Cover design is an art, and researching is a rabbit hole that easily engulfs my entire week, but for Vengel Tein (and currently Ratty) I decided to tackle the task myself. Partly to save on cost, partly because I am a professional illustrator (though I rarely take on work of that type anymore), but more importantly; to live what I preach.
The current covers are my own creation, and the premise was;
What would I like to see?
What books would I pick up and turn around to read the blurb on the back?
While a good cover is equal parts art and marketing skills (one of my all time favorites is the one for Gideon the Ninth!), I also believe that as a self-published author, it is a chance to convey what type of book you are writing.
In my first draft of Vengel Tein, the saying wasn’t about Heron, but rather Imperial Ravens.
My very first sketch / rough cover Idea
The mock-up WIP test of that idea
Final cover (Trust the process!)
Turns out:
1: Ravens aren’t known for killing their own kin (Yay for research!)
2: The mockup I made for the cover was way too «metal» for the type of story Vengel Tein is, even when the raven was just looming on a branch.
Designing a book cover is tricky: it’s not just about creating a beautiful image. A cover also has to sell. Bold colors and high-contrast designs often grab the most attention, which is why you see so many neon and shock-bright palettes in book covers today.
That means aiming for something more subtle or unusual is a gamble; if it doesn’t stand out on a crowded shelf (or digital storefront), it risks disappearing altogether.
Especially in a scroll, the size of a thumbnail.
Choosing to do it anyway, is because I believe in creating something that feels authentic – and that signals the type of content within. A soft fantasy like Princess Vengel Tein needed a quiet cover.
In the future, I will probably stop doing my own covers -or make another version – but as for now, doing my own reminded me that content and packaging need to harmonize.
What are your thoughts?
When you browse, are you drawn to bold, symbolic covers, or more character-driven ones?
