Don’t forget to submit your book cover to our contest by November 21. We have accepted late submissions for previous contests, but that resulted in some mixups, so we’re not accepting anything after November 21.
You see all the specifications below. Any publication date is fine.
Member Mike Van Horn suggested, in response to the initial notice, that authors include a brief statement about what their cover is trying to communicate. His science fiction cover, he said, aims to suggest a light-hearted tone, not violent space battles, and a female protagonist who is also a musician.
He makes a solid point, and it could be a valuable lesson for cover design, but I responded saying we aren’t going to do that, partly because we have 15 submissions already and the contest would take longer than we have allotted. But the main reason is that when readers in the real world see your cover, they don’t see your statement. They only see the cover. So as is the case with your writing, it needs to stand on its own. This may sound harsh, but if what you intended to communicate with the cover doesn’t show up on the cover, it doesn’t matter what your intention was.
Here are the rules for the contest.
- The contest is open to any book authored by a current BAIPA member, whether you worked with a designer on the cover or you designed it yourself. Any year of publication is fine. (Even next year, if the cover is finished.) You can submit a cover you’ve submitted before, unless you won. We can only accept one entry per author.
- Fill out your contact information and genre and upload your cover here. Ideally at least 1000 pixels wide.
- Deadline is November 21.
- We will put the covers together into slides that we’ll display at the meeting and then we’ll use a Zoom poll and everyone present will get three votes.
(Last year, we grouped the books into1(a) nonfiction, (b) memoir, (c) mystery & thriller, (d) children’s, and (e) general fiction, historical fiction, and poetry. This year’s categories will be determined by the volume of submissions in each category.)
Winner(s) get a free workshop in 2023.
We look forward to seeing your covers.
Author
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One of my favorite things about BAIPA is its culture of generosity, the willingness — even eagerness — to share what we have each learned in the process of bringing stories to life. We provide educational programs, networking, marketing opportunities, encouragement, and information on industry vendors and services. And lots of one-on-one advice and mentoring.
We welcome all who have an interest in making connections within the world of independent publishing and learning more about how to publish and sell their work successfully. Together we are raising the standard of independent publishing and helping our members thrive.
Do join us!
—Becky Parker Geist, BAIPA Board of Directors, President
Quick Resources
Current BAIPA members do not need to register for our monthly meetings. The night before the meetings, they will receive the Zoom info. For workshop registration, currently, members get in free for all workshops and will receive the Zoom info the night before the meetings, as well as in the confirmation email.
Apparently, no email notification is sent. Ergo, how do we know our entry has been received? I sent one in to the last contest but it wasn’t included. I strongly suggest all entrants be notified.
Regardless, can someone confirm that I’ve entered the cover of “The Roving I,” please.
Woody, when you submitted, it said on the screen that it was accepted.