"DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER"

                             CHOOSING THE RIGHT COVER DESIGN FOR YOUR BOOK

TO SETTLE ARGUMENTS WE USUALLY AGREE TO DISAGREE, OR IF THE STORY IS BEING TOLD BY A THIRD PARTY, THE MOST APROPOS PHRASE IS: A BOOK ALWAYS HAS THREE SIDES, THE FRONT, BACK AND WHAT’S BETWEEN THOSE COVERS. WELL BEFORE YOU GET TO WHAT THE TRUTH IS, YOU HAVE TO GET PAST THE COVER. THIS IS WHERE WHAT’S PRINTED OR PHOTO ART APPLIES. HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU PASSED ON BEFORE YOU OPENED THE INTERIOR FLAP AND READ THE BRIEF SYNOPSIS, BECAUSE THE COVER WASN’T CATCHY ENOUGH? HENCE TODAY’S TOPIC. COVER ART IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF AUTHORS. LETS BE HONEST, MANY READERS ARE LURED BY IMAGES, UNLESS YOUR BOOK IS ILLUSTRATED,(CHILDREN’S BOOKS COOKBOOKS, COLORING BOOKS ETC…) YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING STRIKING ON THE COVER TO DRAW ATTENTION TO WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE. LONG BEFORE I STARTED WRITING BOOKS, I READ THEM AND I’M GUILTY OF DOING EXACTLY THAT. ROMANCE IS WHAT I LIKE BEST THOUGH A WIDE GENRE OF TOPICS INTEREST ME AS WELL. THEREFORE, IF THE COVER WASN’T COLORFUL ENOUGH OR THE HERO AND HEROIN REMARKABLE ENOUGH, I DECLINED GOING ANY FURTHER. THAT WAS UNTIL I MATURED AND TURNED THE PAGE TO THE INSIDE FLAP. IMAGINE HOW MANY GREAT BOOKS I DIDN’T READ BASED ON BEING SO SUPERFICIAL? WELL AS YOU CAN TELL I’VE OUTGROWN THAT STAGE, AND IS WHY I WANT TO DISCUSS THE TOPIC TODAY. NEVERTHELESS, THIS DOESN’T CHANGE EVERYONE ELSE’S VIEWPOINT ON HOW THEY CHOOSE THEIR BOOKS. IF YOU ARE A BEST SELLING AUTHOR, THE COVER COULD BE BLANK AS FAR AS YOUR DEDICATED READERS ARE CONCERNED. ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS THE NEXT ADVENTURE THEY ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK UPON. HOWEVER, FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE AUTHORS, WE NEED IMPRESSIVE COVERS TO ALERT THE READERS WE ARE JUST AS WORTHY. JUST AS BOOK TITLES WHET THE APPETITE OF READERS, THE COVER SERVES THE SAME PURPOSE. I’VE WRITTEN MANY BOOKS AND PUBLISHED TWO, THE THIRD IS ON THE WAY. BUT THE GENERAL CONSENSUS OF ALL MY READERS IS, “HEY I LOVE THE STORY AND THE COVER OF THE BOOK TOO.” THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO AUTHORS BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR WORK. BUT TO GIVE IT A FIGHTING CHANCE IN THE MYRIAD OF BOOKS, WE NEED AWARD WINNING COVER DESIGNS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. I’M GRATEFUL FOR THE SUCCESS OF MY BOOKS AND JUST RECENTLY, I RECEIVED TWO MARKUPS OF MY NEWEST PROJECT “IF TOMORROW COMES” AND HONESTLY I HAVE TO SAY, I WASN’T IMPRESSED. NO DISRESPECT TO THE MODELS, BUT THEY WEREN’T WHAT I HAD IN MIND FOR MY COVER. AS AN AUTHOR, MY STORY IS DRIVEN BY THE TITLE AND WHAT’S WRITTEN ON THE PAGES. THESE ARE MY IDEAS AND THEY CARRY OVER TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BOOK. THE PROBLEM IS, GETTING THE PUBLISHER TO SEE YOUR DREAM AS IT APPLIES TO THE COVER. IN MY MINDS EYE, MY VIVID IMAGINATION HAS CREATED A SPECIFIC IMAGE OF WHAT I WANT AS THE FIRST FOCAL POINT OF MY BOOK. THUS, I REJECTED BOTH MARKUPS, ATTACHED A PHOTO GEARED TOWARD MY ILLUSTRATION OF HOW I WANT THE FIRST IMPRESSION TO READERS TO BE. AS I SAID BEFORE I DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT’S COVER, BUT MANY DO. PEOPLE LIKE WHAT THEY LIKE. THEREFORE, AS THE WRITER WE HAVE TO CREATE IMAGERY TO STIR THEIR IMAGINATION THROUGH THE WORDS WE WRITE AND THE ART ON THE FRONT OF THE BOOK. I USE THE TERM ART AS IT APPLIES BECAUSE THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT; WAS A HAITIAN AMERICAN ARTIST WHO ACHIEVED NOTORIETY AS AN PART OF AN INFORMAL GRAFFITI DUO. WHO WROTE EPIGRAMS IN THE CULTURAL HOTBED OF THE LOWER EAST SIDE OF MANHATTAN DURING THE LATE 1970’S. BY THE 1980’S HIS PAINTINGS WERE EXHIBITED IN GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS INTERNATIONALLY. HE DIED VERY YOUNG BUT LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON THE WORLD. IN FACT, HIS LIFE