Cover, cover, on the book — which cover is the fairest look?
Choosing a cover for a new story is always entertaining. I’m working with a pro photo manipulator for my cowboy romance covers, and with an illustrator (my daughter, Hanna Sandvig) for the Urban Farm Fresh Romance covers. These two approaches require very different processes!
With the seventh UFFR releasing in September, Hanna and I got to work about mid-July on the cover for Dancing at Daybreak. This is what we’d done for the previous stories in that series with monochromatic backgrounds.
First we tackled the first half of the title: Dancing. To keep the couple at a similar percent of the cover as the ones above turned out to have some challenges. Dancing couples take up a lot of room! They either have their hands stretched upward (which interfered with the title) or their moves made the image wider. We tested a bunch of couples dancing on an existing cover file just to get a feel for layout, and decided the hero’s leg could go behind the author name. Then Hanna got to work sketching the couple. With basic line-art in place, we began poking at the background.
Daybreak not only speaks of new beginnings after a period of darkness (a major theme in the novel), but what color is dawn? We tried a couple of options, but they were less than wow. I wanted wow. Even brightened up, they lacked the punch I was envisioning.
We kept going back and forth on the assorted parts. At one point I commented that the hero’s hair needed to be a bit lighter, but that the heroine’s hair could be “any color” because she dyes it anyway. This was not quite what I had in mind, but it gave a good chuckle in the middle of the process!
We experimented with different colors for the title and author fonts, but we were still lacking the wow factor. We liked the heroine’s dress shimmery silver like in the reference photo, but it wasn’t popping enough in the image. The hero’s turquoise shirt was too much. Then Hanna tried two more background color schemes, and we chose the more vibrant one. Yep, it’s a lot different than the previous monochromatic covers, but hey, it suits the story and title, so we chose to go with it.
We tried the heroine’s dress in turquoise and the hero’s shirt in white. No. Purple dress and white shirt. Closer. Change the shoes to purple, too. Better. But that white shirt was just a bit too white, like Hanna had forgotten to color it. Yes, I know many men wear white dress shirts! But, to me, it looked unfinished in the illustration.
With the addition of light turquoise pin-stripes, we decided the image was perfect. I hope you agree! Either way, here is the final cover of Dancing at Daybreak, now on pre-order and releasing September 17.
Dixie Wayling thought she’d found love with her third child’s father until the guy found Jesus. Right. Like she wanted anything to do with killjoy religion, especially when Dan issues his ultimatum: get married… or one of them moves out. Wasn’t going to be her.
Dan Ranta can’t give up his newfound faith to keep Dixie, but after she leaves the kids to go drinking with friends, he turns the tables and boots her out of the house he’s paying rent on. She declares her own conditions: give up Jesus and she’ll take him back.
What will it take for Dixie to overcome her past and find a deep faith of her own? How can Dan stand strong? Sorrow has certainly come for the night, but will there truly be joy in the morning?
Pre-order Dancing at Daybreak here!
Question: Do you enjoy seeing the development of a cover design? What strikes you as interesting about the process? ONE COMMENTER with access to US Amazon will win a $5 gift card.
“Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.”
MJSH says
I love the evolution of the cover. So much creativity there!
Mary Preston says
The whole process is fascinating. It’s interesting to see how the author’s images/thoughts become a reality.
Wemble says
Hi Valerie, I LOVE seeing how a cover comes about! How it goes from kinda blah, to wow because of colour and art choice!
Love that you work with your daughter:)
Blessings:)
Michelle says
I love reading about the thought process between the author and illustrator. I’ve heard before that the author had one cover in mind and it was changed completely by the time the book was printed.
Renate says
Hi Valerie! I LOVE seeing the development of a cover design. Teaching high school journalism, I taught several lesson on design for ads, front page. Graphics are important for visual learners. The entire design process is interesting – color, font, what direction the characters are facing (toward the text or the book opening or away from it). As a reader, I am drawn by the cover and title. Thanks for sharing. Your whimsical covers is what drew me to read your Farm Fresh series. LOVE the cover – so fitting! Book is pre-ordered. Best wishes. Enjoy your weekend. Fall is in the air. Only 52 degrees this morning (11 degrees Celsius).
Sherri G says
I don’t have any imagination when it comes to things like this. If I were an author I’d probably just take what I could get. I admire someone who can actually work through the process to get a great cover.
Lori R says
I was amazed at all of the designs and work that goes into making the cover just right. Your daughter is very talented.
