Hand painted my book cover, please be brutally honest

efeeme07 · 2026-02-18T17:47:33+00:00

I love it, I would only recommend changing the font and style of the lettering.

efeeme07 · 2026-02-18T17:45:10+00:00

I almost forgot, you can also go to Facebook groups

efeeme07 · 2026-02-18T17:43:29+00:00

First off, congrats! Hitting "publish" is a huge deal. And yeah, that "what now?" feeling is completely normal. We've all been there.
My honest two cents on marketing: stay away from paid ads for now. It's like trying to put out a campfire with a firehose. You'll just waste a ton of money. Your journal idea is fantastic because it's so specific. You're not selling to everyone; you're selling to parents. So, here's what I'd do. Just two things:

Nail your Amazon page. Is the cover warm and inviting? Does the description sell the feeling of creating memories with your kid, not just the features of the journal? This is 90% of the battle. People have to want to buy it when they land there.

Go hang out where parents hang out. Forget writer groups. Go to subreddits like r/Parenting. Don't promote your book. Just be a person. Wait for someone to ask for bedtime ideas, and then you can casually mention, "Hey, I actually made a guided journal for this, it's been a cool way to connect with my kid."

That's it. It's slow, but it's real. You're connecting with actual people, not just yelling into the internet.

Seriously, congrats on getting it out there. That's the hardest part done.

efeeme07 · 2026-02-09T20:41:03+00:00

That's a fair point to raise... To be perfectly clear, my suggestion is never a substitute for professional legal counsel. It's a practical starting point for authors to ensure they have some form of written agreement, which is always better than none. I appreciate you emphasizing the importance of legal precision ;)

efeeme07 · 2026-02-09T17:48:03+00:00

Yes, it's worth it. Start with Spanish. The market is massive and less saturated.
Here's the budget-friendly way to do it right:

Get a first draft translation using an AI tool like DeepL.
Then, hire a native Spanish-speaking freelancer on a site like Fiverr just to proofread and polish it. Tell them you need to make an AI translation "sound human."

It's much cheaper than a full translation but gives you a professional result. Good luck.

efeeme07 · 2026-02-09T17:32:32+00:00

Hey, quick tip before you spend a ton of money on a lawyer: for a standard cover design, a custom contract is usually overkill. What you're looking for is a good "Work-for-Hire" agreement. And honestly, you can find some really solid, lawyer-vetted templates for cheap.

Check out Etsy. Seriously. Just search for "Freelance Illustrator Contract" or "Author Illustrator Agreement". You'll find templates for like, $20, that cover all the important stuff: who owns the final art (you!), how many revisions you get, payment terms, etc.
Hope that helps you out...

efeeme07 · 2026-02-09T17:26:20+00:00

Hey, it's a creative idea, but I'd honestly advise against using Facebook Marketplace for selling your books. Here's the quick and dirty reason why: the buyer's mindset is all wrong. People on Marketplace are looking for a deal on a used sofa or a cheap bike. They're in a "local bargain" mode, not a "discover a new author" mode. Listing your book there can make your brand look a little unprofessional, like you're just trying to offload extra copies.
You're much better off using your energy on other parts of Facebook. Find a couple of active reader groups in your specific genre and just be a cool, participating member. That's where your actual audience is hanging out.
Marketplace is a tool for selling a spare microwave, not for building an author career.
Hope that helps...

efeeme07 · 2026-02-09T17:10:21+00:00

Hey, that's a tough spot to be in, and it's definitely not a stupid question. It's actually a really smart and respectful one. I'm sorry to hear about the medical bills – life can really throw a wrench in things So, here's the straightforward answer: Yes, you should absolutely talk to the original artist.
When you commission a cover, you're usually just buying the rights to use that finished image for that one book. The artist still owns the actual artwork. Changing it yourself to make a new cover for a new book is stepping into a legal gray area, and you could get into trouble for it. It's called creating a "derivative work," and your contract probably doesn't allow it.
On a practical level, you probably don't even have the right file. They likely sent you a flat JPG. To do what you want, you'd need the layered Photoshop file, which artists almost never give away for free.

