Can You Make the Title Bigga? The Chemistry of Book Cover Design
My latest guidebook.
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“Every author should read this before buying or creating a book cover—your eyes will get an education.” John Fox, owner of Bookfox
Understand the chemistry of book cover design in Can You Make the Title Bigga? by award-winning book cover designer, Jessica Bell, who is recommended by Dave Chesson of Kindlepreneur, Makeuseof.com, John Fox of Bookfox, and more. Are you self-publishing? Can You Make the Title Bigga? will inspire you with practical, actionable advice and information. Work in marketing or graphic design in a publishing house? It offers an invaluable resource. Studying graphic design? Already designing book covers professionally—or with dreams of doing so? Find inspiration for designs, workshops and classes. From Jessica Bell’s witty, kind, and thoughtful perspective, you will discover:
and much more! Includes over 100 color book cover design examples and information about project agreements, how to obtain puff quotes for your book, how to obtain ISBNs, a list of standard trim sizes, and binding options. |
What people are saying ...
★★★★★ “Don’t commission a book cover design without reading this book.” Jane Davis, author of I Stopped Time ★★★★★ “Full to the brim with actionable, clear advice... I’ve never read a guidebook that made me laugh as often as this one did! An utter joy to read.” Lorna Fergusson, author, editor, writing coach ★★★★★ “A must-read for authors and cover designers that will save time and avoid disappointment! If you start reading this, you won’t stop—and you will get something to take away, however much you know about book cover design.” Jean Gill, award-winning author ★★★★★ “Essential and easy reading for anyone who wants to understand the subtle art of what makes a great book cover.” Debbie Young, author and publishing coach ★★★★★ “Everything you need to know—along with everything you didn't know you needed—in one entertaining and thorough book on cover design... and you'll get a laugh out of some of the author mishaps!” Amie McCracken, author, editor, book designer ★★★★★ “Rock solid advice served up with a sense of humour. Read this book before you even think about briefing a cover designer” Clare Flynn, international best-selling author of fourteen historical novels |
A Tide Should Be Able to Rise Despite Its Moon
My latest poetry book.
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"Ethereal. Hypnotic. Oracular." Amie McCracken, author of Emotionless
Inspired by the special bond between mother and child, Bell's poems search for meaning in a world of misconception. They begin with small everyday moments and end with a shift in understanding that not only enlightens, but leaves you wondering. From quiet nights reflecting on the sound of her child's smile, to viewing the world from the perspective of a potted tree dreaming of being rooted into true mother earth, A Tide Should Be Able to Rise Despite Its Moon is a collection of raw, honest, modern-day fables that remind readers to look deeper, feel more, and let the world speak for itself. What people are saying ... ★★★★★ “Jessica Bell captures motherhood in our daydreams and in our kitchens. It dances on a celestial plane, but then knocks the reader back down to Earth in an instant... highly universal, yet still lands in its own category of brilliance.” Elaina Battista-Parsons, author of Italian Bones in the Snow ★★★★★ “From Virginia Woolf and a grumbly fridge to sea spray, yucca leaf shadows, and fairies, these poems deliver discovery and delight.” Melanie Faith, author of From Promising to Published ★★★★★ “Profound observations about relationships between people, nature, and life experiences which left me gasping with both amazement and recognition. Mystical, wise and original.” Karen Alghabban, writer |
★★★★★ “Bell describes each moment with a keen eye and an open ear; with passion and with gentle understanding. You read her poems and say: 'Yes, that's exactly what it's like.'” Alan Humm, Editor of One Hand Clapping magazine
★★★★★ “A poignant collection that truly captures the imperfect perfection of the day to day lived in thrall to love, be it maternal, romantic, or self-directed.” Carolyn R. Russell, author of In the Fullness of Time ★★★★★ “Jessica Bell is a gifted poet. The layers of meaning that weave through A Tide Should Be Able to Rise Despite Its Moon dance in a partnership of analogies and metaphors. The danger of falling into cliché traps is so commonplace in poetry today that it's almost surreal when I come across a compilation without a single hint of one... Overall, this is a gorgeous collection. Very highly recommended.” Readers' Favorite ★★★★★ “A thoroughly enjoyable set of verse exploring the bond between a parent and a child. Being a mother myself, I very much enjoyed this journey. Simply written, highly emotive, and – to be honest – not overly taxing. But in a good way. I´m delighted to recommend this book to anybody who enjoys thought-provoking poetry, or simply wants to remember what it was like to be the parent of a young child. There´s so much to discover here, and it´s so very uplifting!” A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review |
How Icasia Bloom Touched Happiness
Paperback and eBook
Audiobook
Buy a signed copy here.
