DJMadameNoir

How long have you been creating book covers? I started photo-manipulating in 2006, using Microsoft paint, and doing changes pixel-by-pixel. I discovered GIMP, and later on a follower of mine gave me Photoshop Elements. I've used Photoshop exclusively ever since.

I'd say I've been creating art specifically for book covers since around 2009-ish.

How many of your artworks are made just for covers? I have over a thousand art pieces currently in my gallery, I would say over two hundred or more are specifically book covers, though I have turned a few of the photomanipulations into book covers as well.

Wow, that is a lot! How many of your covers are out on books now? Currently, there are nine:

Fragments by ML Wissing

To Hell and Back: The Darkness Calls, Book 1 by ML Wissing and Amber NP Mays

The Game by ML Wissing

Healing Words, a Journey through the Ladder Upp (an anthology with Silouan Green) The Journey series by Amber NP Mays (two of the three books are out) Fiendish by Meka James The Long Road Back by Jimmy M. Brown, Jr. Walking into Heaven by Jimmy M. Brown, Jr.

Amber NP Mays is currently working on her third book in her series, and ML Wissing is working on the first in a new series, which I am doing the covers for. So, if someone sees a manipulation of yours in your gallery and wants it as a cover, you could do that? I would have to look to see if I have the original file, as well as double-check permissions from stock artists to ensure I can use it commercially. If not, I will create a manipulation with approved stocks that fit image as much as I can.

I've seen in your gallery you offer premade covers, what happens after someone buys one?

I try to put colored dots in the description of the piece:

Available for purchase

Cover pending author approval and purchase Cover unavailable for purchase I will put that cover on hold for the author. I will still have it in my gallery, but I will never take that premade and turn it into a new cover. Every author will have a unique cover; I can make one similar to it, but they won't be the same. I'm an author myself and would hate to see my cover on another book, so I won't do that to someone else.

How much do your covers usually run?

It depends on the cover, actually.

I've researched a lot and try to make prices reasonable, yet I have to remember to not undersell myself. (laughs) I have imposter syndrome, thinking that my work isn't good enough or worth what it is.

I do a basic price depending on the project, and then major changes, etc. make it go up some. Most manipulation pieces start $200 to around $250, depending on if it has a wrap-around cover.

Sometimes I work with models or photographers who let me use their images, so I don't make 100% of the profit, some of it goes to them. If they offer my book cover on their websites, I match whatever price they have. It's only fair.

If someone wants me as a series cover artist, I try to offer a discount or bundle price, because I am expecting to create the covers for the entire series.

I also create facebook banners and promotional posters for books for a small fee. These are great when you are promoting a new book and can be printed out and used at events. I'm currently toying with making bookmarks or cards with images, lines, or information from the book (provided by the author) for giving out during events. My hope is to one day see my book covers on those available in stores. So far, I've only seen my covers on books sold on Amazon, and not in stores. I hope one day that will change.