Confessions of a Cover Artist – Radoslav Donev

Welcome to another addition of Confessions of a Cover Artist. I met Radoslav Donav in a book designers’ group on Facebook and was BLOWN AWAY by his cover art. His artwork truly is in a class of its own. I’m so honored to have him on my blog this week. Even though I can’t read his cover titles, you get the feel of the tone of the books just by looking at the covers. Radoslav was kind enough to provide us with cover interpretations. As you can see, he’s designed for some BIG NAMES. Stunning work. Simply stunning.

The Spirit of The Poet – Author: Stefna Canev

TW: What training have you had in design?

RD: I graduated the New Bulgarian University; my major subject was Visual Arts. I should say that I am grateful that studying there provided me with wide knowledge in the area of art and design. Not to mention subjects such as photography, graphical design, applied graphics, color studies, art history, directing, playwriting, and many others which consequently helped me build a creative approach to solving various practical problems. I had a chance to gain knowledge and experience thanks to the teachers there.

The Overton Window – Author: Glenn Beck

TW: What tools do you use to design? Do you use your own photography? Stock sites?

RD: I mainly use ADOBE products, mostly Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign and Adobe Illustrator. My collection of images can not fully meet my creative needs, so there is a need to often buy photographs from sites dedicated and specializing in this.

Moreover, photography is one of my hobbis and if I have a certain idea, but I unable to find the right image I usually use my ability to shoot. Thus, I give the best of myself, stay satisfied with my life and what I do for living and have fun.

TW: When did you realize you wanted to be a graphic designer?

RD: Since a child I have been interested in all creative pursuits. At the age of 12 to 15 years I participated in workshops on applied graphics, then enrolled to a theater school and then as an adolescent  I played the bass guitar in a rock band, all these activities have given me a lot and thus, I made the choice to do what I have been working on all those years.

TW: How did you get into book cover designing?

RD: Once finished with my education at the New Bulgarian University, I started working in publishing, where I dealt with historical and archaeological literature, went to archaeological sites, photographed ancient tombs, unique treasures, and subsequently captured and processed materials used for book covers and catalogs sold in Bulgarian museums were among the most interesting years in my field of my work. Since then I have been working as a designer of fashion book covers, magazines and catalogs for 10 years now.

I Am an Emotional Creature – Author: Eve Ensler

TW: What have you learned along the way?

RD: I have learned to be patient, I believe that if a project does not happen the first time, it will happen the third or fourth attempt, it is important to keep believing in what you do! From my many years of experience working with many publishers and authors I have gathered knowledge how  to achieve a balance between ideas and sponsors cover of my ideas, though I have already designed more than 600 covers of books from different genres!

TW: Do you freelance design? If so, do you only design for Bulgarian clients, or can folks in the United States and elsewhere commission you for cover art?

RD: I work for one of the largest publishing houses in Bulgaria, but I do some freelancing at home for private Bulgarian customers. I love my job and I enjoyed the new challenges like this to work for foreign authors and publishers. Moreover, I am definitely interested in new contacts, ideas, further professional development.

TW: Please list five elements of a good cover?

1. Suitable photographs or illustrations
2. Good composition
3. Appropriate selection of colors
4. Appropriate selection of font
5. Suitable format for the cover

All these elements should draw the reader to conclusions about the content of the book, not the way the cover is illustrated. Effects should not be all by themselves, but it is good to have them if they help to understanding the plot of the book.

TW: What are some of the common mistakes authors make when designing their own covers?

The Psychology of Life – Author: Aliona Libina

RD: Some authors put too long book titles and this prevents the perception of the cover. Too complex and visually loaded covers do not help the understanding of the idea of the book. Sometimes the wrong choice of format and type of paper could also bring a negative impact.

TW: What advice would you give to authors trying to design their own covers?

The first thing I would recommend is related to the choice of title. It is very important that the title attracts and retains the reader’s attention. It is the title which recreates the atmosphere and emotions in the book to bring information and bring understanding. For instance, if the book is a part of a series, it is quite important for the titles to be related and help the reader recognize the next volumes. In my opinion, it is of paramount importance the title to be short, catchy and is easy to remember!

For all other things such as choice of photography, colors, fonts or paper I would encourage authors to refer to professional consultants.

TW: What’s your average turn-around for a cover?

RD: If the author and I have agreed on all details, it usually takes me no more than 2 to 5 days.

Whispers Of The Dead – Author: Simon Beckett

TW: Before you get started on a cover, what do you need from the author?

RD: The first thing I do is conduct an informal interview  with the author about the book and its message to be conveyed.

