Who are you and how
long have you been doing what you are doing?
My name is Sam
Sheridan. I am a visual communicator. I graduated from the Arts University
Bournemouth this summer and have always had a passion for art, but I have been
designing and creating since I was 16.
What’s your process
when designing something for somebody else?
A typical process
would be to dissect the brief – research existing designs – draw up suitable
concepts – then develop the strongest concepts until we have a final response.
What’s your process
when designing a book cover? How do you get from concept to the final product?
I approach this the
same as any other project. Book covers enable huge creative freedom because
they are (in my eyes) essentially posters, and posters are some of the most
fantastic and fun ways of communicating anything (ask any designer, I bet they
love making posters).
You can see the
Pinterest board that I used to share the progression and ideas for Just One Time here: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/sam310396/just-one-time/
How do you feel
during the process and when you get to the end of the process?
The beginning of the
process is always the most exciting for me – brainstorming ideas and concepts.
The development is also enjoyable, but as with any project there comes a point
when you start to get tired and bored. So there is always some degree of relief
at the end of a project but also a great sense of accomplishment.
Here’s what I told
you when I first asked you to create a cover for Just One Time: ‘I'm looking for something that is somewhat in
keeping with the industry trends you can see [I shared some recent popular
covers for novels in the erotic fiction and thriller fiction markets] but a bit
edgier. In all these books, the lead characters are female but my main
character is male, so I'd like to incorporate more 'thriller' elements into the
cover and less of the sparkly jewel-type art work that tends to be used in much
of the erotic covers of today - it's definitely not that kind of book.’ How did
you get from this to your idea about the woman with her face being torn through
the front cover?
The inspiration for
the cover of Just One Time came from
existing designs – particularly the Fatal
Attraction poster and the The
Immortalist (by Andre Gide) cover. I wanted the Just One Time cover to show the woman and her underlying
personality. She needed to be seductive and dangerous. The tears were used to
reveal areas of her neck and lips (the erotic elements) and to also point to
her dangerous side.
Why did you make
certain colour and font choices with Just
One Time?
Red was the obvious
choice in colour. However, I didn’t think the cover needed to be entirely red. The
cover for Just One Time is mostly
light grey with tears that display the red underneath as a nod to the thriller
aspect of the book. The typeface was also chosen to reflect the thrilling nature
of the book – with sharp serifs, it suggests danger and accompanies the tears
well.
What are the main
things that authors and designers should think about when creating a book
cover?
As with any creative
project, you have to think about the audience and the story that you want them
to imagine. Everything needs to be tailored to what the story is about and how
you want the audience to feel when they see or read the book.
What are the main
challenges you find in the whole process?
Trying to maintain a
minimalist look throughout my work is the hardest aspect. I think overworking a
design is an easy thing to do.
Let’s think about
all the books you’ve designed. What have you learnt along the way?
Working with the author to ensure
the cover represents their story is the most important
part of the cover. Without a good
understanding of the story, the cover is compromised. The author knows the
story best!
No pressure here,
but do you read the books you design after they are released?
I love to read the
books before and after the design process if I can. I want to know more about
the story the more time I spend on designing the cover.
Would it be helpful
if you could read a book before you designed its cover? I’m intensely private
about my writing, so it would pain me to share it before it’s ready, but other
authors might feel differently.
Absolutely, the more
of the story I can understand, the more intricate and appropriate I can make my
response. I understand the pains of sharing work before it is complete, so the
blurb can be equally useful in determining the cover. The blurb is what the
audience sees coupled with the cover and so it should be enough to convey the
story. This is why I try to keep the author completely up to date throughout
the design process – because if they feel the cover is not representative of
the story, then they can say so and adjustments can be made.
If you could do
anything else for a career, what would it be?
I can’t imagine ever doing
anything else. However, I have always had an interest in music, so I suppose
I’d be pursuing my 10-year-old dreams of being a musician.
Thank you so much Sam and KS Hunter for that interesting interview.
To see more from Sam Sheridan - sheridansam.com
The first
novel by K.S. Hunter, the alter ego of an international
bestselling author, whose identity will remain a secret.
Desire can have dire
consequences
Two
years ago, David Madden made a mistake that almost cost him his marriage. His
wife, Alison, gave him another chance, but she has not forgotten, nor has she forgiven.
She is irresistible
Then
David meets the alluring Nina at a theatre in London. When he loses his phone
in the dark, she helps him find it, and by giving her his number he unwittingly
invites her into his life.
What
David initially views as an innocent flirt turns into a dangerous game of
deception. His increasingly suspicious wife thinks something is up, and each
lie he tells pushes them further apart.
She is insatiable
Nina
pursues David relentlessly, following him to New York where she gives him an
ultimatum: sleep with her, just one time,
and then she’ll get out of his life forever; or she’ll ruin everything he holds
dear.
She is unstoppable
Of
course, once won’t be enough for Nina, and what David hoped would be the end is
merely the beginning.
A
modern-day Fatal Attraction, Just One Time is a steamy psychological thriller that will have you hooked
from the first page and holding your breath until its shocking conclusion.
Purchase from Amazon UK
Author Bio – K.S.
Hunter is the pseudonym of an international bestselling author. The identity of
the author, who lives in the United Kingdom, will remain a mystery.
Social Media Links –
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