Creating a book cover with author Harmony Kent

I'm absolutely delighted to be able to take part in Harmony's blog tour today. Read on to find out more about this fabulous author...

Hi there! Well, today is the seventh day on my seven day blog tour. If you want to catch my other stops, you can find links to them on my 4WillsPublishing Author Page.
Today, I would like to share with you some tips and resources for making your own book cover.
You’ve all heard the saying ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover.’ Nevertheless, we all do just that. The latest statistics I came across, say that most of us spend on average FIVE whole seconds looking at a book’s cover before we check out the sample. In browsing terms, that is a long time!
When I first published ‘The Battle for Brisingamen’ it was simply called ‘Brisingamen’ and had a really boring and basic cover. I had no idea what I was doing, or how to market my book at all. It was from the kindness of folks online giving me feedback that I knew I had to make changes. The first thing was to alter the title a little, to give the potential reader more information. As well as adding ‘The Battle for’, I also added a sub-heading; ‘Freya’s Power’, which all helped to put ‘Brisingamen’ into some kind of context for those folks not jenned up on their mythology.
Next up was the image. It had to go. The replacement was much better, but still definitely not my best cover. It was really with ‘The Glade’ that my artistic skills came into their own. And, it even got featured as an awesome cover in All Author’s Magazine!
The best resource I have found online for finding images and artwork, has to be Deviant art (http://www.deviantart.com/). You will find lots of stock and free resources and images on here, as well as artists who will design a bespoke image for you for a fee. Take great care not to infringe upon the artist’s copyright, and terms and conditions, though. And, if you’re not sure, I’ve always found them to be very helpful and courteous when I’ve asked. It’s easy to either leave a comment beneath the picture, or to drop them a Private Message. Most of the time they are very accommodating, and all they ask is that you credit them.
For much of my journey, I’ve had to go it alone. Over time, I have come across some lovely folks, who have become great online friends. It wasn’t until March this year, however, that I discovered my biggest asset yet: Rave Reviews Book Club. I honestly haven’t found another club like them.
Don’t forget to stop by my next blog spot, tomorrow. Thanks for following me around this far! It’s been great fun.

For more on my books, see below:

The Glade

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense.
You are being arrested for the murder of your husband ...You have a secret you can't tell ...The evil is gathering ...
The Wenstrops have it all: health, wealth and happiness. But then it all begins to fall apart. Helen is arrested for murder, yet is either unable or unwilling to give a defence. During her detention, vital evidence goes mysteriously missing and tensions are running high. Helen finds herself surrounded and yet alone: not knowing who she can trust or how she can tell her enemies from her friends. Helen has to work through her self-doubts and fears, in order to know whether her suspicions and misgivings are valid or simply products of an overwrought mind. There are those who would like to encourage her confusion, and those who would help her – but how to know one from the other? And then there are those who actively mean her harm. Meanwhile, malignant forces in the forest are gathering power, ready for a final assault. Helen finds herself in a battle of life and death, and faces having to lose everything in her attempts to thwart the evil that has insinuated itself into her very existence - but is she ready to make the ultimate sacrifice?
This sensational second novel by acclaimed author Harmony Kent will have you alternately laughing, crying and gripping the edge of your seat as this roller coaster ride of a plot unfolds. It will keep you guessing through its many twists and turns, and hijack your attention right up until you turn the final page. This book has it all: murder, intrigue, the supernatural, a broken marriage, a love affair, courage against impossible odds, suspense, and high drama.
The Glade is an IndieB.R.A.G.Medallion honoree!

The Battle for Brisingamen

Fantasy Fiction
There is a World not too Far Away ...
Beneath the north sea a land of magic lies undetected. The lives of many are drawn inexorably closer together in a race against time, as both energy companies and evil beings attempt to destroy the magic which is protecting not just this land but all worlds. The unwitting protagonists have no idea of how suddenly and irrevocably their lives are about to change.
It is a race against time to try and recover the lost necklace, Brisingamen, which holds the ancient power of the Goddess Freya, and to prevent the undersea drilling from taking place. Are Aart, Matthias, Gemma and Dirck up to the challenges they now must face?
Here there be Dragons, and all manner of Creatures ...

Elemental Earth (Book 1 of The Mysteries)

Young Adult Fantasy Fiction
“You turned the god of gnomes into a garden ornament?”
Sarah looked closely, but couldn’t tell if her dad was annoyed or amused—perhaps he was both …
Whilst 15 year old Sarah may be struggling to regain her feet, after being ripped from her everyday mundane life and ending up in a whole new dimension, she still knows how to have a bit of fun along the way. The Earth Elemental isn’t the only one whose feathers she manages to ruffle, and it’s only been four days. Meanwhile, her best friend is missing, and big trouble is brewing. She soon has a lot more to worry about than what happened to her phone or iPod, or even how much of an idiot Caleb obviously thinks she is.
Elemental Earth is the first book in The Mysteries series, and is aimed at Young Adults. Even if you’ve already reached an age where the young ones might call you ‘old enough’, if you’re still young at heart then you’re bound to enjoy these books just as much as the next—err—younger adult.
Age aside, perhaps we should be more worried about what further havoc Sarah’s antics might be about to wreak on the universe as we know it? We’d probably all be sleeping a lot more soundly if she’d only stuck to applied maths and the odd pillow fight. But no, sadly the lure of the proverbial rabbit hole proved just a tad too much. And now she’s taken the plunge, there’s no turning back.

Look out for tweets @harmony_kent, and follow my blog: http://harmonykent.co.uk to keep up to date with new book releases, promos, cover reveals and sneak peeks. Feel free to connect—I’d love to hear from you.

Find out more at Harmony's website.
Twitter: @harmony_kent
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4Wills Author Page