#185: Never Underestimate the Power of a Great Book Cover

Welcome to the Author Audience show, the podcast that helps you reach more people with your message, create a book, connect with your audience, change lives. Here's your host, Shelly Hitz.

Welcome to Author Audience, where I'm on a mission to help you reach more people with your message. It's time to let your light shine. Today I'm rolling out the red carpet and inviting you into my community for a behind the scenes look at what's working for authors just like you. So. So my name is Shelley Hitz. I'm the owner of Author Audience Academy. And one of the most rewarding parts of my job is helping others get results and reach their goals. So in this episode, I want to position the spotlight on one of my members, Krista Crawford. So welcome Krista.

Thank you for having me.

Yes, you're welcome. I'm excited. We actually recorded a Focus to Finish session last week and I forgot to press record.

So I was like, krista, we have to tell people about and share what, you know, some of the things we shared. So we're actually doing a little bit different podcast today, but just excited for Krista to share and I hope it's inspiring to all of you. So I just wanted to share a little bit about Krista and then we'll jump into today's topic. So Krista is the author of the book the Full Armor of God. Are you sure you got dressed today? And there's also a workbook that corresponds with that book. It's called the Full Armor of God. Krista found God at a young age, lost him through her teens and twenties, and discovered he actually never left in her thirties. So it's been a journey of learning into her forties just how much God loves her. So for this week's Center Stage Spotlight training, we're going to be talking about why you should never underestimate the power of a good, and not just good, but great book cover. So welcome Krista. And before we dive into this whole topic of book covers, just share a little bit of your journey as a published author and what led you to write your book.

Well, in the fifth grade, I found out I was a good writer through a teacher. They have amazing impact on a kid.

They do, yes.

And she said, you're a really good writer. And I said, great. I said, I want to write a book about my life. And she said, not so well. Fifth grade didn't have much to say. But over the years I had all these ideas and nothing panned out. And I remember God distinctly telling me when my daughter was one, it was like 12 years ago, you're going to write a book for me. And I just kept asking, well, what is it? I've got a million topics underneath my bed and nothing is working, you know, and. And he still didn't tell me what it was. And I realized I had to live more of my life.

So there were some situations that happened. My husband left and things like that took place. And then God finally said this, this is what you're going to write about. And so I didn't know you just didn't sit down and write a book. Just did it. And then afterwards you have a bunch to do before you write the book. So I'm kind of going backwards now.

That's, you know. But God has different paths for each one of us. How long has your book been published now?

It was in December of 2016 originally and then I took the book back and I'm now self published. I own it and I'm kind of redid it in December 2017.

Okay, so you published it with a publisher in the beginning?

I did.

Okay, just share a little bit about that. What made you decide to move towards self publishing?

Well, I wasn't sure what to do. Googled it, you know, like everybody else does.

Right.

This company came up and it was a strange situation. God gave me the money and a strange tends to do that with me and helped me pay for it. So I had this vision in my head of a book cover I wanted and the company said, here's, you know, some stock images that we pay for. Pick something. And there was nothing that was in my mind. So I picked these two images. But I put a little note next to it. Hey, this is what I'm really wanting. This is what I'm really thinking. No response. And they just gave me my book cover with those two images. So I kind of stuck with it and kind of liked it at first and just lived with it, but. And then fell out and I took my book back.

Okay.

Yeah.

And in the beginning it's just so exciting, like having a print book in your hands. That's your work. So can you show us the. For those that are watching the video of your first. Your first cover?

Yes, this is my first cover.

Yeah. And so for those that are listening and not watching, maybe just explain a little bit of what the COVID looks like.

So I originally went with the subtitle. Are you sure you got dressed today? So I picked a woman zipping up her dress and then I picked a man. So she's on the top and then he's on the bottom kind of adjusting his cuff with his watch. So they're getting dressed. But not really thinking originally about it wasn't as Christian looking as it should have been, but I didn't see that. I thought I loved the colors. I thought, you know, it was perfectly done. And then when I first released it, I was getting some comments that maybe it wasn't the best.

