K.M. Alexander's Blog, page 90

Building A Better Book Cover

Along with being a writer I am also a designer. I’ve been designing for 15 years now, having done everything from posters, logos, email campaigns, web sites, before eventually settling into user experience design. I mention my pedigree such as it is, only because I want to talk about some concerns I have over design advice  given to indie authors who are diving into self-publishing.

There seems to be a great many folks out there who claim you can make a well designed book cover with a cheap stock photo and a bit of text. I have seen these articles pop up on blogs all over. Every single time I just get frustrated. Why? Well, frankly… they’re totally wrong.

A Short Design Lesson

A well designed cover is so much more. It’s clever. It’s engaging. It’s attractive. It’s enticing. Chip Kidd—arguably one of the best cover designers in the world today—is quoted as saying:

“A book cover is a distillation.

It is a haiku of the story.”

The primary essence of a haiku is the Japanese word きる or kiru, which means to cut or slice. In a good haiku everything is removed but the perfect words to formulate the perfect line. A good book cover should also strive for that same perfection. Just like a haiku, it should reduce thousands and thousands of your words into a few simple elements. These elements should work together to do one thing: engage the viewer.

Staying simple is key. One of my favorite sayings comes from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry who said:

“A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”

What does that mean? Let’s take a look at one of my favorite covers from last year, Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch:

There is so much going yet it’s so simple and clever. Excess distraction has been stripped away and it still oozes intrigue. The choice of hand lettering. The tear and the peeling back of the paper to reveal the titular goldfinch. It’s compelling. It’s engaging. It’s clever. It leaves the viewer wanting to know more. It makes me want to read the book.

Often stock photography tends to be the most cliché take on a subject. Cleverness rarely comes from cliché. To get past the cliché I think you need to go beyond visual imagery, sure…a piece of stock photography might show up, and yes a typeface choice will be a part of the final design, but just slapping together a few things that are “close enough” won’t do your story justice. A good cover goes beyond all of that, it becomes that perfect line.

Creating A Better Cover

Okay, my lesson on book cover design theory is over. You want to make a simple engaging cover. So how do you go about doing that? I get that not everyone is a designer. So what can you do as a writer to really make your book cover stand out and look professional? Here’s a few suggestions.

If you are willing to spend some money:

Hire a designer

Seriously. A designer will help your final work look it’s best. Make sure you have them read your book and approach you with a few concepts. If you have a few ideas throw them out there, but be willing to bend a little. It’s their job to distill your story down into that perfect haiku, that is what they are good at, let them be good at their job.

If you are going in alone:

Study well-designed covers

There are numerous resources out there for you to browse award winning covers. One fantastic place to start is The Book Cover Archive, a site I have mentioned before. But there are other collections all over the web. Use them as a resource, see what works and learn to recognize what doesn’t.
Learn from the masters

Chip Kidd had a great TED talk I suggest you go watch. There are also a ton of books out there as well with instructions on how to get started.
Sketch out ideas

Sit down and start sketching out ideas. You don’t have to be a good artist. Just get a feel for what you want. Does it involve people? Does it need to even have a photograph? Is there something representational you could use instead?
Get messy

Look back at The Goldfinch‘s cover. A lovely (and I believe in the public domain) painting by Carel Fabritius. Some paper. Some rough handwriting. It’s all laid out and photographed. It looks great. Don’t be afraid to try some weird crafty things to capture that cover you want for your book.

A Few Final Thoughts

So does the cover even matter? Some would say in our post-bookstore eBook-flooded-world a cover isn’t anything more than a thumbnail—if even that. Some would say the interior is what matters and cover design is a waste of time. Both stances are probably right on some level and sure, a well designed cover means nothing if your book isn’t up to snuff, and yes a cover is rarely seen in an eBook but I don’t think those are good arguments for bad cover design.

If you can put in a little effort into making your book look that much more professional thus making it more appealing to readers…why wouldn’t you? Quality sells. People look at covers before they buy a book (yes, even with eBooks.) There’s a reason why folks like Chip Kidd, David Pelham, and Barbara Dewilde can make careers designing some of the most iconic and recognizable covers on the market. It’s the same reason why people are drawn to smartly designed book covers, and why readers remember their favorites.

