You hired your cover artist and they want WHAT?

“Is it normal for my Book Cover Artist to want my ISBN Number?”

Was the question I saw in my writing group forum. Before I could explain to them why a Book Cover Artist would want this, I saw comments that alluded that this was a very FISHY dealing, and something to be suspicious about.

I once asked an author for the ISBN number once, and there was a pause, an awkward look, and a cautious…. ‘why?’

Blunt Answer:

No. I’m not trying to steal your book. Or somehow harm your book. Or whatever nefarious purpose you think I’ll be using your 12 digit (sometimes 8 digit) code. Your ISBN number tells me information about your book. WHAT CAN I DO WITH IT.

Kind Answer:

I totally get your apprehension, I need it to get a template from Amazon/Ingram Spark you’re getting your book printed.

Things you need to give your Cover Artist if you’re wanting an E-Book Cover:

Book Title
Sub Title if you have it
Pen Name or how you want your name shown
Series?
Review
The size of the book (if it’s different from the usual size recommended)

Things you need to give your Cover Artist if you’re wanting a Print Cover:

You’re going to have to give them a LOT more if you’re wanting a print book.

Everything above.
Page Numbers
Size of your book. (Make sure this exists on your printing medium)
Blurb (Make sure this is edited/proof read. Your Cover Artist is NOT your proof reader)
Any information you want in the back like author details?
ISBN NUMBER (This depends on who you’re printing with)
Colour of page?
Matte? Gloss?

If your Cover Artist asks for these, please rest assured, we’re not trying to scam? steal? your book. We need this in order to put it into your printing place (usually Amazon/Kindle/Ingram Spark) and they then spit out a template for us to put the image on.

This template is super delicate. Here’s an example:

This is from Kindle/Amazon. This is what we get. Then we put the image on top of this and make sure it doesn’t go out of the lines on pain of death. IT WILL REJECT IT IF IT DOESN”T MATCH.

If you already set your book up on your printing platform, as soon as you type your ISBN number, it will auto populate with the colour of pages, page numbers, size. All that. However if you haven’t, then your Book Cover Artist will have to add these in manually to get that template above.

If you really rather not divulge any of the information, then you can get this template and hand it to your Book Cover Artist.

And it’s super helpful if you can give this to them FROM THE START. You’ll quickly wear your artist down if you keep going back to them saying ‘oh no, the page number changed’ ‘oh no, the blurb needs a tweak’

You get everything ready THEN give it to your artist.

I mean, if you have heaps of money and can pay your artist for every edit you make, it’s fine, but probably not the best idea.

Another use for ISBN number:

Another reason we need the ISBN number, is because it’s printed on your barcode. Templates from Amazon/Ingram gives it to you already in the template, so the artist will be able to place it.

But if you have your own barcode somewhere, then you give that to the artist.

WAIT IM USING A DIFFERENT PRINTER

That’s all good. If that’s the case, still good to get a template for your artist from this printer. They likely won’t request for an ISBN number. Different printers have different ways of dealing with this.

TL:DR:

Worried your artist is asking for too much? Then give them the template from your printer. Don’t have a template or want your artist to get it for you? Give them the information if you don’t want your book cover rejected when you load it onto the printer.

If you’re an author, a good looking book cover is a must.

However as an author, unless you’re one of those people writing your books overlooking a beach in your million dollar mansion, we hesitate when we see $400-1000 price tag.

Honestly, most authors get about $5-7 per book they sell, so you gotta sell a lot of books just to cover your bookcover. Come on. I get it.

Someone wrote that instead of buying boats, they write books.

Yeah, let’s not go there.
I mean, if you can afford it, then it’s an amazing investment. You get one of a kind book, and it draws people to buy your book. You want to give your baby every chance it can to shine right?

One way to get a good looking book cover, know exactly what you’re getting, (my refusal to give authors infinite edits on their book covers has given some cold feet) a premade book is a good way to go.

You can find these online. You are likely able to find them through Facebook Groups, Instagram, Etsy or just google bookcoverdesigns, and a bunch of them will come up.

Once you find one you like, you can ask for minor changes. Font changes, colour changes, or placement changes.

They will likely look like this:

Basically they will change the Author Name, Tag Line, Title etc to your own book.

Likely they will let you change other things, but you should be expecting to be charged. It takes time to change things. Not everything digital can be changed with a snap of a finger!

Things that will likely not cost:

Change the font and I know which font I want or a similar one.
Change the colour of the font
Change where the author’s name and title is, or change where the characters are.

Things that will likely cost about $10-$20

Change the colour of person’s hair, clothes, things on them
Change the colour of the book
Add a small character in the book

Things that will likely cost you a bit:

Change the person on the book cover. or change their hair shape etc. (I will explain why in future blog)
Add a character or remove a character.
Change the landscape. (At this point just get an original book…)

PROS:

You get a really good idea of what you want from the start
Cheap
Good way to find an artist you’ll likely stick with long term

CONS:

They usually use images from Stock Images, so you’re not getting an UNIQUE book cover. Likely, there’s going to be someone with a similar book cover to you.

Yeah, don’t get a Premade if you’re the above baby.

Tips when you’re choosing your Premade cover.

DO A GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH. If the image comes with pages and pages? Don’t use it. This means you have a good eye - but a lot of people also do, and they used that image already. You don’t want the same book cover as your neighbour author.
- Extra: Don’t let your guard down because nothing comes up with the book cover images. Google image search isn’t that clever. If there’s a font on the image, it’s probably unlikely to pick that up.
If you are asking the designer for changes this and that, don’t be surprised if they tell you that this is now going to be an original book cover and they charge you accordingly. A lot of people think something they want changed is simple, but it could mean the designer has to go buy another photo or redraw/re design the whole thing.
Know what size or platform you will be publishing first. Sometimes you will get a size from the designer, that your platform won’t accept. It’s handy if you already know, and they can give you the right size from the start.
Subject to Copyright: usually means that you can’t take that book cover and sell it yourself. It’s fine for you to use it to promote your book, like making mugs, stationary, banners etc. * double check for fine prints though*

Best of luck! If you have questions, let me know :)

Why is my Cover Artist wanting this?