Grab Your Readers' Attention

GRAB YOUR READERS’ ATTENTIONDESIGN STRATEGIES FOR YOUR BOOK COVER

JOANN SONDYChicago 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 SONDYChicago Self-Publishing Meet-upCopyright 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.

■ TITLE = EMOTIONSpeaks to/from the ‘heart’

■ SUBTITLE = LOGICSpeaks to/from the ‘head’

SIZZLING SPOT-ON TITLE

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

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

NEVER, EVER PUT YOUR PHOTO

ON THE FRONT COVER*

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

ABCdefABCdef

Specifications are VERY specific.

CASE STUDY MY WORKFLOW

Ballantyne Strong 2014 Annual Report Cover Composites ~ aka ‘ideas’ March 4, 2015 4:11 PMJoann Sondy | Creative [email protected]: 773-327-4538 | mobile: 231-633-0945 Ballantyne & Convergent supplied images are for placement only.

2014 Annual Report and 10-K BALLANTYNE STRONG INC. CORPORATE OFFICES13710 FNB Parkway, Suite 400Omaha, Nebraska 68154US & Canada: 800-424-1215Phone: (402) 453-4444Fax: (402) 453-7238

BACK COVER FRONT COVER

COMP #5



COMP #3



COMP #2

2014 ANNUAL REPORT AND 10-K

BALLANTYNE STRONG INC.

13710 FNB Parkway, Suite 400 ● PH: (402) 453-4444

Omaha, Nebraska 68154 ● US & Canada: (800) 424-1215

www.strong-world.com

Governments controlled the

shuffl e to Saigon. Thousands

of young men were forced

to Hurry Up And Wait as

fate mixed the deck that

determined their destiny.

They lined up, counted off and

were dealt assignments. If the

cards were stacked against

you, you could be forced to

cash out way too early. Or,

you might just get lucky…

SAIG

ON

SH

UFFLE D

OM

INIC

R. S

ON

DY

2005: OUR FIRST BOOK

Chicago Self-Publishing Meet-up June 2015

DOMINIC R. SONDY

LOO

KIN

G A

T Y

EW

DO

MIN

IC R. SO

ND

Y

P O I N T O F V I E W I SP I V O T A L T O P E R C E P T I O N

L O O K I N G - A T - Y E W . C O M

D O M I N I C R S O N D Y . C O M

L O O K I N G A T

Copyright © 2014 Dominic R. SondyAll rights reserved.

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

CREATIVE ACES

PUBLISHING

Our self-published books, print & digital.

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

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

CREATE YOUR OWN GREAT PHOTO BOOKS

An overview of the resources and tools available to anyone who wants to publish their own book.

JOANN SONDYCreative Aces Resource “Decks”February 2014 (v2)

SELF-PUBLISHINGNAVIGATING THE PROCESS

Create Multi-Touch Books for iPad

CREATIVE ACESResource “Decks” for Small Business Marketing September 2013

iBooks author overview

The Ultimate 12-Slide Structure For Any Presentation

CREATIVE ACESMarketing “Decks” for Small Business Marketing July 2012

Universal Pitch Deck

DOES IT WORK IN MINIATURE?

Governments controlled the

shuffl e to Saigon. Thousands

of young men were forced

to Hurry Up And Wait as

fate mixed the deck that

determined their destiny.

They lined up, counted off and

were dealt assignments. If the

cards were stacked against

you, you could be forced to

cash out way too early. Or,

you might just get lucky…

SAIG

ON

SH

UFFLE D

OM

INIC

R. S

ON

DY

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

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

CREATE YOUR OWN GREAT PHOTO BOOKS

2014 ANNUAL REPORT AND 10-K

MY FIRST APARTMENT

For Kaitlin

ANNA COHN DONNELLY AND FAMILY

Docent Self-Study Guide

C h i C a g oCu l tura lC e n t e r

��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

■ Fast.■ Cheap.■ Good.

Pick ONE.

HOW DO YOU WANT YOUR COVER DONE?

You can’t have all three.

JOANN SONDY [email protected] (231) 633-0945 CELLChicago Self-Publishing Meet-upCopyright 2015 ◆ Joann Sondy ◆ Creative Aces Corp.

■ 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?

WORKING WITH YOUR DESIGNER

RESOURCES:Chicago Women in Publishingwww.cwip.org

Directories Graphic Artists & Illustrators:www.creativehotlist.comwww.chicago.aiga.orgwww.behance.netwww.directoryofillustration.com

Book Cover Inspirationwww.chipkidd.comwww.bookcoverarchive.comwww.thebookdesigner.com

Documents

Grab Your Readers' Attention