My Book Cover Needs You
As I write this post, I am mega excited. Finally, it’s coming together. After 6 years of compilation and 2 years of writing, my new book is becoming a closer reality. I have put so much into this project for many reasons:
- It’s a God-thing
- It stems from my purpose and passion
- I believe in and live (through His grace) the message
Background
SELAH is a 90 day devotional inspired by thousands of daily text messages I sent to hundreds of people for 7 years. During this time, many encouraged, pushed and inspired me to collate and create a reading material that would reach and bless more people. I knew it was God speaking to me through them.
It’s taken 2 years to arrive at this point and I am excited about the future. The book will be released in digital format. Many thanks to everyone that completed my survey some months ago. The popular vote went to eBook and I decided to listen to my readers (and potential readers).
What I Need You To Do
I’ve been working very closely with my designer to come up with a book cover. I am really impressed with the outcome. Here’s how you can help me for now:
- Which book cover do you like? I mean which would actually make you buy the book?
- Why do you prefer the cover of your choice?
- Any recommendation for improvement?
- Click here to tweet this request to your audience. The more feedback I get, the better result set I can analyze.
By order of appearance, let’s call them:
- Converse
- Umbrella
- Jigsaw
- Sailing Boat
- Flower
You can click on each image to view a bigger version of the book cover and leave your response (as per the questions above). I am so counting on you to help!
Would you like to help me launch this book? I would love to have you on my launch team too! More details in the coming weeks on how you can take part.
*featured image on front page courtesy of Kittisak (not book covers)
About Joseph Iregbu
From a homeless, near-school-dropout to living a story worth telling. Purpose is my passion. What's your story?
I prefer the sailing boat. It portrays a tranquility which allows for meditation. Perfect for a devotional. May God’s Spirit guide you.
I prefer the one with the boat on sea because of its serene nature. Since its also a journey you are talking about because no one would like to stay in the middle of such a great sea. Every journey has an end and would serve as an encoragement to the readers. Anyways, I pray God will guide u in making the right choice.
Thanks Evelyn! Much appreciated. More details will be out soon.
Sailing Boat. Reason – it is a journey. The picture looks confusing though for me, is it a storm that has just calmed down or is it a boat sailing in peaceful waters. Could there be some rays of sunshine to show hope 🙂 Congrats on the new book Joseph, the book sounds promising.
It’s a sailing boat but I like the question you’ve asked; it shows something about it works 🙂 Thanks!
Sailing Boat! Simply because it defines the theme of the book. Nothing feels more at peace when you are sailing the ocean with God going ahead of you.
Thanks Pete. I agree it’s a great cover.
Actually, I will go for the shoes since it clearly shows the big picture; its all about a journey. More importantly, it depicts relaxation…which is to be expected if Jesus is on board. From my experience, I do not think that adults will see it as a youth thing because the affinity for variation and tone cuts across all ages….But, if you still have doubts, I am also in love with the boat, such calm scenery..at a first glance, it simply depicts peace and hope……
In any case, good luck with your choice!
Thanks for the feedback!
Honestly? I would say none of them.. But if I had to, would be the flower… None of them are quite right to me though…
Thanks Peter… what sort of image would you recommend for a devotional themed on grace, hope and journey?
Knowing you and your appeal to the next generation – I’d pick the one with your feet up. I hope I can make your launch team bro.
Thanks man, it would be an honor to have you on board.
Proud of you Joseph!
Like Converse. It depicts to me someone relaxing, reading your devotional, meditating and conversing with God.
Ha, ‘conversing with God’ – good analogy. Thanks Lorraine.
flower, boat, jigsaw, converse, umbrella. 🙂
I suppose in that order? 🙂
I prefer Converse. It gives me the sense of someone who is active, pausing to put their feet up and listen. To me that conveys the message of the title better than the other four images.
Thanks Larry
I choose the Umbrella cover. Why? Because it is different & I like the colors and textures. It reminds me of all our skin tones. I love the diversity! 🙂
Diversity… Hmm, a really good way to look at it. Thanks!
Love the one with tennis shoes. Nothing like a real life photo to capture true grace. Beautiful! Can’t wait.
Thanks Alene. Good point.
I enjoy the Umbrella one. Having just been a part of Kingdom Journeys launch team, the shoes remind me of that which I like, but at the same time, then already have an expectation set because of the picture. The puzzle is too small for me to enjoy the piecing of it, I can’t tell exactly what the arrow is made up of and that makes it difficult to embrace. The sailing boat seems expected and the flower, well, it just doesn’t do it for me…there you have it!So that’s why I like the umbrella one best. I like the negative space left in the middle and I like the concept of God’s love being our Umbrella.
Yes, I’d love to help you launch your book!! Let me know how I can help!
Rachel, I look forward to having you help. Thanks for the feedback.
