Travis Thrasher's Ghostwriter E-book cover contest

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Author Travis Thrasher has a fun contest going on over at his Facebook page. His novel Ghostwriter released in 2009, but he wants to re-release it in e-book form. His plan is to release it for FREE for a limited period. But first he needs a cover!

Over at his blog he announced the search for a winning design. Twelve designs were submitted, and he's now asking readers to vote on their favorites. This week he's sharing the first six, next week the rest. The covers with the most comments and "likes" will move onto the final round. Travis picks the final cover, but he needs input to help him make his decision.

So head on over to his Facebook page here, and cast your vote!

Bound by Guilt cover unveiled!

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Here it is!

I'm so very excited to unveil the official cover of my February 2011 Tyndale House release, Bound by Guilt (click on photo to enlarge).

This book is one I'm really excited to share with you. If you liked Thicker than Blood I think you'll enjoy this one too. It has the same feel of my first novel, but with what I hope is even more depth.

In Thicker than Blood we featured a rare first edition of Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls. This time we're featuring an even rarer book---The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Some have wondered if Bound by Guilt is a sequel to Thicker than Blood. Yes, it is. Sort of. You don't have to have read Thicker than Blood to enjoy this one, but several of the main characters from Thicker become minor characters in Bound, but we're introduced to several new characters too!

Stay tuned! And in case you're interested, Bound by Guilt is available for pre-order at Amazon.com, Christianbook.com and Barnes & Noble.com

Book Cover Design - Using the Same Photo

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Book cover design has intrigued me for quite some time. The perfect cover can sell a book. All it takes sometimes is a grabber of an image. And sometimes that grabber image gets used more than once.

Case in point. Take a look at the first two books in the collage at left (the image will enlarge if you click on it). Unpretty by Sharon Carter Rogers (Howard Books, 2008). Scared woman with hand over her mouth. It's a provocative photo for certain. Which is why I was surprised to see it on another cover in the CBA market only two years later. When the Devil Whistles by Rick Acker (Abingdon Press, Oct 2010).

Believe it or not, I have seen this image also on a movie poster for a secular horror film and in the mockup of a Thomas Nelson title (that was changed before it was published).

So... where does it come from? This stock image was taken by a photographer who goes by "knape" and is also the model. It's available on iStockphoto here.

But here's where things get really interesting. I was looking at this image a couple months back out of curiosity, and lo and behold I was shocked to see that the model featured on the cover of my own novel Thicker than Blood is this same photographer/model! I made this comment online and Kirk DouPonce of Dog Eared Design was intrigued as well, telling me he'd used yet another photo of this model on the cover of The Healer by Linda Windsor.

Fascinating!

Have you seen any books that have the same image on their covers? Do share!

Thicker than Blood back cover and spine unveiled!

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I'm very excited to share with you the final cover, spine and back cover of my January 2010 Tyndale House novel Thicker than Blood. Click on the image to enlarge it and see how the designer Jennifer Ghionzoli managed to make the most beautiful cover ever! (I'm not biased at all, am I?) I LOVE the way this book looks like a rare, leatherbound book. So perfect as a used and rare bookstore plays a big role in this story. If you like what you see, and care to pre-order, the book is available to do just that at these fine online retailers: Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Borders.com, and Powells.com.

My Favorite Book Covers

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There's nothing like a great book cover. Sometimes they'll make or break a novel. I've picked up more than one book based on the cover alone. Here are a few of my favorite Christian fiction covers. What do you think? What are some of yours?

Shoofly Pie
by Tim Downs
Howard Books

I love the vibrant yellow, and of course the blood spatter adds the mystery/murder element which plays prominently in this story. The fly clues you in on the "buggy" elements. You can't see it in this picture, but there's some embossing going on with the cover that also adds to the experience. Perfect novel for a quirky murder mystery.




Forsaken
by James David Jordan
B&H

It's not entirely clear in this small photo, but the bullet hole through the glass is amazingly detailed and adds such a great element to this cover. The image of the main character, Taylor, is also compelling. She's beautiful, but the coat she wears hints of her harder edge, something a suspense lover like myself welcomes in a novel.



The Restorer
by Sharon Hinck
Navpress

I absolutely love how this cover hints at the themes of the novel. This is a modern woman who finds herself in a fantasy world. The sword holding is perfect and says so much. I also love the color. This particular designer, Dog Eared Design, isn't afraid to use vibrant colors, and that's nice to see.





Dark to Mortal Eyes
by Eric Wilson
Waterbrook Press

The cover of this book alone got me to pick it up off the shelf at Barnes & Noble. I was immediately intrigued with that eye. Some have called this cover too edgy or intense, but I think it's brilliant. Says so much and also hints at the story to come.