Then, I make a research on the genre and the competition which then helps the author to choose the cover they like, so I get to know a bit more about what the author likes and how to meet his/her expectations. Then we need to  come up with 5 key words that the author and I think best illustrate the story of the book and through them I try to build visual metaphors.

TW: List one other artist whose work you admire.

RD: I have been and still am inspired by different artistic:
The Graphical designer Chip Kidd:
http://bookcoverarchive.com/Chip_Kidd

The Bulgarian Avant-Garde Artist Christo:

http://christojeanneclaude.net/projects/the-gates?images=completed

The Photographer Saudek:

http://www.saudek.com/en/jan/hlasovani.html

If you’d like to check out more of Radoslav Donev’s artwork, you can visit his website, or on Facebook or browse his photo forum.

http://radydonev.carbonmade.com/

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Book-Cover-Design-by-Radoslav-Donev/157082477659771

http://photo-forum.net/bg/index.php?APP_ACTION=USER_IMAGES&USER_ID=60581

Confesions of a Cover Artist – Selina Fenech

Welcome to another installment of Confessions of a Cover Artist. When I saw Selina Fenech’s work I was blown away. Unlike me, Selina isn’t just a cover artist, she’s an amazing illustrator, who also has several illustrations in her YA dark fantasy novel, Memory’s Wake. Though the story looks awesome, I admit I bought her book mostly for the pictures and can’t wait to read it. It’s in my TBR pile right now. Though Selina isn’t currently taking clients until this fall, she still sells some amazing premades that would make beautiful cover art.

TW: How did you first get started as an artist? Was it always your plan to be an artist and a writer? Did one outlet influence the other?

SF: I’ve loved writing and drawing since I was a child. Illustrated books had a huge influence on me, mostly fairytales, and I always dreamed of being able to make pictures like the ones in the books. In high school I succumbed to peer pressure and stopped reading books as much (reading wasn’t considered cool at my school, such a shame!), and turned my attention more towards visual art, and pursued my art career from then onwards in one way or another (first I wanted to be a comic book artist, then a children’s book illustrator, then a graphic designer, then fantasy artist). I’ve thankfully been very successful with my artwork, and have made a living with my art since 2003. It was after a brush with cancer in 2008 that I decided I wanted to pursue my other childhood dream, of being an author. I’ve been putting a lot of my attention to that goal now. Part of me still loves the sequential art format (i.e. comics) and illustrated books, so my first book I released, Memory’s Wake, includes 44 illustrations I did specifically for it.

TW: What have you learned along the way?

SF: Getting into writing has been a steep learning curve, but so much fun. I had a story in my mind for years that I wanted to share, but I realised I hadn’t really learned the craft of storytelling, or the craft or writing. I didn’t just want to throw words on a page just to say I wrote a book and get my story done, I wanted it to be done well. I wanted to learn how to write well. In the past four years since I really dove back into writing, I’ve probably bought and studied about fifty books on the art of writing and storytelling, and read many more online tutorials. I joined online critique groups (specifically sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com was fantastic) where I learned from other writers. I made a conscious decision to approach storytelling with the same professionalism as I did my art career.

TW: What mistakes, if any, did you make early on when designing art?

SF: Human proportions have always been difficult, and I made a lot of mistakes with them early on. Once I even drew a character’s foot on back-to-front (they were sitting cross legged and I didn’t think enough about how the foot came out of that). As a practice in humility, I keep an almost complete archive of all my artwork at http://selinafenech.com/archives/ so that people can see all my old and embarrassing work.

TW: Do you design art for covers on commission? How does an author go about using your art for a cover?

SF: I’ve been closed to commissioned art for many years now. Like many artists, I was burned by one or two bad clients, and as I didn’t need the commission money anymore I stopped taking them. Here’s the big BUT- I’ve been loving being part of the indie author community, and would love to offer my artwork to other indie authors for their covers. Right now, I’m midway through an illustration project for a publisher with a looming deadline and much work still to do, but once it’s done (November 2012) I’m planning to open up to book cover commissions again! Until then, many of my existing artworks are available for use on covers. If an author is interested, just get in touch and we’ll work something out.

TW: List in order, the five most important elements of a good cover.

• Indicative of the genre/target reader
• Relevant to the story
• Professional typography (many covers, no matter how great the image, are let down by bad typography.)
• An eye catching image (or eye catching text and design if there is no actual image)
• True to the story- more something that annoys me personally, where a detail on the cover doesn’t match the story, e.g. model’s eye colour is incorrect.

TW: What are common mistakes indie authors make when designing their own covers?

SF: Poor typography is one of the hallmarks of self-published covers. Even complete amateurs with a decent eye and good taste can put together some great looking graphics, but typography is an art form in itself, and without some understanding of the art and science of type, it’s rare that the text on a book cover is going to look good.

