Welcome to the e-Book Cover Design Awards. This edition is for submissions during June, 2017.
This month we received:
77 covers in the Fiction category
19 covers in the Nonfiction category
Comments, Award Winners, and Gold Stars
I’ve added comments (JF: ) to many of the entries, but not all. Remember that the aim of these posts is educational, and by submitting you are inviting comments, commendations, and constructive criticism.
Thanks to everyone who participated. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did. Please leave a comment to let me know which are your favorites or, if you disagree, let me know why.
Although there is only winner in each category, other covers that were considered for the award or which stood out in some exemplary way, are indicated with a gold star: ★
Award winners and Gold-Starred covers also win the right to display our badges on their websites, so don’t forget to get your badge to get a little more attention for the work you’ve put into your book.
Also please note that we are now linking winning covers to their sales page on Amazon or Smashwords.
Now, without any further ado, here are the winners of this month’s e-Book Cover Design Awards.
e-Book Cover Design Award Winner for June 2017 in Fiction
James Egan submitted Pulped designed by James T. Egan of Bookfly Design.
JF: The heavily stressed cover looks like it’s been put through a shredder, even annihilating some of the text at the bottom. But the energy, intensity, and clear message delivered in layers of meaning make this cover a true winner.
e-Book Cover Design Award Winner for June 2017 in Nonfiction
Glyn Haynie submitted When I Turned Nineteen: A Vietnam War Memoir designed by 1106 Design. “The cover picture is of me as a 19-year-old soldier in Vietnam which contrasts my youth to a battle hardened veteran.”
JF: One of the most successful covers I’ve seen based on an old personal photo. The font choice and layout, as well as the softened photo, make a great impression.
Fiction Covers
Aaron Carpenter submitted The Ending is Everything designed by Aaron M. Carpenter. “I wanted a cover that evoked the genre, yet hinted at something more. The light of the event and the shadow of the character. I created the cover in Photoshop.”
JF: I get the concept, but the result really looks raw.
Alexander Charalambides submitted Black Blade designed by Mina Chara. “The brief was to depict an event from the story, the finding of the sword, which would show right from start, that this is a different type of story about the sword Excalibur, set firmly in the modern day, but tied to the past – the author wanted an element of kitsch and chose the cheesy font.”
JF: Not sure turning the font selection over to the author was a winning idea, and the main point of focus of the cover is pushed so far back it’s barely relevant.
Andrew Anzur Clement submitted Keepers of the Stone: Book Two: Exile designed by Andrew Anzur Clement. “The design incorporates the mystical stone in the title. The background is meant to give the cover a dark aged feel & reflects the travel-log nature of the plot. It features the story’s protagonist-antagonist character & one of the protagonists (who can turn into a cat). Both introduced in book 1.”
JF: Murky and awkwardly assembled.
Andrew Orange submitted The Game of VORs designed by Dane Low.
JF: A clear and clean cover for this sci-fi story.
Andy Conway submitted Bright Star Falling designed by Sean Strong.
JF: A strong cover that balances lots of elements without losing focus on the woman at the center. That “branding” hand in the bottom is really off-putting, unfortunately, and completely out of sync with the rest of the cover.
Ankit Kadam submitted Tussle designed by Tatiana. “The cover design captures a glimpse of the universe of the consciousness of the protagonist in which an idea of digital resurrection is born from the sea of ideas. As this idea emerged from the deep sea of ideas, a digital personator assumes a personality which emerges from the dark web.”
JF: Evocative.
Annie Arcane submitted Hart Broken: A Wounded Hero Romance designed by Annie Arcane. “Hmm… This cover has been redesigned seven times. Finally satisfied with it haha! Thank you so much for even considering!! ^_^ Hugs, Ann”
JF: Nice series design, and I think this one is the strongest because the male character engages with us. I like the restraint that allows the message to come through clearly. Would have liked to see what these would look like with the title in red.
Annie Arcane submitted Hart of His: A Wounded Hero Romance designed by Annie Arcane. “Book 2 of the Cale & Mickey series.”
Annie Arcane submitted Hart of Hers: A Wounded Hero Romance designed by Annie Arcane. “Book 3 of the Cale & Mickey series. My personal favorite ^_~ Thanks again!! x”
Arjay Lewis submitted Fire In The Mind designed by Marianne Nowicki. “This is a novel of supernatural suspense, featuring a psychic lead character with a crippled leg. I loved this design as it shows the character with his cane, surrounded by ephemeral wisps of energy to signify his paranormal awareness.”
JF: I missed the cane at first because the figure is so small, but this cover does have impact.
Bernadette Pruitt submitted Oldies but Goodies designed by Bernadette Pruitt. “The cover design is my own, based on the book’s characters and plot. The cover is a composite of photographs (live models were used), which I put together with Photoshop.”
JF: The image has possibilities, but the typography is very amateurish, and it weakens the whole cover.
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