First place in The 2021 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards (Science Fiction/Fantasy eBook)
Silver medalist in the 2021 Wishing Shelf Book Awards (Books for Adults: Fiction)
Bronze Winner of the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards in Science Fiction
Silver medalist in the 2021 Wishing Shelf Book Awards (Books for Adults: Fiction)
Bronze Winner of the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards in Science Fiction
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Imagine being put to death for the crime of your child's unhappiness.
This is the tale of Icasia Bloom: how she is caught up in a story not initially her own, and how it changes her world. In a Globe controlled by a trusted yet elusive leader who has granted immortality to those who live by The Book, misfit Icasia Bloom is doomed to die young for the crime of her child's unhappiness. Like all 'Tatters' she gets food by bartering, and when she brings customers to the new local bakery, she meets another borderline outcast, Selma Beyett, whose plight touches her. Selma’s husband Jerome must die in six months if his quest for perpetual happiness is not successful. What starts as a desperate attempt to save Jerome takes the two women on a profoundly enlightening search for happiness. Icasia questions the Globe's judgement on its people and on the nature of happiness itself. Heart-warming, yet strangely unsettling, How Icasia Bloom Touched Happiness, questions everything we take for granted, and takes a long, hard look into our souls. |
What people are saying ...
"Without doubt, one of the best sci-fi novels I've read this year." Readers' Favorite "A heartfelt novel ... a welcome twist of convention" The Booklife Prize "Exploratory, frightening scenarios... followed by a curveball epilogue... satisfaction is a matter of the soul’s survival." Foreword Reviews “A gem of a novel.” The Wishing Shelf “A touching, deceptively deep novel for anyone who ever loved.” Bookmuse "A refreshing dystopia that captivates and charms." Stephen Oram, author of Eating Robots “Icasia is one of those beautifully crafted characters that we can see the best of ourselves in.” Monkey Review “I have not been so comforted by a novel for a long time.” K. Parsey, writer “This novel is indeed a rare bird.” Jean Gill, author of the Natural Forces series |
About Jessica Bell
Photograph by Tasos Giannakakis
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Jessica Bell is a multi-award-winning author/poet and singer-songwriter who was born in Melbourne, Australia.
In addition to having published a memoir, five novels, three poetry collections, and her bestselling Writing in a Nutshell series, she has been featured in a variety of publications and radio shows such as Writer’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, The Guardian, Life Matters, and Poetica. She is also the publisher of Vine Leaves Press, and a highly sought-after book cover designer. She currently resides in Athens, Greece, with her partner and son, and a pile of dishes that still don’t know how to wash themselves. For more information visit: iamjessicabell.com |
GO: A Memoir about Binge-drinking, Self-hatred, and Finding Happiness
Gold medalist in the 2021 Wishing Shelf Book Awards (Books for Adults: Nonfiction)
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All it took was one secret drink at fifteen for Jessica Bell to binge-drink herself into oblivion for the next ten years.
