Creating the Cover for The Legacy of Longdale Manor
Have you ever wondered what it takes to create the cover for a novel? I’ve learned it takes a dedicated team of people with knowledge, skills, and creativity to capture the essence of the story in a way that will connect with readers and motivate them to read the description and hopefully buy the book. I am very grateful to have just such a team at Bethany House Publishers!
About one year before the book is released, sometimes before I’m even finished writing the story, they invite me to share my ideas for the cover as well as images of my characters and setting. I spend quite a bit of time on Pinterest and with Google image search, looking for just the right photos that will help the team understand the story. I send those in for them to view as they were considering the best cover design for the novel.
This is the image is sent to represent Longdale Manor.
Those who work in sales, market, and the art department, as well as the editors, come together to discuss ideas for the cover, and then a designer creates cover mock ups. The team discusses those ideas and what they think will best appeal to readers. When they all agree, they send me the “final” cover design options and ask for my feedback.
These are the first two designs. I loved the image of the heroine, the colors, and the manor house on the right, but I had a few suggestions. I asked if they could increase the type size and weight so it would still be readable when the cover was reduced online, and I asked if they could change the paper in the middle to a journal, since that was one of the key items that tied the historical and contemporary plots together.
The designer went back to work and they sent me the next design. I loved the addition of the blue journal and the manor house that seemed to fit the description of Longdale Manor. I asked if they could just tip the journal a bit and I sent them a rough mock up of what I was thinking.
They very kindly took my suggestions and we had our beautiful final cover! I am so pleased with how it turned out. I think it really captures the mood of the story. Can you spot a few other small changes?
Since The Legacy of Longdale Manor released September 26, I’ve heard from so many readers who tell me how much they love the cover design. I’m sure it has caught the attention of new readers and delighted those who are familiar with my stories.
Special thanks for this lovely cover design go out to Raela, Anne, and Jenny at Bethany House, and Kathleen Lynch at Black Kat Designs.
Follow this link to order your copy of The Legacy of Longdale Manor. Does the heroine look like you pictured Charlotte? Did the journal on the cover influence you to want to read the story? I’d love to hear your thought about the cover.
Until Next Time ~ Happy Reading!
Carrie
