We all hear about the importance of an e-book cover and how it can make the difference between a few clicks and hundreds of clicks. The e-book cover is the portal to your novel and has to convey a sense of professionalism. If you have spent good money editing your book and now want to sell it. The cover must convey, if possible, what your story is about.

I have drawn a great distinction between a work of fiction and non-fiction. With non-fiction it’s easier to think of keywords and images that sell when constructing your e-book cover. But with a work of fiction, you might have to work in more abstract terms, and let the unconscious convey the message. With my novella ‘Once When We Were Human’ I loved the title and feel it quite clearly is relevant to the story, about a time when we used to be human but were now dogs.

The subheading of an e-book cover

The subheading of an e-book is a further opportunity for the writer to convey what the story means to the reader. If they are not at first captivated by the title and the image then at least the subheading will give a further hint as to what the story is about. 

My story is a dystopian story told through the eyes of a conceptual artist in a world where fascism is encroaching and deviant art is banned. The subheading alludes to this part of the story, as the story is about the meaning of art and creativity in society. 

The antagonist is a character called Justin who despite the horrors unfolding in front of him, is reluctant to rise up and take action, so apathy is also a warning within the book. 

Hopefully, the title along with the image and the subheading are enough to wet the reader’s appetite and ensure they click through.