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What makes a strong cover is relatability, emotional impact, and the ability to spark curiosity. These qualities rarely come from a beautiful image alone. They come from a strong concept. As is probably clear from the title, in this article I’ll explore the importance of developing a strong concept in book cover design. And somewhat unusually, I’ll start from the end: with a review the author wrote. I think it sums up very well what I aim to achieve with every book, and it’s

Why Good Typesetting Looks Easy, but It’s Way Far from It. To most people, typesetting looks deceptively simple. You choose a font, set a font size, align the text, and you’re done, right? In reality, professional typesetting is a highly technical craft that sits at the intersection of design, linguistics, mathematics, and print production. A good typesetter shapes how a reader experiences text, making your content clear, easy to read, visually appealing, and professional. An

Just Nod If You Can Hear Me, Rae Elle Riley To the trans, the twisted, the closeted, and the dead, I write this for you. To every poor soul killing themselves normal with booze and drugs, happy to bypass their idle hours in chemically induced stupor rather than fight the phalanx of mounting forces in the mind. And especially to all those torn in two. Ripped between a career they love and an identity they’ve tried to delete, but just won’t go away. I’m not here saying I can fi

The challenge of mixing a retro feel with cyberpunk elements. Before we start, let’s see what the book is about. “In 1996 Chicago, twenty-five-year-old Isaac André feels like a stranger in his own life—until the world starts whispering back. The coincidences are too uncanny to ignore, but for now, they’re all happening in his favor. When he buys his first computer with the money from his VHS rental store job, Isaac enters his first internet chatroom, The Grassy Knoll, dedicat

Exploring the creative process and challenges of designing a book sequel worthy of the original's magic. When it’s time to release a sequel, a lot of authors start to worry about keeping things visually consistent. The big challenge? A sequel cover isn’t just about looking good—it needs to feel like it belongs with the original. It should match the tone, style, and branding, but also bring something fresh and have its own identity. When authors come to me with these kinds of

Curious how a book cover comes to life? Step behind the scenes of Ian Patterson’s cover design — from first ideas to final touches. This quick peek will show just how much time, thought, and care go into crafting a professional book cover. So come along… I’ll keep it brief and let the visuals do most of the talking. Let me start by introducing you to the book — that’s really where it all begins. I connect with the story and the author by having them answer a questionnaire of