Avoiding Sticky Book Cover Situations

As queen bees of the JustRead hive (aka owners of JustRead Publicity Tours) and avid readers, we’ve learned a thing or two about sweet reads and sticky situations. We want to help you avoid common book cover blunders and ensure your readers aren’t confused or even deterred by a sticky situation. 

Generally, authors will either have DIY, outsourced, or a publisher-directed cover design process. While this article is written primarily with independently publishing (or hybrid) authors in mind, the concepts are important for all authors to consider. Whether you are creating your own cover or conveying your vision to others, the goal is for the heart of your story (or nonfiction content) to shine through the cover.

Visual Vibes

Research book covers that are selling or trending in your book’s genre and subgenre, making note of images, design styles, fonts, and colors. Once you’ve identified design elements that work well for your genre, focus on reflecting the heart of your story within your author branding and genre trends. 

Stock Images

Even the pros utilize stock illustrations and images but check to see if your selections are already being used on another book cover. Layering multiple images is one way to create a more unique cover but make sure proportions and blending are natural.

Fonts

We love fonts but readability is key. Two different typefaces on a cover (sometimes three) are acceptable as long as the placement is mindful. Whimsical and script fonts are especially tricky but they pack a visual punch when used in moderation and/or paired with a simple clean font. 

Good Sticky

Stick to your budget and timeline. Don’t wait too long to finalize your cover or make last-minute changes, delays could end up costing you more. Compromise is common during the cover design process but be willing to stick to it and keep the lines of communication open rather than settling for a cover that doesn’t fit.

Encouragement for DIYers

You can successfully create your own book cover with thorough research, more research, and the popper tools! Creating an appealing cover on Canva, Picmonkey, or other free or low-cost design platforms is possible. Many of these tools even provide book cover templates and it’s a great way to get the ball rolling for cover mock-ups and even final cover designs. Be sure to ask a few trusted and experienced confidantes for their opinion on your work but don’t stress over trying to please everyone.

Cover Design Pros

If your budget allows, we definitely recommend working with a cover designer. Choose a professional who has created covers you love. We love so many covers including those designed by Roseanna White, Teresa Tysinger, Hillary Lodge, Sarah Monzon, Emilie Hendryx, and more! Please feel free to give a shoutout to your favorite cover designers in the comments. Keep an eye out for a more in-depth post on working with a cover designer in the future.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” 

It’s a nice sentiment but the truth is that the cover is the first glimpse a reader has of the content within. Book covers set the stage just as words pull back the curtains on the wonderful experience we share through stories, devotionals, and nonfiction accounts. Readers are going to judge book covers so let’s embrace that and maximize their impact positively. 

Can you name some genre-specific design features? Does a certain cover style grab your attention? Carrie, Beth, and Rachel would love to chat about your favorite cover trends in the comments! 

JustRead Publicity Tours, LLC is a full-service publicity tour company for published works in the Christian genre or books considered within the wholesome or clean reads genres. 

Check out their About page to meet the queen bees or jump right into the Authors & Publishers or Readers sections to learn more about JustRead campaigns.

What You Don't Know CAN Hurt You

by Pam Hillman

There’s an old proverb that goes something like this, “What you don’t know can’t hurt you.”

Basically, the idea is if you don’t know about a problem or a misdeed, you won’t be able to make yourself unhappy by worrying about it. 

Hmmm, okay. 

But I suppose there is some merit to the saying, because up until three years ago, my husband and I didn’t have a television in our home. We pretty much missed all the insanity going on in the world for the last thirty years. Not that we weren’t aware and plugged in, but we just didn’t hear the news 24/7 like we do now. Now, we get a play-by-play of everything that’s going wrong in our world. I think I liked not knowing so much!

And, in the writing world, how can not knowing really be detrimental to a career? There are so many ways…

1) If you don’t know how to plot a compelling story, or how to build up tension or layer in details, keep writing, and keep learning the craft. But, first, just keep writing. You don’t get to the next step if you don’t write.

2) If you don’t know that Editor Erin loves stories featuring a love triangle, but Agent Angela isn’t fond of them at all, it might be a good idea to study up on their likes and dislikes.

3) If you don’t know the latest way the wind is blowing regarding ebooks vs. print books, why not?

4) If you don’t know if you’re writing Christian fiction or general fiction, keep writing until you do.

5) If you don’t know your story’s genre, then keep writing until you do. It doesn’t matter if you’re planning to self-publish or go the traditional route, your novel will eventually fit into some sub genre, and you’ll need to verbalize that.

6) If you don’t know about contracts/agreements and the traps to look for, it can certainly come back to haunt you. This applies to traditional publishing as well as self-publishing.

7) If you don’t know that a publishing house has closed its doors or discontinued a line, you’re really spinning your wheels by writing to the line. You’d be better off writing to your heart.

8) If you don’t know how to take your novel from your computer file to the reader (if you plan to self-publish), there’s a lot to learn. But you can do it. You have the tools at your disposal. Just keep writing.

9) If you don’t know about Seekerville, then you’re missing out on a ton of great teaching and blog posts that can answer all of the unknowns I’ve covered above and more.

10) If you don’t know about American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), then there’s even more knowledge to be gained within its ranks.

11) If you don’t know that you and only you can write the story that’s burning on your heart, then I’m here to tell you that you can. Start with #1. Write your story. Make it compelling. Write a story that you know backwards and forwards. And along the way, all the other points will come into play.