The Breaking of Ezra Riley
by John L. Moore
Broadman & Holman

I own this book because of its cover. Yes, my interest was piqued by the summary (features a man coming back to the family ranch) as it reminds me of the settings I tend to favor in my own writing, but I wouldn't have bought it if wasn't for the cover. Again, perfect match up of design that matches the theme and tone of the novel. I haven't yet finished this book, but it starts out during a bleak, brutal Montana winter.



Plague Maker
by Tim Downs
Thomas Nelson

I'm noticing I lean toward darker covers, but those fireworks really grab your eye. It's an incredible shot that plays wonderfully into the book's story, too. The images on black add to the effect, and the lettering is the perfect font for a suspense.

ECPA Book Cover Award Finalists Announced

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Bibles

• The Literary Study Bible, Crossway Bibles, Leland Ryken and Philip Graham Ryken, 9781581348088


• Urban Devotional Bible, Crossway Bibles, Dr. Michael Reynolds, Sr. General Editor, 9781433502828


• The Voice of Hebrews, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Greg Garrett and David Capes, Creators, 9780529123534

Category 1: “Best Cover from a Small-Sized Publisher” (From publishers with 1-100 titles annually)

• Francis Schaeffer: An Authentic Life, Crossway Books, Colin Duriez, 9781581348576


• Preaching as Art, Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, Darius L. Salter, 9780834123595


• Red Letters, David C. Cook, Tom Davis, 9780781445351


• Zora and Nicky, David C. Cook, Claudia Mair Burney, 9780781445504

Category 2: “Best Cover from a Mid-Sized Publisher” (From publishers with 101-250 titles annually)

• Faith to Faith, Harvest House Publishers, Dan Scott, 9780736923507


• O2, Harvest House Publishers, Richard Dahlstrom, 9780736922142


• On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, Andrew Peterson, 9781400073849

Category 3: “Best Covers from a Large Publisher” (From publishers with 251+ titles published annually)

• Adam, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Ted Dekker, 9781595540072


• The Domino Effect: Falling Forward into the Story of Good and Evil, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Wayfarer Ministries, 9781418533403


• unChristian, Baker Publishing Group, David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, 9780801013003

So, what are your thoughts? Any of them stick out as "winners" for you? The Urban Devotional Bible is kinda cool if you ask me.

The Evolution of Another Book Cover - The Unseen by T.L. Hines

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I love seeing the changes book covers go through during their design process. I've talked about this subject before, but I found another book that's gone through at least two strikingly different renditions (and I suspect went through many more than this based on statistics of these sort of things). The book is T.L. Hines' debut from Thomas Nelson, The Unseen. Here are the two covers side by side (click on the pic to enlarge it). What do you think? The one on the left was an earlier version, the one on the right looks to be the final.















There's definitely the same theme going on here, but that final version is quite intriguing. Make you want to read the book? From the publisher's description it sounds pure Tony Hines!

What goes into designing a book cover?

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These sort of things fascinate me. A couple months ago, Bethany House publishers had a survey about which cover to use for Ann Tatlock's Every Secret Thing.

My friend Rel recently posted on her blog the results of that survey with comments from Bethany's publicist Jim Hart. What sort of things do they take into account when selecting a cover?

Click here to read the full, informative post. And by the way, the cover at left is the final version of the book.

Help Bethany House choose a book cover

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Bethany House publishers wants your help in picking a cover for an upcoming novel ... and you could even win a free book.

Check it out here. Man, I love these sort of things.

Designing a book cover

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Ever wondered what really goes into the design of a book's cover? Wonder no more. Over at Novel Journey, Kirk DouPounce of Dog Eared Design gives us the full scoop. Click here to read the article.

Dog Eared designed the cover for Jenny B. Jones' new novel In Between (at left), and he uses it as an example. If you haven't yet read this novel, may I offer my highest recommendation? It's Book #1 in the Katie Parker Production series for teens. But you don't have to be a teen to enjoy Jenny's wonderful humor and insights. She somehow manages to keep things fun without discounting the serious.

Summary:

When your single greatest achievement to date is becoming a ward of an entire state, it's a little debilitating to a girl's confidence.

Katie Parker is a 16 year old girl who can't catch a break. With a mother in jail and a father unaccounted for, she finds herself in a mini-van bound for In Between, Texas, home of her new foster parents.

Katie must learn to adjust to life with the new family. When she finds herself in some deep trouble, everything unravels. Join Katie as she learns about family, love, and healing.

Hang on for the ride as dysfunction is brought center stage.

Bethany House Publishers wants your input on a book cover

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Dave Long over at the Faith in Fiction blog posted a link to a survey where readers can give their input on the cover of upcoming Bethany House novel Every Secret Thing by Ann Tatlock. It's a quick survey but will enable you to see what goes on in choosing a novel's cover, plus you'll be able to let your voice be heard.

Dave is an acquisitions editor for the publishing house, by the way. Click here to get started.