Tag: Richard C. Morais

Tips for Designing a Compelling Book Cover for Your Novel

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
Photo by Dids on Pexels.com

Have you ever bought a book solely because you were drawn to its cover? Or are you planning to self-publish and are struggling to find the right balance of imagery and text?

Let’s face it. Some book covers are more interesting than others. But just because it looks good doesn’t mean it will do what it’s supposed to do, which is to sell books.

When produced well, the cover design should not only grab readers’ attention, it should communicate several things to readers, such as:

* show an intriguing focal point
* provide a subtle preview of the plot
* introduce the protagonist
* establish the book’s genre and tone

I’ll tackle each one of these in detail.

An intriguing focal point
When you first look at a book cover, where does your eye automatically go? It might to an image, like the drawing on the cover of Lessons in Chemistry. If the author is well-known, their name might appear larger than the book title. In many cases, it might be the book title itself that in larger print to draw your attention. This may be especially true for newer writers who haven’t earned the name cache of a Stephen King or a Nora Roberts. Comb your shelves for examples. Notice the ones that stand out and which ones don’t. Then experiment by replicating a focal point suitable for your work in progress.

A subtle preview of the plot
The combination of imagery and title should hint at the plot. For example, the cover of The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick features a background image of a closed door surrounded by shelves of books, hinting at the story of a house cleaner tasked with finishing her employer’s last novel behind closed doors. Think about the key point of your story, then select images that present the clearest representation of that point.

An introduction to the protagonist
In addition to hinting at the plot, the cover design should also hint at the protagonist in some way. The image could reflect the person’s face, such as the ghostly image of Coralie Sardie whose story is at the heart of The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman. It could also hint at their occupation or where they live. In The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais, for example, the image of someone slicing the skin off a piece of fruit with the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower behind it hints at a young man’s journey as a chef in Paris. As with the plot, think of your protagonist’s character and their journey, then choose an image that reflects their story.

The book’s genre and tone
Make sure the cover design is suitable for the book’s genre and establish the right tone. You want readers to recognize the type of story it is at first glance. For a light-hearted rom-com, for example, you might use lighter colors or pastels for the background with some humorous or playful image. On the other hand, mysteries and thrillers are likely to have darker backgrounds with equally darker images, like dripping blood or a bottle of poison.

More tips for book cover designs

1. Keep it simple, almost minimalistic. Covers that are overly complicated and cluttered have difficulty reaching readers. Give the cover some space to allow any images and text to breathe. “Using space wisely draws attention to the elements that you want potential readers to focus on, writes Jessica Bell at Jane Friedman.com.

2. Be unique and distinctive. You don’t want your book to look like every other one on display. Referring to Lessons in Chemistry again, the cover is simple with a single image and bright orange-salmon color that captures the eye. The color stands out because you rarely see it on book covers. If the cover’s goal is to sell the book, think of ways to make the cover stand out while still staying true to the story.

3. Create strong composition. The experts at Self-Publishing School suggests following the rule of thirds. Imagine breaking up the cover into three sections, allowing enough space for the book title, author name and image. Again, check your book shelf for examples. Add patterns and texture in subtle ways so they don’t distract readers.

4. Don’t overlook the back cover or spine. According to the design experts at Ingram Spark, the back cover usually includes a brief book summary, book reviews, an author bio, the ISBN number and bar code. Make sure the book title is clearly marked on the spine so readers can see it when standing upright on a shelf.

Whether you design the cover yourself or work with a professional designer, it’s helpful to keep these tips in mind. When conceived and designed well, your book cover can go far to market your book.

Ten Recommended Books about Fathers and Fatherhood

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
Photo by Ksenia Chernaya on Pexels.com

A few weeks ago, I shared my list of recommended books about mothers and motherhood. This week, to commemorate Father’s Day, I’ve created a similar list of great reads about fathers.

Like my Moms’ list, Dads come in all shapes and sizes and bring all sorts of drama and emotional nuance to these stories. In some instances, Dads were a minor character or a deceased one that still left a major influence on an adult child, sometimes many years later (Shoeless Joe), while others are the main character of the novel trying to make their way in the world while providing a good life for their children (The Shipping News). I’ve also included one memoir, a positive reflection on a father’s love of sports that was passed on to his daughter (The Best Seat in the House). 

In almost every book, the father character brings intrigue and conflict. You can’t ignore the impact a father has on their child—for good, bad or indifferent.

By the way, most of these are also films, so if you don’t feel like reading, you can always watch the story unfold on the screen.

Without further delay, here are my best book recommendations with strong father figure characters. You may have your own list, of course. What books have you read that featured a strong father figure character?

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Told from the point of view of six-year-old Scout Finch, readers not only learn about life in the South during the Great Depression, but about Scout’s relationship with her father, Atticus, a widower and a lawyer who wants justice to be served and to bring up his children right.

Bee Season by Myla Goldberg
As Eliza attempts to win the national spelling bee, her father becomes obsessed with her success. As she gets deeper and deeper into her “training” under her father’s tutelage, the family’s connections begin to unravel. Readers see how controlling her father becomes, which impacts all his familial relationships.

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Not everyone appreciates the name they’re given at birth. Gogol is haunted by his name, given to him by his father who named him after an author he had always admired but who came with a lot of baggage. The unease that Gogol feels about his name fuels many of the conflicts in his life, especially those with his father.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Set in 1964, this is a coming-of-age story about 14-year-old Lily who runs away from home with the family housekeeper in search for the truth about her mother. I included this book on this list for the impact Lily’s father had on her life and the final showdown she has with him in an attempt to claim her independence.  

Disgrace by J. M. Coetze
After being accused of sexual misconduct by a student, English professor David Lurie leaves the university “disgraced” and moves to South Africa where his daughter Lucy lives. There he attempts to mend the broken pieces of their relationship.

Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
Life isn’t always the way we believe it to be. Delia’s life is turned upside down when she learns that she was kidnapped by her father when she was four, an incident she has little memory of. As events unfold, Delia is forced to confront some hard truths about her father (and mother), though she stays loyal to him in the end.

Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsella
The movie Field of Dreams is based on this novel by W.P. Kinsella. Farmer Ray Kinsella heeds the call to build a baseball field in the middle of his Iowa cornfield. As he follows a trail of clues, he ponders his life without his long deceased father who had longed to be a baseball player. Each step takes him closer to his ultimate reward—reuniting briefly with his father.  

The Shipping News by L Annie Prouix
When Quoyle loses both his parents to suicide and his wife leaves him for a younger lover, he moves with his children to Newfoundland to a house that was in his family for generations. What struck me most about this story was Quoyle’s dedication to his children and his willingness to uproot their lives and start over in an part of the world to protect them from the pain and grief he has suffered through.

The Hundred Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais
One of my favorite books and a pretty decent film. After their restaurant in India is destroyed by fire, killing their mother, an Indian family moves to London, then to Paris where young son Hassain begins to find his way in the culinary world against his father’s wishes who wants him to remain true to his Indian roots. Despite his gruff manner, Hassain’s father truly loves his family, and readers see determined he is to keep the family together as they struggle to adapt to life in a new country.

The Best Seat in the House by Christine Brennan
If you read USA Today, you no doubt have read some of Brennan’s stories. She’s covered sports for several decades at a time when few women covered the sports beat. In this memoir, Brennan pays homage to her father, an avid baseball and football fan who followed the Detroit Tigers, Toledo Mud Hens (the Tigers minor league team) and Notre Dame. It’s a fun read to learn how father and daughter can bond over sports. These are all great reads, by the way, no matter what time of year. And you don’t have to be a father yourself to enjoy them.