The Book’s Cover

Aside

As a writer, I believe that powerful words will stand triumphant. Good ideas and entertaining characters will be in demand with readers.

As a marketer, I understand that a well-designed cover is essential to success.

I have experience in graphic design, and more experience in directing professional graphic designers. I’m not an illustrator, and those people amaze me. Images abound in this world. How does one choose the image that will represent 90,000 words or more, and pull the attention of the bookstore browser while competing with thousands of other books on a bookstore shelf, and millions of others online?

The Heaven Ride Advance Reader Cover

John Eccleston and I wrote a book that’s more about a marketing phenomenon than a religious eventuality. Early on, we asked 10 beta readers to preview the first six chapters. Our story took place primarily in San Francisco, and we selected an ominous royalty-free photo of the Golden Gate Bridge partly obscured by clouds. We printed the ARC copies at The Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver using their Espresso publishing machine. While I was there, I had three other authors ask for my business card for their book designs. It was an effective cover.

But when the time came for the full book cover, John and I both agreed that we needed something more personal to the Heaven Ride story. We wanted something that would establish the Heaven Ride brand. Janella Eccleston, a professional graphic designer, created an original logo that we both love. Meanwhile, I researched book store shelves, and the covers of books in the techno-thriller category. I asked people which covers stood out. Which ones didn’t they like? Why?Which ones would they be inclined to pick up to peruse? Covers with intriguing people topped the informal poll. Simplicity was next in importance.

Heaven Ride Cover Art

Many of our competitors feature black, or very dark colors, on their spine. We decided to go with white. The lettering will be a serif font for the byline, but a bold Helvetica style for the title.

Our cover design may or may not succeed in attracting readers in the aisles. We think it will. We know that it is the best possible means to establish Heaven Ride as a brand. We look forward to having t-shirts and merchandise promoting us. We look forward to the possibility that a film producer might option our novel for a movie. We look forward to two more novels to complete the trilogy.

Perhaps, just perhaps, our logo will stick in the minds of readers enough that they will tell friends about our story. That, along with some powerful words and a creative story that makes one think, will be the reasons why we will succeed.

Heaven Ride will be available for pre-order this week.  Look for out FB page and Twitter feeds for further details:  HeavenRideNovel