Stock images can make or break a book cover. Embrace the 'favorite' button for even the maybes, and follow the vibe of photos that catch your eye. These small steps can lead to unexpected creative inspiration and unique finds. #amwriting #writers #writingcommunity #imageinspiration

There's been some updates to the Forced Edge Generator. More options, and easier integration with Vellum. Time to makes those books even prettier! youtu.be/_1WmvdWvTQw #indieauthors #selfpub #writingcommunity #vellum

Adding a little variety to your graphics helps keep them from turning stagnant. Careful of making things "too" cohesive or they there isn't a focal point for the reader. covervillain.com/variety-is-t... #indieauthor #selfpub #writingcommunity #bookcovers

I'm preparing for my presentation for #Inkerscon tomorrow. We're going to be discussing how to find cover trends. I've been an educator for 20 years and I still get the "day before jitters." Can't wait to meet the class. #bookcovers #indieauthors #selfpub #bookcovers

Cover Villain is proudly gay owned. No matter how criminal or sinister we get with design, this is a safe place for all. Y'all means All. Happy Pride. #indieauthors #selfpub #graphicdesign #writingcommunity

Authors are curious about Amazon's new groundwood paper. Here's the breakdown on what I liked and what I didn't. Side-by-side comparisons so you can make decisions for your business. covervillain.com/amazons-grou... #amazon #indieauthors #selfpub #kdp

A fast way to take a meh visual to "wow" is using alignment. Here are some quick tips to help you on your path to global domination. covervillain.com/alignment-cr... #indieauthors #selfpub #bookcover #graphicdesign #writingcommunity

Creating special edition books shouldn’t require a design degree. With the Forced Edge Generator, transform your edge artwork into print-ready files in seconds. Perfect for indie authors looking to elevate their game. Check it out. #bookdesign #indieauthor #selfpublishing

When creating design, how do we decide what's most important? How is that relayed to the viewer? This is how to use hierarchy to create compelling cover designs. covervillain.com/the-most-imp... #indieauthors #selfpub #graphicdesign #coverdesign

Need a dystopian story with a revolution? These characters won't take no for an answer. They're going to do everything in their power to right a world that wronged them. Currently Free on Amazon amzn.to/4vkCL6M #scifireaders #superhero #dystopian #scifireads #freebooks

Looking how to use Vellum for Forced Edges? I made a quick step-by-step video. youtu.be/jBKrKI3ofXg?... If you prefer photos or written tutorials, I did those as well. covervillain.com/forced-edges... #indieauthors #selfpublished #bookcovers

Look at that, three Cover Villain covers in the top 10 on Amazon.de! Huge shout out to @authorryderomalley.com and @trishheinrich.bsky.social for being awesome collaborators. #booksky #mmromance #monsterromance

Want to beautify your books and not raise the production costs? It might be time to consider forced edges. Here's what they are and how to make them. youtu.be/Ah_9rapQESU #indieauthors #selfpub #writingcommunity

Authors have a split second to catch the attention of readers. It doesn't matter if it's on the shelf or browsing through Amazon, the design needs to jump off the shelf. You can achieve clarity through contrast. Here's how: covervillain.com/contrast-cre... #selfpub #indieauthors #writingcommunity

I heard authors asking about forced edges? What are they? Are they right for your books? What are the pros and cons? And of course, how can I do it? Well... I made a thing to answer all those questions. Feel free to share. covervillain.com/understandin... #indieauthors #writingcommunity #selfpub

The 2026 version of the Author Business Hub is now available. The one Notion dashboard to organize your author business. Now expanded to include translations and better backlist management. covervillain.com/product/noti... #indieauthors #selfpub #writingcommunity

We're talking about how to take flat spaces and give them depth. In a two-dimensional world, how do we make dynamic three-dimensional design? Only one way to find out... covervillain.com/building-the... 💙📚 #selfpublished #indieauthor #writingcommunity

