Despite the famous saying urging us not to judge books by their covers, this is what we tend to do. A book’s cover is often the first thing a reader sees, and it can make or break their decision to pick up and read the book. This is why cover design is so important. A great cover can grab a reader’s attention, convey the tone and genre of the book, and even give a hint at the story inside.

When it comes to publishing a book abroad and attracting international audiences, cover design becomes even more crucial. Different cultures and markets have different design preferences and aesthetics, and it’s important to understand these differences and cater to them in order to effectively reach and engage with foreign readers. A cover that works well in one country may not resonate with readers in another, so careful consideration and adaptation are key. Whether you’re a self-published author or a traditionally published one, understanding the importance of cover design when publishing your book abroad is vital to achieving success and reaching new audiences.

In this blog post we interview Italian cover designer Cora Graphics and delve deeper into the importance of cover design and explore some of the factors that can make a cover successful in different international markets. We’ll also look at some examples of covers that have successfully crossed borders and captured the attention of readers around the world.

How did you come to specialize as a cover designer?

I came to specialize as a cover designer because I am, first and foremost, a reader. Over the years I have been fascinated by the old Euroclub covers by Pino Daeni and also the illustrated covers by Harmony. To this we add a passion for art and later for graphic design. So after a stint as a web designer at a studio and several graphic design courses, I decided to jump into the world of publishing.

It was not easy to carve out a little place for myself in such a competitive industry, and it is not easy to be a freelance graphic designer. This is a job where you never stop learning, there is always someone better than you.

You don’t make your name with talent alone, you have to understand what you can offer the client, what your potential is and make the most of it. You have to be humble, curious, and have a lot of desire to work.

What genres have you created covers for?

I have created covers of all genres but my business work is the historical, contemporary and fantasy genres.

Do you create different covers depending on the target country? By what criteria do you choose how to differentiate them?

A few years ago there was a significant difference between European and American covers. Let’s say American publishers or indie authors were more open to trying and more willing to invest economically. But now it’s different, I don’t see a difference except for some editorial series that have their own graphic style that I’m required to follow, but that’s regardless of the country of destination.

There is no criterion for differentiating them because it is not up to me. Clients come with one or more ideas and often there is no margin for option. The graphic designer’s skill is precisely to blend hiscreativity with the client’s requirements.

Do you judge a book by its cover? Have you ever changed the fortunes of a book by giving it a different cover?

Absolutely, the cover is the face of the book, it is the first thing the reader but also the disinterested customer looks at. We all know that the content is what matters but, we also know, that the eye wants its share so it has to be flawless, both in digital and print versions. The more appealing it is, the more chances the book will have of being purchased.

As to the question if I ever changed the fortunes of a book by giving it a different cover, yes, many authors who hired me to redesign their covers write to me saying that the new cover helped raise the sales of their book. And for my work, customer feedback is crucial. This is the only way for me to grow and learn.

Do you read the whole book before creating the cover or is the synopsis enough for you? What other elements do you study for creation?

It would be nice to read the whole book but it is unthinkable, I would not have the time and it is not even that necessary. I just read the synopsis and work with the client who gives me all the details I need.

It all starts with a proforma contract that allows the author to understand the commercial use of the cover and the images used, and allows me to have the basic graphic details essential to start the cover such as descriptions of characters, background, and synopsis.

Then there is the most important part which is the dialogue with the client. Only he/she can get me into the mood of the book. Comparison, collaboration, and synergy are the prerequisites for a great cover.

You also offer prepackaged covers. What do you draw inspiration from?

Premades are covers that I make in my spare time, and my inspiration comes from research. 50% of my job is to search for images to make the covers and in this search, I browse through pages and pages of Google, sometimes it is movie posters that inspire me, and sometimes other covers, paintings, etc.

Tell us about the most pleasant or funny episode that happened to you in this work, and the most unpleasant one.

There have been many pleasant episodes, I am lucky, I have worked and still work with wonderful clients. In ten years there has been only one unpleasant episode. A client sold my covers passing them off as his own, and I found out after about a year of working with him. It was really painful on a personal level and difficult because I had to bring in a lawyer to straighten things out. Unfortunately, the matter was not completely resolved, Tough luck, it couldn’t be done any better. At least I have since learned to protect both myself and my work more.

What’s your advice to authors who want to take their books abroad?

This question would be for a literary agent to ask. However, if we’re just talking about covers, my advice is to ask yourself what kind of readers you want to reach and what market you want to pitch to. Because if it is true, as I said before, that there are no longer remarkable differences, it is also true that you are a new author in a foreign land. Only after collecting accurate information on the international market you want to address will you be able to work with a cover designer and get a great cover to attract that specific audience.

If you’d like to contact Cora you can visit her website www.coragraphic.it