In 1980s Australia, Erika Bach and Demetri Vlass, who founded Ape the Cry and Hard Candy, two of Melbourne’s iconic indie bands, encouraged Jessica with unreserved love to pick up the guitar and write her own songs. But Erika’s back problem became a nightmare of pill-popping, alcohol abuse, and anxiety attacks, and Demetri retreated into silence for fear of triggering Erika’s drug-induced psychosis. To escape the madness at home, and the torment of hating herself, Jessica experimented with bisexuality in a high school rife with bullies, lost her virginity to rape, and tried to supplement absent love with unprotected one-night stands. All under the influence of alcohol. Until one day alcohol nearly drove Jessica off a cliff. Jessica had to look at herself honestly and frankly. Why did she keep running from reality, and more importantly, herself? And was finding happiness from within, possible? |
Praise for GO
“Admirable” The Sydney Morning Herald “Ends on a note of optimism, of finding a sense of self amidst extreme chaos” Newfound Journal “One of those memoirs that will stay with you” The Compulsive Reader “Highly relatable” Babydolls and Razorblades “A testament to the power of the human spirit” Writers' Know-How “I'll admit it. I was won over.” Karl Drinkwater “A great, touching and very eye-opening experience.” Avalinah's Books “Gut-wrenchingly open and honest – the like of which we haven’t seen that often since Maya Angelou’s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.” T E Shepherd “A moving, frightening, intense and beautifully-narrated page-turner” Bookmuse |
The Writing in a Nutshell Series
In “Bird by Bird,” Anne Lamott says a writer needs to focus on short assignments to avoid feeling overwhelmed. She refers to the one-inch picture frame on her desk and how it reminds her to focus on bite-sized pieces of the whole story. If you focus on one small thing at a time, the story will eventually come together to create a whole. The same applies to learning writing, editing, and publishing craft. If writers focus on one aspect of the craft at a time, the process will seem less daunting, and piece by piece, it will come together.
With more than ten years’ experience as an editor and writer of English Language Teaching (ELT) materials for various ELT publishers worldwide, I know that “breaking down” language and tasks into smaller focus areas is an effective learning method. After much experimentation on myself, and volunteer aspiring writers, I discovered it is extremely effective with writing, editing, and publishing too. And so the Writing in a Nutshell series was born. Read more here.
Not only is the Writing in a Nutshell series an excellent addition to any creative writing, editing, and/or publishing course, but it’s also a great primary learning tool for aspiring writers and self-publishers.
With more than ten years’ experience as an editor and writer of English Language Teaching (ELT) materials for various ELT publishers worldwide, I know that “breaking down” language and tasks into smaller focus areas is an effective learning method. After much experimentation on myself, and volunteer aspiring writers, I discovered it is extremely effective with writing, editing, and publishing too. And so the Writing in a Nutshell series was born. Read more here.
Not only is the Writing in a Nutshell series an excellent addition to any creative writing, editing, and/or publishing course, but it’s also a great primary learning tool for aspiring writers and self-publishers.
The Bell Collection
Need to read something raw and real? Something that's going to make you feel a little uncomfortable? Then you're in the right place. Get down and dirty (and sometimes teary) with the dysfunctional families in my contemporary Australian fiction and poetry.
“Jessica Bell is a force to be reckoned with in contemporary fiction ... Dysfunctional families, introspective protagonists, secrets, lies, tragedy and historical baggage crop up in several, but the key issue here is the voice. The settings of Greece and Australia, the varied perspectives of all ages, the rich layers of story world and characters you care about so much you want to reach in there and hold/shake/strangle them. An exceptional writer who adds more than literary skill to her work. There's an artistic and musical angle in her work, which adds its own aesthetic. She deals with a child's reverie and a drunk’s rant with equal authenticity and gets right under your skin ... This is a writer who is going to attract a passionate fan club.” JJ Marsh, author of the bestselling Beatrice Stubbs series
“Jessica Bell is a force to be reckoned with in contemporary fiction ... Dysfunctional families, introspective protagonists, secrets, lies, tragedy and historical baggage crop up in several, but the key issue here is the voice. The settings of Greece and Australia, the varied perspectives of all ages, the rich layers of story world and characters you care about so much you want to reach in there and hold/shake/strangle them. An exceptional writer who adds more than literary skill to her work. There's an artistic and musical angle in her work, which adds its own aesthetic. She deals with a child's reverie and a drunk’s rant with equal authenticity and gets right under your skin ... This is a writer who is going to attract a passionate fan club.” JJ Marsh, author of the bestselling Beatrice Stubbs series
Omnibuses
If you’re into reading eBooks and you’d like to purchase multiple books, you might be interested in snapping up the following digital collections.
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Photograph by Niki Topouslidou
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