TW: What advice would you give to the indie author trying to design cover art?

SF: On typography again, if you aren’t sure what you’re doing, follow the Keep It Simple rule. No more than two fonts on the cover (including variations of the same font), and a simple ALL CAPS, Serif font (Trajan is great, widely used on movie posters) will keep things classy with little room for error. Check out some professional book covers and see how they lay out their text as a guide as well, although, many mass published books will have the author name way more prominent than the title itself. For Indie authors, it’s probably better to have a bit more balance, or emphasis on title instead of name.

TW: What software do you use to create art? Where do you go for inspiration?

SF: I almost exclusively use Photoshop CS5 for all my design work and also my digital painting work. I am also spoiled in owning a Wacom 24HD, which is a pressure sensitive screen for digital art. I paint straight into the screen!

TW: Tell us a little about your novels. Where can we buy them?

SF: I write exclusively to the young adult market so far. My first novel, Memory’s Wake, is a dark fantasy with a Victorian flavor, and Emotionally Charged is a paranormal romance novella, about super-powered teens who’s abilities are charged by other people’s emotions.

TW: Memory’s Wake synopsis:

SF: Lost in a world of magic and monstrous fairies, a troubled sixteen-year-old with no memories must discover who she is, before she is discovered by those who want her dead.

Thanks, Selina for stopping by my site and sharing your beautiful drawings. I can’t wait to read Memory’s Wake. Tara

Selina Fenech – Portfolio Website

www.selinafenech.com

Fairies and Fantasy Pty Ltd – Selina’s Online Art Store

http://www.fairiesandfantasy.com

Memory’s Wake – Illustrated Fantasy Novel by Selina Fenech

www.memoryswake.com

Confessions of a Cover Artist – Char Adlesperger

Char Adlesperger was recommended by a few authors on KindleBoards. Her site, Wicked Cover Designs, is truly wicked. I love her use of color, tones and her ability to manipulate a common stock photo into something totally unique.  Please welcome Char to Confessions of a Cover Artist, and if you like what you see, check out more of her Wicked Designs at her website.

TW: Why do you design cover art? How did you first get started?

A: I started out designing my own book covers first when I was 13 for my own books, now 5 years later I do it because not only do I enjoy it, but I provide a cheaper service than what I ever found. It give authors a good deal as well as a professional and great looking cover for their books.

 TW: What have you learned along the way?

A: I learned alot of things as I’ve gone along. I found there is a style to each genre and you can’t just do any cover for a book. A cover for Fantasy won’t really fit a Historical Romance, I think, haha.

TW: What mistakes, if any, did you make early on when designing covers?

A: They were the wrong size, I used to do 6×10 before I found out I have to use 5×8 or 6×9.

 TW: List in order, the five most important elements of a good cover. 

•  1) The image, its what draws in the reader. Something cheap looking at a higher price is not going to sell well.
• 2) The font, you cover font MUST go with the cover design, it has to fit like a glove otherwise the wrong font can suggesst a whole different meaning then you want.
• 3) Color, your color theme should match the mood of the book.
• 4) Where you put your text, you wouldn’t want to cover up the most important part of your cover images, or make it look unpro. Placement is just as important as the words.
• 5) Overall look, it has to look beautiful big AND in thumbnail.

TW: What are common mistakes indie authors make when designing their own covers?

A: They (most) just take any picture and slap some words on it. Cover is much more than that. You need the right image and you have to pay for it if you want to publish your book. Anything that drives me crazy if picking a font that looks beter in crayon on paper. Using pro font saves you alot of trouble, and never, NEVER use a color that blends right in or in an opposite color to the cover theme. Stick to the light colors in themes of whites with a tint of the color you want. Dropshadows behind the text on a cover will save your cover’s life!

TW: What advice would you give to the indie author trying to design cover art?

A: I would suggesst it unless you have experince and go to college (or just classes) for it like many of us had. I have years behind me even though I’m just 18 and some of the first years weren’t my best. I didn’t start selling covers and making them until I was in my first year over college at 17 with a few months of classes to teach me enough.

Go to a pro like me or one of the others. Some of us have prices for the selfpub author so you can afford it! We do this for a reason! My prices are between $35 and $75 unless you want a cover package which includes a lot more then just the cover. A friend of mine who has been a designer for over 10+ years charges anywhere between $450 to $1000.

Go to someone who does it for a living and who you can afford. Never do a cover yourself if you don’t have the skills, you will kill you book sales.

TW: What’s your average turn-around time for cover art?

A: My average cover turn around the last few years has been 3-5 days at max, unless issues come up with the cover or author.