Imagery resonates. You have spent all this time writing a pretty amazing book. Spend a bit more time and give it a pretty amazing cover.

Filed under: Cover Design, Toolkit Tagged: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, book cover, Book Cover Archive, book cover design, Chip Kidd, design, Donna Tartt, Indie, Self-publishing, The Goldfinch

Knowledge Wins

Thought this was awesome and wanted to share.

Today is also the last day to enter for a chance to win a signed copy of The Stars Were Right. Enter today! Winners will be picked tonight and announced in my next newsletter. Good luck!

Filed under: Art, Inspiration, Random Tagged: Giveaway, Knowledge, library, The Stars Were Right

Visual Inspiration by Nivanh Chanthara

Babel by Nivanh Chanthara

If you follow my Pinterest Boards or have read The Stars Were Right you know I love epic megalopolis cityscapes. When I came across this piece from Nivanh Chanthara I had to share it here and figured it’d be great visual inspiration for someone out there. (Some of his work already appears in my board for Stars.)  There’s something so otherworldly yet ultimately approachable about his work, both futuristic yet grounded.  It’s good stuff. Check out his latest work on Deviant Art or see a larger version of “Babel” here.

Filed under: Art, Inspiration Tagged: Babel, Deviant Art, megalopolis, Nivanh Chanthara, Pinterest, The Stars Were Right, visual inspiration

Book Giveaway Update!

Christmas is over and a New Year has begun. That means we’re coming into the final stretch of The Stars Were Right Book Giveaway! So I figured it was time for a quick update:

Enter to win your copy today! Winners will be notified via email. I’ll also announce them in the January issue of my newsletter so make sure you sign up for that as well.

Good luck entrants!

(Note: When I recorded this video we were at 450 entrants, since the recording of this video we’re now at 563! Wow!)

Filed under: My Books, News, The Stars Were Right Tagged: Book, Contest, Giveaway, The Stars Were Right, Writing

Signed Copies Are Back!

Just a quick update to let everyone know signed copies of The Stars Were Right are back in stock at my store. The first batch went pretty quickly, however with the holidays over I think it’ll be easier for me to keep everything in stock. That gives you three ways to get a physical copy:

Get a signed copy from me.
Get a Roader Pack direct from me.
Buy from Amazon.

Filed under: The Stars Were Right Tagged: Books, reading, Signed Copies, The Stars Were Right

My Reading List for 2013

With the year wrapping up I figured it would be fun to share my reading list from 2013. If anything it’s a good way to share with everyone what I have read (or re-read as the case may be) throughout 2013. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite. Since this list is pretty long I’ll avoid reviews, however follow me over on Goodreads to see what I thought. Links will go to Amazon.

Novels—

It was a big year for novels for me. I’ve read more that I ever had before. This was also my first year reading on a Kindle (Paperwhite). For years I was a staunch physical book reader. However this year has changed all that. I absolutely love my Kindle it has changed the way I read. I’ll save those thoughts for another post…the list:

God’s War: Bel Dame Apocrypha Volume 1

by Kameron Hurley
Ready Player One

by Ernest Cline
Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas

by John Scalzi
Slated

by Teri Terry
Gun Machine

by Warren Ellis
Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1)  …again.

by Jim Butcher
Fool Moon: (The Dresden Files, Book 2)  …again.

by Jim Butcher
Grave Peril (The Dresden Files, Book 3)  …again.

by Jim Butcher
This Present Darkness

by Frank Peretti
The Atrocity Archives (Laundry Files)

by Charles Stross
The Human Division

by John Scalzi
The Aylesford Skull (Tale of Langdon St. Ives)

by James P. Blaylock
The Keyhole Factory : A Novel

by William Gillespie
American Gods …again.

by Neil Gaiman
Blood Meridian: or the Evening Redness in the West

by Cormac McCarthy
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (The Inheritance Trilogy)

by N. K. Jemisin
Heart Shaped Box: A Novel

by Joe Hill
The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive)

by Brandon Sanderson
Under the Empyrean Sky (The Heartland Trilogy)

by Chuck Wendig
The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel

by Neil Gaiman
Shift – Omnibus Edition (Silo Saga) (Volume 2)

by Hugh Howey
The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer  …again.

by Neil Stephenson
BioShock: Rapture

by John Shirley
Your First 1000 Copies: The Step-by-Step Guide to Marketing Your Book

by Tim Grahl
Beta Reading

by REDACTED
Beta Reading

by REDACTED
Mistborn: The Final Empire (Book No. 1)

by Brandon Sanderson
The Lurker at the Threshold 

by H. P. Lovecraft & August Derleth
The Stars Were Right (… again, and more times than I can possibly count.)

by me!

