[Kristan Hoffman]

UPDATE TO ADD: Thanks for all the advice and support, folks! Stephanie has been working steadily as a cover designer for months now and is loving it. If you are interested in her services, please contact her through her website or email address -- http://www.mooneydesigns.net or [email protected] -- but NOT through KB, as she does not check here regularly. Thanks!!

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Hey all,

I have a very talented friend who is interested in designing book covers for indie authors. But she's not sure how to start getting clients. Any tips? I'm going to point her to KB, of course, but as authors, how would you like to be connected to a cover designer? Would you want a cold email? Or should she start a thread? Any tips/insight would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Kristan

 

[Remi Michaud]

Start a thread. Show off some of her previous work (a link to a website helps). Then it's all about the schmooz--I mean, the hanging out with us.

And, above all, she needs to be professional. I can't stress that enough.

 

[Guest]

I'd be interested in seeing her work. It's inevitable that I'll need another cover designer at some point.

 

[daringnovelist]

I agree that a thread here, and also setting up a website.  Take it slow at first.  Move into some of the online markets and showcases later.

She might want to study commercial book covers, and find some genre styles she feels comfortable replicating, and do some practice runs so people can see what she can do.  (You know, look at some Michael Connelly covers and then do a mock called "NIGHT THRILLER" by "Johnathan Author."  Then do a "Regency Wedding" by Wendy Writer.)

Camille

 

[Kristan Hoffman]

Oh, I should add: She's a writer herself, so she definitely understands our world.

Wow, thanks for all the responses and interest already!! I literally just mentioned this to her last night, and emailed her like 20 min ago about KB, so I imagine she'll start poking around soon. For now I'll continue to be her spokesperson, lol.

She recently started a blog -- http://stephaniemooney.blogspot.com/ -- and in her Flickr photostream, I found a DVD cover she did:

 

[MariaESchneider]

I just did a blog post on covers. I plan on doing a post occasionally to highlight cover artist work. If she's interested in being exposed...er, I mean, getting some exposure, feel free to have her contact me (she can find the email link on the blog or contact me here.) In general, I have only highlighted artists who do cover work who charge under 200 dollars.

Maria
www.BearMountainBooks.com

Edited to link to the post: http://www.bearmountainbooks.com/?s=artists&submit=Go

 

[Rex Jameson]

I found mine through the Author Yellow Pages at the top of this forum, and I also fished around for recommendations from people on the boards. The most important thing, I think, is for the cover artist to stay visible. Like any marketing, it often takes 6+ views and interactions for a steady connection to form in our brains. So, she should totally come onto these forums and post 6 times a day (jk, but I'm sure all of us would love to have her here). That is a very nice book cover, btw (if she's reading this).

 

[PMartelly]

I found Claudia McKinney through DeviantArt. After that, I went to her personal website. She also utilizes FB, which is great, because any time she makes something new, I can see it. Great way to get authors tempted to buy!

 

[Imogen Rose]

Posting some examples here would be a great start and then linking her website.

 

[AnnetteL]

Definitely get a website up with portfolio samples. And then use KB and other places (Twitter, etc.) to drive people there.

 

[EntangledLewis]

That's a great idea, Camille! I may have to try that myself. B^)

She might want to study commercial book covers, and find some genre styles she feels comfortable replicating, and do some practice runs so people can see what she can do. (You know, look at some Michael Connelly covers and then do a mock called "NIGHT THRILLER" by "Johnathan Author." Then do a "Regency Wedding" by Wendy Writer.)

Camille

 

[Kristan Hoffman]

Thanks, Maria. I'll definitely pass your info to her! Especially since she's new, I'm certain she'll be charging competitive rates.

Stephanie IS reading this thread, and she's probably going to register for KB, but she's never been part of a forum like this before, so she may not start her own thread for a little while. Gotta get a feel for the rules and etiquette, do up some sample covers, etc.

Thanks for the tips, everyone! I hadn't thought about using her (future) thread here as a showcase, but that's a great idea. Gets exposure for her AND for the books she works on.

It sounds like people do not want to be approached by designers, though. Am I right? Instead, she should set up a web presence (or several linked ones, really) where she can showcase her work and then be easily contacted.

 

[Kristan Hoffman]

Stephanie has now registered for KB but is still getting the lay of the land. In the meantime, she has gotten 2 requests for cover designs already (including one trilogy), so thanks so much for y'all's help and support!

Here's her new design page with sample covers and easy contact form: http://stephaniemooney.blogspot.com/p/design.html

And just for fun, here's a painting she just did for a friend of ours that is moving away:

 

[theraven]

That painting is wonderful. I love the mood she created. Just contacted her about two projects. 

 

[Jim Franz]

I may be a little different in that I don't need to have a cover artist "hang out" here.  So long as she keeps her website updated and the contact information is in the Yellow Pages, I would have gone looking for her.

The only other thing I'd mention is that it seems new members ask every 2-3 weeks, "Where do I find cover artists?"  I'd recommend posting in that thread, like many of them do.  I never saw it as inappropriate, and I always clicked through to their portfolios when I found somebody new.  For me, it was all about the samples of what they'd already done.

 

[Debra Burroughs]

I was glad you posted this, Kristan. It was a nice thing for you to do to help get your friend started. I used your link to her website and looked at her portfolio. I thought they looked good, and her price range seemed fair, so I asked her for a quote. I wouldn't have known about her if you had not posted it here. I don't see anything wrong with cover artists being on the threads. They are part of our self-publishing industry and authors are always on the lookout for a good cover artist at a reasonable price. Thanks, Kristan!

 

[EntangledLewis]

I think her work is stunning.

 

[KR Jacobsen]

She might also want to check out the conceptart.org forums as they have a classifieds section where authors will occasionally post an offering for a cover artist. Artists can advertise their services as well.

She won't have any trouble getting work.

 

[UnicornEmily]

Okay -- that is a great cover.  Sooo pretty!

 

[Meb Bryant]

Re: How do you find a cover designer?

I found mine in the hospital years ago. I gave birth to her.