When I began indie publishing, my biggest struggle was getting book covers that not only spoke to the reader and the genre of the books but ones that I personally could be proud of. Having come from a design background, I chose to design my own covers and to this day, it was one of the most difficult tasks I’ve ever had to do!
Not only could I not make a decision but when I did finalize some ideas, I found myself looking for flaws in other parts of the visuals. It was excruciating!
I still work on the main design of the covers myself but have since then partnered with another designer to make the process a little less painful. Having an understanding of how much work goes into a good cover, I am always astonished at some of the beautiful work that ends up on shelves.
This week, I have chosen the cover for Tess of the Road, by Rachel Hartman (cover illustration by Simon Prades) and was thinking I should share some of my thoughts on why I believe it to be a tremendous design piece.
So why is it so great?
Well, for starters, the art work is stunning! It looks like a mix of Japanese painting and watercolor and speaks to the genre of the book perfectly. The colors chosen blend effortlessly together and I am especially drawn to the splashes of teal in a sea of navy and cream.
The character (in this case the MC Tess), is small and facing away from the viewer which only helps draw the eye to the abyss ahead where a mysterious landscape is formed. The same abyss is cleverly shaped to look like a dragon meeting the MC head on. That in itself is enough to let the reader know that this book will be quite the adventure!
One of the best things about this cover is the typography that is inlaid in shades of gold and white. Setting the title of the book in white makes it stand out against the navy of the dragon body. This is also the only part of the cover that is treated with white which makes it stand out even more.
Overall, the viewers eye is drawn in two directions. Once from the title to the character and then back up in reverse. A brilliant tactic to keep them looking!
Are there any covers that you particularly enjoy? I’d love to see them!
Stay magical,
Alexis,