WAS MADE INTO A SCREENPLAY, SOME MIGHT REMEMBER JEFFREY WRIGHT (FROM THE HUNGER GAME MOVIES, SHAFT AND CADILLAC RECORDS, HINT HE PLAYED MUDDY WATERS) PORTRAYED HIM IN THE MOVIE. OTHER NOTABLE ARTIST SUCH AS VINCENT VAN GOGH WAS A DUTCH POST-IMPRESSIONIST PAINTER WHO WAS AN INFLUENTIAL FIGURE IN THE HISTORY OF WESTERN ART. CONNOISSEURS OF HIS WORK IDENTIFIED HIM BY HIS BRUSH STROKE OR THE IMAGES HE PAINTED ON CANVAS BEFORE THEY CHECKED FOR HIS SIGNATURE. FRENCH ARTIST PIERRE RENOIR, ANOTHER IMPRESSIONIST ARTIST HAD A DISTINCTIVE STYLE ALSO THAT LOVERS OF ART READILY IDENTIFIED AS HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD OF ART. WHY AM I MENTIONING ARTIST IF I’M TALKING ABOUT BOOK COVERS? TRUST ME THEY GO HAND IN HAND. MUCH LIKE WE IDENTIFY THESE ARTIST BY THEIR WORKS, WE AS WRITERS ARE CATEGORIZED THE SAME WAY. THE COVER ART ON OUR BOOKS IS OUR SIGNATURE THAT CONNECTS US TO OUR WORK. WORD IS BOND AND IS THE IMPRESSION WE MAKE BEFORE ONE WORD IS SPOKEN OR READ THIS IS NO LESS COHESIVE. LADIES HOW MANY OF YOU, IF YOU LIKE HISTORICAL FICTION OR CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE, ARE RIVETED TO THE BOOK BY WHAT IS PRESENTED ON THE COVER. WE LOVE BOLD, COLORFUL, AND SEXY IMAGERY BECAUSE IT SENDS THE MESSAGE TO OUR BRAINS SOMETHING WONDERFUL LIES BETWEEN THE PAGES. BUT IF THE IMAGERY IS LACKLUSTER WE TEND TO BELIEVE THE STORY WILL REFLECT THE SAME. THIS IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE, AND IT CAN BE HUGELY ATTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THE COVER DOESN’T REFLECT THE STORY. THIS IS DUE TO A BREAKDOWN BETWEEN THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR. HONESTLY, MOST PUBLISHERS CONSULT THE AUTHOR FOR COVER IDEAS IF THEY ALLOW SUCH FREEDOM. BUT THE FINAL DECISION IS ALWAYS THE PUBLISHERS. WHETHER WE AGREE OR NOT, AND HONESTLY MOST OF US ARE SO THRILLED THAT WE’RE BEING PUBLISHED THAT WE GIVE LITTLE THOUGHT TO WHAT’S ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BOOK, BESIDES OUR NAMES AND TITLE. YET FOR DIY AUTHORS, YOU MAINTAIN THE CONTROL OF THE COVER DESIGN AND DICTATE TO THE PUBLISHER HOW YOU WANT THEM TO DISPLAY YOUR STORY. THIS IS INSTRUMENTAL IN HOW WELL RECEIVED OR NOT YOUR BOOK WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND THE SUCCESS. OKAY I REALIZE ADVERTISEMENT AND MARKETING ARE DIRECT PARTNERSHIPS THAT DRIVES BOOK SALES. BUT BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU, COVER ART IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT.  FOR MOST PEOPLE A BLASE OR DULL BOOK TITLE OR COVER DESIGN IS LIKE A PAMPHLET ADVERTISING FLU SHOTS. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THAT PAMPHLET IS DESIGNED WITH EYE-CATCHING ARTWORK, I HATE NEEDLES BUT I’D BE TEMPTED TO GO GET IMMUNIZED.  JUST KIDDING, I TAKE MY HEALTH VERY SERIOUSLY. JUST AS MUCH AS I DO WRITING AND DOING THIS SHOW EVERY SATURDAY. TO HELP AND GIVE TIPS TO AID THE PROCESS OF WRITING. THIS IS MY PASSION, AND I WANT TO SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD. JUST AS I WANT TO HELP OTHERS WHO MAYBE JUST STARTING OUT UNSURE OF WHAT THEY SHOULD OR NEED TO DO TO GET THEIR WORK OUT THERE. BEING A SUCCESSFUL WRITER IS MORE THAN JUST POUNDING OUT WORDS ON PAPER. THERE SHOULD BE A THOUGHT PROCESS THAT BEGINS FROM CONCEPTION TO CREATION. OUR MAIN FOCUS IS ALWAYS WRITING A GREAT NOVEL, BUT WE SHOULD STAY MINDFUL OF WHAT COMES NEXT AFTER THE BOOK IS COMPLETED.  PERSONALLY, WHILE I’M WRITING THE STORY MY MIND IS ALWAYS ON WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE ON THE COVER. THE IMAGES ARE AS VIVID AS THE STORY AND IF I CAN SEE IT THAT IT CAN BE ACHIEVED. THE SAME APPLIES TO YOU. I SO WANT EVERYONE TO GAIN A LEVEL OF SUCCESS BY DOING WHAT THEY LOVE. WE LEARN AS WE GROW, AS IS WHY I AM DEDICATED TO SHARING MY KNOWLEDGE WITH YOU. KEEP IN MIND I DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING, BUT I HAVE LEARNED BY EXAMPLE AND WISH THERE HAD BEEN SOMEONE ON A PERSONAL LEVEL SUCH AS THIS TO AID ME IN THE PROCESS. YES I LOVE WRITING, BUT I LOVE THE CRAFT MORE AND THIS APPLIES TO ALL MY FELLOW WRITERS.

