Cover Your Story or What does a Cover Reveal? Everything.

I have read many discussions on what makes a great book cover. For me, a cover is what encourages me to pick up the book and flip it over to read the synopsis. I walked right past most books because the cover did not grab my attention. I’m sure you do too. Of course, we each have our favorite covers that stopped us dead in our tracks. Covers, after all, are art, and as the old saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That works for book covers as well.
    When I buy a book, I’m excited to delve right into the story. If after reading the story the cover did not represent the story, I feel somewhat deceived. I wanted to read the story that the cover conveyed.
As an author, you need to look at all the covers in your genre. Are there any that just jumped out at you? Made you want to read that particular novel without even reading the synopsis? Then check to see which cover artist designed your favorite covers. There are so many great cover artists you are bound to find one that can bring your book to the light you want it to shine under. You can also find many talented graphic designers on social media.
    During the writing process, I tend to have a vision manifest in my mind. I see the cover idea, and then I scout for pictures representative of the story I’m telling. Once I have found a few that I believe would work I relay my idea and those photos to my cover designers.  This helps my designer see what I am envisioning. Sometimes I can’t find the right picture and hire a photographer to do a shoot for me. Once my designer and I agree on a photograph I have the designer work her magic as the cover comes to life. Fonts and placement of the title are essential as well.
My covers must tell the story. If you look on the front cover, the spine, the back, you might be able to figure out where the tale between the pages will lead you. It’s all there on the print books front and back cover.
    Bottom line, love the covers you put on your books. They represent you and your story. When it comes to book covers, they are just as important as the words held within the binding.
    Here is Sirenity’s cover for her story Blossoming Act. What does this cover tell you without reading the synopsis? Why is she looking over her shoulder? Does she appear sad, scared, worried anxious, lost, or something else? Where is she? What do you see on the back cover? What is on the spine? These are the valuable clues to the story you are about to read between the pages.
MMy cover artist for this novel is Robin from www.wickedbydesigncovers.com

    I want to add, this is only my opinion. We all have to search for what works for us. No two authors are the same or will have the same views.

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