Cover Story

I've always been lucky enough to have publishers who consult with me on the covers of my books. Unfortunately, sometimes the consultation looked like this:

Editor: Hey! Here's your cover!

Me: Uhhhh...yeah. It's really...something. Could you maybe have the designer tweak X, Y and Z? And could we possibly try something other than A, B and C? Please?

Editor: I'll look into it.

[Six months pass. UPS leaves a box the size of a small coffin on the front porch.]

Wife: Hey! Here's your book!

[We open the box and find ourselves looking down at the cover that was really...something, exactly as I first saw it.]

Me: Shit.

Fortunately, that hasn't happened in a while. One reason for that: I've been the editor on my last few books, and when it came to the covers I've agreed with the writer -- myself -- 100 percent. In addition, the designer wasn't some mysterious, shadow-shrouded figure I wasn't allowed to communicate with directly (or indirectly). It was a guy I hired: Rick Forgus of Atomic Werewolf Studio. I decided to try Rick because he's talented and I kept using him because he listens and responds and ultimately gives me exactly what I want -- only better! That's how I got this new cover for Naughty recently. I mean, just look at that thing, would you? It's a thing of frakkin' beauty!

And now the cover approval process isn't "Like it? No? Too bad." Instead, it goes like this:

Step 1

I tell Rick the basic concept of my next project -- All the President's Men meets Shaun of the Dead -- and he sends me this. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2

"It's a start," I say, "but I'm picturing something that screams 'Politics!' even louder. Something that looks very 'I LIKE IKE' or 'HOPE.' You know -- like a campaign poster." And Rick sends me this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3

"Right on!" I say. "Just slap in the title and my name and make the politican guy look more zombie-y. Cock his head at a weird angle and maybe lop off some of his fingers so the ones that are left do a kind of Nixon-style V-for-Victory." And Rick sends me this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 4

"Damn, we're getting close!" I say. "Only I don't think we need so much going on. How about a neater, tidier look? With bigger stars, maybe?" And Rick sends me this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 5

"Hmmm," I say. "Yeah. I dig it, but...I don't know. Have we drifted from the original concept? Are we losing that classic, streamlined campaign poster look?" And Rick sends me this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 6

"That's what I'm talkin' about!" I say. "Go, man, go!" And Rick sends me this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 7

At this point, there's only one thing left to do: Let Rick know he's created my favorite cover ever. And I do. Because he has.

Comments

[twitter.com/bcmystery]

But … your name isn’t big enough.

(That’s my first thought every time I see a cover design.)

[Steve]

When I saw the first layout for my first book, I actually said, "I think my name's too big." That was the last time those words were ever spoken....

[Bedlamite]

I really dig that cover. Even if I wasn't a rabid fanboy for the Hockensmith books that cover would have caught my eye, and probably ate it.

Great stuff!

It was a very fun read as well as tearing into the media and society. Not bit just shot may be my favorite line from this year.

[Steve]

Thanks, man! Hopefully, the cover'll catch a lot more eyes (and eat them) in the weeks ahead. We'll see....

[Scott]

Dean Wesley Smith has some advice for writers on covers - http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=7531 - I think you and your artist did this one really well.

[Steve]

Thanks, Scott! I never miss one of Dean's posts on publishing. Ditto for his wife, Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Smart folks.