How Do You Choose Your Book Cover?

May 31, 2019

How Do You Choose Your Book Cover?

As many of you know, my book of short stories, A Walk In The Woods, recently came out. I loved working with my illustrator and watching my ideas for the cover slowly take shape. I wanted the cover to reflect the first story, and to have a woodland scene as well as the little girl who features in the story. But my wonderful illustrator came up with the idea to make the girl the central focus of the cover and to give it a really eerie feeling. I love how, if you look closely, you can see through the girl’s head, to the forest beyond. Spooky, eh?!

So how do you decide what you want your book cover to look like? How do you start to come up with ideas? Does the cover end up looking vastly different to how you imaged it would at the start?

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Esther Chilton

books

book covers, books, fiction, short stories

16 responses to “How Do You Choose Your Book Cover?”

Ritu

May 31, 2019

With my poetry book, I just knew I wanted a riot of colour, like in a Hi festival… The idea was conveyed to my designer and we found the right image to make it work.
I’m just starting on the journey with the new book. I had ideas but thee are other concepts I want to explore… Illustrated or photo???

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1. Esther Chilton
  
  May 31, 2019
  
  I’ve done both! And you get very different images. Have a play round with both and see what you think 🙂
  
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  1. Ritu
    
    May 31, 2019
    
    That’s what I’m hoping we can do!
    
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Hugh’s Views and News

May 31, 2019

Yes, my first cover was totally different from the ideas I had, but I’m glad my book designer persuaded me not to go with what I suggested. I’m was absolutely thrilled with what he came up with and had no hesitation in saying ‘yes’ when he told me what he had in mind for my next book.

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1. Esther Chilton
  
  June 2, 2019
  
  That’s really interesting, Hugh. I didn’t realise you had had other ideas first. Both your covers are stunning though so I can see why you went with them.
  
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  1. Hugh’s Views and News
    
    June 2, 2019
    
    My ideas were so different with what I ended up with, Esther. However, I’m glad I was persuaded not to go with them. Sometimes, we need to allow others to take over. The covers for both my books seem to be a huge hit with those that have read the books.
    After all, it’s always the cover that will get me to pick up a book. If I don’t pick it up, it may be unlikely that I will ever go back to it. That’s why it’s so important for our book-covers to also stand out on a mobile device.
    
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  2. Esther Chilton
    
    June 2, 2019
    
    That’s a very good thought, Hugh.
    
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robertawrites235681907

May 31, 2019

I designed my own Sir Chocolate book covers as all the illustrations are my fondant creations and gingerbread houses. I had the covers for While the Bombs Fell and my forthcoming Through the Nethergate designed although I gave significant input into the design. I was very happy with my covers too.

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1. Esther Chilton
  
  June 2, 2019
  
  I can see why you designed your own for the Sir Chocolate book covers – your creations are simply wonderful!
  
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jenanita01

May 31, 2019

You ask good questions, but ones I cannot answer. Takes me ages to find a cover I like that fits the book…

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jenanita01

May 31, 2019

Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.

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1. Esther Chilton
  
  June 2, 2019
  
  Thank you so much for the reblog 🙂
  
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sanandi-jacq

June 2, 2019

Never chosen my own book cover but when I worked in a publishing house was instrumental in working with designers and authors to create an appropriate brief for covers and seeing the design through to publication. It is a complicated process and often needs a lot of eyes from different angles especially the potential market. Feedback from the market is important.

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1. Esther Chilton
  
  June 2, 2019
  
  Very useful feedback, Jacqui. Thank you.
  
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Jason A. Muckley

June 3, 2019

My self-published book I made something with the templates Amazon had… it was very rudimentary. I am learning to draw, paint, etc. and I hope to include some of my own illustrations on my next book.

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1. Esther Chilton
  
  June 3, 2019
  
  How wonderful to design your own. I think that’s a great idea. It’ll mean so much more.
  
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