Book Cover Design - Part One - Designing Your Books Back Cover, A How To Parts To the Puzzle by Kareen Ross

Book Cover Design - Part One - Designing Your Books Back Cover, A How To Parts To the Puzzle by Kareen Ross

Book covers are just one part of the book design process... here will create a list of what's needed for the back cover. Ask yourself, what part does the back cover play in the sale of my book? It's said the cover design brings them in, it's the hook....and the back cover sells them, it's the meat. Why is it that 'they' say that and how do all the parts work together? As I've probably mentioned before, designing a book cover is like a puzzle and the back cover is part of that puzzle. In Part one of designing a back cover we'll go over the elements that make up the copy.

The Puzzle Parts of Artful Back Cover Design:

1. Category and price. This is usually the first line on the back cover.

Price: This has several places on the back where it can be positioned.

2. Headline: What is the main benefit you want your readers to get out of your book.

3. First paragraph: is usually a descriptive short summary, collective of back up facts or statements.

4. Sub heading and Bulleted list: the sub heading leads you into the features, the bullet points.

5. The closing paragraph: one or two sentences to sum it up and call to action.

6. Author Photo and Bio: if there is room add a photo and short intro to the author or their company.

7. Testimonal: an endorsement from a well know person and what they think about your book.

8. Signature: company name and contact info, website and location if you want. Usually on the bottom left.

9. Barcode: usually positioned on the bottom right although there is no standard placement.

So I've given you an idea of what goes into the back cover design of your book. In Part Two we'll go into more detail on each of them and what part it plays in catching and holding your readers attention.