Want to level up the graphics on your marketing? Need a little help creating a book cover with high impact? The Author Design Academy is helping authors improve their graphics game in bi-monthly emails. covervillain.com/pulling-shap... 💙📚 #bookcovers #indieauthors #authors #selfpub

Stock photo sites are a special kind of torture. If you’ve ever searched “man in suit” and felt your soul leave your body, I got you. Here are 5 tips for finding actually usable images on Depositphotos. youtu.be/CaVdUnxboUg #depositphotos #authors #writers #selfpub

The Author Design Academy Newsletter will teaches the fundamentals of design and provides tips for book covers, promotional graphics, and branding. This free bi-monthly newsletter is your gateway to leveling up your visuals. covervillain.com/share/ #indieauthors #writingcommunity #authors #writers

Walk the Dot It might come as no surprise that the next Element of Design is what some call a dot on a walk: the line. It’s not often that we put our pencil to paper and stop there. Dragging the graphite along the paper is how we’re taught to write. Throw in some extra loops and a mostly…

Get Straight to the Point Powerful design is rooted in the basics. When we think of design, especially with something like covers, we’re often focused on a complicated final product. Does the heroine evoke a sense of power? Is the color scheme on trend? Do the fonts read as science fiction? Our…

Woot! Website exclusive novella just dropped. Of course as the King of Bear Romance, you can be assured that it's filled with burly men showing off their powers in and out of the bedroom. authorryderomalley.com/product/temp... #bearsky #gaysky #mmromance 💙📚

Wonder podcast with wonderful hosts. Should be required listening for indie authors. Check them out!

Your color choices might be working against you. This week in the Author Design Academy, we’re diving deeper into color theory, what harmony really means, when to play it safe, and when to break the rules. #authors #writers #writingcommunity covervillain.com/color-theory...

New article from the Author Design Academy coming tomorrow. One step closer to conquering your visual branding. If you haven't signed up, link is at www.covervillain.com. #author #writingcommunity

Since I've been discussing color with the Author Design Academy, I want to revisit the image that wrecked the internet a decade ago. You know how to play... what colors are you seeing? #writingcommunity #indieauthors #selfpublishing

Everything You Know About Color is Wrong To become better designers, we need to start with the fundamentals. We refer to these building blocks as the Elements of Design (EoD), and they exist in every composition. The first, and I’ll argue till I’m blue in the face, most important, is color. Pun…

Designers have a lot of technical lingo. Not knowing it can cause anxiety for authors when communicating. I'm here to debunk the language of design and how we use it. Yes, it even mentions licking books. covervillain.com/how-to-speak... #amwriting #writingcommunity #indieauthor #authors

Another email from Author Design Academy comes out Tuesday. This week we focus on lowering that anxiety when talking with a designer. After that, we'll jump in to building awareness around the principles of design! Can sign up at www.covervillain.com #indieauthor #author #writers #writingcommunity

Interested in expanding your knowledge in design? Seeing how designers work with authors? Learning new tools to help your brand? Check out the Author Design Academy. Next email goes out Tuesday. covervillain.com #amwriting #indieauthor #writingcommunity #authors

Another cover for @authorryderomalley.com's Grunts of Vanguard Series. Office Romance. Superheroes. A whole lot of snark. Oh, and somewhere in there they save the world. #bookcover #newrelease #bookcoverdesign #coverreveal #mmromance #romance #amwriting #indieauthor

Authors, thanks for the kick in the pants. Happy to get the introduction out of the way so we can dig into practical design advice! If you want to up your design game, check it out, signup is at the bottom. covervillain.com/how-to-see-l... #indieauthors #authors #graphicdesign #writingcommunity

Haunting and one of the most iconic book covers today. Great Gatsby developed a symbiotic relationship with Celestial Eyes painted by artist, Francis Cugat. A wonderful deep dive into both works. news.artnet.com/art-world/de... #coverdesign #art #bookcover #indieauthors

