The author says:

An orphan is adopted by pirates and goes on a search for her birth parents through 17th century London.

Nathan says:

You didn’t say, but I’m assuming you’re going for a middle-grade audience. Yes?

I think the sketchy line art can work, but the color work is just a little too blunt and rushed-looking for me. (Is there any way we could add some clue of gender to the pirate-girl?)

There’s no reason that the title can’t stretch to the left, over the netting. Make it larger and more visible!

Anyone else?

The editor says:

Each story was written to the the theme of “A short fiction piece between 800 and 5000 words, in which the main character is traveling, either in flight or on a journey of self-discovery.” This book is the first anthology of short fiction by members of the Madrid Writers Club in Spain.

Nathan says:

I like the idea, and the image. Here’s what I’d do:

-The further text is from horizontal, the harder it is to read. Even another ten degrees toward the horizontal would help.

– Put the writing and editing credits together (don’t worry about not overlapping the yellow strip).  That will also give you more room for…

– A subtitle (or supertitle) of some sort. Something like “Fifteen [or however many] Voyages of Discovery.”

Any other ideas?

The author says:

A classic-style SF novel. Visionary genius Nikola Tesla sends a signal to “Mars”. When the “Martians” respond, their agenda is not so benevolent. Soon Niko and his colleague Clara are in hiding from alien captors and human law enforcement alike. They are the only ones who can save humanity. Based on the real life of Nikola Tesla, except for the alien invasion. A previous version of this cover was submitted in July 2014

[original submission and comments here]

Nathan says:

Maybe it’s just me, but I think this is a step backwards.  The almost monochromatic color scheme is less interesting, the Tesla tower fades into the background and is almost invisible at less than full size, the blue block at the bottom keeps all the text from being a part of the whole design, and the tinting on the old photos makes them look… well, poorly tinted.

I think the best way to go with the photographs is lose them entirely.  Tesla’s name will be enough of a signal to readers familiar with him.  Add weight to the tower, add back in some color, and make the text part of the image instead of keeping it separate.

Other options?

The author says:

The title tells much of the story. It is a religious book about transforming yourself and your mind and becoming a better person.

Nathan says:

I really like it.

I’m not sure that the wide letter spacing isn’t a bit overdone, but other than that, I have no criticisms.

Anybody else?

[Original submission and comments here]

Nathan says:

Quite a lot of little tweaks here, most for the better.  Here’s what I’d still have on the to-do list:

1. Still more contrast to the artwork. Until I can clearly tell in the thumbnail that I’m looking at an airplane, the artwork’s not doing its job. (If you’re hesitant to lighten the foreground airplane further, maybe you could try increasing the red sunset glow behind it to make it stand out.)
2. Play with the font for the supertitle text — perhaps something serif and period-appropriate.
3. I’d make it “daring Soviet airwomen.”

Other ideas?