Grab Your Readers' Attention

GRAB YOUR READERS’ ATTENTION DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR YOUR BOOK COVER

JOANN SONDY Chicago Self-Publishing Meet-up (June 2, 2015) Copyright 2015 ◆ Joann Sondy ◆ Creative Aces Corp.

“The look and design of the cover is MOST important...”

Publishers Weekly

JOANN SONDY Chicago Self-Publishing Meet-up

Copyright 2015 ◆ Joann Sondy ◆ Creative Aces Corp.

THE COVER CREATES A CONNECTION BETWEEN YOUR BOOK AND YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE.

CATEGORIES (GENRES)

GENRES ARE DISTINGUISHABLE

COMPATIBLE WITH READER’S PREFERENCES ■ Colors ■ Type styles ■ Graphics ■ Format

THE TITLE: CONCISE AND COMPELLING*

* There will always be exceptions, work with your editor to craft the most effective title.

SIZZLING SPOT-ON TITLE

■ TITLE = EMOTION Speaks to/from the ‘heart’ ■ SUBTITLE = LOGIC Speaks to/from the ‘head’

PHOTOS & ILLUSTRATIONS Attention ‘grabbing’ Illustrations and photographs connect with content or theme.

Do NOT use: Image downloaded from a Google search!

Your own artwork, allowable if you are a professional photog/artist/illustrator

HOW TO ADD [VISUAL] DRAMA Negative space for titles, name, etc.

Create: action, movement, whimsy, nostalgia and mystery

Contrast Mystery

Contrast Nostalgia

Nostalgia Action

Action Movement

Movement Whimsy

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

NEVER, EVER PUT YOUR PHOTO ON THE FRONT COVER*

* Unless you’re a “celebrity” in your market.

IF YOUR DESIGNER IS USING THESE... WALK AWAY, NOW!

ABCdef ABCdef

Specifications are VERY specific.

CASE STUDY MY WORKFLOW

COMP #5

BALLANTYNE STRONG INC. CORPORATE OFFICES 13710 FNB Parkway, Suite 400 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 US & Canada: 800-424-1215 Phone: (402) 453-4444 Fax: (402) 453-7238

BACK COVER

Ballantyne Strong 2014 Annual Report Cover Composites ~ aka ‘ideas’ March 4, 2015 4:11 PM Joann Sondy | Creative Aces joann@creativeaces.com office: 773-327-4538 | mobile: 231-633-0945

2014 Annual Report and 10-K

FRONT COVER

Ballantyne & Convergent supplied images are for placement only.

COMP #3

BACK COVER

Ballantyne Strong 2014 Annual Report Cover Composites ~ aka ‘ideas’ March 4, 2015 4:11 PM Joann Sondy | Creative Aces joann@creativeaces.com office: 773-327-4538 | mobile: 231-633-0945

FRONT COVER

Ballantyne & Convergent supplied images are for placement only.

COMP #2

BACK COVER

Ballantyne Strong 2014 Annual Report Cover Composites ~ aka ‘ideas’ March 4, 2015 4:11 PM Joann Sondy | Creative Aces joann@creativeaces.com office: 773-327-4538 | mobile: 231-633-0945

FRONT COVER

Ballantyne & Convergent supplied images are for placement only.

BALLANTYNE STRONG INC. 13710 FNB Parkway, Suite 400

●

PH: (402) 453-4444

Omaha, Nebraska 68154

●

US & Canada: (800) 424-1215

www.strong-world.com

2014 ANNUAL REPORT AND 10-K

2005: OUR FIRST BOOK

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Copyright © 2014 Dominic R. Sondy All rights reserved.

Published by Creative Aces Publishing, a division of Creative Aces Corporation; Chicago, Illinois

DOMINIC R. SONDY

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Chicago Self-Publishing Meet-up

June 2015

CREATE YOUR OWN GREAT PHOTO BOOKS

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Introduction to self-publishing techniques to create an amazing book of your photographs or illustrations.

JOANN SONDY

JOANN SONDY

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March 2015 [v1] Copyright 2015

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cards were stacked against you, you could be forced to cash out way too early. Or, you might just get lucky…

Introduction to self-publishing techniques to create an amazing book of your photographs or illustrations.

DOMINIC R. SONDY

They lined up, counted off and were dealt assignments. If the

CREATE YOUR OWN GREAT PHOTO BOOKS

SAIGON SHUFFLE

Governments controlled the

2014 ANNUAL REPORT AND 10-K

JOANN SONDY Creative Aces Resource “Decks” March 2015 [v1] Copyright 2015 ◆ Joann Sondy ◆ Creative Aces Corp.

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MY FIRST APARTMENT

For Kaitlin

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ANNA COHN DONNELLY AND FAMILY

GOING PUBLIC TODAY: The Risks and Rewards

“Spend your energy on the text and your money on the cover.

Without a great cover, your potential audience will never find out how great your text is.”

– Dan Poynter, The Self-Publishing Manual

HOW DO YOU WANT YOUR COVER DONE? ■ Fast.

■ Cheap.

■ Good.

Pick ONE.

You can’t have all three.

WORKING WITH YOUR DESIGNER ■ Conduct your own ‘field’ research of

cover designs.

■ A synopsis to share with your designer.

■ Be honest and upfront.

■ Clear, concise title.

■ Review and understand the design contract.

■ Provide feedback on the composites.

■ Ensure usage rights of any/all imagery.

■ Does it work in minature?

■ How will the cover be used in marketing?

JOANN SONDY Chicago Self-Publishing Meet-up Copyright 2015 ◆ Joann Sondy ◆ Creative Aces Corp.

RESOURCES: Chicago Women in Publishing www.cwip.org Directories Graphic Artists & Illustrators: www.creativehotlist.com www.chicago.aiga.org www.behance.net www.directoryofillustration.com Book Cover Inspiration www.chipkidd.com www.bookcoverarchive.com www.thebookdesigner.com

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