Well, and you know, being someone, like I think I told you in Author Audience Academy, being somebody that has personally struggled with pornography, seeing the girl and it almost looks like she's undoing her dress, you know, or, you know, is she just put, you know, it's like there's just, it's hard to know for sure. But, you know, that's where sometimes you don't know and you just, you do it. You take the first step and then the beauty. With self publishing, and you can always update it, you can always change it. And I always say that the two things that are going to help your conversions on your sales page. So one of the issues is getting traffic to that sales page. The other issue is once they get there, for them to click the buy button and to actually buy your book. And that's a conversion. So the biggest things that will affect your conversions is your book cover and your book description. So if you can update those, give those a makeover, it can potentially really help you. So now you're self publishing and, you know, you joined Author Audience Academy and you're like, I have another book. But, you know, I haven't really marketed my first book. Self, you're going through our platform module and the marketing stuff and what brought you to the thought of changing your cover?

It was kind of the back of my mind. So I left this company because I wanted to do the Workbook Companion and they wouldn't let me have my cover.

Oh, okay.

I decided I need to figure out how to do all of that. And then going through, I'm thinking maybe I should change the COVID Like, this is too difficult. So. But going through the modules, I thought I would just kind of put it out there, put my book on the live Facebook group. And I said, hey, this is my book. What do you guys think? And the feedback was what I already knew. So it was kind of heartbreaking because it was my baby. But, yeah, I'm totally okay with it now.

Yeah, it's, you know, it's hard. I remember I was working on a book several years ago. I mean, this was a while ago, and I just, I had this Cover that I just thought was amazing. You know, I just loved it. And at the time, I had a business partner and I showed it to her just as the initial. The initial, you know, feedback, and she's like, no, that's not it. I'm like, really?

But it's worth it, you know, it's worth it to feel the sting a little bit to. Sometimes it's a grieving too, you know, for you. It's a grieving of that particular book and what you invested in it, but. So what did you decide to go with for your updated cover?

I was getting a lot of feedback about armor, and I was actually trying to avoid that because, yeah, my book is more delicate than just, you know, going out and fighting and stuff. So I really was resisting that. So I googled some different sites and came on with a paid site. And I found this picture of a girl in armor. But, you know, she's in a position of I'm ready and, you know, whatever comes at me, but it's not, you know, I'm out and I'm ninja ing everybody or anything like that yet.

Delicate. What I was thinking I wanted. So.

Yeah. Well, why don't you show us? For those that are watching my cover.

Awesome. And even, like, the fonts and the design and everything, it just looks more professional to me. Yeah, I just. I love that. And I think that was.

I had them go all the way around. I wanted it.

Okay. Yeah, that looks really good. And so the background is kind of like a. Is it like a forest or trees?

Yes, forest and trees. And she's. It's not even really a. I would say an armor helmet. I'm not even sure what you call that, but it kind of drapes her long red hair. She's got a sword in between her hands, and she's kind of gripping the top of it, the sword hanging down. And somebody in the group mentioned, boy, it looks like she's forming a cross. Which I didn't even.

Oh, yeah.

That she really is. But her face is determined. And that's kind of what the book is about.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And so how did you feel like when you got that book cover back?

Such a neat. When I first found her, I said, that's it. That's what I want.

So you knew?

I knew immediately. And then I went with the person that you recommended, and he right off the cuff gave it to me. I'm like, I love it. That's just the one I wanted.

Yeah. And for those that aren't part of author audience Academy I provide a lot of resources, and I provide the person that I personally have used for a lot of my book covers. They're not, you know, it's not really expensive, but you can get a really good quality cover. And I rarely have a ton of edits that I'm asking them to do, so it's. Yeah, it's really good. So I love that. And so where do you see yourself going from here?

Going through every module you have?

Right now I'm doing an Amazon ad, so that just helped me. We're excited about that. And I just. I want that message to get out there. I'm like, more speaking engagements and things like that. But, you know, it's just now I feel like I can go forward now. I feel like I'm in a good place and I can really market this book.

And you also have the workbook, so did you have the COVID updated for the workbook as well?

I did.

Oh, awesome.

Yeah.

And so on the top, real big, it says workbook Companion. So, you know, right away, it's like, this is the workbook. How do you see, like. Like, if someone's listening and maybe they're part of a Bible study at church or, you know, and they. They might be interested in looking at books for, you know, group studies. Like, how. How is your book and workbook used for those types of things?

