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Covering Myself #CoverReveal

Posted on September 19, 2018 by Loni Townsend

You are all the greatest. When it comes to writing, my bravado is a lot bigger than I actually feel. The truth is, I’m terrified that people are going to hate my stuff. The fact that people actually volunteered to beta-read for me…

Thank you. I’m honored.

Since this isn’t IWSG week, I won’t dwell on my insecurities. Instead, let’s talk about covers!

Now if I were a good marketer, I’d probably arrange a big event to flood the bloggoverse with my cover, but I’m not and I didn’t. So this grand cover reveal is because I enjoy sharing.

I do the thing people recommend not doing and create my own book covers. I’m not a professional graphic designer and I don’t offer services. Everything I know has been through testing through various audiences and getting feedback. But I am rather pleased with my creations. I’ve created all the covers for the big books and have them squirreled away for when the books are actually finished. And here is Isto:

I wanted to go for a theme. The parameters: stone the color of the elemental clan, and the clan symbol in distress. Thanmir War, which you can see in the side bar, is represented by the Earth Clan. Tagline: The Earth Clan has declared war and a landscaper is at the dead center of it. Their color is green, symbol is the tree.

Now, I don’t expect anyone outside of the know to pick up on my theme. I assume most people won’t associate Isto’s cover with the Water Clan. I’m okay with that. I’m telling all of you because that’s what I like to do. ๐Ÿ™‚

The Water Clan’s color is blue, and the symbol is overlapping waves. In my obsession to possess a logical reason for my design choices, I created an alternate “peaceful” version.

Seem more watery?

Of course, that wouldn’t go with Isto’s tagline: He saved his wife and condemned his world. But I have big visions of creating a lenticular print (those bumpy cards that show a different image depending on which direction you look at it) that I can use as swag. Okay, mostly swag for myself. I’m still a kid on the inside. I’d totally hang it up on my refrigerator after excitedly showing it off to my husband and children.

Since I am the master of my own covers and possess the power to make edits as I please, feel free to point out anything that looks wrong or other inefficiencies. Like my writing, I need external eyes to tell me where I fall short of the mark. Otherwise, what do you think?

Do you like playing with graphics? Do you ever obsess over your reasons for going with a particular design? If you could have any swag you wanted, what would it be?

23 thoughts on “Covering Myself #CoverReveal”

  1. Alex J. Cavanaugh says:
    September 19, 2018 at 11:20 AM

    I think it turned out great! And it’s the same style as the first book. Well done.

    Reply
  2. C.G.Coppola says:
    September 19, 2018 at 11:28 AM

    What a beautiful cover! I am *totes* jealous that you can make something so pretty! And I’m with you – I’m terrible at marketing so my cover reveals end in my blog only!

    Reply
  3. Anna says:
    September 19, 2018 at 11:30 AM

    Loved the first cover in the post. I can’t see what you mean in the second but I bet it will be awesome too. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Anna from elements of emaginette

    Reply
  4. Juneta says:
    September 19, 2018 at 11:47 AM

    Very clever and talented. I like them, especially the water one. And yes I can see the watery element of the second. Very Nice.

    Reply
  5. Elizabeth Seckman says:
    September 19, 2018 at 12:06 PM

    I honestly think you create covers that rival anything a big press comes up with.

    And cool swag is never a waste of time.

    Reply
  6. Sarah Brentyn says:
    September 19, 2018 at 12:32 PM

    That cover is gorgeous. And it goes so well with the first book. (I *need* covers in a series to go together–it’s a thing.) Amazing job.

    I suck at marketing, too, so I feel for you. Don’t know what advice to offer. Maybe set up a blog tour when it’s released?

    Reply
  7. Erika Beebe says:
    September 19, 2018 at 6:17 PM

    Love love love your font choice and color. Great contrast! I am a graphic designer and fonts are so key for me. Congrats! You should be proud of your gorgeous work ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  8. Liz A. says:
    September 19, 2018 at 6:56 PM

    It’s a beautiful cover. And swag is so much fun.

    Reply
  9. Aldrea says:
    September 20, 2018 at 1:56 AM

    I’ve been saying how good your covers are for a long time. They’re the ones that make me the symbolistic style.

    Looking at Thanmir War and the green in the cracks, I wonder if a similar style could be used with Isto in blue.

    Reply
  10. Elsie says:
    September 20, 2018 at 7:09 AM

    I really like the cover. It’s eye-catching. The orange and red tones really pull you into it. I’m like you, Loni. Quietly laying the groundwork to release my next book. No tours or announcements. I’m just terrible about that stuff.

    Elsie

    Reply
  11. Chrys Fey says:
    September 20, 2018 at 10:05 AM

    That cover is amazing. It stands out and is perfect for the genre. You have a talent. That’s for sure!

    Reply
  12. Jeri says:
    September 20, 2018 at 11:23 AM

    The color really pops in the first cover. The font used for your name seems a bit out of place though. I do like to tinker with tweaking photos digitally and would love to take a class someday.

    Reply
  13. Sherry Ellis says:
    September 20, 2018 at 11:51 AM

    I think your cover looks great! I wouldn’t even know where to begin to design my own. You have a special talent.

    Reply
  14. ChemistKen says:
    September 20, 2018 at 2:48 PM

    Even though I guess it doesn’t quite match the watery theme, I do like the first one with the eye-catching orange and yellow color. It’s a little hard to make out the water in the second one, especially in thumbnail form.

    Those textures and three-dimensionality of those covers are excellent, and way beyond my capability. Kudos for doing your own covers.

    And what makes you think there’s anything wrong with being a kid at heart? Never, ever lose that trait!

    Reply
  15. Arlee Bird says:
    September 20, 2018 at 10:16 PM

    The fiery look is striking and attention getting. Very tastefully composed I think.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    Reply
  16. Melissa Maygrove says:
    September 21, 2018 at 5:42 AM

    I like it. I hope you can figure out how to make that bumpy card. That would be cool!

    Reply
  17. Madeline Mora-Summonte says:
    September 21, 2018 at 7:24 AM

    Well done, Loni! I wouldn’t even know where to start – I so wish I was creative in an artistic way. Sigh.

    Reply
  18. Julie Flanders says:
    September 21, 2018 at 7:54 AM

    Wow I love it! You are so talented. I always love your creations. I am hopeless when it comes to anything with graphics.

    Reply
  19. Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine says:
    September 21, 2018 at 10:17 AM

    You did a great job on your cover. It is gorgeous and eye catching.

    Reply
  20. Raimey Gallant says:
    September 22, 2018 at 4:25 AM

    A very eye-catching symbol, Loni. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  21. Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor says:
    September 23, 2018 at 10:12 AM

    That looks fantastic!! It’s really interesting to read about the theme that underlies it. So excited for you ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  22. H.R. Sinclair says:
    September 24, 2018 at 3:41 PM

    Mind. Blown. Awesomesauce cover!

    Reply
  23. Mary Pax says:
    September 25, 2018 at 6:32 PM

    Stunning. It’s a fantastic cover!

    Reply

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Welcome to my blog. I post here on Wednesdays most of the time, but you can find me on social media any day of the week. My topics include my stories and writing, life at the Town's End, creating and tinkering with graphics, things I learn and think might be helpful to others, and the occasional amateur photo. Thanks for stopping by! I hope to see you around.

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