Favorite novel of 2013:

Blood Meridian: or the Evening Redness in the West

by Cormac McCarthy

Not only was Blood Meridian my favorite book of the year. It shot past Life on the Mississippi and became my 2nd favorite book of all time. It’s that good.

Graphic Novels—

I am a big fan of comics. So alongside novels I also read a bunch of comic books. I generally wait until they’re available in collected form. The loose issues always feel too short for me and I like to settle in with a nice big chunk.

Saga, Vol. 1

by by Brian K. Vaughan (Author) , Fiona Staples (Illustrator)
Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft

by by Joe Hill  (Author) , Gabriel Rodriguez (Author)
The Sixth Gun, Book 1: Cold Dead Fingers

by Cullen Bunn  (Author) , Brian Hurtt  (Illustrator)
The Sixth Gun, Vol. 2

by Cullen Bunn  (Author) , Brian Hurtt  (Illustrator)
Leviathan

by Ian Edington (Author)
Saga, Vol. 2

by Brian K. Vaughan  (Author) , Fiona Staples (Illustrator)
Locke & Key, Vol. 2: Head Games

by Joe Hill  (Author) , Gabriel Rodriguez (Author, Illustrator)
American Vampire Vol. 1

by Scott Snyder  (Author) , Stephen King  (Author) , Rafael Albuquerque (Illustrator)
Hawkeye, Vol. 1

by Matt Fraction  (Author) , David Aja (Illustrator) , Javier Pulido (Illustrator) , Francesco Francavilla (Illustrator) , Alan Davis (Illustrator) , Jesse Hamm (Illustrator)
Hawkeye: Little Hits, Vol. 2

by Matt Fraction  (Author) , David Aja (Illustrator) , Javier Pulido (Illustrator) , Steve Lieber (Illustrator) , Francesco Francavilla (Illustrator) , Jesse Hamm (Illustrator)
Moscow 38

by Benjamin Jelter

Favorite graphic novel of 2013:

Saga Vol. 1 & 2

by Brian K. Vaughan  (Author) , Fiona Staples (Illustrator)

Short Stories—

I didn’t read many short stories this year which is a shame. As a result I won’t be picking a favorite. However all three of the short stories I did read where quite good.

Dead Pig Collector

by Warren Ellis
Taltos

by Steve Tontounghi
Shaggoth in Bloom

by Elizabeth Bear

So that’s my list! How about you? How was your year of reading? Was there anything that stood out to you as a favorite? Did you find a new favorite author? What’s on your plate for next year? Is there a book you’re really hankering to read?

Filed under: Reading, The Stars Were Right Tagged: 2013, reading, Reading List, The Stars Were Right

Friday Link Pack—End of the Year Edition

Every Friday I compile a list of my favorite links I’ve seen throughout the week. Since this is the last Friday of the year I figured I’d go back and see what interested you the most and combine them into an End of Year Edition that featured the most popular links. Have a link I should feature in the upcoming year? Let me know!

Writing:

Random Story Title Generator

The name says it all, while the results are often silly I do find it great for brainstorming. Let me know when your first edition of: “Madman Fights Desert” hits bookstores. I’ll be at the front of the line.

12 Real Life Inventions That Science Fiction is Neglecting at its Peril

One of my favorite bloggers, Charlie Jane Anders, compiled a list of real life inventions that has been neglected by modern science fiction. If you’re looking for some inspiration for your own project look no further. There’s a lot here.

The Best Symbols To Throw Some Scare Into Your Story

I am a huge fan of symbolism. I think it can add an extra layer of depth for the readers willing to do the leg work. It also creates a richer experience overall. In this post Lauren shared a few spooky symbols you can add to your own writing. No surprise this made the list. Lauren’s posts are always amazing.

