Does anyone know of a book cover contest award? Because I want to submit my latest cover, for Shattered Palms, Lei Crime #6.
It's just amazing. Dynamic. Conveys the mood of the book. In every way, my branding of “classy but foreboding, with a tropical feel.” Mike Neal and Julie Metz outdid themselves.
But as I always share, there's a story here.
Usually I have a cover concept. In fact, for every cover until this one, I've had a concept. Then I wrangle my faithful photographer and husband, Mike Neal, into a photo shoot in which we torture ourselves until we get the shot. Every single one has been an adventure and here are some of the blog posts to prove it:
One of the coolest things I've discovered about self publishing is the freedom and creativity of developing the cover. However, Shattered Palms. I was stumped. Literally. I thought maybe some palm stumps? a broken palm branch? As we got closer to deadline, I wandered around looking at palm trees, hoping for an idea. I read an entire book of palm tree photos hoping for something Mike could re-create. I kept coming back to Mike saying, “Shattered Palms! What does that even mean? What a dumb title! What was I thinking!”
Finally, I asked, “Do you have any ideas?”
He was reluctant. My usual wifely MO is to shoot his ideas down (nicely of course) because I have such strong ideas. But, I humbled out and said, “HELP. Do whatever you think. We have to send the photo to Julie in January to guarantee her time and I got nothing.
So one night while I was pillow snorkeling, Mike drove to a nearby park and shot a photo of three palms by moonlight.
Then, he took a picture of broken glass, and, using photoshop, did this:
Shattered Palms initial photo
WOW!!! I loved it so much I sent it to Julie wondering how she could improve on it, and bring it into the “family”of my other covers. She was thrilled and sent back an excited note of how much she loved the photo too, with EXCLAMATION POINTS (she's a very reserved New Yorker.)
And she came up with this. And seriously, I want to enter it in a contest. Send me info in the comments if you know of any.
Look for Shattered Palms, Lei Crime #6, mid- March.
SO EXCITED! (yes, I like the exclamation point, it's true!)
Can’t wait for it to come out.
The cover is awesome!!
It should win an award!
All Toby’s books are amazing!
They will take you mentally to Hawaii and
YOU will live life through Lei and her adventures!!
Malaho Toby!! 😀
Thank you Eva!! aloha!
I wish Kindle readers could buy covers.
FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC! I love all your covers, but this may be my favorite. Sometimes the best ideas come by accident, or at the very last minute. So, so in love with this cover! Great job Mike and Julie!
Best cover ever for one of your books. I’m eagerly awaiting this one, keep them coming.
I’ve been known to buy books for their covers alone.
Great cover.
http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2013/11/e-book-cover-design-awards-october-2013/
I Googled Book cover awards and got a link to this article. Haven’t read it all, but looks like it might contain some useful info.
Got to agree though – this cover is amazing – can’t wait to read the book!
Pillow snorkeling? You crack me up. 🙂
I CANNOT GET OVER THIS COVER. They are all gorgeous, but this one is seriously amazing. I really hope you can get it into a contest, because you absolutely deserve some recognition for it!
LOVE the cover! I too am known to buy books for the cover art alone. I could see this one on a hardcover version as well. Go, Toby, you go, girl!!!
LOVE the cover! I too am known to buy books for the cover art alone. I could see this one on a hardcover version as well. Go, Toby, you go girl!!! Oh and about contests, I think Publisher’s Weekly has a book design contest, and I would search graphic design and e-book awards, too.