#13: LeAnna Smith on the Secrets of Cover Design

Covers. How many of us have picked books just because we loved the cover and couldn't stop staring at it? I know I have been guilty of that more than once. I've even bought a book I already owned because I loved the new cover design so much. 

What goes into the magic power that covers have over us? Where does this come from? 

This week, I talk to LeAnna Smith about the art and science of covers. She's worked with everything from Big 5 titles to those who really want to set their self-published title apart. 

• Judging a book by its cover (2:15)
• The role of the cover in eBook and digital publishing (3:30)
• Audiobook covers (5:00) Mentioned: Rivers of London Cover Versions
• Re-interpreting covers for different markets (7:45) Mentioned: Alice in Wonderland with new cover | Sam Potts episode on interior design
• Touching everyone's books (10:20)
• The interior-exterior disconnect (11:00)
• Creative control of the cover & texture options (12:00) Mentioned: Spot Varnish
• Cookbooks and even more design options (14:10)
• Trends in covers & the end of the jacket (15:15) Mentioned: Jojo Moyes & Me Before You's font cover
• Coloring book covers (20:00) Cher Kaufmann Mandala coloring books
• Re-packaging books for different price points & markets (20:45)
• Why publishing is a little like outlet shopping (22:00)
• International covers (25:30) Mentioned: Harry Potter's Cover for Lithuania (actually Finland) 
• Reading with office supplies (27:30)
• The cover design process step-by-step (28:30)
• Big stores throwing their weight around (31:40)
• Author input on covers (33:45)
• Working with individual authors (35:20)
• Publishing gift items and planners (37:30)
• Print-on-demand design (39:15)
• Leanna's entry into book design (39:45)
• Print is not dead (42:00)
• On LeAnna's nightstand : Fascinate by Sally Hogshead | Living Forward by Michael Hyatt 
• The hot tip for stock photography (44:00)

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