Battle for the Book Cover! Book Designers vs. Book Illustrators

Decisions, decisions, decisions. Your book cover’s the cornerstone of your character's adventure. And as a new novelist, it’s also a part of your origin story! However, when conjuring up a book cover that’s a feast for your perfect audience’s senses, do you turn to a book designer or illustrator?

Well, Scooby Doo, we’ve got a mystery on our hands. There’s a new writer in town (you!) whose book is about to be published. Plot twist: You’re struggling to find the right person to make your book stand out on the shelf. Who do they choose? A book designer whose expertise can conjure up a winning cover? Or a book illustrator whose masterful skills can highlight their novel’s charms? Or – simply – both?

Let’s take a deep dive into the differences and similarities between a book designer and a book illustrator. And while we’re at it, debunk some myths we’re cursed with, so you know exactly which choice is right for you.

Myth: Book Designers and Illustrators are the same

The first mythical creature to duel. Thankfully, you’ve got Miss Nat Mack – AKA mythbuster and part-time dragon slayer – on your hands! A common thought among novelists is that book designers and book illustrators are the same. But think of us as Loki. While we may share a common thread, we have many different variants. Let me show you why.

What is Book Design?

Book designers create, lay out and perfect the ins and outs of your novel’s appearance.

From front cover to final page, your book designer makes sure your story shines. The colour palette, the composition, the font. You name it, we cover it. Literally.

We uncover the perfect typography to capture the essence of your words. Craft the perfect photo placement to excite readers from the get-go. We’ll even whip up an illustrious spine that’ll spellbind shelves and worlds for years to come. All it takes is a wish… or more accurately, our stunning skills and your beautiful brief.

What does a book designer do?

You’re going to the book ball! Well, think of a book designer as your fairy godmother *wink, wink*. They wave their magic wand and conjure up a design that transforms your novel into a sales dream.  

Is your edge-of-your-seat mystery in need of an adrenaline jolt? A book designer will use their know-how to find the right placement for any images, colour, and text on your book cover. This sparkling visual identity will sell your thriller in no time. Mystery solved! Well, almost…

What is book illustration?

Let me take you for a little journey behind the spine. Using the themes in your text, book illustration is an art form that transforms your words into an image. A powerful marketing tool, the right graphics can make or break your cover's ability to attract the target audience.

So, you’ve got a magical world full of heroes and villains? Well, a book illustrator is the perfect person to bring your novel to life. Drawing up colourful imagery or chilling scenery from scratch, your book illustrator transforms your characters, your setting, and your tone into a sight for the ages.

What does a book illustrator do?

Book illustrators use their wild imaginations to craft the perfect piece of >>artwork<< to adorn the cover of your book. It’s like nailing that perfect cosplay after months of planning. There’s no better feeling!

Careful looking under the cover, there’s a scary monster that’ll terrify you! A book illustrator will sketch an image from scratch based on the creatures or worlds inside, so your audience knows exactly what frights will befall them. Eeek! Besides, horror fans love when their spooky book looks like a horror novel. Wouldn’t you?

Myth: Book Designers can’t be book illustrators

*Buzz* Sorry, that’s the wrong answer. Would you like another go? Book designers can absolutely flex their illustration superpowers to make your cover feel fresh and exciting. I can attest to that. There’s more than enough room for artists to stretch their sketching skills while concocting a magical cover.

Do you want the best of both worlds? Why not find a unicorn designer who can combine exciting illustrations with a fully fleshed out exterior and typography?

Tip from the mind tap: Each illustrator has their own style. For example, my book illustrations use line-work to create different textures. On the other hand, there are also realistic illustrators. And character illustrators for genres like Middle Grade. Plus, digital illustrators who specialise in fantasy characters. Browse illustrators’ work to see what style you are most drawn to while keeping your target market in mind.  

You’ll be casting a spell that’ll leave a lasting impression on readers.

Book Design vs Illustration examples

Looking for some examples? You’ve come to the right place! Let me call upon the cover coven to illuminate the differences.