Elizabeth Maddrey says
This is me, Sherri! I really dislike the cover design process because I just don’t know what I want! (Nor do I know if what I think I want is actually a good idea to want.) My cover designers get a vague idea and a lot of Lee way…and probably have to go through too many iterations as we nail down a concept.
It’s hard.
Paula Marie says
I love seeing the uns and outs of cover design, and I adore yours! I especially liked the one you and your husband posed for☺️!
kim hansen says
I like the whole process.
Tammy Francis says
I love watching the process of cover designs. Your end result is great Valerie, and you made good choices along the way. Congratulations on another book. 😀
Jessica B. says
I love seeing the evolution of cover designs. There are so many things that you have to take into account that I never really thought about.
Lelia (Lucy) Reynolds says
How interesting. The process is fascinating.
Sherida Stewart says
Valerie, the two of you did indeed create the perfect cover. I’m intrigued by your whole process of design. Selecting the right color makes a huge different. Great job!
Valerie Comer says
It is always so hard to make the final decisions!
Valerie Comer says
First her images and thoughts need to mesh with the designers! And they’re both guessing at what attracts the reading public…
Valerie Comer says
Blah to wow explains it well! So many nuances. I’m sure my daughter wished I would just tell her I thought it was perfect a few steps back. LOL.
Valerie Comer says
It can definitely change! But when you’re paying someone for their time, changing it later can be an expensive mistake.
Trudy says
The whole cover process is fascinating!! I do love the final version!! Your daughter did a great job on all of the covers for the series!! As readers, we usually know only the final product, and I, for one, like knowing more!! I know it’s hard work writing, but writing isn’t all involved, especially for the indie published author, as I’m finding out! You just added yet another dimension, and showed the steps! Thank you!
Valerie Comer says
Graphics really ARE important in presenting any package, in this case a story. I’m glad you love the whimsy of the Farm Fresh covers. This story was so challenging because Dixie was such a rebel!
We’re a little warmer here than you are. I think the overnight cold was about 14C.
Valerie Comer says
I’m not sure my imagination is always up for the task, either, Sherri! I may love something, but I’m so close to the situation I’m never sure if I love it because it is awesome or if I love it because “I” love it… and others won’t!
Elizabeth – your convoluted sentence says it exactly. So hard to know if we are even on the right track, let alone NAILING it!
Valerie Comer says
Not all of them go through quite this many iterations, but this wasn’t completely unusual, either. And I agree, Lori – my daughter is super talented. We laid the foundation with all the crayons and watercolors a little girl could want, but the dedication, hard work, and skill is all her own.
Marcia says
Thank you for showing the process of developing the cover. So interesting! Can’t wait for the new book and the continuing story of the series!
Valerie Comer says
The cover of Merry Kisses! That was such a funny day. Now that you’ve met my husband, I’m sure you can imagine how thrilled he was with the whole project. Or maybe not so thrilled LOL.
Valerie Comer says
Thanks, Kim! I hope you enjoy the story, too. :)
Valerie Comer says
Thanks so much, Tammy!
Valerie Comer says
And that’s why I hire someone, Jessica! I can (sometimes) see what I want in my mind’s eye, but there’s no way my skill level could pull it together on my own. It would take a month (probably more, let’s be honest) of hard work for me to create a cover on my own… and it still wouldn’t look professional, and it DEFINITELY wouldn’t be illustrated! I’ll save my time for writing.
Valerie Comer says
I’m glad you enjoyed peeking in, Lucy!
Valerie Comer says
Thanks, Sherida! When it began to click, we both knew it.
Valerie Comer says
Thanks, Trudy! Writing a good story is only the inside of the package, for sure! The cover is the wrapping paper. Ask my daughter – I’m just as likely to give a gift unwrapped, or I figure a gift bag is good enough. She, on the other hand, color-coordinates all wrapping and makes sure the entire presentation is appealing. Good thing she does my covers, not me!
Valerie Comer says
Thanks so much, Marcia! I hope you’ll love Dixie and Dan’s story.
Priscila says
What a fun process and beautiful cover. Thanks for sharing.
Valerie Comer says
I’m glad you enjoyed the peek, Priscila!
Patty says
I am so not creative, but I do enjoy seeing the creative process!
Valerie Comer says
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I hope you love the story as well.
SARAH TAYLOR says
The cover is amazing Thanks for sharing Valerie!
Margaret Nelson says
I always enjoy reading about how the covers come to be! It’s so much better than the days when I’d read a book and then wonder if the cover illustrator had any clue when doing the cover :-)
Valerie Comer says
I’m glad you love it!
