In this Q&A video, David Norrington, Managing Director of Wordcatcher Publishing, explains his top three tips for authors who want to create fantastic book covers.

1. Pay for it

Unless you’re a book designer yourself, you should always get a professional book cover artist to create your covers. They know what works and how to make your book stand out.

2. Remember, it’s about commercial appeal, not just what you like

Many authors have a vision for what their book cover should look like. While it’s certainly important that the finished product is something you’re pleased with, the most important thing is its commercial appeal. Remember, if we want our books to be read, we need to sell them. To sell them, we have to draw readers in as effectively as possible. Design elements you aren’t necessarily keen on could make all the difference in attracting the right reader.

3. Good book covers scream their genre

As David shows us in the Q&A video, a good book cover screams its genre. One example he gives is Nest of Vipers by Arthur Cole and Nigel C. Williams. The image of a balaclava-clad figure brandishing a firearm instantly tells you this is a story about crime, with terrorism in the plot. A reader should be able to take one glance at your book cover and know it’s in the genre they are going to like.

Being quirky and original is all very well, but you don’t want to confuse your ideal reader into thinking it’s not for them, or the wrong reader into buying it and being disappointed.