BOOK DESIGN EXAMPLES

Mixing powerful visuals with a specific colour palette and striking font, I’ve crafted these cover designs to accentuate the tone and genre of each tale. Is your novel a dark and twisted mystery? Or a high-octane thriller? Then book design is the ideal way to conjure up a feeling of suspense from the very first page.

BOOK ILLUSTRATION EXAMPLES

Who doesn’t love a bit of spicy imagery on their cover? Taking a powerful image described in the novel, I’ve created an image that immediately stands out. Perfect for a scary horror or a suspenseful fantasy novel, bringing your imagination to life through illustration is an enchanting way to sell your tale.

Book illustrator or book designer – who do you choose?

That’s like choosing which Spider-Man actor is better. Extremely difficult (although I am a Tom Holland girl, myself). In the end, it’s all about finding the right person to summon a drool-worthy cover. And we’ve only just scratched the surface on typography! If you’re still unsure which is right for you, perhaps hiring a book designer-and-illustrator unicorn (like me) who’ll weave a spell of sparkling designs and a touch of vivacious imagery to perfectly tell your story is the best choice. Take a look at the cover coven or discover more book cover intel via the Miss Nat Mack blog.

Captivating Covers: Why Every Author and Publisher MUST Judge a Book by its Cover in 2024

Should you really judge a book by its cover? Whether you’ve just written a novel, or are publishing someone else’s. You’re curious about the mythical very real powers a book cover has. 

Even though – lemme guess – you’ve heard:

“Don’t judge a book by its cover”

The Mill on the Floss by George Elliot (1860)

Oof, we all have. But a lot’s changed since the 1800s. Long gone are The Salem Witch Trials. Jack The Ripper. And as for books? Well, today, it’d be downright dangerous not to judge one by its cover. Especially in the ever-changing world of ‘what works’ in book sales. 

Unlock the artistry behind captivating covers. And exactly why you really (really) should judge a book by its cover in 2024.

The Number 1 Reason You MUST Judge a Book by its Cover

It’s simple. 

Because everyone else already is.

Think about it. You do too. From picking a wine off the shelf, a pair of Vans from the store #guilty. And yep – you guessed it – even books. 

So as a savvy author or publisher, deep down you know that for your book to leap off the shelves like a goblin on the loose… it's imperative to judge your book by its cover. 

I won’t bore you with the psychological theories behind book covers that sell. What I will share is why they should matter to you. 

Why are book covers important?

You can measure the powers of drool-worthy covers in more than saliva drops. Think: cold hard numbers. Let’s reveal a few:

• Just 1 in 5 people care about who wrote a book, though a whopping 52% choose a book based on its cover alone – as reported by The Scottish Sun

• 79% of people say the cover plays a decisive role when choosing a book – The Book Smugglers

• 70% of people make up their mind on a product (like books) in just 90 seconds, so yours must captivate quickly – Singh S., Management Decision

• 40% of people won’t buy a book if it has a bad cover – The Book Smugglers

The Importance of Book Cover Design and Why it's Judged

By now, you’re getting the feel for what a strong book cover can mean for you (and those judging it). Though, why should you take advantage of it?

Here are the top reasons taking your book cover’s design seriously can positively impact your sales. And the role it plays, overall. 

1. first impressions are everything

Think first impressions only matter inn the schoolyard, a job interview or an application for The School of Wizardry? Think again. First impressions are an important element for book covers, too. A striking cover is what sets the tone, illustrates the narrative and communicates the mood in one quick glance.

2. Your book cover is designed to ignite curiosity

Like the flick of a match in a dimly lit cave, your book cover’s an eager reader’s first peep at what lies ahead. It’s the pulse-pounding combo of art and science. One that gives a glimpse into the realm of possibilities that lie *just* below the pages (yes, before they even read the synopsis). 

When curiosity combines with eager fingertips, your reader’s likely to feel compelled to dive headfirst into the ghostly dimension, adventurous scene or futuristic galaxy within your book. 

The cover sets the tone for the story ahead, captures their attention and pricks your reader’s skin with goosebumps of anticipation. So it *must* ignite curiosity. After all, it’s the single most important book element to inspire them to flip over to the synopsis.

