Book covers

You've written your manuscript and edited to your satisfaction, and now you wish to publish. While M Presents Publishing is usually open to novels, perhaps you want to publish it yourself and you want to absorb all of the costs and maintain all creative control. 
At M Presents Publishing, I believe authors should absolutely have a measure of creative control. Let me handle some of the stuff, like finding a competent editor, and getting a few covers to choose from that I feel is appropriate; you can worry about selling and writing your next great manuscript, we both win.
Ok, with my sales pitch out of the way, here's my advice for the day: the cover.  Most authors know that a superb book cover image is critically important. It’s the first impression that your prospective readers will have of you as a professional author and brand. Within a fraction of a second, your cover either draws a reader in or turns them away.

 

What Makes a Book Cover the Best?

The best book covers aren’t just beautiful—they’re strategic. A cover should be designed to attract readers in two seemingly contradictory ways: Broad appeal and targeted appeal:

• Broad appeal - It should be eye-catching and stand out on a bookshelf or digital storefront.
• Targeted appeal - It should immediately signal to your target readers that this book is for them.

Broad Appeal: Making Your Cover Stand Out
A strong book cover should grab attention, even at a glance. In a sea of books, your cover needs to be visually striking enough to stop a reader from scrolling past. This means:

• Using Bold, High-Contrast Imagery - A flat, washed-out cover is easy to ignore. Strong contrast helps a cover stand out in a digital store or on a crowded bookshelf.

• Having a Clear Focal Point - The eye should be drawn immediately to the central element, whether that’s a character, a symbol, or a striking title treatment.

• Readable Typography - If your title or author name is difficult to read at thumbnail size, the cover loses effectiveness.

Targeted Appeal: Speaking to the Right Readers
While broad appeal helps a cover stand out, targeted appeal ensures that the right readers are drawn in. This means your cover should align with the genre, tone, and themes of your book.
Sticking to genre conventions helps ensure that your book cover has broad appeal while also targeting the right readers. Think of genre conventions as visual shorthand to attract readers who enjoy your genre while filtering out those who might not.
You can determine genre conventions by:

• Researching popular books - Browse bestseller lists on platforms like Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble. Take note of the common elements in these covers.

• Analyzing key elements - Look at color schemes, typography, imagery, and overall mood.

• Regularly browsing your genre - Trends change, so staying updated on new releases ensures your cover remains competitive.

Following genre conventions makes it easier to attract the right audience. As I primarily publish horror, I'm going to stick there; however, scanning Amazon in other genres will give you an idea of what to do: 
Horror utilizes stark contrasts, eerie imagery, and fonts that create an unsettling effect.

First Impressions Matter
Your book cover is often the only thing a potential reader sees before making a purchase decision. If the cover doesn’t immediately convey genre, tone, and professionalism, you risk losing the reader before they even read your blurb.

Avoid Common Cover Mistakes

• Choosing a Cover That Misrepresents the Genre - If your book is a high-paced thriller, but your cover looks like a romance novel, readers will be confused, and you may end up with negative reviews from people expecting a completely different story. Don't let anyone fool you, a book is judged by its cover.

• Overly Complicated Designs - A cluttered cover with too many elements can be overwhelming. The best covers use a simple, effective composition with one or two main focal points.

• Unreadable Text - Tiny or overly decorative fonts may look stylish, but if the title isn’t immediately legible, the cover loses its effectiveness. Text that's too close to the cover's edges can also become unreadable. I recommend at least 1/2 inch of distance to either edge of the cover, but I also believe that you shouldn't restrict your book by sticking to my rule.

• Ignoring the Thumbnail Factor - Most readers will first see your book as a small image in an online store. If it doesn’t stand out in thumbnail size, it won’t get clicks.

Ensuring Strong Composition: What Makes a Well-Designed Cover?
A well-designed premade cover will already have these factors accounted for, but it’s still important to analyze the design critically before purchasing. Look for:

• A strong focal point - The central image or text should immediately draw the reader’s eye. Make the reader curious.

• Balanced Layout – Elements should be arranged in a way that guides the eye naturally across the cover. The common convention is the 'Z' pattern with the title at the top of the cover and the author name/subtitle at the bottom. We tend to read left to right, the cover should emulate that.

• Clear Text Placement – Title and author name should be positioned logically and remain easy to read. I know that I've released books with cover text at an angle, which was fine for a simple cover design, but it should be avoided.

• Contrast and Color Use – Strong contrast makes key elements stand out, ensuring readability and impact. I recently talked to a client about her cover mistake, how pastel blue font on a navy blue background would be difficult to read; it wasn't something she'd considered before but it makes sense.

The "Close Enough" Rule
Many indie authors get stuck searching for a premade cover that perfectly matches every detail of their story. But the truth is, your cover doesn’t need to be 100% accurate—it just needs to sell the book.
Readers will pick up a book based on the overall appeal of the cover rather than its pinpoint accuracy. If a premade cover correctly captures the essence of your book and fits the genre, it’s likely a strong choice—even if minor details don’t match perfectly.

Finding the Right Balance
Choosing the best cover for your book is about balancing cost, accuracy, and marketability. A well-designed cover can save you time and money while ensuring your book looks professional and appeals to readers of your genre.
If you insist on getting a decent cover yourself, SelfPubBookCovers.com (SPBC) might be your answer, there are also numerous graphic designers seeking your business; shop around.