Best Left to the Professionals
- Laura McAsh
- Dec 10, 2024
- 2 min read
I've been spending a lot of time researching what I'd like my book cover(s) to look like. If I'm traditionally published, I will likely have zero input on what they'll look like, but if I self-publish, I'll have all the control in the world! Muah ha ha ha!
I have minimal visual art experience and although creating my own cover would be the cheapest option, it's the least professional. I also couldn't create something that would come even remotely close to meeting my standards.
Thus, I have scoured the interwebs to compile a mass of references. My research has mainly consisted of hoarding ideas on Pinterest and stalking artists online. In my travels across the internet, I've noticed a trend in the covers I'm most drawn to:
Character Feature
Simple Colour Pallete
Double Exposure/Silhouette
Interweaving Motifs
Absolutely gorgeous, am I right?!
I've compiled an ever-growing list of artists who could help me bring my eye-catching cover(s) to life.
Reedsy has a slew of talented freelancers:
Following thousands (I'm not exaggerating by much here) of artists on Instagram has also proved invaluable:
Charlie Bowater (cover artist for An Enchantment of Ravens)
Gabrielle Ragusi (cover artist for The Lost Daughter)
Melissa Castrillon (cover artist for The House with Chicken Legs)
I would love to work with any one of these incredible artists, but I have to accept that some of my favourites will be well out of my price range, especially if I want to pay another editor to look at my book before publishing. As much as I want the prettiest cover going, spending loads of money on "cosmetics" on a project that may not break even is not a wise move.
Another option would be going with a website I've discovered called Miblart out of Ukraine. It has stunning art in affordable packages that may be just the thing I need.
What type of book cover tends to grab your attention?
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