3. Stand out yet blend in with a creative-yet-strategic book cover

Physical and digital books all have one thing in common. They’re plucked from a sea of other books competing for your potential reader’s attention. In such a highly competitive market, a distinctive book cover makes it easier for your reader to notice, nod and nicely choose it over others. 

If your book cover is too unique? Your target audience is likely to skim right past it, as its cover won’t clearly illustrate what type of book it is. If it’s too similar, they may assume they’ve already seen this book and, again, skip right past. 

Take Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn, for example. This iconic cover features bold type, and strands of hair. When you see this on a book cover in any composition, it’s clear what you’re getting into – a missing girl thriller. 

To stand out, yet blend in, it's important that your book cover design stands on the shoulders of giants that have come before it. 

Which parts of a book cover are being judged?

As a whole, it's your book cover's job to convert browsers into readers, and readers into megafans. So, for your book to sell, its cover must first magnetise eyeballs, to catapult sales. 

Here’s exactly which elements of a book cover are being judged.

THE TYPOGRAPHY

Typography’s a powerful book cover element for attracting your ideal reader like a zombie to brains. A font that aligns with your ideal reader’s preferences? Consider it your book’s ultimate jackpot. Professionalism oozes from typography execution across genres. Similarly, your book cover’s type is key to communicating your book’s genre. There’s a reason particular fonts are used for particular genres. And in most cases, typography sets the tone even more clearly than the accompanying artwork.

THE GRAPHICS

Your book cover’s graphics play an important role in communicating your novel’s theme. They assist potential readers in understanding the tone of the tale, and play an essential role in marketing your book to the right audience, with a clear message. Graphics are all about balance. A way to give readers a peep through the keyhole at what the story’s about (without spoilers!). 

Tip from the studio: Does your book feature a major plot twist that becomes the focus of the book? Don’t feature this on the cover and ruin the surprise.

THE COLOURS

The colours that feature on your book’s cover are designed to elicit an emotional response. Is it thrill? Wonder? Spookiness? The hierarchy of your colours is used to draw attention to specific areas of your cover and combine to create aesthetic appeal. 

THE LAYOUT

Visual organisation (or layout!) works to seamlessly weave readability and a book’s theming. It’s your book cover’s layout’s role to communicate the book’s message in a succinct way, so its potential reader can quickly grasp the tale that lives on its pages. After all, you have a mere 3 seconds to capture a potential reader’s attention online. 

Tip from the studio: Online book sales have steadily increased by 9% each year for the past decade, and now make up a whopping 71.2% of all book sales.

THE CHARACTERS OR SETTING

Who you choose to feature on your book’s cover delivers incredible insight to the reader. They offer clues about the book’s context, connect characters with narratives… and can even paint a picture of the story angles a reader can expect. Depending on your book’s narrative, and the age of your audience, your book cover may feature no characters at all. This is particularly important for books where the reader is painted vivid pictures of characters through words and then able to imagine what they’d look like themselves.

THE TONE

In modern society, trigger warnings are an important element to feature on book covers with particular themes. While book covers with mature or potentially triggering themes should always feature a disclaimer on the cover, or within the pages, the design of the cover can also play a role in communicating potential themes within the book. 

want to join the book cover coven?

Hi, I’m Nat Mack. A coffee-guzzling illustrator and strategic designer who specialises in book cover designs. With a triple-threat skill set in marketing, design and publishing, I create drool-worthy covers that attract readers to books like zombies to brains.

Each book cover you judged above (sans Gone Girl) was created by yours truly. Want to learn more about the magic power behind book design? Or just want to drool over some pretty book covers? Sign-up to the Miss Nat Mack monthly Newsletter.

Miss Nat Mack's Halloween Reads

Spooky, scary skeletons send shivers down your spine. Shrieking skulls will shock your soul with what books they have in tow!

Halloweentown has dusted off the big pumpkins, the Sanderson sisters have brewed their potions, and Jack and Sally have put the final touches on the biggest bash of the year! Halloween is not only the spookiest time of year for our ghoulish friends, but the best time of year for some scarily good stories.

