
Many thanks to today’s co-hosts: Jacqui Murray, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, and Gwen Gardner!
Today’s question: If you are an Indie author, do you make your own covers or purchase them? If you publish traditionally, how much input do you have about what goes on your cover?
I was fortunate to start my author journey with a small publisher known for their eye-catching book covers. Omnific Publishing created this cover for my debut novel, With Good Behavior, which portrayed the romance element between two convicts well, I thought. (Some thought the handcuffs represented BDSM, ha ha!)
I was mostly pleased with Omnific’s receptivity to my input, though I did want a larger image of a couple kissing underwater on my new adult swimming romance, Streamline:

When I turned indie in 2014, I knew the importance of a professional cover, meaning I would never try to create one on my own. I hired my publisher’s book designer, Coreen Montagna. We didn’t intend to focus on hot shirtless men, but that was the best image we could find for the first book, and sequels just *had* to follow the same format.

For my latest novel, Rivals, I had a lot of input with my graphic designer friend, Dan Irons, including the design for my first audiobook cover:
Of all the publishing tasks, creating book covers can be challenging, but also a blast! (At least more fun than writing blurbs.)
More fun sounds good – and looks enticing
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Thank you, Esther! It’s probably more fun after finding images that might work. 😀
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I would definitely hire someone to design my covers rather than trying to do them myself too.
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I look forward to seeing your first cover, Natalie!
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You used your publisher’s designer – smart!
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And the amazing editor I met through my publisher–Jessica Royer Ocken. She’s been wonderful.
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Blurbs are no fun!
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For realz.
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My favorite cover is that latest one for RIVALS. Really nice closeup of those characters that creates a sense of what this story is about!
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Thank you, Beth! That was a rare situation where we found a perfect stock photo for the story.
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Hi,
I like your covers. They are expressive and give me some kind of idea about the story I will be reading.
Wishing you all the best.
Shalom aleichem
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I really appreciate it, Pat. Hope your 2023 is off to a great start.
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Nicely done. I think they all work.
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Thank you for the compliment and for co-hosting, Jacqui!
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The covers are great. I just hope his mother got a new pair of shoes for making such a pretty baby. hehehe
Anna from elements of emaginette
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😀 I bet his mother has great abs, too!
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I thought your “Blocked,” “Aced,” and “Spiked” covers sizzled, Jennifer! All your books have great covers!
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Very kind of you, Louise!
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