Rebekah Haskell - The Art and Science of Book Cover Design (+ How to Find Amazing Done-For-You Covers)

The Publishing Performance Show

Rebekah Haskell is the owner and lead designer at Vivid Covers, specializing in speculative fiction book covers. With expertise in both illustration and photo manipulation, she helps authors create genre-appropriate covers that connect with their target readers.

In this episode:

• Genre-specific cover design principles
• Differences between traditional and indie publishing covers
• Research methods for effective cover design
• Pre-made vs custom cover options
• Visual tropes and genre expectations
• Working process with authors
• Thumbnail visibility importance

Resources mentioned:

• Vivid Covers: https://www.vividcovers.com/
• Pre-made cover collections: https://www.vividcovers.com/shop/
• "Cover Your Book" by R. Haskell - https://www.amazon.com/Cover-Your-Book-Designer-Maximize/dp/B08Q6NGRSJ/
• Amazon bestseller lists: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Books/zgbs/books

Book recommendations:

• Never Check Email in the Morning by Julie Morgenstern: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Check-Mail-Morning-Unexpected/dp/0743250885
• Mage Errant series by John Bierce: https://www.amazon.com/Mage-Errant-7-book-series/dp/B07PHPLHX5

Connect with Rebekah:

• Website: https://www.vividcovers.com/
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: https://www.rebekahhaskell.com/fb-groups/

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

Chapters

1. Introduction: Why Book Covers Matter More Than You Think (00:00:00)

2. Meet Rebekah Haskell: Expert Cover Designer & Founder of Vivid Covers (00:00:20)

3. What Makes a Great Book Cover? The Key Elements (00:01:09)

4. Why Understanding Your Audience is Crucial for Cover Design (00:02:46)

5. Bridging the Gap Between Authors & Designers (00:03:28)

6. Should a Designer Read the Book Before Designing the Cover? (00:04:13)

7. How to Communicate Your Vision to a Designer (00:05:30)

8. Why Your Cover Should Market the Book, Not Just Represent It (00:06:28)

9. The Power of Genre Conventions in Cover Design (00:07:54)

10. How Readers Recognize Books by Their Covers (00:09:05)

11. Why the Wrong Cover Can Attract the Wrong Audience (00:11:50)

12. Common Mistakes Authors Make When Designing Their Covers (00:12:55)

13. How to Research Effective Cover Designs in Your Genre (00:14:38)

14. Why Self-Published Covers Shouldn’t Mimic Traditionally Published Covers (00:16:22)

15. How Ebook Covers Differ from Print Covers (And Why It Matters) (00:18:45)

16. Using Bestseller Lists to Spot Cover Trends (00:22:04)

17. The Ever-Changing Visual Trends in Genre Covers (00:25:26)

18. Should You Have Characters or Symbols on Your Cover? (00:27:15)

19. Custom Covers vs. Premade Covers: Which One is Right for You? (00:30:08)

20. How Far in Advance Should You Book a Cover Designer? (00:32:15)

21. The Benefits of Premade Covers for Budget-Conscious Authors (00:33:45)

22. Can You Customize a Premade Cover? What’s Possible? (00:35:06)

23. How Indie Authors Can Choose the Right Cover Designer (00:38:12)

24. Rebecca’s Book Recommendation: “Never Check Email in the Morning” (00:40:19)