Book Cover Critiques for Self Published Authors | YA Fantasy Book | Episode 2

Yay! It's book cover critique day with yours truly! I hope you guys enjoy this new series and that find some helpful tips throughout these videos. I hope it helps you during your cover design process and allows you to LAUNCH with the best cover you can. Also, it's okay if you didn't get it right the first time, rebranding is a good thing and helps breathe new life into your books and backlist.
If you'd like your cover critiqued, please feel free to email me at [e-mail], but know that I've already received (as I'm checking right now) over 40 covers! Thank you so much for trusting me with your book babies. I'm honored! With that being said, I may only be able to get to one per week so I hope that's okay. If you don't mind waiting, please send over whatever you'd like me to look at and I'll be happy to add it in my folder.
@bytheBrooke has offered a discount for those who want to use her services. Of course, you don't have to, but I thought it was kind of her to offer. Check out her designs here: www.bythebrooke...
SD-Thank you so much for allowing me to look at your covers and give my honest feedback! I'm honored!
Let's be Pen Pals:
Courtney Young | PO BOX 697 | Groves, TX 77619
Do you have a question about self-publishing?
ASK ME ANYTHING FOR MY Q&A MONDAY SERIES: forms.gle/fVbK...
My List of Recommended Books for Self-Published Authors:
Dear Writer, You Need to Quit - amzn.to/3at1yyk
Romancing the Beat - amzn.to/38rfc2C
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel - amzn.to/34pmNxl
Let's Get Publishing Series - amzn.to/2WvDKBP
Newsletter Ninja - amzn.to/3oPOXwx
Help! My Facebook Ads Suck - amzn.to/3as81IH
//A B O U T M E//
Pen names: Lyra Parish & Kennedy Fox (we're an author duo!)
I've been in the indie scene since 2011. I published my first romance novel in 2014 (Weak for Him). Under Kennedy Fox, we've made USA Today 5 times since 2017. As Lyra Parish, I made the top 100 list several times on Amazon.
If you're looking for those books, you will not find them. I unpublished my Lyra Parish backlist in 2020 with zero regrets. You can watch that video here: bit.ly/3k8P6pa
Want to check out Kennedy Fox's Books? Visit: www.kennedyfoxb...
___
//Searching for a Motivational Writing Group?//
I have a writing group on Facebook where you can earn stickers for writing 10K in a day or 50K in a month. You can choose your own day. It's a supportive community that's also fun. If you're international, feel free to join! I've sent stickers to people all around the world since July 2019! In 2021, those who write Half a Million or 1 Million words in a year, will be sent an enamel pin!
groups/write10kinaday
___
//2021 R E L E A S E S C H E D U L E//
Pushing You Away - February - Released
Holding You Close - March - Released
Bossing the Cowboy - May - Released
Kissing the Cowboy - July - Released
Winning the Cowboy - August - Released
Forcing You Away - October
Wanting You Close - November
The End of Us - December
___
//S O C I A L M E D I A//
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/ lyraparish
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→ instagram:
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→facebook:
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→ If you want to follow my writing partner too:
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Instagram: brookekfox
Facebook: / authorbrookecumberland
Twitter: / blcumberland
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[@SDHuston]

Wow! This was so very helpful! You offered so many great things I can and should do, and I cannot begin to explain how grateful I am for your critique and this overall series. 💙 I didn't even notice that the R in Rose was not the same size until you did the comparison. I felt in my gut that the green just didn't match. I also did not know to not use Anthologies as a category, because some of the authors I follow choose that category for their single books that are in series, so I thought it was right. You suggested I use the category for Royalty, but I don't have any royalty in my books (at least not front and center), so would you still suggest I use it? I'm so glad that you mentioned when I should update the covers! I was just wondering when I should do that. I will have to watch this again and write down everything I need to do! You gave so much great information and it all made sense to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@TheCourtneyProject]

Aww, I’m so glad you found it helpful. I wouldn’t use the royalty category if it doesn’t fit. Search for others that are closer to your book so when people search there they can find yours. If you do the small tweaks I mentioned, please send over the updated covers! I’m going to do a before and after wrap-up for those who decide to change them! ❤️❤️❤️

[@BarrettLaurie]

Really great feedback! Love that you put yourself out there for this! Brave and awesome!

[@SDHuston]

@@TheCourtneyProject I will definitely send them your way when I redo them. I'm going to take your advice and finish up the series (last book comes out end of May), and then wait a little bit to gather as many sales as possible. When I see sales drop off, then I'm jumping to change those covers!

