The Domination Game, by Jennifer Byars and published by Graham Publishing Group, is an enticing tale of a strong heroine persona clashing with a strong alpha male.
First, I think it is important to understand that a well-designed book cover needs to do more than just catch a potential book-buyer’s eye. A special book cover also conveys a sense of what to expect when the reader opens the book. The cover is your way of communicating something about your story, your characters, and your setting. It speaks to the mood your story unveils. It speaks to the mystery you’re portraying, the conflict of your characters, and the unspoken texture of your writing.
You may say that’s a lot for a book cover to accomplish. You may say you’d be satisfied if a potential reader just took notice. However, if you find the right cover designer to help with the process, the cover will also encourage your potential reader to open to the first page and plunge in. Then it’s up to your skill as a writer.
The best cover designers do more than read a synopsis of your book. They want more. They want to hear from you exactly what you are trying to portray in your book, who you are trying to reach, and what message you are trying to deliver. A good cover designer takes the time to explore your manuscript, to ask questions, and to listen to what the book is telling him or her.
A good designer doesn’t hone in on a single image from your book. A good designer is eager to know what the point of the book is, the journey you are taking the reader on, and the feeling you hope they have when they finally read the words: The End.
If your book designer is lucky enough to come by a winning concept on his or her first try, I would be both surprised and leery. You should be presented with a number of concepts, concepts that might well spur another round of ideas. Designing a book cover is an investment, and you want your cover designer to invest more than just his or her time and energy, but also the full measure of their art.
If you’d like professional help designing your special book cover, we’d be happy to help you at Graham Publishing Group. Visit us online at www.grahampublishinggroup.com, give us a call at 720-366-6401, or drop us an email.