Book Covers, Branding, and a Dash of Witchy Wisdom: My Chat on Writing with Witches
I recently hopped on the Writing with Witches podcast with hosts Leona Urbansky and Nicole Autumn to talk about all things book cover design—from budgets and timelines to legal gotchas, series branding, and the messy-but-magical author–designer process.
Why this convo matters (especially if you’re indie-publishing)
Your cover is a silent pitch. Long before a reader meets your characters, the cover tells them what kind of experience to expect. In the episode, we talked about that moment in a bookstore (or a scroll on your phone) when a cover stops you—it’s not an accident. It’s a blend of good story strategy, clear genre signals, and clean production.
Three common paths to a great cover (and how to pick)
We walked through the three routes I see most often:
Photo manipulation — Fast, budget-friendly, and powerful when the imagery is licensed correctly and composed with intention.
Illustrated/digital painting — Ranges from painterly, detailed art to a flatter, “concept sketch” look popular in romance. This is my playground at Aureolin Design.
Graphic/typographic — Let the title and motifs do the talking. Bold, modern, and very brandable across a series.
The right choice depends on your budget, timeline, and brand. If you need something quickly for a pre-order page, we might start with photo manipulation. If your series hinges on a singular visual world (sprawling fantasy, dark romance, etc.), custom illustration pays dividends in recognition.
My rule of thumb: Trends are helpful, not mandatory. Choose what truly sings your book’s promise.
Brand fit beats trend-chasing
We got honest about trends (skulls + swords, ornamental type, 2D cartoon couples) and how easy it is to vanish into a sea of sameness. Your cover should align with your audience and feel like you. Dark romance that looks like cozy rom-com? Readers will feel bait-and-switched. A whimsical fantasy with gritty horror cues? Same problem. It’s less about being different for the sake of it, and more about being accurate, memorable, and repeatable—especially across a series.
Timelines, availability, and staying sane
Custom work takes time: discovery, moodboards, sketches, painting, typography, and iteration. If you love a specific artist, inquire early—many of us book out. If your launch is tight, we can phase things (announce with a strong teaser, reveal the full jacket when your final page count lands).
Let’s talk licensing (the “unsexy” part that saves headaches)
We covered a few sticky spots that can derail a launch:
Images & fonts must be licensed for commercial use. Avoid “editorial use only.”
Brushes and plugins count. If you paint with third-party brushes, make sure the license allows products for sale.
Premades: Read the fine print. Some are one-of-a-kind; others aren’t retired after purchase.
If that sounds like a lot—that’s exactly why hiring a pro helps. I bake compliance into my process so you don’t have to learn the hard way.
Printing without tears: technical bits I handle for clients
Printers (KDP, IngramSpark, B&N) all have templates with exact trim sizes, bleed, margins, and spine width. We use those from day one. I also:
Leave a clean barcode area so copy doesn’t get chopped.
Keep separate files for paperback, case laminate, and dust jacket (no stretching! each version gets a purposeful layout).
Lock spine typography once we know final page count.
Encourage multiple proofs—and yes, we actually read them.
This is where many DIY covers go sideways. It’s fixable, but stressful—so I build for print from the start.
Collaboration that actually works
Design is a two-way street. When I ask what you think, I’m not fishing for compliments; I’m checking alignment. Tell me what you love, what feels off, and what you want the reader to feel. I’ll guide the craft—contrast, hierarchy, legibility at thumbnail size—but your vision anchors the choices. Quick gut checks with trusted readers can help, but we’ll keep the final call rooted in brand and market.
“Always say something. It’s your book—and the cover will travel farther than any single post.”
A little witchy wisdom (yes, we went there)
We closed the episode with a “witchy tip” about deconstructing old beliefs—not just spiritually, but creatively. Many of us carry rigid rules from past systems (hello, perfectionism and people-pleasing). When you notice those patterns and choose what actually serves your art, your visual voice gets braver. And brave work is memorable.
Want help with your cover or series branding?
If you’re an author who wants a cover that looks as good as your book reads—and prints perfectly the first time—I’d love to collaborate.
See recent covers & case studies (concept → final, with rationale)
Explore packages (cover, character art, and series systems)
Book a quick consult (no pressure; bring your vibe + questions)
(Add your links here to services/portfolio/booking.)
👉 Want more magical conversations like this one? Subscribe to Writing with Witches on YouTube and never miss an episode.
FAQ :
Q: How far in advance should I book?
A: 4–8 weeks is comfortable for custom illustration; sooner if you want character art and multiple format layouts.
Q: Can you match comps I love?
A: Yes—share 3–5 covers you like and what you feel in each. We’ll build a direction that fits your story and audience.
Q: Do you prep the files for KDP/IngramSpark?
A: Absolutely. You’ll get press-ready PDFs for each format, plus guidance for proofs.
