Writing a novel start to finish is a huge undertaking, even if it’s written badly. I’m being absolutely serious. The quality of a novel isn’t a direct reflection of time or even the work that was put into it.
I was once asked to review a book by a man who said he had taken two years to finish his novel, having gone over it with a fine-toothed comb in his desire to get it “just right.” The book was horrible. Painfully horrible. But if nothing else, I appreciated the effort he put forth. He worked just as hard as any well-known novelist, maybe harder as they have learned how to work more efficiently through trial and error. Anyone can write, but not everyone can write well. Most of us fall in between and where we fall truly depends on our readers.
But, there is one area of publishing that I don’t find to be a huge undertaking. I rather enjoy the process. And that’s cover design. When I was still working with a traditional publisher, they handled that aspect. Although I wasn’t always thrilled with the finished product, I wasn’t sure it was something I could have done any better, until I created my first cover. I was hooked.
This post is to give you all a sneak peek at the final cover for my upcoming release, Dead Enemies (scheduled release November 23, 2018). The book is my maiden trek into the world of psychological thrillers and I wanted a cover that would depict the story without being too cliche or obvious. I think I nailed it, but I’d love to hear your thoughts. Comments are appreciated and encouraged! Feedback is how we grow.
*Cover photo courtesy Richard Skoonberg. Cover design by K.E. Garvey
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