Book Cover Illustrations

I’ve been working in the publishing business for several decades. While I’m now making my living mostly as a book illustrator, I’ve had the good fortune to see over 100 of my own books go to print, including 12 novels with HarperCollins and another with Avon, and a slew of technical books and how-to manuals […]

Good book layout is partly an art but mostly a craft. This is especially true of the inner pages where things have been done pretty much the same way since Gutenberg cranked out his first books. If a designer knows and applies the rules, the reward is book text that “looks right.” If the rules […]

Some time back book author and screen writer John Chadwell sent me a photo (above) that I thought I’d share. As you can see, he’s standing in front of the book and graphic novel covers I created for his action-adventure novel and graphic novel. And, yes, that’s his Facebook page showing there on the monitor […]

Ebooks did well in 2011, and I suspect with all the ebook readers that were handed out by Santa Claus this Christmas, they’ll be in very solid footing in 2012. Many in the publishing industry are expecting that in the not too distant future, ebooks will be outselling print in most markets with the exception […]

Working with an illustrator or artist to create a quality book cover is a big deal, especially for indie and self-publishing authors. The quality of the cover is the new “gatekeeper” that helps readers decide whether a book is going to be worth buying. A good book cover illustration and layout will attract buyers; a […]

I normally create realistic illustrations for my clients to employ as book cover artwork, CD covers, and so forth. But recently a writer contacted me and asked if I had any abstract pictures that might serve as cover artwork for his book. My answer, “Yes, if I can locate them on my hard drive.” I […]

Jenna Elizabeth Johnson regularly interviews book illustrators (and authors) at her blog. Here’s her interview of me. Thanks, Jenna! ==================== Duncan Long creates book covers artwork and cover illustrations for self-publishing authors and indie publishers as well as larger established presses like HarperCollins, PS Publishing, Moonstone Books, Pocket Books, and Enslow Publishers. You can see […]

Life would be much easier if a guy had that proverbial crystal ball that enabled glimpses of the future. However, we have the next best thing these days: Experts and surveys that can often point the way we’re going, as well as tell us what it is we’re going toward. Here are several excellent articles […]

Ebooks did well in 2011, and I suspect with all the ebook readers that were handed out by Santa Claus this Christmas, they’ll be in very solid footing in 2012. Many in the publishing industry are expecting that in the not too distant future, ebooks will be outselling print in most markets with the exception […]