Yeah. So I divide the book in eight chapters, which makes it, you know, pretty easy to go through. And each chapter talks about the different pieces, and there's an intro chapter and a winding chapter, and. And, you know, I just kind of prayed through the whole thing as I'm writing it. I'm like, lord, you know, you taught me this. Tell me how to express it. And so the workbook goes with each chapter. And I really just prayed through that as well. And I said I wanted the questions in there to be what I would have wanted to know. Like, I needed to ask myself, why was I not putting this on? What was stopping me? How was the enemy attacking me? And just really kind of open your mind to what is stopping you from wearing this? And so it kind of corresponds with each chapter.

So do they have, like, they read the book, they read the chapter, and then each person would have a section of the workbook to go through on their own and then discussion questions or how does that work?

Yeah, so it might be easier if I just kind of show it. Yeah, each chapter. Oh, my daughters all drew a picture in each book in each of my chapters.

She drew it.

Yeah. That was my oldest Daughter, she drew that.

Wow, that's so great. And I love that how you're incorporating your kids into that creative process, too.

I want to know what they can draw in the new book. So.

But this is, like, chapter one, and so you can read the chapter and then answer these questions as you go through. And it's kind of a journal.

Okay.

And it kind of goes as you're reading the book of what questions to answer.

Yeah. And so that's a tip even for authors that are listening. Like, if you have a book that would be great for book study or group study, you can create a second workbook companion that's more of, like, a journal. It could be, like. It could be called a journal. It could be called, like, what? You know, Krista has a workbook companion. Workbook, you know, and make it to where it's interactive. I found that my books that are interactive and that are, you know, really set up for group study have done really well. Like, my broken crayons still color. I have discussion questions in the back and a leader's guide. But then I also have, like, little videos where it's fill in the blank. You know, they. They fill it in as viewers, guides, and, you know, so. And then, you know, journaling questions that they can just journal on their own. I didn't put space in the book for them to journal. It would be in a separate journal. But I totally could have, you know, created. And I've thought about it, creating a separate journal, you know, to do that. But what kind of feedback and response have you been getting from your study?

Unbelievable. I. You know, and my book is about being attacked by the enemy, and he attacked me left and right trying to write this book.

Yeah, I hear that a lot from Christian authors.

Yeah. It was really, you know, this is an act of love, because I didn't think it would happen.

Yeah.

I've had such feedback from. From so many people who just have felt unloved, unwanted, not worthy of God. And that's kind of where I was.

And I just had a lady call me or contact me, and she said, I loved your book. I'm heading a Bible study. I'm buying 25 of them, and 12 people want the workbook, and I want you to come and speak.

Awesome.

So I thought if I could just get this in the hands of people, you know, and so. And I'm really believing in the feedback that I'm getting, so it's giving me the courage to go forward. So I appreciate that a lot.

Yeah. A lot of times I recommend, actually one of my business coaches recommended it to me years ago of keeping a little folder with. He called it a success treasure chest. But it's just like, could be positive reviews, it could be emails you get, little comments you get on social media, just anything that's positive. And then when you're having those days where you're like, I want to give up, go back and read through and remind yourself why you're doing this, you know, and so all of you listening and you know, I encourage you as well, Krista, you know, print that out, post it up, put it, you know, you know, scan it or put it in a place like, you know, gather these things so that you can remember like, yes, this is why I'm doing this because you have a full time job, you're a mom, you're a busy person, right?

Yes, yes, came to be, but yes.

And you know, there's definitely, definitely reason. So, you know, as we're winding down, what would you have for like maybe a take action tip for our listeners today?

Yeah, I wouldn't be stuck in what you're comfortable with or what you really think that. Well, this is what I think. You know, it's important to get feedback and as scary as it was to post that book and get the feedback, I was so blessed by it because it gave me the courage to say, you know what, my book means so much more on the inside. I need to let people know that just based on the outside, I didn't want the outside to scare them away from the content. And so that really boosted my confidence. It hurt, but it helped. It was, you know, kind of bittersweet. But at this end of it, please just get that feedback and just don't assume that, you know, just because you like it then everybody else is gonna like it.

