Thursday, 22 September 2011

Cover Joy!

I love working on covers before I write my books, it helps me get in the mood. Yesterday, I was fiddling around with different covers. Do you like any? Any suggestions?

I like how this one looks like it's from the 80s.


This is my favorite one.


Do you like to make covers for the books you're working on?

65 comments:

Writer Pat Newcombe said...

I wish I knew how! I'm not much good at graphics... Did you do all those yourself?

Clarissa Draper said...

I did all of them myself. I use a program called Flash.

Jayne said...

Three and five definitely are my favourites. *goes back to think*

Three is a crime thriller aimed at adults. Five is a YA book that interests me but I cannot pin what I think the book is about. Like them both though!

And yes, I do like doing this too - it's so much fun!

Connie Keller said...

Wow, I'm so impressed. Do you have a background in design?

Not only do I not come up with covers, I don't even have ideas in mind for my novel covers. Thankfully, I know a great graphic artist; otherwise, I'd be sunk.

Jen Daiker said...

Talk about talent girl!!! You are extremely talented! I loved the first version of Pressed, with the second title I'm not sure what I like more! Both are SO intriguing!!! You're fabulous!

Margot Kinberg said...

Clarissa - I love these covers!!! I like the first one so much; I really do.

I am extremely impressed with your cover-design talent - wow! :-)

Kittie Howard said...

Clarissa, I agree with Jayne. Three and Five were my first choices and remained so after I scrolled up and down a bit. I think Four might remind people of that Nike commercial where a man broke into a woman's apt. and she had to run. They had to cancel the commercial, such were the complaints.

Perhaps you could blog about Flash??? Please!!!!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Crap, several are just awesome! Like the one with the bench best.

Anne Gallagher said...

#1 and #4 are my favorite.

I love my covers. I wish I could do them myself. Sort of.

Javid Suleymanli said...

4th is perfect! I love making things on photoshop. But I have never tried to make a book cover. Great idea! thanks :)

Cherie Reich said...

Awesome covers! I really like the third one and the fifth one. I must make a mental note of this Flash program you mention. Very cool!

I do make mock covers, but I just use Microsoft Word. It's not anything fancy, but having a mock cover keeps me focused on the larger picture. :)

DEZMOND said...

third and fourth are the best solutions. The first two are not attractive being overly monotonous. They need better font solutions or some addition in the photos. Especially since the colours are also extremely bland.

The third one has a better photo idea and the position of the title.
Try to use different colours in title and in your name, always.

The cover has to be captivating like a movie trailer.

Old Kitty said...

I like the moody first two covers - very film noir-ish!!!! Wonderful!!!

Take care
x

DL Hammons said...

I've only done this for one book, but it was a blast! I actually prefer #2. :)

Hart Johnson said...

I like the top one and the one you like best. I think on the white light versus yellow light issue, though, it is a flavor difference. Sticking to grey tones feels to me a little less emotional--more detectively--where the yellow it feels more personal--if that makes any sense.

Carol Kilgore said...

I've never made a cover. I like #2 because the title is cleaner than #1. The third cover looks more like women's fiction to me than a mystery. I don't know what kind of book the second title is from the first choice, whereas the second choice says crime fiction.

Slamdunk said...

Excellent work Clarissa.

I like the first one best. It has that something is going to happen look about it.

Suze said...

It's funny the things that inspire us.

I favor your first two covers, and can't decide which lighting is the most evocative.

Laurel Garver said...

I like #1 a lot--it feels very film noir, and the typewriter font for the series title just supports that classic detective feel.

I'd also LOVE for you to post about using Flash. I worked in graphic design ten years ago and would love to try my hand at covers, but Photoshop (I have free access at work) is so hard to use. I love Quark but can't afford the pricey software.

Maria Zannini said...

I like the one with the park bench myself.

I don't go through the trouble of making my own covers unless I'm self-pubbing them. If the book goes to a regular publisher, they're only going to change it.

Since graphic design was my first profession I don't want to be upset when the house artist comes up with a different vision than what I had in mind.

Melissa Bradley said...

I have never done my own covers, but that's because I have no talent in that regard. I like the third one best, but I love the title of the second book.

notesfromnadir said...

You're very talented at cover design.

The 1 you mark as your fave is excellent. I like the slanted font & the hint of some1 hurrying down the street.

Marce said...

#3 with the bench is my favourite. If I had to choose from the first two it would be #1.

I like the sidewalk run and last bloddy one also.

Great work, a nice way to keep inspired.

Richard said...

I like #2 for overall design and layout.

I designed the cover for my ebook of short stories on Amazon. You can see it, if you wish, on my blog. It's the one Battles and other stories by R Patrick Hughes in the rotating display.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Clarissa .. I like 3 best .. don't like 4 or 5 .. the word vomit would put me off .. but then I'm almost Neolithic (I'm not?!) ..

have you seen what Seth's just done - two book covers .. take it off and turn it over?! Says why shouldn't ebooks have 'loads' of different covers ..

Well done .. and I'll get to WAVE .. cheers Hilary

Sean Patrick Reardon said...

# 3 makes me want to know why that chair is there. The one with the yellow footer, reminds me of Cliff Notes, or the MS Word, or whatever For Dummies, books. Thanks for the tip on Flash!

Carrie Butler said...

I love them all, but the first two are my favorites. You did a fantastic job! :)

Elizabeth Spann Craig/Riley Adams said...

