Diary of a First Time Author - Episode #6

Cover Design with Simon Clements

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Options 3 & 4

When I asked Brad Burton (author of four books himself) to recommend a book cover designer, he put me straight in touch with Simon Clements at SC23.

From the very first conversation we clicked and I knew he was the guy who would design the all important cover.

I also knew I had to get this right!

There's no point going to all the effort of perfecting the manuscript only to have the cover let it down.

I'd had my fabulous photo shoot with Toby and had picked my shortlist of favourites. I'm a firm believer in knowing when you see something and it feeling right. So I trusted my instincts.

Having an image in my head of how I wanted it to look I relayed this to Simon, but wanted to give him the freedom to express his creativity at the same time without me putting rigid frameworks in place.

In just a couple of days I received these four designs below, which quite frankly blew me away.

All of a sudden, my little note book of scribbles was turning into a real book!

Which One Did I Choose?

You'll have to wait until launch day to find out!

I know... I'm sorry!

Not long now!

I've put Simon's contact details below for anyone wanting creative design, he's your guy!

Video Chat with Simon Clements - Cover Designer

Here in this video Simon and I discuss the process he goes through from initial client meet to understanding the brief he's been challenged with!

Enjoy...

Weekly Snippet from the Book...

I'm a huge advocate for the power or teamwork. Fittingly as we've been discussing collaborations in this episode, I would like to share a snippet on this very topic from the book...

Team Is Everything

I’ve done both, working alone and working in a team. And without question, I much prefer the latter.

When you work alone, the weight of every decision, every challenge, and every opportunity, falls solely on your shoulders. It can be isolating, overwhelming, and sometimes even paralysing.

There’s no one to bounce ideas off, no fresh perspectives, and no support when things get tough. You’re the only motivator, problem solver, strategist and executor. It’s exhausting.

But when you have a team, everything changes.

A strong team is more than just a group of people working towards a common goal; it’s a powerhouse of collaboration, innovation and resilience. The ability to share ideas, problem-solve collectively and support one another, is priceless. It’s the difference between struggling in silence and thriving through shared knowledge and effort.

Think about it. Some of the most successful businesses in the world didn’t rise to the top because of one person alone. They got there because of a team, people who believed in the mission, challenged each other to grow, and combined their strengths to achieve something bigger than themselves.

Business is full of highs and lows. A team provides a safety net, a group of people who can lift you up when things get tough and celebrate your wins with you. There’s a level of accountability and encouragement that just doesn’t exist when you’re working solo.

Two (or more) heads are always better than one. Having people around you to offer fresh perspectives, challenge your thinking, and provide solutions you might not have considered, can be the game-changer your business needs. When you work alone, there’s only so much you can do in a day.

With a team, tasks get done faster, ideas turn into action quicker, and progress happens at a much greater pace. Time is one of the most valuable assets in business, so why not maximise it with a strong team?

Until next time... thank you for reading.