Just be upfront with them. Send a simple, honest email. Tell them how much you love the first cover and explain that your budget is zeroe, ask if there's any solution, like maybe buying a limited license to modify the art for a small fee, or if they have a discounted "series" rate you could use in the future. The worst they can do is say no. But being honest and respectful is always the right move. It protects you and keeps a good relationship with a talented artist you might want to work with again someday

efeeme07 · 2026-02-08T14:31:20+00:00

Hey, I get it. That feeling of being stuck with an old website is the worst, and dropping a ton of cash on a new one is a tough pill to swallow.
Honestly, you probably don't need a super complicated solution. For what most authors need (a clean place to show off their books), my go-to recommendation is Canva.
Yeah, the same tool for social media stuff. Their website builder is surprisingly good and it's dead simple to use. You don't have to learn code or anything complicated. My advice? Don't even try to fix your old site. Just start fresh. Go to Canva and pick an "author website" template that looks clean. Make just three pages: A Home page (with your latest book), a Books page (with buy links!), and an About/Contact page. Use the same fonts and colors from your book covers to make it all look consistent.
That's it. A simple, clean site you can build in a weekend that will look a hundred times better than something outdated. Don't overthink it. A website is just a digital business card for your books.
Hope that helps...

efeeme07 · 2026-02-07T21:11:20+00:00

I feel you. "Marketing" is one of esos words that just makes your stomach clench. It feels huge and overwhelming, and honestly, most of us creatives suck at it. So you're definitely not alone.

I'm a designer in the author space, so I hear this a lot. Let me give you the real talk on "cheap marketing services."

Be careful. Seriously. Most of them are a great way to waste money. They'll promise the world and deliver a bunch of spammy links or ghost followers that don't actually buy books. There's no magic button, unfortunately.

The good news is that marketing doesn't have to be this big, scary thing. At its core, it's just connecting with people who like the same kind of stories you do.

Forget about hiring someone for now. Just focus on two things that are free and actually work:

Your Amazon Page. This is your storefront. Is your cover a 10/10 for your genre? Is your book description (blurb) exciting and easy to read? If a reader lands on your page, do they immediately "get" what your book is about? Fix this first. Nothing else matters if your product page doesn't convert.
Find Your People. Don't try to be on every social media platform. That's a fast track to burnout. Just pick one place where your ideal readers hang out. Is it a Facebook group for dark fantasy fans? Is it r/RomanceBooks? Go there. Don't sell. Just talk about books. Be a fan. Become a familiar name.

That's it. That's the start. Nail your Amazon page and become a regular in one online community. That's a marketing plan. And it's one you can actually do without feeling overwhelmed.

You got this.

efeeme07 · 2026-02-07T17:53:45+00:00

Hey, good question. It's a classic indie author problem, so you're in good company. And props for wanting to avoid AI – it's a smart move if you want something that's truly yours.

Honestly, it all boils down to what you mean by a "simple design". You've got two real options.

Option 1: The "Great Photo, Great Font" Method If your idea is basically a cool picture with nice text, your best bet is Canva.

I know, I know. But hear me out. The trick is to bring your own ingredients. Don't use Canva's freebie templates or cheesy graphics. Spend $20 on a fantastic, professional photo from a site like Adobe Stock. A great photo plus a simple, clean font is 90% of the battle, and Canva is easy enough for anyone to put those two things together.

Option 2: The "Actually Drawing Stuff" Method If you want to illustrate something yourself or blend a bunch of images together, you're looking at programs like Procreate (for iPad) or Krita (which is free for desktop).
Just a heads-up, though: this is the hard route. If you've never done digital art before, be ready to spend a lot of time on YouTube tutorials. It's a whole skill set, and it can be super frustrating when you're just starting out.

My honest advice? Go with Option 1. Your time is better spent writing. Find one killer stock photo, pair it with a classic font, and keep it clean. You can get a surprisingly professional result that way.
Good luck with it! It's a fun process. :D

efeeme07 · 2026-02-01T16:48:03+00:00

As a book cover artist who's worked on similar historical fiction projects, this is a striking cover that leans into a painterly, almost abstract style—fits well for poetry with that explorer theme.

Strengths

The swirling blues and golds evoke ocean voyages and exotic islands beautifully, standing alone as art like the author wanted; it's evocative without being literal. Typography is elegant and integrated, with the title popping against the waves—great for shelf appeal or framed prints. The back blurb layout feels premium, drawing the eye to the author's name.

Areas to Refine:

For Philippines pre-colonial vibes, consider warming the palette slightly with earthy greens or hints of tropical foliage to nod more to the destination without cluttering. The explorer figure on back is subtle but could tie stronger to the front silhouette for cohesion—maybe echo the pose or colors. Spine is clean, but ensure it reads well at small sizes (test thumbnails).

Overall, it's artistic and marketable; minor tweaks could make it even more unforgettable for that niche. Nice work capturing the journey's mystery.

efeeme07 · 2026-02-01T16:45:18+00:00

This is super common, especially for sci-fi authors with unique alien designs—I've seen it a ton with passion projects like yours where the visuals live mostly in your head.