[@SDHuston]

@@BarrettLaurie She was so awesome with the feedback, and I'm glad I took advantage of the opportunity!

[@LavenderLydia]

My problem is that they are way TOO similar. I would keep the covers mostly the same, but instead of both green, make #2 a different color (maybe blue?), the next red or purple, etc.

[@skyewinterbooks]

Yet another great critique. What you are doing for us new authors is incredibly helpful! I was able to take your tips from last week and create gorgeous new covers that have gotten nothing but compliments since they hit Amazon. So, I am sure SD will be able to hit it out of the park too. Thank you for all you do Court. I for one totally appreciate you!

[@TheCourtneyProject]

Yay! Aww, that makes me so happy! Now to make some money with your new covers! :)

[@skyewinterbooks]

@@TheCourtneyProject Righttt??? I'm here for it all ❤❤

[@kaylughmanda]

I am loving these, it's so useful to see how you work through your thought process. As a not terribly visual person when I look at covers in my genre I sometimes struggle to break it down into what the actual elements are so watching you articulate that is really helpful

[@TheCourtneyProject]

Aww, yay! I'm glad that you're finding it helpful. I also don't think you're alone. I think it's something a lot of authors struggle with and a cover can make or break a release especially if you're not established in your genre. :)

[@adriannanorth]

All this information is so overwhelming! But good to know. My god. I’m still just trying to finish my darn book! I’m frightened!!

[@TheCourtneyProject]

Haha! It can be overwhelming! All these tips will still be here when you’re finished writing, that’s the first step!

[@AlyssaMatesic]

What a cool video idea! Thanks for sharing your expertise, I feel like I've picked up a couple tips for the next time an author asks me to look over their cover... 😁

[@TheCourtneyProject]

Thank you! After some quick research, it's easy to look at any cover, in any genre, and give helpful insight. Just more tools for your toolbox!

[@MargaretPinard]

First by chance! SO excited about this series too, Courtney 🤗

[@TheCourtneyProject]

Woohoo!!

[@JadeJuniiper]

Omg this was so helpful. I need to watch the entire series of videos now lol

[@MargaretPinard]

Amazing level of marketing shakedown, as always. Woot!! 🙌🏽🚀👏

[@TheCourtneyProject]

❤️❤️❤️

[@vesnakurilic2303]

I've avoided doing the thumbnail test for my stuff until this video, and I've just done it and it's not nearly as bad as I'd feared! I've got some awesome new pointers for my cover artist, though. Thanks so much for taking the time to do these!

[@TheCourtneyProject]

Oh yay! Just adding more tools into your author toolbox! I hope this helps people communicate better with their designers to get a cover that will sell right off the bat!

[@bytheBrooke]

I just now saw that you had your second video in this series out! This was another awesome analysis on a cover critique! I love how you pull other covers in that genre and compare it with the covers you're taking a look at. It's so eye-opening to see what works with other books that are selling in those same categories. Can't wait for the next episode!

[@TheCourtneyProject]

Thank youuuu! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@author.s.j.palmer4137]

“We can’t compare to Harry Potter. Let’s get real.” Haha 😂

[@TheCourtneyProject]

It’s trueeeeee! They could put turds on the cover and it would sell.

[@BCBrownBooks]

Great series! I am loving the breakdowns, insights, & deep dive.

[@TheCourtneyProject]

Yay! So glad you’re loving it! ❤️

[@elizabethruth5270]

So helpful! Thank you!

[@TheCourtneyProject]

You’re welcome! ❤️❤️❤️

[@karri-z2f]

Another great video!

[@TheCourtneyProject]

Thank you!! :)

[@CourtneeRae]

I love this series so much! It's already been really helpful in terms of researching my genre and subcategories. I'm planning on releasing my first contemporary romance in July or August. Are authors who haven't released yet able to submit covers to see if we're on the right track with our covers? It's also a series(4 stand alones in the same friend group) so I'm looking to create covers that work together.

[@jlouisa]

I'd also like to know if anyone who hasn't published yet can submit a cover as well. I want to try to publish this year and want to see if my cover would be appealing to an audience.

[@TheCourtneyProject]

You can totally submit if it hasn’t been published yet and if you don’t mind me showing it. You’ve got time too! I have about 40 covers to go through now and I’m just doing them in the order I receive them.

[@gvphdYT]

Love love love this series!! I recently wrote a musical second-chance romance dramedy (based mostly in TX) - beginning my cover research with your channel. Any recommendations for comp authors?

