Today, I want to take you behind-the-scenes of my book cover, which unexpectedly turned into a DIY project a week before my launch. 🫠
I’d initially hired a designer, but a month in, they admitted they’d bitten off more than they could chew, and we amicably parted ways. All good, except…now I didn’t have a book cover.
After the project cancellation, here’s what I did for an hour and seven minutes:
I sat on my couch, staring at the wall like a gorked-out zombie. I shuffled upstairs and crumpled into a crying heap. I tried three times to explain to my very patient husband what I was feeling and what I needed. The fourth try was a success, and we hugged it out, amidst much crying and nose blowing on my part.
And then I wandered downstairs, still in a bit of a daze, but with the growing determination that I was going to design the cover myself. I also ate an orange, and I feel like that helped a lot. Sometimes it’s the little things… 🙃
Monday morning.
I sat at my computer. If I cracked my knuckles, I totally would have done so. And then…I subscribed to a month-long Photoshop plan and got to work (with the help of many, many tutorials).
Pressing the magic fast-forward button to Tuesday at 4 pm—please visualize a training movie montage with peppy, determined music—I found myself staring at a cover. A cover that I actually liked. A lot. 😍
Also, the process was fun? Like, really fun?
I never, ever would have chosen this path if things had worked out with the designer. I would’ve assumed I couldn’t do it and proceeded to act accordingly by not doing it. (Hmm…I feel like this is a good life lesson overall: Just give it a try—you might be surprised!)
What’s especially awesome is that I now feel confident enough to do all sorts of things that, before, I would’ve had to wait until I could find and afford a designer, like creating this Moon Cat bookmark. I feel like a kid in the Photoshop candy store!
Designing my own cover allowed me to recreate that handmade diorama look I was after, a style I plan to use for the entire 22-book series. Won’t it be so satisfying to see them all lined up on the shelf with their coordinating covers? Heaven. ☺️
Thanks for coming along on this little book cover journey. If you’d like to get your own copy of The Fool & the Threads of Time, the Moon Cat bookmark, or one of the limited edition mini sets, here’s that magic button…
Until next time,
Mo and the Mice 🐭
