In the traditional publishing world, the author may or may not have input into the cover process. As a hybrid publisher, I’m able to guide my authors through the basics and still allow them to realize their dream.
Some authors come to me with a distinct idea of what they want on their cover and we start there. It’s their book, after all.
Some things are basic. The title must be large enough on the cover so that it can be read on a website thumbnail. The cover should match the genre. You wouldn’t want a romance novel with a bloody ax on the cover. Fonts are a little trickier. While script is more romance than mystery, it still isn’t that easy to read, so you have to be selective in the type of script you use.
There is an entire psychology behind colors that you have probably read about before. Blue is calming and projects stability, harmony, peace, calm and trust. The color red is associated with excitement, passion, danger, energy, and action. Orange represents creativity, adventure, enthusiasm, success, and balance. Yellow evokes feelings of happiness, positivity, optimism, and summer but also of deceit and warning. Check out this website for more details. https://www.oberlo.com/blog/color-psychology-color-meanings
Trying to read the current trends are confusing because they range from collage to simplistic. I’m not sure how we can trend both of those at the same time, but that’s why I’m not the expert.
The age of your audience will also affect your cover choice. Young adults like things edgy and exciting. Nonfiction covers need to get to the point and demonstrate their usefulness in a glance. For a parent to purchase a book for elementary or lower, the cover must be colorful, inviting, and safe.
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry; that’s why Blue Dragon has experts to guide the author with their choice. If you decide to self-publish, please take the time to hire an expert for cover design. Books are judged by their cover.