“ALL ABOUT BOOK COVERS” for Salt Spring Island Writers

I’m pleased to announce a special event at the Salt Spring Island Library on January 25, 2017! This will be a discussion of the ins and outs of successful book cover design for writers who are self-publishing and also those who are working with a traditional publisher. We will be touching on such topics as:

• The importance of Your Title

• What makes a successful cover design in the new world of on-line marketing

• A few technical “musts” to avoid expensive and embarrassing disasters

• Design trends in book covers

• and more…!

If there is enough interest from the writers, I am prepared to offer more in-depth workshops where you will get to introduce your own writing project.

Announcing Fall Book Cover Design Workshops in San Miguel

How to Design Your Book Cover for Maximum Attention! Facilitated by Margot Boland. Margot has taught graphic design at the university level and has been a professional book designer for many years, in both traditional publishing companies, and as a free-lance designer in the rapidly changing world of self- publishing. She is on the faculty of The San Miguel Writer’s Conference 2014. This workshop is for all writers who are planning to self-publish, whether at the start of your writing project or on the verge of publishing with a traditional publisher. You will gain insights regarding what steps are necessary. You will work with your own ideas to visualize the finished package you are dreaming of for project. You will learn what common mistakes to avoid, and what makes a truly successful cover. “One thing I can guarantee,” says Margot, “you will never look at a book cover the same way again.” Note: Special guest for both workshops will be author and writing teacher, Eva Hunter, who will discuss the design process with Margot for her recently published memoir, A Little Mormon Girl. Two Workshops Offered: Saturday, October 26 OR Saturday, November 23 11 AM to 3 PM Centro – Directions & more upon registration $300 pesos For more information or to register, call Margot Boland 415 154 7173 or e-mail: margot.boland@sympatico.ca Workshops are limited to six people: first come registration! Book Design & More – www.margotboland.com Become a Member TodayThe San Miguel Literary Sala is a not-for-profit organization made possible by the many  volunteers who work tirelessly to support the monthly author readings, Literary Festivals, and the annual San Miguel Writers’ Conference. Your membership supports these endeavors and the literary arts throughout the Americas.You can become a Member or update your membership HERE.

 

Announcing my recent cover design for “A Little Mormon Girl”

I am pleased to announced the finished cover design for “A Little Mormon Girl” written by Eva Hunter and now available for purchase on Amazon.com.

A Chapbook Cover Design for Libbe Dennard, San Miguel Author of “A Far Cry”

Libbe Dennard was referred to me by San Miguel poet and literary doyenne, Judyth Hill. Libbe has completed a chapbook – it is ready to send out to chapbook publishers and she wanted a cover design for the presentation manuscript that would showcase her title, compelling central image and hopefully get their attention! In her words:

“Libbe Dennard has submitted a small collection of poems called, “A Far Cry” to a US chapbook publishing house.  Her manuscript is now being reviewed with an eye toward publication. The poems relate to Libbe’s life journey. She feels that the poignant cover done by Margot Boland caught the eye of the editor. ” 

What is a chapbook?  

A chapbook is a small publication, usually poetry, which can be either printed inexpensively or lavishly, but are almost always produced in a limited quantity, adding to their rarity.

Margot’s Design Notes:

When Libbe asked me to work on her cover, she had an image in mind – it was a jpg of an old photograph of herself as a very small child. The photo was a bit damaged, and it was not in the correct resolution for eventual printing, but the image itself was perfect for the poignant and personal quality of Libbe’s writing. After cleaning up the photo and having it rescanned at a higher resolution, it was ready to have a couple of Photoshop filters applied. I chose a calm, warm taupe for the background colour and as Libbe had specified a Baskerville font for the interior of the book, I used Baskerville for the cover typography. It worked! Here is Libbe’s cover design, created to capture the attention of a chapbook publisher.

Yours in design,

Margot

“A Far Cry” Cover

The Cupola Collusion now available in eBook format!

MARGOT’S DESIGN NOTES:

I’ve been working with San Miguel Author, GREGORY GUNTER to design both the print cover and the eBook cover for his dark and dangerous political thriller, The Cupola Collusion. The cover image chosen was the domed Capitol Building in Washinton as the sun is setting, casting golden reflections on the Potomac River at the base.

A military chopper hovers ominously close to the cupola, suggesting supreme danger in what is normally a “no-fly” zone. I won’t tell you what the “collusion” is, except it involves interaction between the U.S. and the Vatican. A rosary chokes the neck of the building and is foreshortened into the foreground of the cover. But don’t expect a crucifix on this rosary! Greg asked me to attach a terrorist combat knife instead (major Photoshop feat!) and this knife has been used for dire purposes as blood drips off of the point of the knife and into the golden water.

This cover design has a formal feel which is challenged by the knife and the blood, not to mention the chopper. The reader ought to get the message that all is not well in the state of the nation, and when you read this thriller, you will find out why!

The Cupola Collusion eBook cover

 

This is an exciting read and can be downloaded from Amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/The-Cupola-Collusion-ebook/dp/B00BJ92ZBI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1365459988&sr=1-1&keywords=cupola+collusion

 

Yours in design,

 

Margot

 

 

LAUNCHING WRITER.LY “where writers will begin the publishing journey” – a totally unique online marketplace for writers, editors, designers, and web builders…

ABIGAIL CARTER & KELSYE NELSON
Business Parters of Writer.ly

Writer Abigail Carter and business partner Kelsye Nelson have announced the exciting launch of an unique service for writers! Writer.ly is an online marketplace for writers where they can post jobs and then receive bids from the editors, book designers, website builders and anyone else they might need to get their work published.

