John Paul Miller | Lexington, KY
An aspiring author named John Paul Miller requested a meeting to discuss his new manuscript. John Paul, a veteran of the long thriving Kentucky equestrian industry, wrote a compelling piece. Soon, he would enter the editing phase. His book False Riches is a tale of greed, romance, and suspense surrounding the horse racing industry. All he needed was the right Kentucky graphic designer to lay out his mystery novel cover design, so of course he called me.
Mystery Novel Cover Design Story
When John Paul reviewed my graphic design portfolio, the Kentucky Derby themed Spring Tea poster caught his eye. Specifically, he liked the focal image of a stylish derby attendee framed inside a horse silhouette.
He wanted me to reuse this theme, but with a betting ticket stub instead of the fancy lady. I researched vintage betting stubs, then recreated one from scratch with faux stamps indicating the fictional racetrack.
John Paul also liked the bright yellow background that I overlaid with a grunge pattern, since it matches the sunflower in the main title. That sunflower is an integral element to the story. The color red was the perfect choice to fill in the vintage curly font in the title.
Along with the front and back jackets, I also created the art for the book’s launch event and its promotional videos. I laid out both stable signage and physical tickets, mimicking those described in the novel. Promotional posters also came together to herald the book’s arrival in brick and mortar bookstores.
Hire Me To Design Your Book Cover
Whether your upcoming book is fiction or nonfiction, you need to hire a skilled graphic designer for your layout. I have the experience and instincts to help attract readers to your project. Contact me today.