With the launch of my second short story collection, SWING SHORTS, I wanted something different for a cover. Something illustrated. I follow a couple of hashtags on Twitter and noticed these really cool drawings an artist, Lahela Schoessler had done of her friend’s grandparents from 1940s photos. Her pin-up style was exactly what I was going for. I hired her right away and sent her my inspiration pictures. So this is the evolution of a book cover.

Evolution of a Book Cover Inspiration

Evolution of a Book Cover First Sketches

She sent me three sketches to choose from. As you can see they’re all in the style I was looking for with different points of view of the pin-up. I almost went with the middle one, but thought it gave less room for text. What do you think?

Also needed was to fit text and author name without intruding too much on the illustration. The one on the far right came out the winner, (I did ask a few beta readers and friends which ones they liked, too). I liked her sassy kick-up and look. I could picture it with type. Though I loved the others too! Then I had to decide colors. Brown hair, blonde, hair, black hair. What color should her outfit be? Below is the evolution of the book cover from more detailed drawing to color tests. As you can see, I went with the blonde with green outfit. Since the wash bucket was brown, I liked a little more color with the blonde hair.

Evolution of a Book Cover Details & Colors

Once the illustration was done, she finished it and sent me the original art. I then sent it off to my cover designer Karen at Phillips Covers. She took the illustration and gave me a few different versions of it. They were all fabulous, but had too modern a design look.

Evolution of a Book Cover Adding Text

We went back to the drawing board and this time, she bumped up the size of the pin-up and shifted her to the left. It worked for me! I loved the asymmetry. Then is was down to small tweaks, colors, border, font and tweaks. Although, I like subtle and monochromatic color schemes,  covers have to pop in a thumbnail size on Amazon, so we brightened up the text on the final.

Evolution of a Book Cover Tweaks

Because I love books, real books, I always make paperbacks available to my readers. Plus, with such pretty book covers, who wouldn’t want this beauty  lying around on a coffee table. Not to mention books make great gifts, especially ones with beautiful cover art!

Evolution of a Book Cover: The Paperback Full Cover

SWING SHORT is now on sale in paperback and ebook! For more about this novel or to see when I disastrously tried to design my own cover check out my journey with Ghostoria: Vintage Romantic Tales of Fright.

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Do you have any favorite book covers that inspired you to buy the book? Any other writers who share their evolution of a book cover. I’d love to see theirs. How much does a book cover influence you to read it? Are book covers more important to you on paperback or ebooks?

Tam Francis is a writer, blogger, swing dance teacher, avid vintage collector, and seamstress. She  shares her love of this genre through her novels, blog, and short stories. She enjoys hearing from you, sharing ideas, forging friendships, and exchanging guest blogs. For all the Girl in the Jitterbug Dress news, give-aways, events, and excitement, make sure to join her list and like her FB page! Join my list ~ Facebook page Like more short story collections, check out  Ghostoria.