The top one and the bottom one are my favorites.

You should think about doing this professionally...

LTM said...

I LOVE the first one. For some reason I like it better than the sepia version... and the last one. Very ew, but in a good way~ :D

Dorte H said...

I love the first and the fourth covers.

And I absolutely love making covers though my programme is not too good. So don´t lead me into temptation; I could easily spend far too much time dreaming up covers instead of writing ;)

Michael Offutt said...

The very first one at the top got me. That cover is amazing.

Doralynn Kennedy said...

I like all of them, but I think the third one and the last one are my favorites.

I need to learn how to do book covers... don't have a clue actually.

Damon said...

nice post :D

The Golden Eagle said...

Great covers!

The first and the last jump out at me the most.

I tried making a cover or two for my last WIP; I'm thinking about trying one for my current project, just for fun. Might not have time. :P

Lynda R Young said...

I like your favourite one too. I like the diagonal lines in it.

keishua said...

I love the third and fourth one. either of them would make awesome engaging covers.

jtwebster books said...

One and three are my favourites. I like the colour in the first as opposed to the second.The silver/white light seems eerier than the gold.

I've never tried to make them myself, but will need to soon. You've done such a great job, Clarissa!

L'Aussie said...

Those are stunning Clarissa, especially 4 and 5. The first two are a bit classic and verge on boring when I know your books are vastly unboring! The last one has a bit too much white but has some good grab-your-eye points, like blood...

I was intrigued that your work on your covers so early. I've waited to finish my short stories and just now working on cover art. Must look into Flash. Smashwords was recommending gimp? I downloaded it but haven't played yet.

I can see how designing covers would help you focus on the central idea of your story.

Denise

Talli Roland said...

I'm a big fan of making covers! And I'm with Jayne - three and five are my favourites. You did a great job!

Reilly said...

They are so nice!

Isis Rushdan said...

I liked #1 best. You're so talented. Design a cover would stress me out :).

Lydia Kang said...

I liked all the covers except the one with the park bench--it seemed to calm and serene for the subject. Your covers are so cool!

Damyanti said...

I like the third from the top. You really have an eye for design.

-----

Join me at the Rule of Three Writers' Blogfest!

lbdiamond said...

I like the first cover mock-up!

I don't make covers, but it is a neat thing to do.

irishoma said...

You are so talented!

If I had to pick, my top would be #2 then #3.

Donna

Shirley Wells said...

Wow. You're so talented. My favourites are #3 and #5.

I wouldn't have a clue where to start. I'm happy to leave it to the publisher as I'm hopeless at graphics.

Have a great weekend!

Stephen Tremp said...

My nephew is working on my book cover. Although there is a lot going on in the story, I asked him to keep it simple. Just take one topic and go with that. Don't use the synopsis and try to capture everything.

And I like the center, or number three, image that you have.

Fresh Garden said...

Fantastic!

DWei said...

3rd and 5th ones are my favorite.

No offense but the first and second ones look generic and even tacky to me.

Lenny Lee* said...

hi miss clarissa! for me i like the first one cept i could like different letters for the title. i love that first vomit one its way catchy looking. i like making book covers for my stuf but its sorta like the stuff i write cause i keep changing it and do never get satisfied. ack! but for sure its fun doing different covers.
...hugs from lenny

Cold As Heaven said...

My favorite is #3 (with the empty bench). Cool that you make covers yourself >:)

Cold As Heaven

Joanne said...

I like the first and the third covers. Great work!

Mary Mary said...

I like the stark black and whiteness of the first one. And just having a mysterious car sitting there with God-knows-who in it makes it creepy!

Damon said...

fantastic :P
nice post

Bryce Daniels said...

You did these yourself? Umm....WOW.

I REALLY like the ones depicting the car under the streetlamp. I can't finger it, but they have a noir flavor that intrigues me.

BEAUTIFUL covers.

Flying high in the sky.... said...

too good!!! excellent taste!

Lady Gwen said...

Wow, you're really, really, good! I liked #1 car under the streetlamp, and the bench. Both very evocative.

I know you've already noticed, but I'm just doing my rounds to let you know I have a blog award for you whenever you feel like stopping by.

Rebecca Emin said...

I like the first one best, and I also like the third and fourth. You're great at cover design!

Anne R. Allen said...

I'm so impressed. They all look great to me. I wish I had even a little bit of talent in that department.

Nas Dean said...

I love all those covers. They all look lovely. Though three, five, four...no all look good!

So impressive that you did it yourself!

J.L. Campbell said...

That first one is so spooky it gave me chills!

Caitlin said...

Oooh I really like the first and fourth ones! I actually just made a cover for my WIP for the first time a few days ago. It was so much fun!

Angela Ackerman said...

You are so talented! I wouldn't have the first idea on how to figure out a cover! I like the one with the park bench the best.

Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

Michael Di Gesu said...

GREAT COVERS!

Yes, I do love to make covers. I usually wait until I finish the novel before I play with them.

L.A Speedwing said...

WOW. You did them yourself? Well done you!! I like the one you like the most as well, the one title that says " why run backward, you'll vomit." because it's funny and the fact that the picture is capturing only the heels of that woman brings your attention and curiosity. Is there humour in your thriller/dark book? If there is, you should definitely put an hint of that in your cover. But reading other reactions, I bet you are more confused now than ever.
Thanks for visiting my post and leaving me a long and nice reply on "would you rather?" Your answer were most interesting.

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