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Introduction: A Week of Distractions

This week on the journey of life, amid the chaos and unexpected events, I found solace and focus in the realm of creativity. My son’s impromptu half day on Monday led me to reflect on the chilly days, acupuncture sessions, and the ever-entertaining company of my feline friends, particularly Pickle and Maisie. Amidst these daily adventures, I couldn’t help but immerse myself visually in the world of “Darlington Road,” the setting of my upcoming children’s book, featuring the mischievous Messy Cat and his feline companions.

Preliminary Musings on the Cover: A Distraction-Filled Week

As I delved into the preparation of my book release, one aspect loomed prominently – the book cover. A crucial element that can make or break a reader’s interest, the cover demanded my attention. However, distractions crept in, from discussions about how I can assist with selling an old friend’s property (I also work as a Viewber) to my son’s fascination with the “Onepiece” Manga series.

Despite the distractions, I managed to acquire the next book in the series for my son, keeping him happily engaged while I pondered the imminent challenges in my book publishing journey.

The Procrastination Predicament: Front Cover Dilemma

Before the unexpected Amazon KDP blocking incident a week or so ago, I had set a goal to publish on January 1st. Yet, the hurdles appeared, and among them, the decision of where to publish first became a prominent roadblock. However, the glaringly obvious obstacle was my procrastination surrounding the front cover.

As the writer and illustrator of my book, I found myself entangled in a conundrum. The narrative weaves around the cats of “Darlington Road,” presenting a unique challenge for the cover design. It’s a children’s book, but with language that challenges readers aged 8 to 12, aiming to celebrate their ability to learn and captivate adult audiences. Each chapter has it’s own characters and these are based on real life cats and their adventures in their community and beyond.

Research and Analysis: Unraveling the Cover Puzzle

Seeking inspiration and guidance, I turned to Mr. Google for insights into children’s book cover design. The search yielded a comprehensive list of considerations for crafting an engaging and visually appealing cover. Let’s break down the key steps identified during my exploration:

1. Understand the Target Audience:

• Identify the age group: 8-12 years.
• Consider interests: Cats, animals, friendships.

2. Research and Analysis:

• Explore successful covers.
• Analyze colors, styles, and themes.

3. Collaborate and Communicate:

• Internal dialogue with the author/illustrator (that’s me).
• Identify key themes and characters.

4. Sketch Concepts and Visual Selection:

• Experiment with layouts and compositions.
• Choose a central image or character, which will definitely be Messy Cat.

5. Typography, Font, and Color Palette:

• Choose readable fonts and align with the design, possibly the same as my logo, I’m not quite sure yet.
• Select a vibrant color palette. At the moment, I quite like the idea of Orange, blacks and greens in maybe a retro style, but lets see.

6. Layout and Composition:

• Balance elements for visual appeal.
• Pay attention to hierarchy, now this is something I’d not considered.

7. Title and Author Information:

• Integrate the book title and my name as the author creatively. Am I going to use an alias, a pen name or my own name? Also another ponder.

8. Review and Refine:

• Seek feedback from the target audience, well, a few chosen close friends and my son, possibly my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter page.
• Make necessary adjustments.

9. Finalize Design:

• Ensure resolution for print and digital formats. I’ll make sure I check these before I start design, but it’s good to check all this first to save time and redesign.

10. Back Cover Considerations:

• Design a compelling blurb. I think, it’s possible this could have it’s own blog post. I think this might be useful to other first time authors. What do you think? Do Let me know in the comments.

11. Prepare for Print/Digital:

• Consistency with the front cover. I know that, from research, different platforms have different sized images. I’m planning on turning this into a Podcast, an audiobook, a digital book and also a paperback, so lots to think about there.

Conclusion: Navigating the Cover Design Seas

The journey of crafting a children’s book cover unfolds as a creative odyssey. With Messy Cat as the guiding star, I embark on the intricate process of visually capturing the essence of “Darlington Road.” Join me in the next installment as I dive deeper into the decision-making process and challenges of first time publishing. Until then, let the whimsy of Messy Cat and his feline friends brighten your day. Stay tuned for more adventures in the world of Messy Cat!

Until next time, friends,

Rebecca