The Book Design That Got My Attention (And It Might Get Yours, Too)
The book design is part of the story, too. The book design needs to work with the text to create a cohesive reading experience. The cover, spine, and back matter are all crucial elements that authors sell their books. And yet you, dear readers, are much more than passive consumers of text. You are active participants in the story and want to feel like you’re part of it. That’s why book design is so important — it helps readers become immersed in the story.
It's not just about how good it looks on the shelf. It's about how it feels in your hands and in your eyes. It's about how it makes you feel like you're reading something that matters, or that's worth paying attention to.
I've seen this with some of my own experiences as a reader: when I read them in print, they feel different than when I read them on my Kindle. The difference isn't just because of the technology, but also because of how they were designed and laid out by their publishers.
The best book designers understand this and work hard to create something that works both as a physical object and an electronic one — something that will be beautiful and useful in both formats without being constrained by either one.
I am grateful to work with my team of layout editors and designers for the internal pages of Me Power, along with its full book cover jacket. Check out the close-to-final front and back book cover!
Please let me know what you think.
Full book cover jacket of Me Power, version 1
When I submitted to Layout, I agreed that I was confident in my manuscript based on:
Four phases of revisions with my Marketing & Revisions Editor (MRE);
Review by beta readers: India Nixon Lyon, Dr. Lance Newman, Dr. Alyssa Sepinwall, Kristin Bigras, Dr. James A. Godley, Neferteri Strickland, Laurie Baty, Ellen Ahlers, Dr. Brandon Wallace, Christine Moretti, Bob Bathrick, Nicole Stewart, Dr. Alyssa Sepinwall, Stefan Tomasi, Aleen Jendian, Pam Foss, Nikki Bartlett, and Jill Laing (thank you!);
Revision by four professional copy editors;
One last final read-through to confirm the copy editors’ suggested changes; and
A professional proofread of my manuscript.
What lies ahead?
Today, I will complete a final read-through and review of the Layout. Once I say that it’s done, the only additions to my 240-page manuscript will be an Index. All files should be finalized by the end of THIS week.
At this point, I feel confident that Me Power is in good shape. Now let’s publish this book!
If you’re in the DC Metro Area, save the date for the BOOK LAUNCH PARTY at Brickrose Exchange in Baltimore on November 5, 2022.
Virtual book launch parties will take place every day of World Kindness Week, starting November 13th.
Stay tuned…
Three ⚡️ in 31 Seconds
⚡️ On Saturday, I rearranged my entire morning to rush down to the Convention Center to hear Janelle Monae speak about her book, The Memory Librarian at the Library of Congress’ Annual National Book Festival, and was blown away even though I stood in line for nearly an hour and she was unable to sign my copy. A young person, Cameron, asked her: “I want to know how long it took you to find that group of those people who empowered you and lifted you up?”
⚡️ “Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom.” — Beyoncé after releasing her latest album Renaissance Part 1
⚡️ Self-absorption can be defined as the philosophy of me, first and only, whereas a self-first perspective is always in relationship to others. Me Power is about putting your mask on first, metaphorically. Yet, you cannot express Me Power without some sense of “we” or community.