How do you create a beautiful cover?

One of the most exciting moments for any author is seeing the cover of their new book. But believe me, finding the right one for your novel is not always easy. A good jacket should hint at the feel of the story and stand out on the shelves. It doesn’t necessarily need to be beautiful, but it helps.

My publisher Simon and Schuster had tried various approaches with the artwork for my next novel, ‘Messy Wonderful Us’. I’d liked quite a few of them, but none prompted the instant, positive reacti...