I’ll admit that, as a reader, I don’t always pay a ton of attention to covers. (Or at least not a ton of *conscious* attention. Obviously there’s something that gets me to pick up a book and flip it over, but if I really think about my last purchases, it was the title that got me to look more closely. Especially now when I do most of my book buying online and the blurb is right there (or at least a snippet of it) and I don’t have to do any heavy lifting.) As a writer, I know covers matter.
When I was writing for a small press, the cover design process was basically a conversation and a one-page idea sheet. Then, before long, I had a cover in my hands. It was great. Now that I’m indie, I understand just how great it was, because it was not me spending hours flipping through page after page of stock photos until I wanted to cry. (Honestly, sometimes I wonder about the photographers who tag their photos. You put in a search for “young blonde woman” and even on the first page you’ve got women with black hair and men. Maybe it’s the search engines, but still. And I won’t even discuss the clothing–or lack thereof–on so many of them. Ugh.)
Still, covers must be made, right? So when it came time to recover my first and second book in anticipation of their re-release, I took a deep breath and went poking about on the stock photo sites. (I know some authors do photo shoots. And I applaud them, I really do. I can’t even fathom the work that must go into those. I don’t see it being part of my repertoire anytime soon.) It was harder for these books because they already had covers that I really liked. 
First up was my debut novel, Wisdom to Know. This is the original cover and I just love everything about it. That’s the Jefferson Memorial in the background (so a good D.C. reference, plus it’s a player in a fairly major scene) and I like that you can’t really see the model. I enjoy making up what people in books look like, so when the cover has a photo that spells it all out for me, I tend to be sad. (I gather from talking to readers, however, that the majority of the world prefers to have a good likeness on the cover.)
Lydia, the heroine, is a bit of a wild-child. So I played around with showcasing that in these twiddles. I started out with a purple-y evening sky with the Lincoln and Washington Monuments glowing in the background.I liked the sky color, I liked the sort of evening look on the model and the fact that she wasn’t just a shiny happy person. Cause Lydia has some issues to work through. But talking to a few folks whose opinions I respect raised the question of whether or not she looked, as one put it, “like a call girl.” I wasn’t going for call girl!
That led to take two. I tried a different model pose which, I was hoping, might get rid of the whole call girl thing. Results were split on that. Was it the background or the model? I played with changing the pose again. But…in that one the model was just too happy. Not that Lydia isn’t happy, sometimes, mind you. That just…didn’t work for me though.
So I found another background and went back to the original model. Most agreed it was better but still on the iffy side–apparently the evening dress was throwing them off (and that’s even after I modified her neckline. The original photo’s neckline was…not what I was going for.) And now the bonus was that the evening dress didn’t match the clearly day-time sky of the background.
A little more digging and I finally found a picture (of the same girl, even) that I really liked. Mix it with the new, blue background and we have the new cover for Wisdom to Know! (I originally included my mockups here for you to see, but since I was just playing with comp downloads to start, I didn’t want to run the risk of sharing a photo I hadn’t purchased the rights to use.)
I also ended up needing to recover book two in the series, Courage to Change. This one wasn’t quite as hard, thankfully! (Even though, as with the first book, I actually really liked the original cover. Though on this one, I have a couple of reviews that ask about how the cover fits in with the story. So that’s not good. In point of fact, where Allison is standing is dock where she and Phil have two dates and he proposes very nearby as well. But I guess that’s too technical a detail as the book really isn’t nautical in nature. Ah well.)
For this cover re-do, I ended up going with my original concept, though I took a brief detour to a purple background when I was going through all the purple backgrounds of Wisdom up there. It was okay, but her outfit didn’t really match the evening look and…the picture itself is a little busy. (I love the photo but it might be the most amazing thing for a book cover. I struggle with that a lot. Beautiful photos don’t always make good book covers.)
Shortly after finding a blue cover for Wisdom I knew I was better off heading back to my original concept for Courage, giving us the final new cover for Courage to Change.
For a limited time,you can download a free e-copy of Wisdom to Know. If you haven’t read it and would like to, I’d love for you to snap up a copy. And, if you sign up for my newsletter, you can get Courage to Change for free, too!
Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.
I know what you mean about the search engines, Elizabeth…scary stuff pops up sometimes. All of your effort paid off, the cover looks fabulous! Congratulations!
I have both books, and love the covers on each one. I totally understood the connection on the cover page for Courage To Change, but I must admit I do like the new cover better! Great job! Congratulations! :)
Thanks Elizabeth for sharing the evolution your cover designs. For me as an e-reader, it is the cover that draws me in. I prefer a light colored cover, where the title and author is easy to read. I enjoy being part of the process, when authors ask their readers’ opinions on cover designs. The options as well the responses are fun to read. As a journalism teacher, I think of the elements of design. What element on a page draws the eye. Thanks for the free e-book Wisdom to Know. Downloaded and looking forward to reading it.
Thanks, Jill! At least I have a little while before I have to go scrounging again!
Thanks so much, Rachelle! (And huge bonus to you for catching the connection on the first cover!)
Thanks, Renate! I’m always scared to ask readers for their opinions — I worry they think I’m being lazy or unwilling to do the work that goes along with my books. I probably need to get over that. :)
I rely on covers to instantly relate the story’s genre, setting, time period, etc. and that’s exactly what your new covers do. All your time and effort definitely paid off. Glad you stuck with it to find the perfect images, backgrounds and fonts. I’m looking forward to reading Wisdom to Know.
