J Caleb Design

@Stranger_Things I was mesmerized by your show here is a fan poster I made!

Another concept that didn’t make the final cover. The piece was solid but the tone didn’t match the story. That’s part of the cover design process.

YA like this isn’t my usual lane, but I enjoyed working on this one. Different audience. Different tone. Different visual language. Always fun stepping outside the usual fantasy/scifi trenches.

The Design code I live by: Sell to your reader. Tell your story. Yell clearly. In that order!

Artwork for Aethon Publishing - Sentenced to Life Two by Mark Sprowles

Writers, I have a question. When you finish your first draft… Is it ugly or clean?

Not every concept makes the final cover. This piece was an early direction for a recent project. The artwork worked but it didn’t quite capture the spirit of the story. That’s part of the process. Thought it was too cool not share!

@authorKaneW Thank you!

@jcalebdesign Incredible!

Interior Sketch Work for Jeffrey Kohanek's Wizardom Series #fantasyart #bookillustration #wizardom #characterdesign #digitalart #fantasybooks #illustrationprocess

@plum_parrot @gwendolynkiste @plum_parrot I thoroughly enjoyed designing this series!

@gwendolynkiste Thank you! @jcalebdesign does amazing work!

It's time! VoT, Book 10, is here! Thanks to @podium_ent and the peerless @RobbMoreiraVO for another fantastic production. I think this is the best one yet! Links in the replies :)

The first proof isn't always on the mark. That's okay. First proofs tell us what's working and what's not. proof, adjust, refine. That’s how strong covers are made. #bookcoverdesign #indieauthor #selfpublishing #writingcommunity #creativeprocess #bookmarketing

@jgbrin @theSPSFC doe yea!!! I'll always love this cover

@jcalebdesign @theSPSFC Ahem...

SPFBO is officially underway — 300 entries this year. I’ve got five covers in the mix that span my career. Greencloak was done 2016. Plague Maiden 2025. Always fun seeing my covers out in the wild. Good luck to every author competing.

@JoeBerne1 Oh man! that would have been killer. That remains one of my favorite covers!

@jcalebdesign Oh, man, it was almost 6! Partial Function was entered but it didn't get through the lottery.

@jgbrin @theSPSFC Oh! I didn't think about that. I checked the list and didn't recognize any names. I did check the history and Whisky and Warfare by Em Hamill was a finalist. That's my cover! @jgbrin and @theSPSFC

@jcalebdesign Congrats @jcalebdesign - you continue to demonstrate your important role in this world. How many covers do you have in @theSPSFC ? I know of one… 🐷

An interior shot I did for Jeffery Kohanek's Wizardom's series. #fantasyart

@JoeBerne1 oh yea no real guideline for a "session" I was mainly curious about the word count in general. 8.5k is a monstrous man

@jcalebdesign I don't know how you measure a session, but I've hit around 8500 words in a day on occasion (usually at the end of a book).

Writers! How many words do you write in a session? #writingcommunity #amwriting

@NTrainerAuthor nice man. do you have to have the chapter edited before you can move on to the next one?

@jcalebdesign I try to write a chapter and edit it in same day. Sometimes I'll come back next day to touch things up.

@ChromeSheep @Jeff_M_McIntyre 1k isn't a joke man. that gets it done!

@Jeff_M_McIntyre Nice man. 500 gets the books written! is that when youre in first draft mode only? or when editing too?

@jcalebdesign I try to do a minimum of 500 words. If I can at least reach that then I can walk away. The most I’ve ever done was about 3500.

Cover Design Tip #1 It’s a promise to your reader that signals genre, tone, and story. Readers will decide in less than second. #bookmarketing