Hello, friend! Joa here, with another writing update on The Devil That Haunts Me. Are you ready to dive into a fascinating journey today?
Alright, let’s go.
As a writer, I often find myself juggling multiple aspects of book creation, but there’s one particular task I secretly love procrastinating on – tweaking my working book cover. It’s not just a delay tactic, though; it’s a profoundly creative process that reflects the evolution of my story.
A Cover’s Tale: From Concept to Canvas
For my latest book, “The Devil That Haunts Me,” the cover has been a canvas where I play with elements and fonts in Canva. It’s a visual diary of the story’s progression. Each version of the cover encapsulates different stages of the narrative, mirroring the rewrites and fresh scenes that emerge from my creative cauldron.
The Four Phases of Artistic Alchemy
So far, I’ve crafted four distinct versions of the book cover. Each one is a unique blend of imagery, typography, and mood, reflecting the essence of the story at different stages.
- Version 1 – The Initial Spark: This cover was all about capturing the raw, initial vision of the story. In essence, this story is about repressed childhood trauma that got passed down through the mothers in the story. So I wanted to have elements of childhood, a devilish figure, and a daughter. It’s like the first draft in visual form – rough around the edges but brimming with potential.
I used this as a teaser on social media after I was complete with the first draft. - Version 2 – The Deep Dive: After some rewrites, I found out that this story is not about the daughter but the mother who must come to terms with her actions and inactions and their consequences. The second cover iteration came to life by focusing on a scene when the mother walks into the recesses of her mind and walks back in time. This version started to bring in more refined elements that resonated with the narrative’s evolving tone.
Second Version with the correct POV, a depiction of the mother’s old neighborhood in the Dominican Republic and the presence of the Devil that follows her. - Version 3 – The Emotional Core: Here, I was toying with the story itself. The Devil That Haunts Me has gothic elements. When the mom comes to recover her daughter’s things from her apartment, we find the apartment to be haunted. So instead of a haunted castle, we have a haunted apartment. So I felt as if the cover should give homage to that.
This is the very gothic third version.
Version 4 – The Cultural Lore: But then I started thinking. The book uses Dominican lore and the imagery of Diablo Cojuelo to depict the figures that have come and gone through these women’s lives while leaving a trail of trauma.
Version 5 – The scene focus: I love a book cover that depicts a scene. I find a sense of joy and accomplishment when I come across the scene that is depicted on the book cover. This moment always prompts me to pause, flip to the book cover, and assess how I viewed that scene versus how the author and book cover artist viewed it. So I was like, let me depict the very first scene in the book. If you are interested in reading this first scene, you can read it here.
Your Turn to Weigh In!
Now, here’s where you come in. I’m gearing up to send these versions to a professional book cover designer (because, let’s face it, I’m a writer, not a graphic designer!). But before that, I want your input. Which cover version grabs your attention the most? Your vote will help shape the final design that will grace the shelves.
Cast Your Vote and Join the Creative Process!
Drop a comment below with your favorite version. Your feedback is invaluable in this artistic journey. Together, let’s bring “The Devil That Haunts Me” to life in the most captivating way possible.
Stay tuned for updates on this thrilling journey, and as always, keep championing diverse, thought-provoking stories!
Love,
Joa
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