Creating a Book Cover That Sells with Ashton Smith

Jan 30

Written By Kate .

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: Book & Brand Designer Ashton Smith

WEBSITE: https://www.ashtonmsmith.com/

In recent years, self-publishing popularity has skyrocketed in the author community. Andrew Albanese and Jim Milliot noted in an article for Publisher's Weekly that "in both 2022 and 2023, self-published titles outpaced traditionally published books by more than two million titles." Even though it is more likely in the last couple of years that the book you picked up is self-published, there is a lingering stigma surrounding these books of being lower quality, unprofessional, and overall, just bad reads because of one thing: bad book covers.

While DIY book covers are great options for an author looking to cross "publishing a book" off their bucket list, if you want to market your book to a broader audience, a DIY design isn't going to set you up for success. As much as we would all like to recite the age-old adage to "not judge a book by its cover," we must face that it's probably something we follow for everything except books.

The good news is that the continuing rise of self-publishing in the book world means that access to professional book cover designers is no longer limited to traditional publishing. When you invest in a professional designer, not only are you investing in their technical graphic design skills, but you're also able to tap into their wealth of knowledge about the publishing market and design trends.

You may be asking yourself, "But, Ashton, won't I lose out on some creative control when I bring another person onto the project?" The answer is, "Nope!" Self-published authors are the creative directors of their books, which means you get all the benefits of a graphic designer's talent while retaining as much creative control as possible. Cover designers (including myself) got into this line of work because we are just as passionate about books as authors! Working with a freelance designer ensures a super collaborative process from start to end, and you can weigh in on the direction and any necessary changes. Let's take a look at a project I recently finished with an author:

Kylie came to me after a nine-book stint with an Australian division of a Big Five publisher because she had never received covers that accurately represented her young adult fantasy book based on Chinese mythology. With the extensive information she gave me on the world and her characters, we developed a cover that utilized story-accurate imagery and gave small nods to the main character throughout the design. She also had the freedom to take the first draft I created and give me notes on the edits she wanted to make to represent her story best.

Now, all of this may sound great, but you may be asking what you'll need in preparation for working with a cover designer. That information will include:

Finalized Cover Copy: This will include the main pieces of copy that will go on your cover, such as a synopsis and author bio. Some authors may also include a quote from the book and/or advanced reader reviews. Research other books in your genre to see what is standard.
ISBNs: These affect the final barcode printed on your cover, which your cover designer will get when they create your final files with your chosen self-publishing service.
Printing Specs: Decide what formats you'd like to publish your book in (ebook, paperback, hardcover, and or/audiobook) and the final size of your book. Sizing standards can vary based on country and genre, so you can research what will be best for your story or consult your cover designer during your project intake process.
These are just a few of the main things you'll need when working with your designer. Download my free guide, The Complete Cover Prep Checklist, for the full list. It walks you through gathering all the necessary information before the design phase.
When working with a cover designer, you'll want to reach out to them ahead of your ideal start date for the design process. Timeline length varies by designer, but you can expect the actual design process to take around 6-8 weeks. Be aware that your dream designer may book out way ahead in the year, so it's better to communicate early to ensure your project stays on track to release on your chosen publishing date.
Ready to take the next step toward your dream book cover? Visit my website to view some of my previous work and submit a project-inquiry.