John Chapman's Guide to Getting Published - Book Covers

a 'How to…' page

Getting Published Guide / Book Covers

Book Covers

They say, “Don't judge a book by its cover,” so a cover doesn't really matter

Forget the "don't judge a book by its cover" nonsense! Your cover is a silent scream for attention, a whispered promise to readers, the very first spark of your story. Don't let a bland cover bury your masterpiece. Fight for your words, your readers, and your dreams with a cover that ignites curiosity, demands to be held, and shouts your brilliance from the shelves. Make your cover the irresistible invitation to the world you poured your heart into, because every unread page is a testament to a cover that failed to do its job.

This page turned out to be a lot longer than I expected so I've broken it down into sections and then broken some of those sections into smaller pages.

Do you know how to recognise a good cover?

Colour and emotions

Different colors can evoke different emotions in people, that makes it important to choose the right colors in book cover design.

Colour choice red, black, white

Black: is often used on book covers to evoke a sense of crime, mystery, suspense, or danger. It's the symbol of the unknown or shadows. It inspires a sense of suspicion, and dark secrets that may be hidden within the pages. In some cases, black may also be used to convey a sense of loss so a black cover might work for a book about grief or one with a tragic ending. Ultimately, the use of black on a book cover can create a variety of different emotions, from excitement and anticipation to dread and fear.

White: is a light, neutral color associated with purity, innocence, honesty, and new beginnings.

Red: Red is often associated with danger, violence, bloodshed and passion. It’s no surprise, then, that this color is often used on book covers for thrillers and suspense novels. Red can also convey a sense of urgency, which may make it ideal for time-sensitive non-fiction books. Overall, red is a power color that can easily make your book stand out from the rest. The combination of red, black and pale skin (white) on the book above probably had a lot to do with the book's success. Not only that but the book clearly shows the rule of thirds applied.

Orange: The most common emotions that orange evokes are excitement, frendship, and cheerful reads. It's also associated with positive, dynamic, optimistic, and confident non-fiction. If you see a book cover that is orange, it is likely that the book will be a feel-good read.

Colour choice yellow and blueYellow: is associated with happiness, optimism, and sunshine. Not surprisingly, then, this color is often used on book covers for feel-good fiction and non-fiction titles. Children’s books also frequently include yellow on their covers as this color appeals to young readers.

Blue: is often seen as calming, serene, and trustworthy. It’s a popular choice for book covers in the self-help and self-improvement genres. Blue can also suggest intellectualism and wisdom, making it a good choice for history books, biographies and self help guides. 

In the example given here the colours chosen suggest optimism, trust and intellectualism. The book cover follows the rule of thirds and the focal image suggests cheerfulness

Colour choice greenGreen: most commonly associated with nature and peace. For this reason, green is often used on book covers for environmental non-fiction and nature writing. However, green can also suggest wealth and prosperity, making it a good choice for business books and financial guides. I've also seen Green as the predominate colour in dystopian fiction implying a wild savage environment.

The example here is the dystopian savage world type. 

 

Colour choice purplePurple: is a luxurious color that has always denoted royalty and prestige. It’s also associated with books that are lush, delicious, bewildering, and magical. Purple is often used on covers for business books or books about success. If your book contains high-level advice or strategies, purple may help convey the gravity of its contents. Try adding an element of gold to highten the richness.

 

Colour choice pinkPink: The color pink is often used on book covers as a way to evoke emotions such as romance, love, and happiness. It's often used in 'cosy mysteries.' The light hue of pink instantly sets the tone for a book. It can also help to attract readers who are looking for a particular type of story. Pink is often used on book covers that feature female protagonists, as it is seen as a more traditionally “feminine” color. This example shows a hardback edition of the children's classic. Probably a book worth looking for in second-hand bookshops.

 

Colour choice brownBrown: Brown is often associated with traditional hardbacks without a dustjacket. it's the color of earth and, as such, can push a feeling of grounding or stability. It is also a very neutral color, which can make it appear safe or reliable. When used on a modern book cover, brown can convey a sense of dependability or wisdom. Abook about nature might use a brown cover to evoke the feeling of being surrounded by the beauty and serenity of the natural world.

If you find this guide useful...

Can you help me out?

If you find these pages useful you can return the favour by downloading a FREE ebook from Amazon - even if you don't read it, it will help our rankings! I think you'll probably like it though.

It's the first book of a series of 9 books (so far) which tell the story of how life on Earth was saved from a cataclysmic extinction when a rogue planetoid collides with Earth in 7141. This first book deals with how humanity was made immortal, giving us the incentive to do something about an event so far in the future.

Take a touch of humour, add some genetic science and nanotechnology. Steep with conspiracy and stir in murder and despair. Season with romance between three people in a secret location. Garnish with morality.

The result is 'Immortality Gene', the first in a novel series by John and Shelia Chapman. The ebook of book 1 is FREE and available at multiple retailers

Immortality Gene e-book

Get it from your favourite store


Further reading

The following are links to external sites I've used on the emotional effect of colour.

Color Psychology: Does It Affect How You Feel?

Color Psychology: How To Use it in Marketing and Branding 

Color Psychology: How Do Colors Affect Mood & Emotions? 


As an experiment I asked someone on the website fivver.com to make me a book cover for a short story I wrote. They sent me two covers for $5.00 Here they are:

The first, with a man and donkey, was not appropriate. The second had potential though. I searched for the image and found it on a site offering free desktop wallpapers. It was public domain. I customised it a little though to produce this final result.


I added rain and a character 'Alex' (aka Jack the Ripper). I was able to use the same background image in the other stories of the series.


Witch Time


Titanic Time


Time Flies

Next book cover page: The rule of thirds and golden ratio

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Want a short story instead?
I've written a number of short time travel stories. Each is 99p/99¢ and great for taking a break from writing.
Check them out at http://iwadasn.info

Title 4