TW: What software do you use to create covers? Where do you go for images?

A: I use the newest verisons of PhotoShop CS, the past year I have been working in CS5 which is a program all professional designers use. If you can’t afford the good stuff like you need the quliaty for your products takes a serious hit.

TW: Before you get started on a cover, what information do you need from the author?

A: I always ask for:

• Book Title:
• Author Name:
• Tagline(s):
• Subtitle:
• Summary:
• Cover Idea:
• And we disscuss what they would like to see.

TW: If you suddenly lost your skilz, who would you hire to design your cover art?

A: Another one of Jimmy Thomas’s great designers! I have worked with him since January and love him and I love some of his great designers. I think Cesena Emilia (Cora) is one of my faves!

TW: Why do you enjoy working with indie authors?

A: Most of the ones I work with are so friendly! Something as an artist we get caught in crossfires over things that they would like done, but they are so nice and relaxed if we have a problem and things go better for it. Plus they have a sense of humor normal people just don’t and thats fun as well!

TW: Do you also write? If so, what genres? Do you think being an author makes you a better artist? How so?

A: Yes, I also write books. I have written 9 books so far (one soon to be published!) and I tend to hop for YA Fantasy, to Historical Romance, and even just Romance I think it helps some of the times, but when it come to doing a cover you get picky about everything being just right! Everything can always improve!

Please check out Char’s amazing covers at: http://www.wicked-art.wix.com/wicked-cover-designs

Confessions of a Cover Artist – Karri Klawiter

Some folks have asked me why I host a column where I basically promote my competition. First off, I know that as an artist, I can learn a lot from other artists by admiring their covers. Second, I think artists, like authors, should support one another. Third, I don’t see other artists as competition, especially as my primary focus has to be writing and I am not taking on new cover clients.

When I put the call out on Kindleboards, author Melanie Ray recommended Karri for a Confessions interview. I was absolutely stunned by Karri’s portfolio. I love Karri’s composition and her warm and vivid tones. I could tell that she has a photography background just by looking at her covers. My favorite cover would have to be Primal. Look at the warm tones on the woman’s skin in contrast to the gruesome hand. Each of her covers is unique and has a at least one element that ‘pops’, which is crucial for getting readers to take notice. Look at the rose in LA Caveman or the unique composition in Coke with a Twist. So without further ado, please welcome Karri, and don’t forget to leave comments. Artists, like authors, LOVE when we praise their work.  

Why do you design cover art? How did you first get started?

I have had my hands in digital art as a hobby for over 15 yrs, and have been selling my photography and fine art on the web for about the past 5. I remember when I started that, I was following an author online. She would post a chapter at time, and then finally got picked up by a small publisher. I believe this was before the self publishing took off. She was all excited and blogging about it. The book that was being published was my absolute favorite of hers, so I was excited for her too. Then she posted the cover. My first thought when I saw it was “man, I could do better” I kept my mouth shut because I knew she had a friend make it, and of course I bought the paperback version. But that started the little spark in the back of my brain. I’d like to make a book cover, just once.

Life happened, and a few years went by. I had been a stay at home mom for the past several years, including caring for my ill mother. Both of my children started school and my husband and I decided I needed a job; we need just a slight boost in income. I spent over a year off and trying to find a job and taking care of the family. I finally found one, it wasn’t much, but they were willing to work around my mother and kids, and at the last minute, it fell through. So in a moment of what felt like desperation, I started hitting the freelance websites looking for any small tidbit of work. I started noticing eBook and print book covers in other artist’s portfolios, which reignited that spark in the back of my brain. I want to make a book cover, just once, to say I did. I then discovered the job boards on Deviant Art. So I thought, what the heck, and posted a thread there offering a free eBook cover.

The first person to respond to me, introduced himself, said he wasn’t in the market for a cover right now, but asked if he could post a link to my offer on this mysterious message boards called the “Kindleboards.”

And so it began. I did a few free ones to start building up a portfolio, discovered I actually have a niche for it, and it’s grown from there. I don’t think I have ever properly thanked the man who brought me to the Kindleboards, you know who you are. Thank you! This has been a Godsend for me and my family! And I LOVE doing it!

What have you learned along the way?

I’ve learned communication and patience goes a long way. Just because the majority of my clients are authors, doesn’t mean they can describe exactly how they see their cover turning out. It might take a few tries, but we’ll get there.

What mistakes, if any, did you make early on when designing covers?

What? I’m not allowed to make mistakes anymore! No one sent me that memo! To be honest, I’m still learning as I go.

List in order, the five most important elements of a good cover.