I like the sneakers and the jigsaw. But the sneakers is more “fun” than the jigsaw one. 😉
Haha, thanks Charles. What’s your view on the feedback that sneakers would make the book only have a young-person appeal?
Looking forward to your book release, what an accomplishment!!! I would pick the jigsaw cover, because I think it most relates to what your writing about.
Thanks Dan… for adding to my ‘confusion’ 🙂
I like the sneaker photo, it says youth and peace but because they are relaxed and
propped up it doesn’t say journey.
I also like the umbrellas, It says journey, hope and that you must find peace. The undisclosed people under the umbrella seem to be on a journey.
I believe this is going to come down to what theme you want the story to focus on,
is it going to be the journey that’s most important or the peace and hope, or all three.
If I knew what the story was about I could comment better.
Hope this helps!
Hi Tristen, do you think the youth appeal is of concern from your perspective? The book cuts across age group. The theme is a daily journey of grace and hope, so difficult to separate any of it, if that makes sense.
I like the one with the shoes and the one with the water, but the one that I’m most attracted to are the sneakers denoting a journey.
Thanks Thomas. Very helpful
Thanks Kunle for adding your much-needed voice.
ok…so i really like the first 2…the shoes with the feet tell me it’s a journey and looking at the picture, i get the feeling it’s going to be an interesting journey. However the second picture of the umbrellas, tell me i’m protected…..under a cover; even in the rain, i can still have hope that the sun will shine . i won’t be hit by extreme heat or rain.
That’s great! Thanks Seun. I like that
Jigsaw! And up until this point, I would have taken the sailboat hands down because nothing says peace to me like sailing; but when I think about life: how much we need grace and hope for the “pieces” we can see but more importantly, how much we need Christ to arrange them and point us on the path that will actually allow us to journey closer to Him in a fashion that allows the pieces to be displayed into a beautiful picture and not one that looks forced or broken…the clarity of it just took my breath away. Jigsaw.
Wow!!! You ‘sold’ that so well.
Thank you 🙂
The top two options outshine the others.
🙂
I would go for the 2nd one, with the colorful umbrellas 🙂
I’m not sure but I can’t see any rain fallin. This seems to denote a bunch of people, with their umbrellas held up, with the hope that it will rain. So it represents hope for me, more than the others do.
🙂 Thanks! I like the depth of analysis I am getting
I do love the sailing boat best.
I think it best depicts the book, some deep sturvs. On a journery, in the middle of nowhere (ocean of life with all its tempestuous wind and at times calm), hope keeps you going, grace gets you there
Second choice will be the converse one, although it looks too cliche, somethings is quite lacking in the text of this one. I’m not too sure what it is, maybe the colour or font or spacing? and also there’s a sun flare on the jeans that is distracting.
That said, Sailing boat gets my main vote
“hope keeps you going, grace gets you there” – that’s a great line! Thanks man. Awesome insight
All are great. I agree with John. For some reason I like the sneakers… Congrats!
Thanks Mike… why the sneakers? Any reason why?
Why sneakers?… because I’m weird! I like a definition I heard of the word Selah – “Pause and Calmly reflect.” The sneakers related to how I actually do that. HOWEVER – we should give consideration to AUDIENCE, and the sneakers could skew appeal away from older readers. Your big problem is that ALL the covers are good!
I knew I was going to be in this situation 🙂 Oh well, better struggle with good covers than not. Thanks Mike. Good feedback to consider on the age-group appeal.
I like the one with umbrellas! To me, it goes along with the symbolism of storms and faith!
Good point, Charles. Thanks!
Hi, Joseph
First, congratulations on reaching a true milestone in your journey. Much hard work is paying off:)
Like others, I thought all five covers were fine and you cannot make a bad decision here, whatever you do. That said …
Given the title and my understanding of this word, I choose the boat. It floats in the water and appears to be motionless … pausing for reflection. I also like the graphic composition somewhat more than several of the others. The
motionless boat conveys a sense of thoughtful and peaceful respite, which is
when our greatest learning and growth can occur.
I have no recommendations for any change.
I would also be more than happy to help you launch. Just give me a holler here at TFB or directly to strategiclearner@gmail.com.
Again, congratulations!
John
John, you are awesome! Thanks for the feedback and I will be in touch in the coming weeks.
Converse reminds me of someone relaxing and taking time to be still … to reflect. I like this cover because it reminds me of grace. No judgement to keep producing, there is grace if I need/want to take time to just “be.”
Awesome!
Tammy has read my mind 🙂 The flower is my favorite but would be more awesome with a extra oomph…with some added color and different font? (on the word “SELAH”). Congratulations!
Thanks Ngina!
Congrats! I like the flower, but it needs something. Maybe a splash of another color because the background is white too. Second choice would be the converse one.
Thanks Tammy, feedback appreciated.
Hey Joseph,
I like all of them in a different way, but “converse” has my vote. It seems more about the journey, from your description above, that lead me to this decision
Thanks Chris. Good analysis.