May Your Gifts Be His
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Format
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Synopsis
MAY YOUR GIFTS BE HIS.
In the far future there is a world that is close to death and its remaining population has grown desperate for resources. Armed with stolen alien technology, PARAN sends forth his TAKERS to claim new worlds rife with bountiful resources to exploit. TAKER 7, the latest conquerer titan has just been completed, and the titan awaits both a Holy Pilot and Fixer.
DJONAH and LEKKI have been selected to be the Holy Pilot and Fixer.
TAKER 7’s target is the distant planet Cora, the largest and wildest planet in the known galaxy. PARAN hopes to claim it for himself and his empire. Previous TAKERS have already been deployed throughout the near galaxy, pillaging and destroying civilizations that dare to stand in PARAN’s way, but those who have survived have amassed a resistance known as THE INTEGRATION, who threaten PARAN’s plans. We follow DJONAH and LEKKI’s beginnings through the POV of several characters throughout this prequel novella.
Each of these vignettes set the stage for the beginning of TAKERS, Book 1, which will be completely from the POV of DJONAH, LEKKI, and TEMPLE (the AI that resides within TAKER 7).
Example Book Cover Descriptions
Berserker, Out of My Mind, and Armor: I like these because they convey a specific scene or conflict, yet seem surreal and strange yet still firmly conveying science fiction.
The Map of Salt and Stars: I like how the border of the book acts as a window to the illustration and title of the book. I also like how the book’s font, border, and illustration seem to share a common design language, and play well together.
Absolution: I like the play with negative space, and how the titles and author don’t get in the way of the illustration. Again I also really like how there seems to be a common design language between everything.
The Last Laugh and The Initial Insult (series): I love how the vivid and detailed illustrations are still readable behind the large title and author text (which are equally readable). This is what I am trying to achieve. I like the idea of blending my artist’s trippy illustration with a more rigid, sanserif font. And since this will be a series, I like this established series look.
Misrecognition and Transit: I would like to see 1 option where the artwork is mostly unobstructed by the text and is instead contained within the frame with the typography laid out around it, as it appears in these two examples and in the other examples tagged on the site with “Top and Bottom Text“
Wrong Direction Book Cover Descriptions
The Moon that Turns You Back: I want the illustration to hold more weight than aesthetic design and font choice.
The Great Divide: Not interested in the illustration being used as ornamental hedging.
Wandering Stars: Too minimal, too much emphasis on font. Would prefer for the illustration to take priority.
General Likes & Overall Vision
Preferences
- I already have the illustration completed and have a layered Photoshop PSD, but I am looking for help turning the artwork into a solid book cover. The artwork can be previewed in the ‘example covers’ section
- I would prefer for the illustration to take the lead, but that doesn’t mean I want the fonts to appear ‘plopped on,’ like an afterthought
- I’d like the colors to flow with that of the cover illustration and include spine/wraparound for paperbacks.
- I’m OK to let the title dominate the page as long as it doesn’t absolutely block out the illustration.
- To preview the style of illustration, visit the artist’s Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/elhuervo/?hl=en (Niklas Åkerblad)
Notes:
This is also the first novella in a series of books, so I’d like to introduce a SERIES LOOK / design language/design system that can be easily repeated for future covers.
I want to work with the same artist and designer as my books are released. (While this brief is for Novella 1, I have Book 1 finished and am in the process of editing it now for a planned release early next year.)
Dislikes & Things to Avoid
- I hate corporate Memphis style art.
- Not interested in anything that could convey YA
- I don’t want to copy anything too popular or blend in TOO much with comp titles.
- Nothing too whimsical.
- This story will contain graphic violence, planetary destruction, familial trauma, drug use, etc. I don’t want anyone thinking this is aimed at kids for any reason. Very serious business.