Valerie Comer says
Oh, for sure! To forestall that disconnect we all hate, I choose my story models ahead of time so I know how to describe the characters AND my cover person has something solid to work with!
Paula Marie says
Jim.is a great sport to go through that with you, lol, and I totally agree that your daughter is super talented!!❤️
Valerie Comer says
:D
Kimberly Rose Johnson says
The process you have to go through with your cover is very interesting to me since my process isn’t the same due to the different types we each do.
I really liked the end product. :)
Trudy says
Oh, I love gift bags! Best invention! I’ve always hated wrapping! My nieces and nephews had to make do with gift bags, too! They all knew Aunt Trudy didn’t/wouldn’t wrap!! One year for Christmas, I gave my sister’s their gifts in Publix Christmas decorated re-usable shopping bags!! We all shop at Publix, and these all had different Christmas decorations on them. I needed something sturdy to put their gifts in, and I decided on something that could be used often.
Valerie Comer says
I know it’s a very different process than what happens with my Saddle Springs covers, which are photo-based! I like the end result, too.
Valerie Comer says
That’s my kind of wrapping LOL!!!!
Paula Shreckhise says
I like to see the progression. There is just something that clicks and you know you’ve got it! Great job.
Valerie Comer says
I’m glad you enjoyed the process!
Janet Estridge says
The old saying is, “you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover” but I do.
I volunteer in our Church Library and have for 40 years. I can tell you what we have by looking at the cover. If they change it, then I don’t know whether we have it or not.
Valerie Comer says
Makes total sense! We all do judge a book by its cover, even while trying not to…
Kerri Norrod says
Love learning about the process of making a cover for a novel.
Valerie Comer says
Glad to be of service ;) I hope you enjoy Dancing at Daybreak!
Ausjenny says
Love seeing the evolving design. Love the final cover such vibrant sunrise colours.
Valerie Comer says
Yay! I’m glad you like it :)
Merrillee Whren says
Love the final cover! And the story piques my interest for sure.
Valerie Comer says
Thank you, Merrillee! I value your opinion. :)
Arletta says
What a great process to get to the finished cover! Love the blue hair. Thanks for sharing.
Valerie Comer says
She couldn’t resist, LOL! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Mandy says
What a fascinating look at what goes into one cover design! I love the final version. I definitely think daybreak merits a multi-colored background. And Dan and Dixie have been through do much– let them have a little extra color!
Andrea Byers says
Oooh, I love that you shared a cover evolution. I love knowing what goes into deciding what to do, and how to make it happen and the tweaks along the way. I sure appreciate the creative people out there who can make something out of the bare basics. Beautiful cover btw.
Valerie Comer says
Ah, yay, someone who GETS Dixie and Dan! Thank you.
Valerie Comer says
Thanks, Andrea! I have a big appreciation for those creative people, too!
Susanne says
A very neat process!
Valerie Comer says
I’m glad you enjoyed reading it!
Melynda says
I found the breakdown on how you came to this cover design really interesting, but what I really love is the fact that Dancing at Daybreak will soon be out!! I’ve been waiting for Dan and Dixie to have their story told since they first popped up.
Valerie Comer says
Thanks Melynda! Sounds like you saw them as a good candidate before I did! I hope Dancing at Daybreak lives up to your hopes for them. :)
Natalya Lakhno says
WOW, I’ve never seen it like this…it’s fascinating :) Love it!
Every author need to share the process of choosing the cover ;)
Valerie Comer says
Hi Natalya! I’m glad you enjoyed the peek into the process. If you click on the cover reveal link above, between my author box and the sliding book ads, you’ll see more posts that are about covers. Some are just showing off new covers, but some of them show bits of process as well. Some have done custom photo shoots, for instance!
Priscila Perales says
Thank you for sharing this! I love getting to know/see the process behind how the beautiful covers of books come to be, and I’ve been especially wondering about yours, so this was a really fun blog post to read! It was really interesting to me to find out about how the cover started (actual picture of a couple and then turned into a drawing). Also, love the title (and the verse the story is based on).
Valerie Comer says
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the read, as well :)
Natalya Lakhno says
Thank you <3
Caitlyn Santi says
I always love to learn about the progresssion of designing a cover! I’m fascinated by the different stages of the process and the little ways in which the cover is tweaked until it’s just right! 😊
Valerie Comer says
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Hope you also love the story.
Judy says
An interesting process to watch the cover come to life with color. I do look back at the cover ever so often while reading the book. I like for the cover to match the words in the book as far as descriptions of people and scenery.
Valerie Comer says
I agree! The characters on the cover need to match the descriptions.