Learn what elements make for a strong book cover design

 (General meeting begins at 9 am, speaker presentation is at 11 am, after Q&A, networking time, introductions & announcements), followed by our Members Only Holiday Party from 12:15 pm-3 pm. Scroll down for details and to register.

Also, ALL BAIPA members are invited to participate in our Book Cover Design Contest during the morning by bringing one copy of their book to put on display. There is no fee and the results will be announced during the party in the afternoon. Everyone attending will have three anonym0us votes to award. The winner will receive a free pass to a future BAIPA workshop. 

And of course, all members are invited to have their books available for holiday sales. First come, first served in terms of sales table space.

(Click here for the schedule for the day)

Current BAIPA members must LOG IN first to get a free ticket to the morning session and a discounted ticket for the afternoon workshop. Then come back to this page.

MORNING PRESENTATION:
How to Create a Strong Cover Design

We’re all familiar with the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but this statement simply doesn’t hold true—readers really DO judge books by their covers. With self-publishing settling into the mainstream, fierce competition has upped the ante for independent authors. The finest books have strong, well-written stories—but to rise to the top, to gain traction with readers, even the best book needs a dynamic cover.

A book’s cover is the first thing a potential reader sees and it can make a lasting impression. Our brains are wired to process images faster than words—when we see an image it makes us feel something. A great cover can help the reader instantly recognize that this book is for them.

In this presentation, I will be discussing a host of elements that make a strong cover design, and I will provide samples of successful covers (along with some not so successful designs). In addition, I would be happy to talk about your cover design ideas and answer any questions you may have.

In this session, you will learn:

1. What makes a book cover design strong
2. How to avoid making common mistakes in your own cover designs
3. Tips professional cover designers use
4. How to brand your book and leverage that brand in your marketing strategy

About our Morning Speaker

Bay Area native Andrew Benzie has over 30 years experience in the design business. He has worked for both corporate art departments and as a freelance designer for his own company Andrew Benzie Creative Design (ABCD). In 2010 he established his own publishing company Andrew Benzie Books to help authors design, publish, and market their books in both softcover and ebook formats. Andrew also plays bass and drums with a variety of local Bay Area bands.