COVER REVEAL DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED for Book Four, Renewed by Grace!
So, how’d I do? Do you like it?
Surprised? Happy? Pleased?
I struggled with this cover. I only had one idea I wanted for the cover and it was a beagle. Andrea adopts a sweet beagle mix from the Etowah Humane Society to keep her company. I knew a cute beagle was really the only option for the cover.
THE PROBLEM?
Finding the right photo. Remember my previous blog post about my first three novel covers? If you don’t, you can read the blog HERE.
I’d tried a dog before, a chocolate lab like Moses for Restoring Grace AND IT DIDN’T WORK.
What made me think I could get a beagle to work this time?!?
I knew I wanted the beagle to be interacting with something, not the sole focus of the shot. I also needed the dog to be in the right position. I saw this photo on Pixaby and thought it was perfect.
The green leather sofa even lent itself to the story and I weaved that detail throughout the book.
I had to do some major photoshop editing to get the photo to work. The eyes looked weird but thanks to a Photoshop guru (Rachel Bullard) I was able to fix the eyes.
I created the cover and was pleased. Sort of…
Something about it seemed off, but I wasn’t sure. I knew once I got the part of the process where I got a physical proof copy would help me determine if I was worried about nothing.
Flash forward a few months and my proof copy arrived!
YUCK! I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the green at all. IT WAS TOO DARK! I use my covers color scheme for my media kits, social media posts and more. The green wasn’t going to work.
THE SEARCH WAS ON…
I looked at tons of beagles, thought about a car, and a few other ideas.
Then I found the sweet beagle relaxing on the orange sofa.
IT WAS PERFECT.
I put the image on my ebook cover, sent it to my mom and she texted me back YES!
Suddenly, I was excited and thought it would be a creative color scheme. This orange was a beautiful color, sunset orange with hints of red to deepen the color.
Immediately I created the paperback book 
cover and knew it was the one.
A few days later my newest proof came back and once I saw it, I did a little dance. My mom and sister loved it as well. I had my cover and just in time, too!
Cover design is HARD! It’s the first thing potential readers see and the judgments are decided in milliseconds if they are going to look further at your book or not.
THAT’S A LOT OF PRESSURE AS A COVER DESIGN, a new skill for my resume with no other training than research.
A few days later, I was going to my local library to prep for a social media post about loving your library and wanted to take photos of my first novel, Restoring Grace, on the library shelf.
IT WASN’T THERE!
I was so upset. They were going to track it down and they did find it and put it out within only days, but on that sad, rainy Monday. I was upset and disappointed.
I decided to stop by the local TCBY for some yogurt and sprinkles, something my main characters, Mark Hastings and his grandson, Noah does often after school.
Grabbing my fro-yo, I pull out my newest cover copy to work on final editing when I look over at the seating area AND THERE’S A BIG ORANGE SOFA!
I kid you not, I started laughing then and there. The poor waitress thought I was nuts!
It was then I knew, I’d chosen the right photo for my cover. I saw it as a sign from God. He used a disappointing trip to the library to show me the cover I had designed was perfect. He was directing my steps from the beginning.
I will never cease to be amazed by God’s humor.
As I’ve said before, COVER DESIGN is HARD, but if you find people to support you, give honest feedback, and say a little prayer or two… it will ALL WORK OUT.
I promise. If you need a little encouragement, don’t hesitate to contact me! Us, cover designers have to stick together.
Renewed by Grace, the fourth novel in the Grace Series comes out on April 30th! I can’t wait for you to read more about Andrea Cabot meet her sweet, young friend, Noah and his famous Grandpa.
If you want to read the first chapter, click HERE!
Until next time, may God’s grace surround you,
