The Most Common Mistakes in Book Cover Design Hopefully by listing some of the most common mistakes that I run across in the world of book publishing, I might help non-designers avoid the worst of the 'I made it myself!' mistakes when making their own book covers. Professional cover designers and services should be avoiding the below list of mistakes, so always go with a pro when you can.

Hot and Dry May I should be making a better effort to update this site. Time is rushing by again this year and I feel as if I have little to show for it on a professional level. However, I do have several pending designs awaiting further instructions from clients and several upcoming projects on the books too.  And considering my limited availability this summer, I had best reach out to those who have left me hanging with their projects. I would like to share covers that I have created that are now available on Amazon.

I briefly contemplated writing a year-end review and reflection on 2025 as the year comes to a close; it was a busy year and has left me feeling exhausted overall. However, I decided against revisiting the past, instead focusing on the future. Of note: one Christmas gift that I was fortunate enough to receive was a book - something so simple yet rare these days - an actual paperback from a family member who had read it and thought of me. This singular gift had me thinking…. especially after I managed to read the entire novel in short order while on my December break…

The real trick this Halloween? Food stamps are being denied...the poor are being starved ... for political sport. And one side is to blame for that: https://t.co/3jVy8SHEaS

A feature-length documentary about the closure of Disney's Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser and the fandom it left behind

AI isn’t taking over my job (yet), but it is making things a lot more interesting. I use MidJourney regularly nowadays to jump start ideas, experiment with wild visuals, and sometimes just get unstuck when my creative brain decides to go out for coffee without me. It’s all about blending tech with talent to create book covers that actually look like the story inside. I have been incorporating more and more elements generated out of MidJourney into my compositions - mostly due to the clients requesting things that I just cannot find available through stock agencies.

A blog about pirates, 1066, King Arthur, history, mysteries, writing and general chit-chat interesting bits and pieces

Light up the sky... July means fireworks and the celebration of America's Independence for all of us Americans. But on a much more personal note, it is an annual reminder of a tragic loss for myself and my family. So, I like to think of the fireworks as a celebration of life just as much as a celebration of freedom and independence for this country for nearly 250 years. Politics aside, I am still an American. The business of book cover design I truly do need to make more time to better update my accounts.

Shirt design available on ETSY Do you ever have so much that you want to do that once you have some free time to do things on that list...you are too overwhelmed to do any of it? That's me right now. However, I did manage to set up a new design in my ETSY shop and I started an ad campaign on Pinterest. I'll try running a paid campaign on ETSY next. I truly do want to find a way to bring in at least a little cash from online passive sales.

A Note to My International Clients and Colleagues In light of the current political climate in the United States, I feel it’s important to reach out directly to my international clients, partners, and friends around the world. While I am proud to be an American, I want to make it clear that my personal beliefs and values do not align with those currently represented by the U.S. presidential administration. I recognize that recent decisions, rhetoric, and policies may have caused concern or tension globally, and I understand the impact this can have on our professional and personal relationships.

I have worked with independent authors around the globe for nearly two decades now. I have worked with several publishing houses between the US and Great Britain. But this was a first. I follow up on commissioned work regularly - checking to see if a book has been published on Amazon with my cover design post commission. Most pop up within a few weeks after the author and I have completed the work. And most titles I do market via my social media accounts as well - supporting both my own business and the clients at the same time.

How do you reconcile with today's political climate in the United States? I am angry. I am disgusted. I am disparaged. I am ashamed to be a citizen of a nation that treats our allies with such disdain and dishonor. Yet I cannot settle my mind. I cannot shove these roiling thoughts aside and get on with my day. How terrible is that? How do you reconcile a friend's suicide? I have no words. Or perhaps I do....angry|disbelief|confusion|sadness|troubled|nauseous. Creative Block. I have a zillion projects to complete over the next couple of months.

The author expresses frustration about 2025, citing illness and a busy work schedule as barriers to progress. Despite recovering from the flu and struggling with pharyngitis, new book cover designs are available on Amazon, and additional designs are completed, showcasing creativity through a MidJourney prompt featuring a dragon.

YouTube video by Star Wars

brownies Photo by iMattSmart on Unsplash We picked up Valentine's treats from our local bakery yesterday - so I had delicious brownies!!! I just put the kettle on for a cup of hot tea as well. It is chilly and rainy today, so I'm content to stay indoors. I've ordered prints of several photos taken of us while we were at Disney last month too. Of course I needed to properly crop them and clean up a few things first. This one is unedited, but it shows my custom phone case that…

I am considering taking up blogging again as a way of clearing out thoughts and ideas from my cluttered brain. In the old days I would do that via Live Journal. That platform was wonderful for doing that and also organizing things like fan graphics and fan fiction. But of course Facebook happened and everyone moved away from the old style of online journaling and message boards. So what now when I want to type out my thoughts but I detest Facebook? Well, I have had this Wordpress account for decades...why not make use of it?

This Gender-Neutral Adult T-shirts item is sold by AvalonGraphicsDesign. Dispatched from United States. Listed on 08 Jan, 2025

Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, let’s cherish the bonds we share, support one another through challenges, and celebrate the milestones ahead. Here’s to a year where kindness guides us, resilience strengthens us, and love surrounds us. Wishing you all the very best for a wonderful 2025! New Adventures... I had planned to write up an end of the year summary for Avalon Graphics as a design entity, but I missed my deadline!

YouTube video by Allie Hostetler

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The Coffee Pot Book Club, Coffee Pot Book Club, blog tours, book promotion, historical fiction, women's fiction, book marketing, editorial book review

Cover Design Tips by Tamian Wood & Cathy Helms I always begin any discussion about book cover design by making this one important statement – ‘Whoever told you that your book’s cover design doesn’t ma...