• Typography. Is it readable? Does it suite the Genre?
• Balance and Composition. Is the overall image balanced? Is it too cluttered? Too blank?
• Professionalism. Does it look professional? Or does it look like you slapped a title over a stock image?
• Originality. Will it stand out amongst the thousands of other covers in its genre? The story inside is an original creation of the author’s mind, does the cover match that same feel?
• This one pertains to eBooks, since that’s mostly in what I deal with. THUMBNAIL. It’s got to look good in thumbnail size!

What are common mistakes that indie authors make when designing their own covers?

*Looks around making sure there are no indie authors with pitchforks ready to attack*

Using unedited stock art, I see that a lot. They find an image they like, then slap a title on it and call it good. Even if you don’t have a lot of editing skills or tools, tweak it at least a little bit to make it more your own.

What’s your average turn-around time for cover art?

That varies with the client, what they want done, communication back and forth, and what other work I have going. The longest it has ever taken me on one cover was 2 weeks, but that was under extenuating circumstances. Typically 1-2 days, up to a week, depending on revisions.

What software do you use to create covers? Where do you go for images?

Mostly I use Adobe Photoshop CS5. If I’m hand drawing the cover, I might use Illustrator or (coughs) WinPC Sign, but even with vector drawings I’ve become comfortable using Photoshop.

As for the images I use, that varies greatly. Sometimes I’m lucky, and the author sends me the images they want used. Either of their own or ones they purchased. I try to use free stock as much as possible, though that is not always possible. Deviantart.com is an excellent resource, as long as you make SURE of licensing and commercial use. I use Dreamstime.org, Wikimedia Commons, and several other places through out the web.

And a lot of the time, I take the pictures myself. I’ll let you in on a little secret.  There are covers with my hand, lingerie, legs, photo albums, knives, cupcakes, etc on them. Sometimes it’s just easier to take your own picture than search the web for the right angle!

Before you get started on a cover, what information do you need from the author?

Well for starters, I’d like to know what they see on their cover. I need a description of the characters if they want them on the cover, at least a summary of the story line and genre. Sometimes I’m told exactly what they want, other times, they have no clue and I wind up reading a portion or all of the story until I “see” the image.

If you suddenly lost your skilz, who would you hire to design your cover art?

Oh a tough one! If I suddenly lost my skills, I think I’d recommend Dara England.

If you’d like to see more of Karri’s AMAZING work, vist her website: http://www.artbykarri.com

If you’d like Karri to design your next cover, contact her here:  kklawiter@gmail.com

Confessions of a Cover Artist – Dafeenah Jameel

As part of an ongoing series, Confessions of a Cover Artist, every Friday, I’ll introduce readers to new cover artists whom I feel make exceptional covers. These artists must come highly recommended by their clients, so artists, please don’t apply to be featured. If you find an awesome artist, hold onto her/him. An artist who understands what the client needs is a true gem and can keep continuity with the author’s future books. Dafeenah Jameel has been highly praised by my friend and best selling YA author, Lizzy Ford. IMHO, no matter the quality the writing (and Lizzy’s books are awesome) even the best authors need appealing covers and Dafeenah has helped Lizzy and other authors achieve success.

TW: Why do you design cover art? How did you first get started?

DJ: I originally started with a small overseas publisher. I work as a translator, formatter and designer, but the books are in Urdu and Arabic. Then I met Lizzy Ford and found about the indie phenomena. It was a way for us to get our translations printed in English also. So I started cover designing for indie authors.

TW: What have you learned along the way?

DJ: You can’t please everyone. So don’t even try to. Do your best and go on.

TW: What mistakes, if any, did you make early on when designing covers?

DJ: I think it would take less time to list the ones I didn’t make. Cover design overseas and for the fiction US market is very different. I’ve been able to work with some very talented people who’ve helped me a lot to learn and grow as a designer.

TW: List in order, the five most important elements of a good cover.

DJ: 1. Genre specific

2. Eye catching

3. Unique

4.. Visible title

5. Encompasses the story

TW: What are common mistakes indie authors make when designing their own covers?

DJ: Not hiring a professional. I realize most indie authors are on a budget, so they try to design their covers themselves, and while there are areas where authors can save and do things themselves, the cover (for most people) isn’t one of those areas. If there are only two places an author spends money, then it should be for an editor and cover designer.

TW: What advice would you give to the indie author trying to design cover art?

DJ: Hire a designer. Or at least get the advice or critique of someone who is a designer. You don’t ask your plumber for stock advice so it’s best to not ask your husband/wife/companion if they think your design looks good. Chances are they’re going to tell you it’s fabulous just like they tell you those jeans don’t make your butt look big. Strangers aren’t afraid to tell you the truth. Your loved ones depend on you for dinner so they don’t want to upset you that way they don’t have to eat burnt lasagna for dinner.