IT’S SORT OF LIKE ART MUSEUM CURATORS OR FILM MAKERS AND PRODUCERS. MANY HAVE NEVER DRAWN AS MUSH AS A FLOWER ON PAPER, BUT THEY HAVE STUDIED THE CRAFT AND IS THEIR PASSION. THEY CAN EXPLAIN AND TELL YOU ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH ART THOUGH THEY THEMSELVES ARE NOT ARTIST. AND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE MOVIES, MOST AREN’T ACTORS BUT THEY’VE ALSO STUDIED AND KNOW EVERY DETAIL TO MAKE A SCRIPT WORK AND GET THE MOST FROM AN ACTOR. WE AS WRITERS HAVE A THE INSIDE SCOOP. AND THIS IS WHY WE SHOULDN’T BE SELFISH WITH OUR GOD GIVING TALENTS BUT SHARE THEM WITH AS MANY THAT WILL LISTEN. YOU’LL BE BLESSED FOR IT.

YOU KNOW I HAD A FRIEND ASK ME: WHEN DO YOUR SHOW, DO FEEL AS THOUGH YOU’RE TALKING TO YOURSELF?

I REPLIED ABSOLUTELY NOT. I FEEL AS THOUGH I’M SPEAKING TO THE WORLD. LIKE A PAINTBRUSH IS TO ARTIST, INSTRUMENTS TO MUSICIANS’ AND NOTES TO SINGERS,  I AM CONTRIBUTION OF POSITIVITY TO THE UNIVERSE. WRITING IS LIKE THERAPY FOR THE SOUL, MINE AT LEAST. WITH A WORLD FILLED WITH NEGATIVE IMAGERY, HATE AND ALL MANNER OF EVILNESS, FOR THIRTY MINUTES, I CAN CREATE A CALM ATMOSPHERE, IN MY LIFE AND YOURS. I AM DEDICATED TO WHAT I DO AND I HOPE THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE MESSAGE I BRING EACH WEEK. I DON’T DO THIS SHOW FOR ANY PERSONAL ACCOLADES OR TO GET YOU BUY ANYTHING. I KNOW MANY AUTHORS WHO WANT USEFUL INFORMATION ARE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO FELLOW WRITERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND ARE BOMBARDED WITH EMAILS AND OTHER PARAPHERNALIA TRYING TO INDUCE THEM TO BUY A BOOK OR WHATEVER TO ESCALATE THEIR CAREER. THEIRS NOT YOURS. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I RECEIVE THEM TO WHENEVER I ACCEPT THEM AS FRIENDSHIPS OR FOLLOWERS. AND I KNOW THIS IS THE NORM THAT’S PRINTED ON MOST SELF HELP BOOKS ON HOW TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL AUTHOR. WHEREAS WHAT I AM DOING IS TRYING SIMPLY HELP OTHER WRITERS, TO BUILD A PLATFORM AND READERS TO GO OUT TO THE NEAREST BOOKSTORE LIBRARY OR ONLINE STORE IF YOU PREFER, TO BUY BOOKS FOR THEMSELVES AND LOVED ONES. THAT IS ALL.