Writers know that coming up with the
perfect cover design for their book is just as important as the contents
within. A cover must catch the reader’s attention and draw them in. When a book
sits on the bookstore shelves with many other titles, it should stand out and
lure shoppers to investigate and learn more about the story tucked away inside.
Sometimes a cover helps us imagine what the scenery or the characters might look like. Other covers get straight to the point, not a lot of art, just words and some color, but words and color that snag some attention. Many hours of brainstorming can go into creating and designing this very first and most important marketing tool for a book.
Some writers design their own covers, others employ designers, then there are the publishers with their ideas for a cover with their creative staff. It’s good to have several ideas to choose from as well as some different opinions. Whoever the creative genius is, they need to understand the content of the book.
I, however, stepped out of bounds a bit when I had my book cover designed. It looks more like a children’s book. I’ve even had some stores place it in their children’s section by accident. This book is absolutely not a children’s book!
I used Create Space to design my cover. I answered their short questionnaire about my thoughts for the cover and they quickly designed two options for me to pick from.
As my readers gave me their reviews for the book, I would sometimes get questioned about the cover. Most would ask, “What’s the deal with the cover, it’s a bit deceiving, isn’t it?” So let me explain.
I wanted the cover to represent me, after all, it is my autobiography. Those who know me well can testify that the cover is me. Bright and sunny!
Each element of the cover represents something about me or my story. Although blue is my favorite color, the bright yellow cover better represents my upbeat personality, and it helps the book pop off the bookstore shelves. The smiling sun is me. I’ve been called sunshine and golden girl, I don’t know how many times during my life, and I smile all the time.
The clouds and wavy sky represent the ebb and flow of life, like a jet stream if you will. The title of the book is set as a wave, representing my rollercoaster life. Bright pink, seriously, what girl can live without some pink! The butterflies represent new life and new beginnings as I have been given these gifts!
A Daisy flower garden waves in the wind at the bottom of the book. The fresh white Daisy flower brings up different kinds of emotions for me depending upon what stage of my life this flower has appeared.
As a very young girl, I received a gift set of Daisy lotion and perfume. The set was creatively designed to appeal to the senses of very young girls, and I loved the fresh sweet smell. As a teenager, now I’m dating myself, the Daisy flower was the symbol for the slogan “flower power”. I would sit for hours daydreaming and drawing the Daisy flower. I would place it symbolically in different drawings or paintings, or just made it totally the center of attention.
One of my prom dresses was made of light blue organza covered in tiny white flocked Daisies. For my first wedding, a ring of white Daisy flowers adorned my hair, and I carried a bridal bouquet mixed with white Daisies.
Today, I have wildflower Daisies growing in one of my gardens.
The deceiving part of all of this? Well, not all the topics in the book are full of sunshine with a built-in cuteness factor, and it’s not all smiles like the cover might suggest. There is a lot of encouragement and some funny stuff, but if you’ve read it and you still don’t get the cover, re-read it.
My hope is to inspire my readers and share with them how they, too, can have the same sunshine that I have in my life even when things get tough, dark, overwhelming, and depressing. It’s about being an overcomer, a survivor, and a thriver, while learning how to deal with some of life’s challenging lessons!
Blessings!
Debra
Lee
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