 100 books, you'll see a lot of very tiny covers! The very best covers can lose details in
those tiny thumbnails, so make sure your overall image still makes an impact
when it’s very, very small. (btw, CFC’s own Kimberly Hitchens posted aboutLousy Book Covers a couple of weeks ago. It’s definitely worth reading.
Drew: What kind of
consideration do you give to genre?
Linda: Consideration to
genre is very important. If I had my way, all covers would be “pretty” – which
definitely doesn’t work for all genres! But, just as the stories differ within
genres, so do the covers. I do have to say that my main goal is creating a
certain feel from the information I gather from the author about the story,
more so than getting hung up on a particular style. Surprisingly (or not), the
covers seem to work out and fit not only the story, but the genre as well.
Drew: Author name first,
or title: your thoughts?
Linda: As a designer, I
prefer to let the placement of title and author name fit into the design,
though I know there are many that believe it should be one way or the other. Authors
need to let their designer know if one is preferred over another because it
definitely impacts the elements chosen. On sequels or series, the use of
placement as well as particular fonts can help a reader know the book is a part
of something bigger, with or without a subtitle.
Drew: What is your process
for taking a cover from concept to finish? How do you bring an author's wishes
to life?
Linda: This question is a
blog post in itself! In fact, I was a guest on Karen S. Elliott’s blog in
October where I allowed readers to “creep into my mind” to see a bit of the
process. I basically start all covers with a few simple
steps. First, I ask questions because I want a feel for the story. I want an
author’s blurb or elevator pitch. I’ll ask about characters, whether there’s a
particular scene that stands out. And I may come back more than once to get
more information. Gathering images comes next, and that’s usually where the
ideas begin to come together in my head even before I open my design program.
Part of bringing an author’s wishes to life is
getting us on the same page, which means there may be several cover concepts to
choose from. Once we’re certain of our direction with those, we’ll usually go
back and forth a few more times with little details (which can make a big
impact). I’ll then fine-tune the elements, and the cover gets sent to the
author. Once it’s revealed by the author, I’ll post it on my website(s) and
social media haunts. I also ask authors to let me know when they’re doing
promotions so I can share that information. I tend to walk away from every
project feeling as if the book is partly my baby, and I want the world to love
it just as much as the author does.
Drew: What do you enjoy
most about creating covers?
Linda: The ability to couple
my love of reading with creativity and know my design gives potential readers a
glimpse that the story inside is truly exhilarating. I also enjoy getting to
know authors from all over. We definitely tend to develop more than just a
simple working relationship. And when I get to help promote their books and see
them doing well—that’s an added bonus.
Drew: What advice would you
give authors who are looking to have covers made for their books?
Linda: Feel comfortable with
your designer, and don’t accept a cover you aren’t completely in love with. I
tell authors all the time: If you don’t
love it, you can’t sell it, and that’s not good for any of us. Try to find
out a bit about the designer before going in, and look for one you think would
be a good fit for your style. For example, if you don’t like being an integral
part of the process, then I’m probably not the designer for you. Figure out how
you like to work, and choose accordingly. Also remember that creativity takes
time, so you need to have realistic expectations of your designer.
As mentioned, your
cover is probably the biggest draw for potential readers. It needs to be right and you, the author, are a designer’s
#1 resource for creating that perfect cover. No one knows your book like you. YOU are the key to creating an
attention-grabbing cover that truly fits your story and that you and the world
will love.
Linda Boulanger has designed book covers and created layouts
across many genres. Authors who work with her will let you know you receive
much more than the creation of a book cover or beautiful interior layout when
you choose her services. Visit her at:
Email: TellTaleBookCovers@gmail.com
