After all the wonderful advice I got on my previous post about cover design, I thought I’d got things
under control in that department. But my attempt at a cover for my third book was so abysmal that I daren’t even show it to you here. Compared with similar books already on Amazon it looked very basic and most definitely amateurish.
I think this is because the book is non-fiction and therefore requires a very business-like cover to get anywhere near competing with the hundreds of other books on the same subject.
So I decided to call in the professionals. I used the website Fiverr. This site features hundreds (or maybe thousands even) of sellers offering their services for just $5. The range of services is vast from personalised greetings cards, translations and bespoke bedtime stories. But there are also lots of e-book cover designers on there too.
I picked one of the top-rated designers (like on EBay, buyers have to leave feedback on the service they received) and told her the title of the book, what it was about and a brief suggestion about the type of image that might be suitable (it is also possible to send the designer a specific photo if you have one that you want to include on the cover).
Two days later my cover design was delivered and you can see it on this post. It’s much better than I could produce. I’ve borrowed the title from a ‘column’ on the Open Writing website which runs an extract from this blog each week (the site includes lots of other writing from around the world, too).
A Writer on Writing is a compilation of 14 of my articles that have appeared in the UK writing press, such as Writing Magazine & Writers News, The New Writer, Writers’ Forum and Freelance Market News. They cover subjects as diverse as generating ideas, writing articles with an anniversary ‘hook’ and flash fiction.
As I did with my other books, I have set an introductory price of 77p – with a view to increasing it when I see how sales go. Setting the perfect price point to encourage buyers without devaluing the work involved in producing a book is very difficult. 77p is the lowest price point available to independent authors.
Click here to see the book on Amazon UK and here to see the book on Amazon COM. It’s also available on all other Amazon sites by searching for ASIN: B00C0GBRS6 or by title and author.
I’ll keep you posted on how my e-publishing empire is growing (or not as the case may be!).
Sally Jenkins 
#1 by blogaboutwriting on April 2, 2013 - 9:02 am
Sally, I think the cover looks fantastic – very professional and well worth the outlay! Good for you and good luck with it and your other e-books!
#2 by Wendy Clarke on April 2, 2013 - 9:15 am
This is really useful information, Sally. Thank you.
#3 by Christine Steenfeldt on April 2, 2013 - 9:46 am
I like the cover- professional and eye catching. Interesting that you’ve used a pen and paper! Anyway, I’ve downloaded a copy for my kindle so thank you for making it so affordable. Good luck with it.
#4 by Sally Jenkins on April 2, 2013 - 12:11 pm
I hope you find it useful, Christine.
#5 by Tracy Fells on April 2, 2013 - 2:37 pm
What a terrific idea to put your articles together in one book – genius Sally! And the cover looks brilliant, really professional and eye-catching. Good luck with sales!
#6 by Sally Jenkins on April 2, 2013 - 6:13 pm
Thanks, Tracy.
#7 by susanjanejones on April 2, 2013 - 6:49 pm
That looks utterly professional Sally as others have said. You are off to another level with your e.books. Good luck with sales. I want them but haven’t got a kindle. I did put one on the computer, but it was too much for the computer to handle I think. Had to go for repair, I feel a bit wary of putting kindle on it again in case the same happens. Well done to you, you’re an inspiration.
#8 by Sally Jenkins on April 2, 2013 - 6:58 pm
Thanks for your kind words, Susan. Sorry to hear the PC didn’t cope with Kindle and hope it’s better now.
#9 by Jenny Roman on April 2, 2013 - 8:10 pm
Very helpful post, Sally. I’m trying to follow your example and put together a book of short stories and I was quite anxious about the cover. You’ve given me hope that professional help is not beyond my reach. Thank you 🙂
#10 by Sally Jenkins on April 3, 2013 - 12:07 pm
Good Luck with the book, Jenny – and do take a look at the designers on fiverr.com. I used Vikiana.
#11 by Jenny Roman on April 3, 2013 - 1:15 pm
I’ve just been having a good look at Fiverr – I think I’ll definitely be enlisting the help of one of their designers!
#12 by womagwriter on April 3, 2013 - 5:29 pm
great looking cover. Just bought a copy of the book, too. Hope it does well!
#13 by Sally Jenkins on April 3, 2013 - 6:30 pm
Thanks, Womag. Hope you enjoy the book & good luck with your e-project.
#14 by Helen Baggott on April 3, 2013 - 7:33 pm
Downloaded it a few days ago and just about to begin reading!
#15 by Sally Jenkins on April 4, 2013 - 12:05 pm
Fingers crossed that you like it, Helen!
#16 by Anne Harvey on April 4, 2013 - 6:37 pm
Excellent work, Sally. You truly are an inspiration to all us writers.
#17 by Sally Jenkins on April 4, 2013 - 7:47 pm
I think the proof of how ‘inspirational’ I am will come in the number of sales, Anne. Marketing is the really hard bit!
#18 by Linda on April 5, 2013 - 2:06 pm
Very eye catching, good luck with it!
#19 by Sally Jenkins on April 5, 2013 - 7:30 pm
Thanks, Linda.
#20 by Gail Crane on April 5, 2013 - 3:08 pm
Thanks for this post, Sally. You’ve given me the nudge I needed to go ahead with an E-book myself.
#21 by Sally Jenkins on April 5, 2013 - 7:31 pm
Good Luck with it, Gail!
#22 by Victoria @ My Daily Cuppa on April 28, 2013 - 1:04 am
Hello Sally,
I followed a link here from Lilly’s blog. I just wanted to say that I love this book cover. The person on Fiverr did an excellent job. I am just about to publish a short story and also chose to get the professionals in.
Congrats on your first kindle book earnings too. It’s a great feeling isn’t it? I too, have to sort out the USA tax stuff, which looks like a real hassle. Oh, well – Happy Writing. 🙂
#23 by Sally Jenkins on April 28, 2013 - 9:12 am
Thanks for dropping by, Victoria, and glad you like the cover – much better than my own effort!