There are hoards of epic reads lurking in the shadows to fill your spooky evening - you just need to know where to look…

Read on (if you dare) to discover the best horror books of 2023 - you’re in for a scare. Grab a cuppa, your skeleton pj’s, and devour some spine-chilling reads with your ghostie pals this Halloween.

1. A House with good bones

BY T. KINGFISHER | TITAN BOOKS PUBLISHING

Dark and twisted family roots threaten to strangle their home's foundations…

In this ordinary North Carolina suburb, family secrets are always in bloom.

Samantha Montgomery pulls into the driveway of her family home to find a massive black vulture perched on the mailbox, staring at the house.

Inside, everything has changed. Gone is the eclectic warmth Sam expects; instead the walls are a sterile white. Now, it's very important to say grace before dinner, and her mother won't hear a word against Sam's long-dead and little-missed grandmother, who was the first to put down roots in this small southern town.

The longer Sam stays, the stranger things get. And every day, more vultures circle overhead…

2. The dark magic Series

BY Jamie Lee Fry | BIG MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING

Magic. Witches. Curses. They Aren't Real. . . Right?

After inheriting the house of her dear departed Gran-gran, Izzy and her dad are off to East Gate, Connecticut for a fresh start - that is until strange things start happening in this quiet town and Izzy learns of rumors surrounding her late relative.

Could Gran-gran really have been a cursed witch?

Eager to find out more about these tales, Izzy’s new found friends - Jessa, Tahlia, and Margo - insert themselves into Izzy’s life, and upon discovering a spellbook, the four girls become mixed up with some dangerous forces trying to undue the curse of Izzy’s late grandmother.

When a spell to undo the curse goes awry and enemies intervene, Izzy must now save the people she cares about—including her crush—before it’s too late.

3. Playing the witch card

BY KJ Dell’Antonia | titan books publishing

When Flair Hardwicke returns to the tiny town of Rattleboro to take over her grandmother’s beloved bakery, she believes she’s prepared for anything. All she needs is her daughter Lucie, and to get as far away from her cheating ex-husband as physically possible. But sweet treats weren’t the only thing her grandmother was known for in Rattleboro, and as determined as Flair is to avoid it, a misbehaving deck of tarot card-shaped cookies draws her back into the web of family magic she’s fought so hard to escape.

Even worse: her first love is in town. Flair hasn’t spoken to Jude Oakes, now a famous chocolatier, since he broke her heart at seventeen. When Flair finds she’s accidentally summoned Lucie’s father to Rattleboro under a curse she can’t break, the recipe for Halloween chaos seems to be complete.

But not everything in Rattleboro is as it seems. As Flair’s family is threatened, she is forced to put aside everything she thinks she knows about love, witchcraft, motherhood―and herself. Because Flair might think she’s done with magic, but magic certainly isn’t done with Flair.

4. Schrader’s Chord

BY Scott Leeds | titan books publishing

After his estranged father’s mysterious death, Charlie Remick returns to Seattle to help with the funeral. There, he discovers his father left him two parting gifts: the keys to the family record store and a strange black case containing four ancient records that, according to legend, can open a gate to the land of the dead.

When Charlie, his sister, and their two friends play the records, they unwittingly open a floodgate of unspeakable horror. As the darkness descends, they are stalked by a relentless, malevolent force and see the dead everywhere they turn.

With time running out, the only person who can help them is Charlie’s resurrected father, who knows firsthand the awesome power the records have unleashed. But can they close the gate and silence Schrader’s Chord before it’s too late?

5. TWISTED

BY maggie giles | rising action publishing

Detective Ryan Boone thought the simple jewelry heist was an open-and-shut case. That is until he discovers an unknown drug, and this minor crime he was investigating may be tied to a string of seemingly unconnected murders.

Meanwhile, Mel Parker, unscrupulous leader of a less-than-legal high-end escort service, stumbles across the same pills. On top of protecting her “investment,” she has her own reasons for attempting to unravel the mystery behind the medication.

Ryan knows someone has the answers he seeks, and Mel can’t come forward. To complicate things further, five other women are implicated in the murders despite most having never met.

As the trail turns up as many mysteries as resolutions, Ryan and Mel must discover the twisted connection before someone else ends up dead.