Always forgetting something during your book launch? Same. That’s why I built a Notion dashboard to track every step—from ARCs to upload. Customizable, visual, and built for growth. youtu.be/jbN1cLVRCv8 #NotionForAuthors #BookLaunchTools #AuthorProductivity #CoverVillain #WritingCommunity

I'm launching an "Author Design Academy" newsletter to help authors level-up their graphics. I've got 20 years of design experience and I'm getting ready to share. It's free. If you're interested, stop by and sign up. www.covervillain.com #graphicdesign #indieauthors #writingcommunity #writers

This was a fun project and my second cover in the Ravaged Skies world. The apocalypse has happened and now we're waiting to be rescued by the guy on the radio... and his cat. #postapoc #bookcover #coverreveal #doomsday #amwriting #indieauthors #coverdesign #jspatrick

If you haven't considered joining the Wish I'd Known Then Patreon, I did a discussion about book cover design and building relationships with designers. Great opportunity to learn how to get the most out your designer without pissing them off!

New updates to the Author Business Hub. Improved aesthetics and incorporated help files. One tool. One time price. The productivity tool to help manage an author's back end. covervillain.com/notion/ #writingcommunity #indieauthors #authortools #amwriting

Want Notion to be more aesthetically pleasure? Here are some options to improve the overall look of your dashboard. Not flashy, but it helps make the information more presentable. www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6Zz... #indieauthors #writingtools #writingcommuhity #notion #notiontemplates #productivity

Want to learn how images work in print and ebooks? How does Vellum push the envelope with their newest features? And how to become your designer's favorite client! Here's from the point of a graphic designer. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv0I... #indieauthor #vellum #bookvault #authorcommunity

Too many books. Too little time. Still using sticky notes to plan launches? Join Fall in Love with Organization, a Notion workshop for romance authors. April 17th, 2025 @3:00PM (EDT) Registration Required covervillain.com/notion/roman... #RomanceAuthors #NotionForWriters #AuthorLife #IndieAuthor

Authors, need help managing your empire? Author Business Hub is your one-stop for organizing your projects, managing series bibles, tracking your marketing and financing. Get you back to doing what you love: writing. covervillain.com/notion/ #indieauthor #selfpub #authors #authorcommunity

Always appreciate when a client can see the potential of a quick concept sketch and has faith in the process. The Hat Trick is an apocalyptic ending novel by the always talented @chrisphilbrook.bsky.social #bookcover #apocalypse #ravagedskies

Breaking down Don’t Let Her Stay, a psychological thriller cover that uses complementary colors, texture, and proportion to create contrast and focus. A perfect example of minimal design with maximum impact. #booksky #indieauthors youtube.com/shorts/KbDJO...

I cannot stop gushing about the gorgeous cover @covervillain.com made for my poetry collection!!! Remy is a delight to work with, and so adeptly translated my vision (mostly just vibes) into art.

Exploring The God of the Woods, a thriller cover that combines layered space for depth, dynamic motion through paint drips, and typography blending organic and geometric elements. Have a cover you want analyzed? Leave a comment. #BookCoverDesign #GraphicDesign #TypographyDesign

Cover Quick Read. This time looking at House of Leaves. It sits on every designer's shelf. It goes to show that a designer can have success breaking traditional rules! youtube.com/shorts/iEWe-... #booksky #coverdesign #indieauthor #writingcommunity

I was dazzled by the plot of the Martian by Andy Weir. Now I'm dazzled by the cover of Project Hail Mary. Another short clip of why this cover works... and some tips to use on your own graphics. youtube.com/shorts/IvSPg... #booksky #coverdesign #authorcommunity

Another day, another cover. This time I decided to look at Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City. I'll admit, I've always thought this is a beautiful piece of work... now I explore why. youtube.com/shorts/rAuEj... #booksky #bookcover