Why My Book Cover Looks the Way it Does

Good news! Keys of Aviandria, the second book in the Aviandrian Trilogy, is getting close to ready to be released. All that is left is the cover and editing. The cover is nearly done, but I don’t have the latest version of it. I do, however, have a sketch that the designer sent when we were planning that I can share. Awesome, isn’t it? I’m super excited.

I follow enough other indie authors to know that my book covers are different. Most of the other indie authors’ covers depict movie star-looking characters in brooding or fighting poses. My covers are custom illustrated and show the main character of the book in the midst of an actual scene from the story. Some experts would say it is detrimental to have my cover differ so much. Perhaps they are right, but I haven’t been in a hurry to change. Here are some reasons why.

It’s closer to the covers of most of my favorite books. Think back to the covers of many of the best known, most influential fantasy book covers. The Hobbit and other LOTR books, Narnia, Shannara, Harry Potter, Rick Riordan books, and Brandon Sanderson’s tombs. Each one of these (unless a reprint was done after a live action movie with the movie poster as the cover) usually have artwork adorning the cover. A few of my favorite indie authors have something close to this as well. For example, I love JA Andrews’ covers.

My covers reflect the feel of my books. If I were to put a curvy fighter or frightened looking maiden on my cover, it would be false advertising. My story is about Ashlynn, who while being extraordinary is also very ordinary. She’s brave, but no warrior. She has her ups and downs, but she doesn’t brood attractively, and she hasn’t quite gotten the knack of running through the forest in a long dress and billowing cloak without even a hair out of place. No, when she runs through the forest her hair gets disheveled and her clothes don’t come out unscathed. Besides, she has enough sense to know that you hold a cloak close to you while moving through trees and brush to keep it from catching things as much. What happens on my covers happens in the books.  

Last but not least, I love my covers. I love the time and effort put into them. I love the uniqueness. I love the imagery. I love the whimsical feel. They feel so much more personal than a generic Photoshopped lady with tight pants and a sword. I love the art.

I’m not saying that the other covers aren’t impressive. It’s got to take some serious skill to design and put them together. They also probably work great for the books they go with. They just wouldn’t be quite right for mine. Therefore, I love my covers.

What do you like in a book cover?