About San Miguel Artist Keith Miller : Using Fine Art for a Book Cover

As a book designer, I am always on the lookout for artists whose work will be appropriate imagery on a book cover. I have known about Keith Miller for many years, but recently, through LinkedIn, we connected, and I was able to see that the power of his paintings images – highly realistic – would provide wonderful images for a book cover.  Here is an example of his own work used for his book:

To view more of Keith’s images, please visit his website:

http://www.keithmillerart.com

Artist Keith Miller in his Studio

Thriller Author Gregory Gunter Debuts His Unique Marketing Approach with Indiegogo!

Gregory Gunther, like many of the authors I design for, is self-publishing his political thriller, The Cupola Collusion out of his own pocket and is doing so while incurring many costs. The industry is changing so fast, that most authors will be going this route as traditional publishers are forced to used their “tried and true” authors in order to guarantee sales. Greg has a strong marketing background so he is taking it on himself  in a startling upfront way with a company called INDIEGOGO. While many authors are quietly modest about their books, this is proving to result in modest sales! Too bad, because we might have wanted to read your masterpiece, but didn’t know about it! If Greg has his way, The Cupola Collusion will use all social media possible to unapologetically get the word out. I invite you to investigate!

Gregory Gunter’s Video and More at INDIEGOGO

A FEW NOTES ABOUT THE DESIGN PROCESS FOR THE COVER…

As  designer for The Cupola Collusion, I had the professional privilege of reading key chapters in order to design the cover. It was a fascinating process as the setting of the book swung from the Vatican to Washington and I was surrounded by images of cupolas in both countries. One line in the book about “media choppers” approaching the White House was evocative of threats to the White House, a disturbing image, and I persuaded Greg let me use a tiny chopper image close to what would probably be a “no fly” zone of the White House cupola. We both loved the effect!

Greg wanted a rosary to bring in the Vatican connection and so I wrapped the rosary image around the cupola itself.  Greg liked the effect, but wanted a combat knife in the foreground (no clues for the story, you’ll have to read it!) so I reluctantly removed  the crucifix and replaced it with the knife. This was an edgy move, and I called the stock photo company to check as to whether it was OK. It was. Then my author wanted blood dripping from the knife and into the water. This is all congruent with the story, so this designer gulped and “plunged” ahead! 

Happily, the cover turned out to be a teaser of the exciting thriller that lies within the pages of the book!

 

October 6th Book Design Workshop: titles, images, and guests!

Just a short post to report on the October 6th workshop….

We hammered out new titles, worked with images for an effective cover design, and enjoyed the dynamic guest presentations. The writers discovered that a small change in title or image can make all the difference to the feel of the book.

The first was by the charming San Miguel resident, Gregory Gunter, author of The Cupola Collusion. Greg described the working relationship he and I had to create the cover for his forthcoming book. Greg is a very visual person and had a clear idea of the direction his cover need to go. It was a demanding but exciting process. The location of the book changed mid-stream and new images were called for!

Our next guest was the charismatic math teacher and infinite thinker, Steven Clark, who had us working with The Golden Section principle of design. We were back in kindergarten with colored construction paper and scissors, as we learned the magic of geometry. If you or your children want to experience the magic of math, contact Steven at

MATH FOR THE AGES

All in all, I think everyone came away with thought provoking design ideas and new inspiration for their writing projects. Above all…..

Ingrid, Steven and Bob in design mode

  WE HAD FUN!

 

15 Secrets of Dynamic Book Cover Design for San Miguel Writers: Oct 6th and Oct 27th

After 3 very successful cover design workshops in San Miguel de Allende

Margot Boland is pleased to announce

15 Secrets of Dynamic Book Cover Design
A Workshop for Writers

Date: Saturday, OCTOBER 6, (over) & Saturday OCTOBER 27, 2012 

Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Where: Centro, directions upon registration

Who: The workshops are geared to writers who are self-publishing or those who need confidence when communicating with the design department of a traditional publisher. You will learn a vocabulary to express your point of view to the in-house designers and editors, and how to visualize the finished package you want for your self-published book. Learn common mistakes to avoid, and what makes a truly successful cover.

SPECIAL GUESTS!

For the October 6th workshop, I am pleased to announce that well-known San Miguel resident, GREGORY GUNTER, author of  The Cupola Collusion, will join us during the break and give insight into the creative collaboration between author and designer. Greg and I worked together to create the cover of the book which was a successful marketing tool at a writer’s convention held in New York City in July.

For the October 27th workshop, San Miguel’s very own writing guru, EVA HUNTER, will join us in the break to discuss the cover design process for her upcoming memoir, A Little Mormon Girl. She will describe decisions we made with her title and how her own family photographs are the dramatic basis of the cover we are working on.

Of Note: The Lord of the Dolls: Voyage in Xochimilco, a literary nonfiction/art photography collaboration of Eva Hunter with photographer Jo Brenzo, is now considered a rare book, and has recently been added to the prestigious Benson Collection at the Center for Mexican American Studies, The University of Austin Libraries, Branch, University of Texas.

Cost: 300 p. 

Registration: Each workshop is limited to 6 people.
Early registration advised! 100p deposit required to hold your place!
Please call Margot 415 154 7173
or email me at
margot.boland@sympatico.ca  for more information