Help Sophisticated Rogue Media design a cover for a novel.

Sophisticated Rogue Media

I write and direct fiction, stage plays, and films.

I’ve written a novel titled The Vanilla Gigolo Prescription and I would like a cover designed.

The plot of the novel:

“Sean Harrigan is a thirty-five year-old writer/actor on the fringes of Hollywood, stuck in two bad relationships: one with his long-time girlfriend and one with his improvisational comedy troupe, The Vanilla Gigolo Prescription.  When movie star Finn Brooks, the former “Fifth Gigolo”, enlists his help in dealing with a blackmailer, Sean finds himself using his improv skills in ways he never imagined, in a plot that isn’t what it appears.  While Sean tries to make sense of the intrigue, he has to defend himself against charges of abandonment and “big-timing” by the rest of the Gigolos, who feel getting shot at and chased across the freeways of Los Angeles are insufficient excuses for being late to rehearsal. Soon, Sean’s faced with choices about how far he’s willing to stray from his struggling friends to help a successful former friend who’s burned him before.”

The novel has noir elements but also has a tone of irony - I’ve been referring to it as “sarcastic noir”. So I’d like the cover to reflect that - a sense of a potboiler but with a wry sense of humor. This is a noir that seems dangerous at first, then appears to fall apart when you “pull back the curtain”.

It takes place in Hollywood but I do not want any “typical” Hollywood symbols, such as the Hollywood sign, your usual touristy stuff. If it’s more offbeat, that’d be great.

-I am using InDesign to format the interior of the book, so that would be a great program to use. Ultimately, however, the file must be a PDF/X-1a:2001 or similar.

-Needs to be print ready, front/back cover, and spine.

-This will be a 5.25” x 8” paperback of roughly 435 pp, with a spine of 1.002”.

-Please provide a file that can also be used for:
-a 6.14” x 9.21” hardcover with a spine of 1.125”
-a thumbnail for an ebook

-Please refer to the following link for guidance (p. 13 - “B&W Book: Cover Requirements”)

http://www1.lightningsource.com/ops…nGuide.pdf

-On the front cover, please specify “A Novel” somewhere. Obviously, please include the author’s name, William Norrett.

-On the back cover, I will be putting the synopsis of the novel, a couple of blurbs about the novel, and my web address. So be advised that any images/artwork would be obscured (Please also make certain the files you give me are not “flattened”, so that I can add these).

-I have attached the full logo for my publishing house; please put that at the bottom of the back cover. Also, leave room for the ISBN/Barcode at the bottom-left.

-On the spine, please try to put both the title and my author’s name. I have attached my logo without the company name (rogueshirtbackneck.psd). Please put this at the bottom of the spine.

-Image file: sharp, high-quality image file to include standard 99designs formats, PD and editable Photoshop files.

-Include fonts used in your delivery files.

-Provide designer name so that cover credit can be added on the inside of the book (as you would like it to appear in the book)

Please, please, feel free to ask me any questions you'd like. I am self-publishing my first novel, and it's an exciting but daunting experience. You should have no hesitation in asking if there's something I've missed.

Thanks to everyone; I look forward to seeing your submissions.
Bill