Journey of a book cover, part 1

Good morning! Over the next three days, I’m going to take you through the journey of creating the cover art for my upcoming book, Annie’s Song, ending with the reveal of the final cover art.

So come along, and see how a cover is made.

My artist, Nadica, has done all my covers for The Claire Wiche Chronicles, and the cover for Last Chance Jack, and The Barricade, a novella I’m releasing later this year. Once I’m well into the first draft of the book, this is my process:

• I contact Nadica, and let her know I’m ready for the next cover
• once she says she’s ready, I send a description, and an idea of what I want on the cover
• she sends me the first sketch for any changes

And here is the initial sketch:

click to enlarge

It’s simple, but it lets me know we’re both headed in the same direction with the design.

After a day or so, she sends me the first colored bit:

This is Claire – just half of the duo I want on the cover. Annie is the other half, and I sent Nadica a detailed description, since this is the first time she would be drawing Annie. I added a few small changes – Claire’s dress, and a reminder of her hair length, which changed over the course of a couple books.

This is what she sent me:

Hello, Annie! It’s a thrill for me to see one of my characters come to life, and Nadica has always been a genius at practically reading my mind. Once I approve what she’s done so far, or ask for adjustments, she sends me the next bit – which you will see tomorrow.

And there you have it: the first baby steps. We have it down to a science, after working together for a year now. Wow – that’s a milestone for me.

Coming next time – two girls and a conundrum, and a background that left me speechless.

See you then, and until next time – read on.

cheers,

~Cate