[@MargaretPinard]

Omg, Shanon was on the ball!

[@SDHuston]

Thanks Margaret!! It was so great to see I had some things right for sure as this was something I've worried about since I decided to design my own covers.

[@TheCourtneyProject]

I agree! Lots of good things going with these covers!

[@andeeharry]

love your t-shirt C.P

[@TheCourtneyProject]

Thank you! I got this shirt as a present from my writing partner before I quit my corporate job to write. LOL, I guess I am a stay at home cat mom now.

[@andeeharry]

@@TheCourtneyProject nice one

[@theresultsphase]

Qweeeeeeeeeeen

[@TheCourtneyProject]

☺️☺️☺️☺️

[@jlouisa]

I miss this series a lot….

[@tlightsylvan]

up your paperback prices. do it. now that's some advice!!!

[@TheCourtneyProject]

Yes!!!

[@BarrettLaurie]

Loving this series! Keep this coming. So helpful!

[@TheCourtneyProject]

So glad you’re loving it and find it helpful! 🙌🙌 Thank you!

[@maryl7067]

Wow, this is super helpful! So many little details here that I wouldn't have considered but make a huge difference. Thank you for your insider insight 😊

[@TheCourtneyProject]

You're welcome! :) It really helps to do deep dives with books that are in your genre and selling well! :)

[@DaleLRoberts]

Great deep dive, Courtney! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@danieldickson3896]

That was super informative. I love this series 😊

[@TheCourtneyProject]

Thank you! So glad you’re finding it helpful!

[@penguinlover2274]

Thank you, highly informative video !

[@TheCourtneyProject]

You're welcome! :)

[@ivylilybasket]

Is it fair to compare it to books published by commercial publishers though? When you said you liked Serpent & Dove cover I immediately thought "yeah they have a publishing house professionals doing these".

[@TheCourtneyProject]

Absolutely. The goal is to be able to compete against trad pub books, that when someone looks at it online they don’t instantly go “oh that’s self-published” and when the quality isn’t there, that’s exactly what they say.

[@angeljackson7485]

I'm really loving this series! It's really driven me to study my genre covers and I am learning a lot about what I haven't even considered at this point in my publishing journey. Thank you so much, Courtney!

[@TheCourtneyProject]

You're so welcome! Just another useful tool in your self-publishing toolbox! :)

[@anaerobinson]

This is awesome, learning so much. Thank you.

[@TheCourtneyProject]

You’re welcome! ❤️

[@thewritingsisters]

Wow so much great wisdom I’m so new to self publishing could you review my cover?

[@TheCourtneyProject]

You can email it over, but I’m doing it in the order they’re received. ❤️

[@thewritingsisters]

@@TheCourtneyProject no worries I’m sure you received a lot I appreciate any help you can offer when you get to them

[@katlove8815]

Loving this series. It’s so insightful

[@TheCourtneyProject]

Yay! That makes me happy! ❤️❤️

[@oneeyewitch]

Sent in the cover for my novella. I hope i did it right lol. I am currently writing book 1 so that doesnt have a cover yet :)

[@TheCourtneyProject]

You did! :) I'm going in order by how I received them to make it fair. Excited to look at it in depth!

[@oneeyewitch]

@@TheCourtneyProject oh great I wasn't sure :) thank you so much for doing these.

[@teralynmitchell5444]

This is so helpful! I found categories my young adult book could fit into better. Plus I can now do the thumbnail test for it. My cover for that book is gorgeous. People still tell me that to this day but I’m not sure it’s quite working anymore. It was done in 2017. I need to figure that out before I start working on a cover for the second book. Also! If I’m publishing wide, should I be looking at the top selling books on all the retailers or is Amazon & Apple sufficient enough? I’m going through the process right now to get a new cover. This is a rebrand so I kind of want to get it right from the start. Thank you so much for doing this! It’s already been so helpful!

[@TheCourtneyProject]

I think Apple is where you should look for wide covers because KU eats up the Amazon charts. If you can find non-KU books ranking in the top 100 of your subcategory add them there. What people like in KU (they tend to be more lax with design versus wide platforms) can sometimes look completely different.

[@teralynmitchell5444]

@@TheCourtneyProject Okay! That may help me a lot. I’m going to check Apple now because I’ve only been looking at Amazon. Thank you!!!

[@tamarar.2748]

Fantastic series, Courtney. Learning so much. Thanks!

[@TheCourtneyProject]

So glad to hear! Thank you so much!