Book Cover Redesign: 'Betrayed by a Butterfly'

This month, Michelle Argyle at Melissa Williams Design reimagines the cover of Betrayed by a Butterfly, by indie author Jamie Elizabeth Tingen, who praised the “eye-catching simplicity” of the new design.

Design Tip #1: Because of the book’s content, I gave the cover a literary feel with muted colors, a minimal title, and symbolic imagery.

Design Tip #2: Sometimes less is more. It’s not exactly clear what this book is about from the cover, but it does spark questions and curiosity—which should get readers to probe a little deeper.

Design Tip #3: I loved the idea of mixing something delicate with something dangerous but wanted the gun to feel more prominent than in the original cover.

Design Tip #4: I decided to keep the author’s name unobtrusive and give more focus to the title and imagery. This gives the cover a more literary feel, even though the book has some aspects of a thriller.

To submit a book for a free cover redesign, email us.