Yeah. And so, you know, in Authorities Academy, it's a safe place, it's a closed group. You know, your friends and family aren't gonna see this, you know, but you know, it's hundreds, you know, of over, you know, hundred other Christian authors and people that can just give you loving advice. And you know, we, we were just all there to help you. And so, you know, if you're part of author audience Academy or if you want to join us, that is one of the things that I really recommend that you take advantage of is to have that courage to post. Like some people will post. This is my book description. What do you think? And you know, it's amazing how much better, you know, it is by the end just because of the conversation and the feedback and then. Or your book covers. That's such a great thing to post in that kind of a group to get that feedback. And like you said to, you know, to not be so tied to an idea that you're not open to other ideas. I've, you know, approached authors before, and they were not open. You know, I asked them, like, you know, would you be willing to have feedback about your book? And it's like, okay, you know, that's fine. But be open. Be willing to receive some feedback and invest in a designer. Don't just, you know, try to do it yourself. Like, invest in someone who really knows. Like, I even do graphic design now, but I still will. Like, even if I create some of the artwork or do some. Some of the components, I will still send it to a graphic designer who's been doing this for a long time, because they'll add things and they'll do things that I wouldn't have necessarily done because I'm not just a book cover designer. You know what I mean?

Oh, I know what you mean. Yeah. Yeah. And in that Facebook group, when I found the picture of the woman, I posted that, and I had just wonderful feedback. And they're like, this is it. This is wonderful.

I love it.

So I knew I was on the right track to go forward. So that really helped too.

Yeah. Because sometimes it's a lonely process. As an author, you're sitting behind your computer, you're like, okay, I think this is it. I'm not sure. And then just being able to get that immediate feedback of like, okay, I'm doing it. I'm going forward. This is what I'm doing. It's so helpful. So thank you so much for sharing your story. And where can people find you if they want to connect with you or maybe, you know, look into getting your book for a group study or even for their own study.

Yeah. So I'm@www.christacrist. my mom did that to me.

I know.

Era w f o r d.com and, you know, I have it on there. I've got a little shop tag. And so people are wanting to do Bible studies. They can order that through me. And depending on how many they get, I compare the two together at a discount. So cool. Do the book by itself. You don't have to have the workbook.

Yeah, yeah. And so that's another little tip. Like, you can, you know, if you write your book in a way, that it can have a companion, but that it still can stand alone, you know, so, like, people could either, you know, just get the book or get the workbook journal too, to go along with it. And it's just, it's offering more value, you know, anytime you can help someone apply it. I recently went through a workbook and, you know, I honestly kind of blew it off at first. I thought, oh, I don't know if I really need, you know, to have a print thing and write. But it was so powerful, like writing out, like the answers to the questions and going through and praying about it and, you know, and it was, it was actually for an artist thing, but I was like, wow, that is just so powerful. And I got my wheels turning for ideas, even for me for later. So it's definitely a powerful thing to add. And I love the group discounts. I do that as well if people contact me. And because most of our books are publish, you know, print on demand with CreateSpace or IngramSpark like CreateSpace, I can, you know, get books, you know, very inexpensively and then pass on some of that discount to groups. And so it's really a great thing to offer, you know, when you have a book that's good for group study. And I love that you're doing that well. Thank you again so much for coming on. Thank you for your courage to take the step to ask for feedback and to apply it. And I just can't wait to see what God does with your book.

Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

All right, and thank you all for being here and listening today and we'll see you next time. Bye. Bye. Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Author Audience. I would like to invite you to attend one of my free trainings on three proven book writing formulas. Every nonfiction author needs to know. This is a fun and fast way to write a nonfiction book, but also a book that you're proud of. Plus, I will give you two free gifts just for attending. No credit card required. First, you'll get my 10 nonfiction book title templates and you'll also get my ebook titled Brilliant brainstorming. It's a 28 page ebook and both of these bonuses are yours at no charge. Just for joining us for the training, you can sign up for my free training by going to shellyhitz.com formulas. That's Shellyhitz S H E L L E Y h I t z.com formulas. This training and the two bonuses are free and I would love to help you write your next nonfiction book.

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