6. edenville

BY sam rebelein | titan books publishing

When young horror writer Cam Marion is offered a teaching opportunity at a prestigious liberal arts college upstate, his long-time girlfriend Quinn is skeptical. She knows the college is located in Edenville, in infamous Renfield County. The county where people seem to go missing. The county where Quinn's high school best friend was mysteriously killed. Quinn figures the job opportunity is a trap somehow, so she follows Cam upstate to investigate some of the county's mysteries (including her own).

She quickly discovers that there's an entire society dedicated to solving Renfield's many riddles. A society that puts on plays dedicated to Renfield's macabre, blood-soaked history. A society that meets in the library basement once a week. A society made up of people who might not be people at all....Meanwhile, Cam discovers that his newest story idea isn't an idea so much as it is a vision of another world. A world that the faculty at Edenville College need his help to access before it accesses them.

7. the pale house devil

BY richard kadrey | titan books publishing

Ford and Neuland are paranormal mercenaries—one living, one undead; one kills the undead, the other kills the living. Heading west to look for work and wait for the heat from their last job to cool down.

There Tilda, a young woman, hires them to track and kill a demon haunting a mansion in remote northern California for wealthy landowner, Shepherd Mansfield.

As Ford and Neuland investigate the creature they uncover a legacy of blood, sacrifice and slavery in the house. Forced to confront a powerful creature unlike anything they've faced before, they come to learn the biggest monster in this story might just be the person paying them.

Looking for some more breath-taking book recS?

Take a look at the cover coven, keep up with the latest insider deets via the Miss Nat Mack blog, or simply follow me down this dark alley *cackles maniacally*

7 Best Horror Book Covers According to Publishers

Scarily good stories deserve the best horror book covers. But what takes a book from lurking in the shadows to devilishly following readers home? (Shock horror, it's not just any kind of illustration slapped across the front like a ‘for sale’ sign on a haunted house.)

While places like Literary Hub round up all-time horror classics, today’s covers (and readers) shriek for modern marvels. After all, it’s the fifth most popular fiction genre, so there’s a whole lotta competition for attention. Dreaming of skipping to the good part, where your author’s book’s shining on shelves, captivating eyeballs and smashing new sales records? Read on (if you dare) to discover the best horror book covers according to publishers and score ideas to inspire your own.

What makes the best horror book covers?

Here at Miss Nat Mack Studio you might’ve heard that I roll publishing house know-how, market analysis and audience research into drool-worthy designs that turn browsers into megafans to catapult sales. Because of it? Many award-winning thriller and horror books wear Nat Mack designs. So naturally, I’ve learnt a thing or two about creating captivating covers in the niche horror genre.

It’s exactly why I believe cover templates should be buried six feet under. The exact reason most churn-and-burn designs RIP. And precisely why just any ol’ book designer without experience in this specialised design realm could be costing you more time and money with ghost-like returns.

The best horror book covers include:

While there’s no ‘secret formula’ to designing the best horror book cover, the non-negotiable process includes:

• Market analysis: What’s currently working?

• Audience research: What do readers want and expect?

• Trend forecasting: What else will be on the shelves upon release?

• Plot intricacies: What unique features of the plot will intrigue readers?

Unlock this chamber of horrors to explore the best horror book covers as chosen by publishers following completion of our creative process.

1. The Hollow Places

By T. Kingfisher | Titan Books Publishing

Winner | 2021 Best Horror Dragon Award Nominated | 2021 BFA for Best Horror
Nominated | 2020 Goodreads Best Horror Nominated | 2020 Ladies of Horror Best Novel

T. Kingfisher is the chilling mastermind behind The Hollow Places, a horror book featuring a shop full of curiosities, weird oddities and taxidermy. Need I go on? Much like the storyline’s inclusion of hunting for the perfect item in the shop, Titan Book Publishing was set on making this horror book cover’s design a killer one.

Throughout our creative process, we explored designs that lent themselves to the market’s current fascination with life and death. To make this the best horror book cover for its release timing, it was also important to take special note of typography to communicate the historical themes explored in the book.