CBA Bestselling author PAM HILLMAN was born and raised on a dairy farm in Mississippi and spent her teenage years perched on the seat of a tractor raking hay. In those days, her daddy couldn't afford two cab tractors with air conditioning and a radio, so Pam drove an Allis Chalmers 110. Even when her daddy asked her if she wanted to bale hay, she told him she didn't mind raking. Raking hay doesn't take much thought so Pam spent her time working on her tan and making up stories in her head. Now, that's the kind of life every girl should dream of. www.pamhillman.com

Book #3-Book #2 and the Great Create Space Migration

Book #3 of the Garrison's Law series released last Saturday-- Loving the Texas Negotiator.
Book #2 of the High Sierra Sweethearts series will release in October--The Reluctant Warrior.

I just sent in the galley reviews for book #3 of the High Sierra Sweethearts series, The Unexpected Champion.
And I'm working on (believe it or not) the NEXT series for Bethany House, as yet unnamed but it's fun.
And I'm also revising book #4 for the Garrison's Law series but I'm not going to release that until maybe December. I have a lot to do for the launch of The Reluctant Warrior and I don't want another book from me competing with promotion efforts for it.
For example, I have a ... podcast or vlog or whatever it's called scheduled for The Reluctant Warrior and I caught myself thinking it was for one of the Garrison books and I PANICKED! What if I talked about the wrong book?
So I'm going to focus on High Sierra Sweethearts BUT not until I get the third Garrison's Law book up and running.

(I'm confusing myself, I hope you can follow along and I'm sorry)
So this is just a little slice-of-life of an author.
Releasing one series, releasing another series, writing yet another series, revising books in two series.

Pardon me while I bang my head on something hard, just for a while.

Okay, I think I'm thinking more clearly now.
Today I am talking about the fact that about TWO MONTHS after I launched my big ol' Whoopee indie career, Create Space, where I went to publish my print books is closing. At some future date. Probably.

Mary "Every Helpful" Connealy

It's all real confusing.
So I need to MIGRATE (like a Canadian Goose) my books from Create Space to KDP Print.
And this is because Amazon bought Create Space and is now well...I want to say bringing all the Create Space authors into their fold, but ... Well, anyway...I tried to make this third book Loving the Texas Negotiator...go to print on KDP but I couldn't figure out how. The KDP cover creator wouldn't just take my front and back covers. They kept trying to HELP ME!!!

Rather than just let me CLICK load the front cover CLICK load the back cover.
All really confusing.
So I went  to Create Space and did it, so now I have another book to migrate...should I at any point ever figure out how to do that--it may include flapping my wings and heading to Florida.

So today, I am giving away an ebook copy of Loving the Texas Negotiator to one lucky commentor.
Next month it'll be a copy of The Reluctant Warrior.

Loving the Texas Negotiator 

Not all the Garrisons are guys.

Beth Garrison is the top hostage negotiator in Rocky Ridge, Texas. She's called to serve on a task force to investigate a killing that is a copycat of her first bust as a rookie.

Tate McCade has a reputation for steamrolling anyone who gets in his way and he's had a run-in with Beth and her oversized ego before. He's got a bruise on his face to prove it.

They have to work together and sparks are flying that aren’t all about the job.

What do I know???

It's my turn to teach you all something, 

beloved Seekervillagers.

I want to talk today about marketing. One aspect of it, because if I think of TWO things to talk about...I'll save the second one for next time.

Keep in mind I barely know what I'm doing.

Teaching isn't my greatest gift....and that's sad cuz I was a teacher for eleven years.

There is actual paperwork on file proving 

people often are dumber after I've tried to teach them something.

It's notarized!!!

There's the disclaimer, so now I'll tell you something I learned self-publishing. 

I'll begin with this...I have never loved my publisher more. 

It is interesting and challenging and humbling 

to try and do all the jobs Bethany House has been doing for me over the years.

I'm trying to figure out how to market my books.

I really have no idea.

Send out a newsletter and post to social media. What else?

As my great attempt at marketing I bought an Amazon ad because I was told they are so easily tracked to see if they worked.

Except I did it and have no idea if it worked.

Whatever tracking I can do, I can't do.

When you're self-publishing EVERYTHING IS YOUR FAULT!!

But on the other hand, I can't tell that a single person bought a single book due to my ad.

On the Other other hand, I'm not sure the ad is running yet.

So anyway, I go to marketing sessions at writer's conferences because FRANKLY those are the classes they offer to people who have books in print.

I often ignore them and go to more basic classes hoping to learn how to write.

But I have to sneak in.

So I bought the ad.

I have a professional editor and book cover maker and formatter.

I am trying to figure out where to go indie-publishing-wise after these five books come out.

(I've got an idea)

And in the meantime, I'm floundering.

Has anyone, by any chance seen an ad for my books...anywhere?

I sure haven't.

Tell me what I should do about marketing. 

(Oops, I just slipped away from teacher and turned to asking you to teach me!!!) 

What works? 

Have you ever seen an ad that made you click on a book?

A blog post?

A book reviewers blog?

I have considered giving away the first chapter free..........but I don't know how. 

Still........that's in the List of Ideas folder.

Help me!

And ask me questions, too. 

Heaven knows if I can help you, but I'll try.

And maybe we can help each other!

Today I'll draw two names from the comment section to win a copy of one ebook, 

Loving the Texas Lawman 

and 

Loving Her Texas Protector

Two ebooks. Two winners.

Also available in print versions.