TW: What’s your average turn-around time for cover art?

DJ: It depends on my schedule but for the most part I usually get first drafts within 48-72 hrs. Then it just depends on what changes are required as to when the final design is completed.

TW: What software do you use to create covers? Where do you go for images?

DJ: Photoshop and CorelDraw. Various stock sites.
TW: Before you get started on a cover, what information do you need from the author?

DJ: I have a questionnaire that I give to new clients. It asks for the summary of the book, details of the MC such as ethnicity, eye color, etc. Also I ask about some pivotal scenes in the book or quirks of the MC. Anything that I could use to portray the story. These things aren’t mandatory but the more I know about the inner workings of the book the better cover design I can do for someone.

TW: If you suddenly lost your skilz, who would you hire to design your cover art?

DJ: Renee Barrat from The Cover Counts. I’m in awe of her skill and knowledge.

TW: Why do you enjoy working with indie authors?

DJ: Helping someone to realize their dream is always a wonderful thing. I’ve had some fabulous people help me in my path so it’s a way for me to pay it forward and help someone else.

Dafeenah’s website:  http://www.indiedesignz.com

Dafeenah’s Portfolio: http://www.indiedesignz.com/gallery.html

Confessions of a Cover Artist – Christine DeMaio-Rice

http://www.flipcitybooks.com

As part of an ongoing series, Confessions of a Cover Artist, every Friday, I’ll introduce readers to new cover artists whom I feel make exceptional covers. These artists must come highly recommended by their clients, so artists, please don’t apply to be featured. If you find an awesome artist, hold onto her/him. An artist who understands what the client needs is a true gem and can keep continuity with the author’s future books.  I love the way Christine DeMaio-Rice’s incorporates texture and blends color in her covers.  I was not surprised to find out she works in the fashion industry. She has a good eye for creative composition. Please give Christine a warm welcome and feel free to admire her creative artwork.

TW: Why do you design cover art? How did you first get started?

Christine: I designed my cover for Blue Valley because I thought that was what everyone did. I found I had some kind of talent when I didn’t know I had, because people started PMing me on Kindleboards asking who my artist was!

TW: What have you learned along the way?

Christine: One, I learn something new about my main tool, Photoshop, every day. Seriously, do you know how wild that application is? I can’t tell you what 60 percent of the stuff on the menu does, but every time I figure something out, I design a little better and a little faster.

TW: Oh, I totally agree about that one. I’ll accidentally come across a tool and wonder how I’d missed it before. What mistakes, if any, did you make early on when designing covers?

Christine: There were things I could have done more easily with clipping masks and other tools that I spent hours doing by hand. OMG this interview is so boring, it’s like an ad for Photoshop, and I used the phrase “clipping mask” like it was exciting to anyone but me. Let me see if I can spice up the answer to the next question.

TW: List in order, the five most important elements of a good cover.

Christine:

1. Swords
2. Pretty colors
3. Sexy ladies
4. Mantitty
5. Barely hidden boobies
6. Spicy!

TW: HEY! Those sound like most of the romance covers I make.

Christine: Ok no really. Ignore the real list below because it’s boring but important

1. Genre. This is a partnership between the colors, the size and type of font, and the image(s). To me, I should know what kind of book I’m buying from the cover alone. The blurb can add nuance, but the cover and title areyour biggest tools for sales because they broadcast the content.
2. Nothing else is important except number 1 above, but also, customer satisfaction. If the author does not love their cover, they won’t show it all over town, and if they don’t show it all over town, the book won’t sell. Period.
3. It should look like a real book. When the customer clicks on Amazon, their reaction should be nil. Nothing. They should not even notice the cover because they’ve been looking at trad pubbed books and when they come across yours it should fit in so well that there is no skip in the mind that makes them say, “this doesn’t fit in.” Which is not to say the cover shouldn’t be beautiful, but beauty is fine as long as you understand this is a marketing tool for the words under the cover, not an end unto itself.
4. Font. I should be able to read it, and it should be correct for the genre. And kerned. I cannot stress enough the importance of kerning.
5. Depth. This is where most authors who do their own covers fall down on the job. You’ve got the right font and the right photo, and you put those two together and think you’re done. You’re not. Or, to be more clear, you shouldn’t be. You need to add texture, and color depth, and you need to look at that font and ask yourself if it would benefit from a dropped shadow or a touch of bevel. It’s the little things, really. Look at other covers you like and see what they’ve done, and if they’ve done nothing, go look at more covers.

http://www.flipcitybooks.com

Christine: Illustrating a scene from the book and saying that’s what’s in the book. To be honest, if an author insists on illustrating a scene I pass them on to another designer. On a verbal level, or a structural one, your scene may indeed encompass the whole theme of the book. It doesn’t matter. Go to the bookstore and find covers that show a scene from the book. Very very few do that. It’s just not what covers are meant to do.