Through a collaborative process, the winning cover features:

• Capital letter typography for certainty

• Hand-drawn illustration to suit the market

• Handwritten elements to reflect the plot’s note-taking importance

2. Truth of the shadows

Slade Templeton | Genius Books Publishing

Searching for horror book cover ideas that venture into the darkest corners of the mind? Then look no further than Templeton’s Truth of the Shadows cover design.

Alongside Genius Books Publishing, we created an intricate Rorschach design that entwined story elements and clues into the illustration itself. How many hints about the story can you see?

“Natasha delivered a masterpiece. We were mind blown”

slade templeton
Author, Truth of The Shadows

This s-s-scary book cover is the perfect inspiration for how horror stories can creep beyond the pages and into lands of visual identity.

The winning cover features:

• Psychological theming

• Bold colour juxtaposition

• Murder meets mind motifs

• Shadow and lightness contrasts

3. The loop

Jeremy Robert Johnson | Titan Books Publishing

Winner | 2020 Wonderland Novel of the Year
Nominated | 2020 Goodreads Best Horror

Us designers are real people too. And personally, my love for Stranger Things is stronger than a freshly poured triple-shot espresso. Lucky for me, so is that of The Loop’s fan base. Since Stranger Things had grown a cult following around the same time, similar theming was the perfect way to use trends (such as seasons 3 and 4 of Stranger Things, released in 2019 and 2022) to the book’s advantage.

To strengthen the likelihood of this psychological thriller becoming a crowd favourite, it was imperative for Johnson’s cover to feature the perfect balance of 80s nostalgia, an ordinary house with more than meets the eye and the incredibly spooky mind-bending powers its main characters fell victim to, reflected in the alluring silhouettes and  humming cords of connection.

The best horror book cover design chosen by publishers combined:

• 80s time setting

• A stack of variant covers

• Visualising the small and eerie town

• Colours to contrast the everyday turned sinister

• Human characters overtaken by devilish powers

4. The twisted ones

By T. Kingfisher | Titan Books Publishing

Winner | 2020 Dragon Award for Best Horror
2nd Place | 2020 Locus Award For Best Horror
Nominated | 2019 Goodreads Best Horror
Nominated | 2019 Ladies of Horror Best Novel

If T. Kingfisher’s name sounds familiar, it's because according to award judgings, they write some of the best horror books out there. Unlike The Hollow Places, The Twisted Ones’ suspenseful plot left a lot of space for the reader to connect the dots amidst serious cliffhangers.

Incredibly talented at creating full-throttle atmosphere, this read’s laced with mystery, plays tricks on the mind and features spine-chilling moments mid-spook. Chosen and finessed from the series of concepts submitted, the published cover keeps visuals simple to let the reader’s imagination run wild. What could be lurking beyond the mist and trees?

To craft the best horror book cover for this novel, we focused on:

• Contrasting colours

• Soft shapes to create an air of mystery

• Lowercase wording to reflect the modern setting

5. The bones of the earth

by scott hale

Like with any of the best thriller or horror book cover designs, diving between the pages is essential. And the dimly lit forest of Hale’s The Bones of The Earth was no different.

Unearthing the spine-chilling horror themes throughout the novel, we contrasted soft rose petals with jagged skulls dangling from eerie vines.

“Natasha gave new life to my series. Phenomenal. Punctual. Amazing communication”

scott hale
Author, The bones of the earth

Choosing my personal favourite horror book cover design is like choosing a favourite child (or a pair of Vans from my ever-growing collection). AKA impossible. But if I’m honest, this one’s right up there.

Throughout the design process, it was important to the publishing house and author that the cover reflected the evil undertones in an otherwise beautiful setting. As well as capturing the creepily realistic setting of planet Earth.

This horror book cover includes:

• A repeatable series mascot: the skull

• Natural world meets underworld colliding

• Eerie theming: darkness and evil can lie in the most beautiful of things

SPOILER ALERT: Hale went on to release three more horror books with Nat Mack covers in this series. Across each, we brought stories to life using similar theming and illustration techniques to accurately reflect what lurked beneath the cover and between the pages.

