Whew! I was quite a bit nervous when I started working on the cover for the Free Cover Design Contest winner – Amir Ghazi of The World of Horror. I mean, I love Stephen King just as much as every other person on this planet, but I can’t come up with a horrific image! Not unless it involves a cockroach in a soup or something…
I’m relieved to report that after a couple of mock-ups and a lot of back-and-forth discussion, I came up with a design that made Amir happy. Here it is, in paperback wrap and Kindle format:
And the best thing is, after the initial jitters, I had a ton of fun working on it! It was practically an addiction for a couple of days, I’ve learned new tricks, and can’t wait to start working on a final version of the cover for Indiot. Originally I was going to run this contest again in maybe six months, but now I think I might do it sooner – so if you are interested in submitting your pitch for a free design, sign up for my Don’t Miss It list.
Let me know what you think!
Ana Spoke, author 
this is cool
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Thank you!
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Excellent. That axe-man on the back cover is most threatening. You’re good at this book cover thing.
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Thank you, Sarah! I’m starting to fear less and love it more – one thing for sure, I don’t have to stress about hiring designers…
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You’re lucky with that. One less big expense! For me, it was my only expense, so I guess that wasn’t so bad, although I’d like to earn back the cost of the first cover before publishing my next book, if at all possible. Keep your fingers crossed for my Goodreads Giveaway, due to run from 13-27th Feb. I took your advice and am only going to run it for a fortnight.
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This is awesome Ana! I love it, esp the back. 😀 Im so happy for Amir 😀
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Thank you! I’m so pleased I could do it for him – it really is a nerve-racking responsibility…
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That’s a cover Stephen King would love to have Ana – Well Done 👍😃
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Wow, thank you! Who knows, if the writing career doesn’t pan out, maybe this will take off…I’d take anything creative over the office misery…
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LOLOL
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Wow! That turned out great!
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Thank you 🙂
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Great cover. I think you may just have an eye for this sort of thing.
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Thank you so much, Allie – who knew! To think how much stress I went through with the two designers for Shizzle…
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Great cover. Very good.
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Thank you 🙂
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So good!
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Thank you, Matt 🙂
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That is really good. You’ve got a gift for this! 🙂
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Thank you, Claire! Maybe I do…I certainly look forward to doing all my covers and not stressing over the designer “not getting” the book idea.
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Love the writing on her cheek and her eyes. Very intense.
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Thank you!
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I agree it’s intense and disturbing. Excellent!
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Thank you, Olga!
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I like how the guy has the axe
On Thursday, February 4, 2016, AnaSpoke.com wrote:
> Ana Spoke posted: “Whew! I was quite a bit nervous when I started working > on the cover for the Free Cover Design Contest winner – Amir Ghazi of The > World of Horror. I mean, I love Stephen King just as much as every other > person on this planet, but I can’t come up with a hor” >
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Thank you, a weird guy with an axe is in one of the nightmares, yikes!
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c that’s what makes it work!
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Really wonderful. Quite terrifying. I can’t wait to read Amir’s book!
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Yay! Thank you 🙂 Me too – I’ve been promised an autographed copy 🙂
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Thank you, Ana & all the people who liked the cover! Ana is an amazing friend.
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Thank you 🙂
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Fantastic – I love it! You’re so clever!
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Thank you, Colin 🙂
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*shivers* Works for me. I don’t enjoy horror myself, but the cover is definitely effective without being too, you know, horrific. 🙂
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Haha, thank you 🙂 yes, it’s more of a psychological drama than a gore feast…
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Well done — will encourage readers! Note however, the words on the spine usually go Top to Bottom, the reverse of what you’ve done — so a person reading spines on a shelf in a library isn’t constantly adjusting head angle.
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Ah, really? Thank you for pointing it out, I will check!
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You are so right! Will have to fix that…
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Looks great! One thing about the spine though…I looked at every book on my shelf (and that’s a lot of books) and not a single one had the lettering going up the spine. Was that done on purpose? Is it an Aussie thing? lol
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Thank you, Lisa – no, a mistake on my part! Will have to fix it…
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It would certainly make the book stand out on the shelf.
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haha! Yes, it would!
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You did a great job!
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Thank you very much 🙂
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Oh my goodness! This is so freaking good! That intro I read had made me curious, now this is making me freak! Loved it Ana! Sincerely praying, “Some day may I need something like this from you” Aameen! 😉
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Thank you so much! If you want to enter the next competition, sign up for the Don’t Miss It list, and I will let you know when it’s open again (sorry, can’t commit to regular dates).
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I surely will, when my work is ready. As of now, just trying hard to make it happen. It’s still a long way, so don’t you be sorry at all. 🙂 *hugs*
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Great – I hope you do! By the way, you don’t need to have your work finished – just need a blurb. Most of the entries from the last competition were for unfinished work, that way you have a cover to motivate you to finish 🙂
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Ana, you are so talented! You should make this a second business and use the design cover contests to advertise your expertise in creating book covers. You could make a good living at it! I love what you did for Amir the cover is intriguing and scary enough to pull the reader in. I have a Q’s. I like the writing on her face but I can’t figure out what it says, is it just me or is it suppose to be that way? Just curious…. ( probably just me….).
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Thank you so much, Olivia 🙂 I have definitely thought about that 😉 problem is, it took me forever, especially the beginning, trying to come up with the concept and find just the right images. I’m thinking that if I continue doing this, not only my skills will improve and I will be able to create designs faster, but also it may become popular, there will be more demand, and people may be willing to pay me an adequate rate (in the market filled with $99 pre-made crappy covers). As always, time will tell…
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Oh, and the writing is purposefully obscure – hopefully creating tension. It’s the link to the fact that she reads someone else’s nightmares and then they manifest themselves in her mind…
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I think it’s spectacular! You have such a good eye and skill level! I’d love to have your input and feedback… I’ve got a “good” design for my book and another for the first workbook but I’d like to bring them up to “great” and to have the two cover concepts speaking to each other! I signed up on your email list in case you feel inspired to give me some input… Or even to play with it?! I have both in Photoshop so I can send them to you if you’re up for a challenge!! *smile*
Thanks,
Tamara
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Thank you, Tamara! If you want free design, make sure to enter the next contest – otherwise I have to charge, because it takes my time away from work and writing…
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Hehehe! Oops! I thought I did by clicking on the link to get signed up for your email list! I may have clicked on the wrong link?
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All good, you’re on the right list! Start building your following – the winner is decided by voting, so a following helps (it will help you get reviews and sales, too!)
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Trying to do just that on my blog!
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Great! Good writing + clever marketing = success 🙂
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Looks good to me; I’d buy it.
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That’s awesome! Thank you – and I’m sure Amir would thank you, too 🙂
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That looks great! Looks like a commercial paperback cover, not an indie – a compliment. 😀
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Thank you! This is what I aim for with my books – self published, but edited and packaged just like the mainstream ones…
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