From Stock Images to AI-Generated Artwork Three book cover concepts created with stock images were presented to a first-time author. However, he was not satisfied with the initial designs. After reviewing the layouts, he envisioned a more specific concept. I directed him to several stock image websites to search for suitable visuals. Unfortunately, he couldn’t…
In a recent episode of Book Marketing Tips & Author Success, (Oct. 4) the importance of selecting the right vendor and avoiding costly mistakes came up, and the advice couldn’t be clearer: get it in writing. When hiring a designer or any other service provider, it’s essential to have clear terms upfront, ensuring both parties are on…
What key components go on the back cover of your book? I recently saw a book cover diagram on Pinterest. It showed the back cover, spine and front cover with margins, and placement of elements. Overall, I agreed with the image. However, the diagram’s back cover repeated the book title, subtitle and author’s name. This…
Search Pinterest for book marketing ideas. It’s a treasure trove of inspiration. To start, simply type “book marketing” into the Pinterest search bar, and you’ll be greeted with a variety of visually appealing posts that are sure to spark ideas. I’ve curated numerous Pinterest boards, including one dedicated solely to Book Marketing, featuring over a…
Do you have an elevator pitch? Have you memorized it? Can you confidently deliver it when somebody asks, “What is your book about?” You may be thinking, of course, I know what my book is about. I wrote it. But that question isn’t as simple as it sounds. At a recent St. Louis Publisher’s Association…
For many years, I have been amassing book marketing plans from various self-publishing experts. As a book designer (and admitted packrat), my interest in this topic runs deep. Recently, I revisited most of these plans to gather ideas for an upcoming meeting. While some are nearly a decade old, they remain remarkably relevant. Although book…
The task of redesigning the book cover for Corinne’s poetry collection, The Rings of Nature, was an exciting opportunity to breathe new life into the visual representation of her book. The existing cover, though depicting a scenic outdoor landscape, lacked the visual impact needed to capture the essence of Corinne’s poetry. The goal was to create…
When co-authors Bob Stuckey and Ken Cooper contacted me about designing their business book, The Control Catastrophe: Why your organization is wasting money and how to fix it, they gave me a brief description of their manuscript and identified their target audience—corporate executives, managers and supervisors. The Design Process I began my process by looking at other books…
First-time author James Gibson contacted me about designing his memoir, Just a Long Walk. I asked if his manuscript was finished and if it was professionally edited.* It was not, so I suggested that he contact Andy Doty (Editwright.com) for editing and book coaching services. Andy got the project and circled back to me to design…
This summer, we went to the Art Institute of Chicago to see the Van Gogh exhibit. It was fabulous. We were dazzled by more than seventy-five paintings and drawings by master artists Vincent van Gogh, as well as Georges Seurat, Paul Signac, Emile Bernard, and Charles Angrand. While we were enjoying the paintings, we saw a book…