How a Cover is Born
post by Michelle Griep
1. One of the first things after starting the contracting process is that the publisher gets in touch with the author to ask for cover direction. This is important for a few reasons:
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| Cover for my next book due out July 2016 |
Book covers are magical things. I have no idea how a book cover travels from concept to finished product. I'm certainly no artist, but I do have a big mouth. So I asked my editor over at Barbour exactly what the process is and she gave me permission to share the info with you . . .
1. One of the first things after starting the contracting process is that the publisher gets in touch with the author to ask for cover direction. This is important for a few reasons:
- understanding the vision the author has for the cover
- understanding the visual points that have potential to be compelling
At this point in the process, it’s very likely the editor has not read the full manuscript, so it's up to the author to get the ball rolling and set the tone.
2. Ten to twelve months prior to the release of the book, the creative director sends the author cover direction to a design house. Publishers usually work with several scattered across the country. That design house typically creates 3 or 4 comps that get reviewed by the creative director and editor and they choose their favorites. Usually that first round is shared with the author. Oftentimes these comps have placeholder models if a photo shoot is necessary.
2. Ten to twelve months prior to the release of the book, the creative director sends the author cover direction to a design house. Publishers usually work with several scattered across the country. That design house typically creates 3 or 4 comps that get reviewed by the creative director and editor and they choose their favorites. Usually that first round is shared with the author. Oftentimes these comps have placeholder models if a photo shoot is necessary.
Side Note: In the case of my last release, Brentwood’s Ward, the cover was an interesting mix of stock photography and model shoot. The heroine and setting was a stock photo, and the hero was a model shoot for the head and the body was a stock photo.
3. After a concept is nailed down, the designers start showing the publisher options for models if a photo shoot is necessary. Sometimes the author is asked to weigh in on these options. This is always a little bit of a harried time because of scheduling models, securing wardrobe pieces, and making sure all the details are in place. Sometimes models become unavailable (for whatever reason) and a new option needs to be chosen. Same thing with wardrobe and/or specific props. Sometimes certain items or settings have to be avoided because it’s impossible to be historically accurate.
4. The designers take the shoot photos and execute the design and then send it to the creative director. There are usually a few tweaks and then it's used in sales training meetings, so that sales, marketing, and editorial are all seeing the same cover image. That’s about nine months out from release date. If the team has some huge objection to the cover, the creative director addresses that with the designers, and then that’s when the author would see it as a “final” cover. At that point, potential tweaks can still be made, but nothing major.
And that's a wrap, folks. As you can see by the art I've included in this post, the cover for my next book is already finished and my manuscript isn't even due in until December 1st. I know. Crazy, right?
3. After a concept is nailed down, the designers start showing the publisher options for models if a photo shoot is necessary. Sometimes the author is asked to weigh in on these options. This is always a little bit of a harried time because of scheduling models, securing wardrobe pieces, and making sure all the details are in place. Sometimes models become unavailable (for whatever reason) and a new option needs to be chosen. Same thing with wardrobe and/or specific props. Sometimes certain items or settings have to be avoided because it’s impossible to be historically accurate.
4. The designers take the shoot photos and execute the design and then send it to the creative director. There are usually a few tweaks and then it's used in sales training meetings, so that sales, marketing, and editorial are all seeing the same cover image. That’s about nine months out from release date. If the team has some huge objection to the cover, the creative director addresses that with the designers, and then that’s when the author would see it as a “final” cover. At that point, potential tweaks can still be made, but nothing major.
And that's a wrap, folks. As you can see by the art I've included in this post, the cover for my next book is already finished and my manuscript isn't even due in until December 1st. I know. Crazy, right?