6. don’t eat the pie

by monique asher | rising action Publishing

With an irresistible storyline brimming with neighbourly suspicion, my mind bubbled with a fountain of angles for Don’t Eat The Pie. A new town, a creepy house, an island full of older women and grim messages presenting themselves all too often. The final cover we landed on features a chilling juxtaposition of inescapable neighbourly closeness and looming doom.

We included:

• Illustrated font on a home-baked pie

• Classic and ornate plates

• Splattered accents

6. edenville

by sam rebelein | titan books Publishing

As someone who hates (and I mean hates) spiders, this cover was an interesting one to bring to life! These hairy eight leggers *shivers* play a huge role in this novel. Think: a Goosebumps-meets-Stephen King tale about an aspiring horror novelist who takes a teaching job in a blood-soaked town. It features a secret underground society, alternative dimensions and even spiders disguised as people. This winning illustration reflects the importance of the main theme, the ever-present closing in of horror and a race against the clock to access another world, before it reaches the town. 

Together we:

• Illustrated the main theming

• Created textures and movement

• Used colour to guide the eye

• Presented two worlds uncomfortably colliding 

It’s time to bring your creepy book cover to life

Like publishers, authors and stories. No scary book covers are *exactly* the same. So your author’s horror book cover shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Need some more spooky insights? Take a look at the cover coven, discover more book cover intel via the Miss Nat Mack blog, or simply follow me down this dark alley *cackles maniacally*

Miss Nat Mack 2.0

Hi! I’m Nat! Book Designer and Illustrator of Scottish descent, born and raised on the western prairies of Alberta, Canada, and now living in Manchester (hence the somewhat confusing accent).

When I’m not off duty gobbling up croissants, waiting for my letter from Hogwarts, or rivalling Vans employees on loyalty points (yes, really) I help publishing houses attract readers to their books like zombies to brains.

My awfully big adventure began well over 10 years ago, acquiring a triple-threat skill set of ninja like skills in design, illustration and typography, working with publishing houses across the globe, running my own little studio for two years, and now working with one of the top fantasy and sci-fi publishing houses in the UK.

With it being the start of a new chapter, and amidst all the balloons and cake and books (naturally), I thought I’d take this opportunity to (re)introduce myself and tell you just a little bit about your friendly neighbourhood book designer…

I've been art directing and designing eye-catching book covers across a range of genres, for nearly the past six years now! I absolutely love designing book covers, but I design other stuff too.

Before I became a book designer, I studied Marketing, Communications, Graphic Design, Illustration and and have a Masters in Publishing from the University of Arts in London, England. My love of books (and of reading!) is what pushes me to keep developing my skills as an artist. I care about the stories I design for – without them I would not be able to do what it is I do.

Every great design, begins with an even better story.

When I’m not obsessing over books you can usually find me at a few of my favourite spots in Manchester (Off the Press, Forbidden Planet, etc.), going on adventures across the globe with my husband, practicing my Longboarding skills, buying another pair of Vans, or constructing a new Cosplay. Any additional free time? Spent in a book store of course.

AN INTERVIEW WITH MISS NAT MACK:

Who is Nat?

A coffee-guzzling UK book designer and illustrator, with ADHD, whose identity (when not mistaken for Alison Hannigan) consists mostly of obsessing over books, growing a Vans collection that rivals Vans employees, a splash of Longboarding and Cosplay, and spends most of her time with her husband going on crazy adventures.

Why you so obsessed with me?

I absolutely loooooove coffee. It is definitely my life line. I work some looooong hours, so I need it to keep me motivated. The caffeine of course helps. I’ve also become a bit of a coffee snob over the years. Yup, I’ve become one of those people. Hard-Lines is my favourite roaster at the moment, so you’ll definitely find me downing cup after cup of their coffee, but Starbucks? Um - not so much. Ewww.

Not your typical brain.

I only found out about my ADHD and Neurodivergent brain a couple years ago. Since then, it has been a big learning curve and I am still only learning how to live with it day-to-day and how to talk about it (without embarrassment).

While the conversation around mental health has improved drastically over the last few years, it still has a long way to go. As such, I am a strong advocate for treating your head and heart, the way you would the rest of your body. Everybody deserves the same comfort and support with mental health as they do their physical health.