TW: What’s your average turn-around time for cover art?

Christine: Three days to three weeks. It depends. Right now I’m doing Lin Welch’s Whisperings series and I’m doing so much photomanipulation it’s taking forever. It was totally unexpected, but they look awesome. If someone needs a fast turnaround, I opened a premades store with inexpensive, readymade covers.

TW: What software do you use to create covers?

Christine: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Adobe Bridge, FontExplorer Pro. I occasionally have to use Illustrator but I try to avoid it. That program has moved further and further away from real logic with every update.

http://www.flipcitybooks.com

Christine: Mostly Shutterstock, but sometimes I have to move afield for that one special thing.

TW: Before you get started on a cover, what information do you need from the author?

Christine; Blurb and genre. If I don’t know the person, I ask for links to other covers they like. Once I have all that, if we decide to use a face on there, I send stock photos for approval first. The character’s face is very important and no one knows them like the author. This can take a wildly long time, but after that it’s pretty quick.

TW: If you suddenly lost your skilz, who would you hire to design your cover art?

Christine: This was a tough question. It would have to be someone who has infinite patience and an excellent knowledge of Photoshop, because I’m going to be over their shoulder

telling them what to do, and where I’d experiment to get what I wanted, this person would have to know what to do without the frustrating steps to get there. Honestly they wouldn’t need any visual talent at all, because their eye would just get in my way.

TW: Do you think being a novelist makes you a better cover artist? How so?

Christine: It makes me sympathetic to what the author wants, and it makes me totally customer service oriented, because I get it. I really do.

For more of Christine’s FANTASTIC cover art, LIKE FLIP CITY BOOKS on Facebook or visit her WEBSITE.

Dead is the New Black is FREE today only on Kindle!

Laura Carnegie gave up on the man of her dreams a long time ago. He’s fashion designer Jeremy St. James, and not only is he her boss, everyone knows he’s gay.

When he’s arrested for murder, secrets come to light and nothing is what it seems. If Laura can just solve this crime, keep the cops off her tail, break up a counterfeiting ring, and get the show on the runway by Friday, she might stop being Seventh Avenue’s perpetual loser.

If you love Project Runway, or enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada, try Dead Is the New Black.

Confessions of a Cover Artist- Athanasios Galanis

So some of you may know that in addition to writing books, I’m also a cover artist for a publishing house and I freelance for indie authors as well. You can click HERE to see some samples of my work. Working with so many indies, and now being an indie myself, I’ve seen some really impressive covers out there. I’ve also seen some not-so-impressive covers.

Sorry.

Many indies who say they can’t afford to pay an artist end up designing the cover themselves, despite no training in composition. I’ve seen a few indies pull off some impressive covers, but more often they just have this amateur look. And I’m sorry if I come off sounding snotty. That’s not my intention. But indie authors need to realize the cover is the FIRST thing your readers will see before they buy your book. Not the blurb, not the first chapter–the cover. And so these indies come back to the KB boards or FB groups and complain that their books aren’t selling. But you know, sometimes you need to spend it to get it.  Yes, editors are especially important as well, but you’ve got to start with a marketable cover.

As part of an ongoing series, Confessions of a Cover Artist, I’m going to introduce you to cover artists whom I think make exceptional covers. Because, yes, not all cover artists are created equal, either. If you find a good artist, hang on to that person. Your artist can help you to build a brand and keep a continuity with all of your future published works. This series will be by invitation only, so artists, please don’t send requests.

I’ve been keeping my eye on Athanasios Galanis’s (Tom’s) covers. I especially love the warm ambiance he creates with lighting, giving his covers an almost breathable quality. I was not surprised to find out he’s been in the graphic design field for some time before offering cover art services. Please give Tom a warm welcome and feel free to drool over his eye candy covers.

TW: Why do you design cover art?

Tom: I design cover art because it is a passion that drives me and fulfills me like nothing else.

Nah.

I do stuff like this for a living day to day. I love doing covers because I have much more control and input in the artwork than I do in my usual DVD job.  Not to sound immodest but I’ve got an affinity for it and it’s not illegal so win, win. The other affinity I’ve got is frowned upon in polite non violent society so I’ll stick to artwork, DVD menus, video editing and covers, thank you.

TW: How did you first get started?

Tom: I started by giving my opinion to whoever asked for a critique about their cover on Indie Writer’s Unite. I found just redoing their cover was much quicker for me than telling them what would improve it. Picture being worth 1000 words and all that. Then a few people asked me to do their covers and it took off from there.