I love your covers! Thanks for sharing the journey to finding yours. I don’t think I really pay attention to covers. The title or author usually catch me first and then I flip to the back cover blurb.
As a reader, covers really do matter when I am buying a book. If something really catches my attention, I am more apt to buy it!
Sigh…I love book covers. It’s usually the first thing I look at, after the author’s name.
If the name is someone I recognize and like to read, then I’ll ignore a bad book cover ‘cuz everyone has one once in a while, but if the author is unknown to me, it better be a good book cover or I’ll put it down, considering it amateurish. Good or bad, that’s how I decide what books to read–whether in a physical bookstore or online.
Great covers, Elizabeth. I’m impressed.
Hope you enjoy it, Jenny! I know I’m odd when it comes to covers :) it just makes it harder for me when I’m designing them. But I do know they’re important to most everyone else.
Thanks, Sally! It’s nice to know I’m not completely alone in my oddness :)
Thanks for swinging by, Linda.
I have found some hidden gems behind bad covers. That’s one of the reasons they’re less important to me. But it is kind of that first impression thing, I get it. (Of course, I’ve found some real losers behind pretty covers, too. And that’s Bern a factor in my thought process as well.) Glad you like the new ones :)
Great cover! You are fortunate you never had to wade through all those stock photos with your publisher. I’ve had to do it with both of mine and only a few times have they actually used the photo’s I’ve sent. :)
Oh dear – I didn’t realize there were publishers who tortured their authors with stock photos too :) so sorry! ;)
I enjoyed hearing how covers are so well thought out! With e-books I often never see the cover. I like seeing & reading the covers..
Love the new covers, Elizabeth! Good work.
I enjoy book covers, so I liked hearing about the process. I use book covers an initial guess to the story. It conveys setting, historical period, clean romance or make than I want to know romance. Some books I go back after reading the book and still can’t figure out how the cover relates. Thanks for all the work you put in to it for people like me to enjoy :-)!
Readers, who have tried their hand at writing understand how difficult writing is in today’s world of constant interruptions, especially while trying to raise a family. Now add, designing a cover, writing blurbs, and promoting one’s books, plus those of fellow authors. Since we can’t publish our own works, we enjoy helping writers. Think of it this way, as a grandmother even though I do not want to raise kids, I try to help my sons and their families when I can – watching grandkids and since my son is under the weather and his wife is out of town making chicken noodle soup for their supper this evening.
I love the grandma analogy. :) thanks, Renate!
Thanks, DK! I definitely think reading ebooks has factored in – I see the cover on the page when I buy. But then not again. Though I know some readers show the cover. Not my old gen kindle :)
Thanks, Valerie!
You’re welcome! And you’re 100% correct about that first impression they make. :)
I totally sympathize with your experience picking out new covers. I wouldn’t have the patience to do what you do.
Thanks, Michele!
I love your new covers Elizabeth. I especially love the one you used for Courage To Change. I loved seeing the cherry blossoms in bloom on the cover since I grew up in the DC area. Since I read e-books on my Kindle the covers don’t matter that much. It was interesting to read the process you go through to put together the final cover. now I need to read both of the books.
How interesting to learn how you chose the cover! I love the “inside scoop” from authors. Thank you for sharing. I signed up for your newsletter, too. :-)
Thanks, Nancy! I hope you enjoy them :) I will admit that I have to force myself not to put cherry blossoms on every cover — I love DC in cherry blossom time.
Thanks, Melissa — enjoy your freebie! :)
I think covers are very important. Thst is what catches the readers eye to pick up a book to look at. I loved reading how you choose your covers . Of course your books are always amazing .
Aw, thanks :)
Covers are interesting to me. I’ve seen the same model in the same pose on several covers by different authors. Her clothes and the background is all that’s changed. Titles are sometimes puzzling, what does it mean, but the cover is what draws me to the book.
Finding a model you like who isn’t all over every book cover known to man is so hard! I know we all try, but…it’s tough :)
I really liked learned your process for finding just the right cover for your books! I like to make up book quote meme’s sometimes and I can understand the struggle for finding the photo that will work for what you have in mind & making sure it’s one you can use freely! Sometimes you have to play with the font, background color & etc to get everything to work together. It’s a lot of hard work….but when you’re satisfied with it….it’s so lovely!!
I have both of these book now on my Kindle :-)
It’s interesting how sometimes cover changes happen last minute. It happened after I won a book once, and they didn’t send it for a couple months because of that. ;)
Yay – hope you enjoy them :) and that book meme process is so similar…worth it in the end though!
Oh wow! But you just never know sometimes when you need changes.
I really love the new covers for your first two books. I loved those stories, and the new covers are so bright and colorful they really draw your attention. I can’t wait for your next novel to come out because I so enjoyed your books and your newsletters getting to know you as a person has made me feel like you’re a close friend. Have an awesome week, and keep up the good work my friend!
The evolution of the cover was a neat blog post.I seen various discussions on book covers.
I look at the covers but basically it’s the blurb I use to determine if I want to read a book.
Thanks, Linda! I appreciate you! :) (Next book in spring I hope – need to get my fingers busy!) :)
Thanks, Linda. :) I really rely on the blurb, too.
Cool covers, and thank you for the ebook!
Thanks, Iola, and you’re welcome! Hope you enjoy it!
I love book covers and hearing all about the process! Thanks for sharing these two titles in your newsletter, I was happy to snatch them up and look forward to reading and reviewing them.
Thanks, Beth! Hope you enjoy them :)
I really like your new cover for Courage to Change.
Thanks!