2. SEND THEM THE COVERS AND LOGOS YOU LIKED BEFORE THE CALL Prior to the call, send them a cover design brief. This should include all the book covers you like, all the logos and other pictures you like, and everything else you assembled. Do this at least a day ahead of time, designers like to have time to digest images and ideas. 3. EXPLAIN YOUR THINKING Once on the call, walk them through your thinking: • Start with explaining who your target reader is. • Then, explain what you like and dislike about each cover. • Talk about what you want your cover to feel like. • Discuss the signals you are trying to send to your audience. • If you can, discuss the emotions you want your reader to feel when they see the cover. The more you explain all of your thinking to the cover designer, the better they will do. 4. ASK FOR AT LEAST THREE MOCK-UPS This should be standard for good book cover designers. They will come up with an array of ideas and show you at least three different ones. 5. GIVE CONSTRUCTIVE NOTES ON THE MOCK-UPS Once you get the mock-ups back, if one jumps out at you, great. Give specific notes and feedback to get it where you want, and then you’re done. If you aren’t happy with any of the covers, that’s OK too. Get back on the phone with the designer, and—while being polite—be as specific as possible about what you would like different. hOW TO gET A grEAT BOOk COvEr · 287