Art:

Jason Thompson’s “Lovecraft’s Dream Quest”

There was a lot of interest in this visual retelling of Lovecraft’s Dream Cycle. Not only is it beautiful but Thompson’s style has a level of detail rarely seen in the webcomic space. Worth spending time with.

Sean Cumiskey’s Fan Art for The Stars Were Right

I loved this piece when Sean sent it to me. I still love it today. Dark, moody, engaging. Apparently you all liked it as much as me.

Heath Lewis’ Wowly Heck

Heath Lewis (who created some awesome fan art) also started Wowly Heck—his experimental blog featuring new spins on some amazing monsters that you all loved. Very cool stuff.

Random:

Behold, the Moon as you’ve never seen it before

It’s a rad animated gif of the Moon! Who doesn’t love the moon!?

8 Ruined Cities That Remain a Mystery to This Day

io9‘s list of ruined cities is not only fascinating but also a great way to awaken your inner Indiana Jones. (Like your inner Indiana Jones was ever asleep.)

Medieval & Renaissance Cartographic Sea Monsters

BibliOdyssey’s great post exploring the subject of monsters on old maps. It includes some great high-resolution scans of the creatures: Renaissance-style dolphins with strange ducks bills, horned whales devouring ships, even the elusive marine chicken.

Lovecraft Story of the Year:

Unda; or, The Bride of the Sea

I was feeling a bit nautical when I selected this poem, apparently you all were as well. Out of all the “Lovecraft Story of the Week” it generated the most interest.

Farewell Gif of the Year:

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Filed under: Link Pack Tagged: Dream Quest, Heath Lewis, Lovecraft, Moon, Ruined Cities, Sci-Fi Inventions, Sea Monsters, Sean Cumiskey, Story Title Generator, Symbolism, Wowly Heck

Terrifying Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas to all of my readers and followers both far and wide. Thanks for helping make 2013 an amazing year for me and for your support of The Stars Were Right. Ya’ll are great. I can’t wait to show everyone what’s in store for 2014.

(I like to give credit where credit is due, so when I found Cthulhu Claus on a Google image search. After I explored further I discovered this was a Christmas card back in 2010 for the players of the MMO “The Secret World” by FunCom. See the full image here.)

Filed under: News, The Stars Were Right Tagged: 2013, Christmas, cthulhu, Cthulhu Claus, greetings

All I Need To Write

I found this comic by Grant Snider and wanted to share it here. (You can get a poster of this comic at Grant’s shop.) The message hits close to home for any writer, we’ve all been in a similar position: spending more time preparing to write than actually writing. I’ve shared my own thoughts on this subject before, but thought this comic was cute and it’s always a good reminder. Now go write.

Filed under: Writing Tagged: Comic, excuses, go write, Grant Snider, Motivation, Writing

Friday Link Pack 12/20/13

It’s time to share a few interesting links I have found throughout the week. Some of these I mention on Twitter, if you’re not already following me there, please do! Have a link I should feature? Let me know!

Writing:

The best literary spats of 2013
The Guardian rounds up the best literary fights of this year. From Jonathan Franzen to Bret Easton Ellis.

What To Do BEFORE You Reinvent Yourself In 2014
Lauren Sapala offers some simple advice on how to set yourself up for the approaching new year. Good stuff.

The Moral Villain
Want to give your antagonists a bit more edge? Becca Puglisi shares some good advice on how to create a moral villain.

Art:

Fancy Lad’s Old Timey Book Faces
Fun redesign of classic book covers. My favorite’s probably Moby Dick. So good.

One Room Transformed Into 14 Surreal Fantasy Landscapes
Foregoing photoshop Korean artist Jee Young Lee creates stunning photographs in her tiny studio. It’s beautiful stuff.

Random:

Matt Gemmell on Gamers
I love games, but lately there has been some concerning behavior coming from a repulsive vocal minority regarding the treatment of women. Matt Gemmell writes a sharply written article about how some gamers treat women in their industry. I couldn’t agree with him more. It’s time for some gamers to grow up.

Tió de Nadal or the Christmas Log
Move over Krampus, this log with a face that you beat with sticks until it poops treats might be my new favorite weird Christmas tradition.

Lovecraft Story of the Week:

Christmas
It’s very short and pretty cheesy but fitting for the season I suppose.

Farewell Gif(s) of the Week:

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