Redwood was my first published book and I was excited to see my photography featured on the cover with the initial release. I thought the designer did a wonderful job creating the vibe, however, the cover was printed in matte which didn’t suit the colors. It printed far too dark and I’ll admit, I’m not a fan of matte covers. I love gloss. And, I learned that once you choose a matte or glossy cover when printing through KDP–there’s no switching it later.
When the rights to Redwood were returned, I decided a complete overhaul was necessary and set out on another photoshoot with the original model. I was so pleased with the results, you’ll recognize her on the cover of A Pale Shade of Winter.
As I move to release the final book in The Redwood Trilogy, I’m going back to the original imagery from the first edition with my own stylized alterations. While I’ve teased a design, I’m not yet committed. There will more than likely be a few adjustments.
I love matte covers, but they do create the need to lighten imagery.