These are the covers that sell the most books

Hey there,

Ever tried moderating a live panel during a nationwide blackout? Portugal cut the power mid‑show and I was left squinting into my webcam like a candle‑lit renaissance portrait while Craig Martelle & co. carried on unfazed. Chaos, yes—but also pure indie‑publishing spirit.

I barely had time to reboot before hopping to sun‑drenched Seville for the GPS World conference. Highlight? James Blatch’s incredible session on cover design. The main takeaway: your cover is a promise, not a puzzle. Readers need split‑second genre clues—lone silhouette + fireball for thrillers, abs + smoulder for steamy romance, florals for sweet. Cue me frantically screenshotting slides for my swipe file.

🔥 Quick peek inside this week’s email:

• Behind‑the‑scenes of that blackout‑battered live panel

• Two fresh Publishing Performance Show episodes (AI audiobooks & star‑studded launch tips)

• James Blatch’s cover commandments you can action tonight

• Early‑bird invite to my new Newsletters for Authors mini‑course

Plus Book of the Week & sponsor goodies below. Let’s dive in!

Personal Update

Portugal decided lights‑out was fun the exact hour of my “Ready, Set, Launch” live panel. Picture me squinting at the webcam like a moody renaissance portrait while Craig Martelle & co. saved my bacon. Two days later I was in sun‑drenched Seville at GPS World, high‑fiving indie authors from twenty countries. Europe’s indie scene is asolutely buzzing.

Episode Guide

🎧 #57 – AI Audiobooks w/ Andrew Wallner & Phil Marshall (Spoken)
How two founders are using AI narration + revenue‑share to get your book into listeners' ears faster than you can say “download”. Listen here › https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2388934/episodes/17023598-andrew-wallner-phil-marshall-of-spoken-revolutionizing-audiobooks-how-spoken-combines-ai-narration-with-author-monetization

🎧 #58 – Ready, Set, Launch (Live Panel)
Craig Martelle, Dale L. Roberts, Julie Broad & Alexa Bigwarfe drop launch strategies while I broadcast from a blacked‑out room. Chaos = value. Listen here › https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2388934/episodes/17153431-ready-set-launch-a-live-panel-on-taking-your-book-to-the-world-with-craig-martelle-dale-l-roberts-julie-broad-and-alexa-bigwarfe

Hit “Follow” so you never miss an episode.

Writing Tip

Your cover is a promise, not a puzzle.
James Blatch’s Seville keynote showed how genre cues outsell “clever” every time:

• Thriller (fiction) – Stark, high-contrast palette; one lone figure (often back-turned or walking away) against a dramatic scene—explosions, city lights, or storm clouds—conveying peril and momentum.

• Romantic Suspense (fiction) – Close-cropped shot of a brooding, stubbled hero or an almost-kiss with windswept hair; muted blues and greys hint at danger while maintaining sensual focus.

• Epic Fantasy (fiction) – Sweeping landscapes with towering castles or mist-shrouded mountains; a small, cloaked silhouette in the foreground promises a quest beyond the ordinary.

• Science Fiction (fiction) – Cool neons and metallic gradients; a spacecraft, futuristic skyline, or portal dominates, often combined with geometric overlays for a techy vibe.

• Cozy Mystery (fiction) – Pastel palette and hand-drawn illustrations: a quaint village street, teapot, or mischievous cat, signalling light-hearted sleuthing rather than grit.

• Memoir (non-fiction) – Clean typography over a single evocative photo—usually the author’s face or an iconic place tied to the story—framed by generous white space to feel personal and honest.

• Self-Help (non-fiction) – Bold sans-serif title in large type, bright block colour background, and a simple central icon (lightbulb, arrow, tidy desk) that telegraphs clarity and action.

• Business/Leadership (non-fiction) – Sharp, corporate colour scheme (navy, charcoal, gold); confident all-caps title above a minimalist graphic such as climbing stairs, chess pieces, or upward graph.

• Popular Science (non-fiction) – Vivid cosmic or microscopic imagery—galaxies, neurons, DNA helix—overlaid with fine-line constellations or grid patterns to evoke discovery.

• History/Biography (non-fiction) – Sepia or desaturated archival photograph bordered by elegant serif typography; subtle distressed textures suggest depth and authenticity.

Ask yourself: can a scrolling reader spot your genre in half a second? If not, back to Canva! If you need help creating a cover, check out this episode on cover designs.

📚 Teddy’s Book Club - Free Book of the Week

NEW: Newsletters for Authors – Beta Launch

I’m opening a tiny early‑bird cohort for Newsletters for Authors: Build, Nurture, Sell. Perks:

• Own your audience (no algorithm tantrums)

• Launch books without begging Facebook for clicks

• Drive steady royalties & superfans

• Make money from your newsletter

Want the launch‑week discount? Add your name here

Thanks for reading! What is your favourite ever book cover, and why?

Talk soon,
Teddy
@teddyagsmith everywhere