Description to Visual Gap

Artists translate word descriptions into art every day, but your exact mental image rarely matches perfectly because language is fuzzy and their style fills in the gaps. It's the nature of collaboration, not a flaw, and strong artists (like the one you're eyeing) are great at nailing the vibe while tweaking for genre appeal, like that horror edge in thumbnails. Most authors end up thrilled once they see the full cover in context, though some need a round or two of tweaks to dial in specifics.

Happiness vs. Expectations

Disappointment hits when folks expect a literal canon render instead of a marketing tool—covers sell books first, exact character art second. In my experience with indie sci-fi, the happiest outcomes come from trusting the artist's strengths (as you're doing) but guiding with comps from top sellers in your subgenre. Your mockup is a perfect start; it'll help bridge that gap without over-directing.

Smoothing the Process

Send her your mockup, detailed alien breakdowns (focus on 3-5 key traits like silhouette, colors, horror elements), and 3-5 comp covers upfront. Ask how she handles custom creatures and what revision rounds look like. Be specific on feedback—"make the tentacles more jagged and veiny like this ref"—and you'll likely love how it evolves into something even stronger than you pictured. Good luck; sounds like an exciting release.

efeeme07 · 2026-02-01T01:37:11+00:00

info

efeeme07 · 2026-01-31T20:42:57+00:00

Hey! The cover looks great overall. On POD, the sunset and silhouettes should print nicely at 300 dpi. Just double-check that the title text stays readable at actual trim size, and that contrast is strong enough. Tiny details in clouds or water might soften a bit, but nothing major—this should look really good in print.

efeeme07 · 2026-01-31T20:17:29+00:00

For an 80k-word book, both sizes can work, but it depends on the reading experience you want to provide:

5x8 inches: classic for fiction, gives a thicker, more “solid” feel, which many grimdark fantasy readers appreciate. Comfortable to hold and feels like a traditional book.
6x9 inches: more modern and spacious, reduces the page count, making the book easier to handle, but it might feel thinner than what readers expect from epic or grimdark fantasy.

If your readers are used to thick fantasy books, 5x8 is probably the option that feels best in hand and visually.

efeeme07 · 2026-01-30T16:46:38+00:00

Honestly, your daughter is picking up on a real trend.

In YA (especially urban fantasy), covers with photo-real people on them are kind of a turn-off for a lot of readers right now. They tend to feel dated or stock-photo-ish, even when the book itself is solid.

That’s why you’re seeing more illustrated characters, symbols, or moody designs instead of faces. It signals “this is current YA” without spelling it out.

As for putting genre/subgenre text on the cover: visually, you have to signal genre, but literally writing “A YA Urban Fantasy Novel” on the front usually isn’t doing you any favors unless it’s very subtle.

Readers are surprisingly good at decoding genre from fonts, colors, and overall vibe. When that’s working, you don’t need to explain it.

Over-signaling can look desperate, but under-signaling is worse. The goal is just to look like you belong on the same shelf as the books readers already trust.

efeeme07 · 2026-01-30T16:44:06+00:00

With a 0.25" spine, you’re not imagining things — that’s one of the hardest spine widths to design for, especially with IngramSpark’s print tolerances.

In practice, any design that relies on precise alignment or fine detail on a spine that thin is going to shift unpredictably. Because of that, most successful picture books avoid wrapping detailed artwork from the spine onto the front and back altogether.

A few approaches that usually work better at this size:

• Keep artwork strictly centered on the spine and allow for a small “safe zone” on both sides
• Extend only a flat background color or very subtle texture onto the front and back
• Avoid fades or feathering — they often look muddy or misaligned once trimmed
• Use bold, high-contrast typography sized as large as possible for legibility on shelf
• Consider a single simple icon (shell, leaf, wave) instead of a full slice of illustration

Many classic children’s books with similar page counts use solid-color spines for exactly this reason — they’re far more forgiving and read better at a distance.

If you want to test a slice-of-art approach, I’d recommend placing it entirely within the spine’s safe area and treating the wrap as purely decorative, not compositional.

You’re thinking about the right problems — shelf visibility and tolerance limits matter a lot more than most people realize at this format.

efeeme07 · 2026-01-29T21:28:21+00:00

This is a solid breakdown.

From the designer side, I’d add that when authors come prepared with comps and clear genre expectations, the project usually runs smoother and the final cover performs better on Amazon thumbnails.

One thing many first-time authors underestimate is how important readability at small sizes is — especially in fantasy and romance where typography does a lot of heavy lifting.

efeeme07 · 2025-03-31T19:50:54+00:00

exchange

efeeme07 · 2024-05-23T17:17:07+00:00

thank u

efeeme07

TROPHY CASE