Books. Coffee. Rebellion.

Aside from Mental Health, I am a huge advocate for Women’s Rights and the importance of lifting up female voices!

By the age of 6, girls already think that men are more brilliant than women, in part because only 15% of Children’s books have female protagonists.

A narrative most women grow up with is that their adventures are not as important as those of the boys. I want to help change that narrative so more women believe in their voices, and help empower others to share their stories.

That’s why I have recently become a Patron for the Women’s Prize for Fiction - the greatest celebration of women’s creativity in the world for over two decades. A charity whose mission is to change the world through books by women, opening up pathways into reading and writing for the storytellers and book lovers of tomorrow.

Women’s Prize for Fiction is only the first stop, on hopefully a very long list of charities I will be able to support as time goes on.

Books, Books, and more Books

So, no surprise here, I have a slight obsession with books. It’s one of the reasons I do what I do, and one of the reasons I love what I do. I get paid… to read!! I will read anything and everything if the writing is good, and I will never shy away from recommendations, so send ‘em my way! My favourite book? Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. 100%.

Most memorable Book Design?

There are a number of projects that have been very meaningful to me over the years. I’ve had the opportunity to design books for my favourite childhood superheroes, had my work featured in Entertainment Weekly and Spine Magazine, and I have illustrated covers for some truly amazing stories. It is hard to narrow it down to just one, BUT! if I had to choose, it would have to be the covers for the Firefly series.

A proper Browncoat (obsessed Firefly fan) I was able to not only read these new adventures before they hit the shelves, but spend time creating the designs that would grace the covers. I designed 8 covers for the series, one special edition, and have even been lucky enough to meet Nathan Fillion, Summer Glau, Jewel Staite and Sean Maher – who have all signed my special edition. Only Gina Torres, Adam Baldwin, Morena Baccarin and Alan Tudyck to go!

Why Book Design?

As with most people the original plan did not go… according to plan. Lol. I originally intended on being a costume designer. While I loved it, the hours were awful. I was working from 8 in the morning till 6 at night in the costume shop putting pieces together, fixing things, doing laundry, etc and then would be at the theatre from 6pm till maybe midnight, 1am for the show run and to tidy up and bring things back to the shop. I was working 7 days a week, all hours and the only family I had was my theatre family. It’s true when you work on a show that the people you work with are your life line - your friends, your family, your therapists, lol. I loved everybody I worked with and learned so much from them, but while I had such a passion for the theatre I wanted more. I wanted more experiences, more travel, time with other family and friends, and…spare time!

My cousin, Mackenzie Proudlove of BroBrick, pushed me to explore other areas of design and if it weren’t for him I probably wouldn’t be doing what it is I do now. He suggested looking into a graphic design path - everything I loved about design but allowed me to still focus on the other things I cared about.

An incredibly long and windy story later I landed on Book Design and will never, could never, look back. Book Design is me. It combines all my passions, all my quirks, and all my creativity into one. I could not imagine doing anything else, and because of that, I genuinely put everything I can into my work. Each cover I work on leaves my studio with a little piece of me attached.

Still looking for that spare time though. LOL.

A few more random facts…

1. I used to Skateboard when I was younger, but one session I fell off and broke my ankle. Having to go through weeks off my feet, and then months on crutches, it took me ages to get back on a board. So swapping the Skateboard for a Longboard, I am getting back into it and, while slow moving, am loving it. I fully believe you are never too old to do the things you want to do.

2. I used to have over 50 pairs of Vans, but had to leave most of them behind when I moved across the pond. I’m working my way back up to 50 (and then beyond) and currently have more Vans loyalty points than the Vans employees in Manchester (yes, really, I was told this by a Manager of the shop).

3. Am currently checking off the boxes to become a mentor/lecturer for Book Design. I love talking about all things book design, and I also love teaching. Lots of exciting things coming this way so hopefully I can share more soon(ish)!
   

Obsessed with books? Like cover reveals and sneak peaks? Want to learn more about book design?

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IMAGES: THE WOLF and the wild thing photography