Book Alchemy
The Secret Library Podcast
#13: LeAnna Smith on the Secrets of Cover Design
0:00
-46:47

#13: LeAnna Smith on the Secrets of Cover Design

Covers. How many of us have picked books just because we loved the cover and couldn't stop staring at it? I know I have been guilty of that more than once. I've even bought a book I already owned because I loved the new cover design so much. 

What goes into the magic power that covers have over us? Where does this come from? 

This week, I talk to LeAnna Smith about the art and science of covers. She's worked with everything from Big 5 titles to those who really want to set their self-published title apart. 

Show Notes From Episode 13 with LeAnna Smith

  • Judging a book by its cover (2:15)

  • The role of the cover in eBook and digital publishing (3:30)

  • Audiobook covers (5:00) Mentioned: Rivers of London Cover Versions

  • Re-interpreting covers for different markets (7:45) Mentioned: Alice in Wonderland with new cover | Sam Potts episode on interior design

  • Touching everyone's books (10:20)

  • The interior-exterior disconnect (11:00)

  • Creative control of the cover & texture options (12:00) Mentioned: Spot Varnish

  • Cookbooks and even more design options (14:10)

  • Trends in covers & the end of the jacket (15:15) Mentioned: Jojo Moyes & Me Before You's font cover

  • Coloring book covers (20:00) Cher Kaufmann Mandala coloring books

  • Re-packaging books for different price points & markets (20:45)

  • Why publishing is a little like outlet shopping (22:00)

  • International covers (25:30) Mentioned: Harry Potter's Cover for Lithuania (actually Finland

  • Reading with office supplies (27:30)

  • The cover design process step-by-step (28:30)

  • Big stores throwing their weight around (31:40)

  • Author input on covers (33:45)

  • Working with individual authors (35:20)

  • Publishing gift items and planners (37:30)

  • Print-on-demand design (39:15)

  • Leanna's entry into book design (39:45)

  • Print is not dead (42:00)

  • On LeAnna's nightstand : Fascinate by Sally Hogshead | Living Forward by Michael Hyatt 

  • The hot tip for stock photography (44:00)


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discussion about this podcast

Book Alchemy
The Secret Library Podcast
Most people believe that books are created in cabins all alone, where authors pound away on some manner of keyboard. Then they hand this masterpiece off to a publisher and it feels very much like it goes down a tube and comes out the other side as a book. By speaking to authors and other book lovers, I'm diving into the mystery that is the book world today.