TW: What have you learned along the way?

Tom: I discover that I grasp what an author wants quite quickly. I’ve learned my instincts are much better than I ever dreamed.

I usually get what the author wants with a synopsis, their name and the title.

TW: What mistakes, if any, did you make early on when designing covers?

Tom: My only mistake was with one of my first clients who was also a friend. I trusted that he/she would pay me as agreed but he/she didn’t end up paying for all the covers I did for her/him. After 6 months of broken promises and partial payment I had to go after her/him to pull my covers for lack of payment and told her/him if he/she paid for my work in full he/she could use my covers again. To this day he/she decided it was easier not to pay than to use my covers.  This taught me to always have a watermark on proofs sent to a client and always have the proofs be low res and small.

TW: That really sucks to put so much work into a cover and then not get paid. I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked with some wonderful, dependable authors.

List in order, the five most important elements of a good cover.

Tom:

1.Title and author name placement & typography

2.Appropriate/relevant content

3.Composition of elements

4.Wow factor

5.Color

TW: What are common mistakes that indie authors make when designing their own covers?

Tom: Believing that since they know how to write they know how to set up a cover.   They might, but it’s not certain. If they do have an affinity with the visual it still takes years of practice to do it fast and competently. Remember a picture is worth 1000 words also works in reverse.

TW: What’s your average turn-around time for cover art?

If I don’t have anything else in front of me 2-4 days, depending on what I have in front of me a week.

TW: What software do you use to create covers?

Tom: Photoshop.

TW: Me, too, but I think I’m due for an upgrade.

Where do you go for images?

Tom: All over the web, Google mostly and http://www.depositphotos.com if I don’t want to worry about copyright.

TW: Before you get started on a cover, what information do you need from the author?

Tom: Synopsis, title and author name.  If they want to give me more info it’s a plus but not mandatory.

TW: If you suddenly lost your skilz, who would you hire to design your cover art?

Tom: Hmm, is this where I plug my fellow cover artists?

I’d use Christine De-Maio Rice because I like her attitude with her work. She doesn’t treat it in an artsy-fartsy way she does the job and fulfills a need for the author. She’s also got a good eye and you can’t teach that or develop it, you’ve got it or you don’t.  She’s also a friend and I’m loyal to a fault.   Plug alert: http://www.facebook.com/FlipCityBooks

 TW: I love her work, too. I especially love her use of textures and lighting.

 Do you think being a novelist makes you a better cover artist?

Tom: No.  I think being a graphic artist makes me a better cover artist.

Please visit Tom’s website to check out his covers and read about his cool Mad Gods series.

* * *

Tamra Westberry is cover artist for The Wild Rose Press, an indie designer and also writes YA paranormal as Tara West. Prior to that, Tamra taught high school English, journalism and photography. The first book in her Whispers Series, Sophie’s Secret is free on Kindle, Nook and other ebook outlets.

This is what I do!

Let’s rewind my life back six years ago. I had a two-year-old daughter with sensory issues whom I didn’t feel was adjusting to daycare. I LOVED teaching high school and my journalism students, but I had to make the difficult choice to leave my life as a teacher behind and put family first. Not to mention, I was always sick and tired and waking up every day to go to work was becoming more of a chore (a few years later I’d be diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease).

Shortly after I quit teaching, most of my time was dedicated to my child, and, of course, my obsession with photography. While I was actively involved with my local romance writers’ group, I met two really nice owners of a new publishing house. I showed them my photography and PhotoShop designs (mostly of my little girl) and began working for them as a cover artist. That was almost six years ago. Since then, I feel I’ve grown as an artist and as a writer.

I also initially published my Whispers series with this publisher. We parted ways when they closed down their YA line, but thanks to the self-publishing boom, I was able to put my books back on the market. Thanks to the self-publishing, I’ve also developed a prolific freelance artist business. It’s the best of both worlds. I get to spend my days writing and designing artwork. And even though I’ve often thought about going back to teaching, my focus now has to be my family, my health and my writing/design career. I don’t know if I will be able to fit a full-time teaching career into the equation, not especially since I’ve made so many strides toward better health.

I’m busy working on book four with my new writing partner. Details coming soon, I promise. Let me just say that she’s a formatting genius, a very creative paranormal author,  a practicing witch and a TOTALLY cool person.

In the meantime, I’d love to share some of my artwork with you. I’ve got many more covers on my site: http://www.tarawest.com but here’s a few I’ve designed for Indie authors. And believe me, I don’t want to slight any authors. Picking favorites was hard, so I’ve limited today’s covers to just those authors who write YA. After all, we YA writers gotta stick together.