The author says:

Rogue 13 is a contemporary fiction novel set in Las Vegas Nevada. It is targeted for adult readers with an affinity for action romance thrillers. An FBI agent on an undercover operation is sold out exposing her op, blowing her cover, and leaving her at the mercy of the dangerous individuals she has been investigating. A former black-ops agent the intelligence world believes was neutralized long ago immerges from the safety of his obscurity to aid her escape. Labeled as a rogue agent with her own agenda by her superiors, and falling into the crosshairs of the intelligence underworld, the two unite their unique skillsets in a fight to clear their names amongst a world intent on silencing them.

Nathan says:

My usual aim with submitted covers is “keep them from embarrassing themselves.” I don’t think this is an embarrassing cover, but at best it’s completely unremarkable.  If it were handed to me at this stage, I’d try a series of tweaks:

• The typeface isn’t very strong, especially for thrillers. I’d play with a thicker, taller font and see how much I can edge it behind the heads while still being readable.
• The foreground color scheme is awfully warm. I’d play with different tints and levels of contrast until I got something that said “danger.”
• Speaking of danger, the only dangerous part is the gun, which vanishes at thumbnail size. I’d pay special attention when playing with the color above that I made the gun stand out.

Other comments?

The author says:

Tamonten Tusks is a fantasy fiction adventure featuring 4 anthropomorphic elephants who are given special powers by one of the gods of the savannas. Their quest is to fight for the survival of endangered species and fulfilling their destiny they encounter many challenges and enemies.

Nathan says:

The artwork is fine for the genre. I think you could improve the layout.

1. No need for the tacked-on space at the bottom. No one will be upset if there are words across someone’s shins.
2. Use a stronger title font, and make it clear which is the book title and which is the series title.

Here’s a five-minute redo:

(I’m not happy with my choice of fonts, and maybe the series title should go in the big letters with the book title beneath it, but hey, five minutes.)

Other comments?

The publisher says:

Tropic Death is a collection of short stories from the Caribbean and Central America, with themes of colonialism, race, and class. The book was first published in 1926 by Eric Walrond, and it became a popular book associated with the Harlem Renaissance. This is a new edition of the original publication.

Nathan says: Sorry, but I don’t think this works. At all.  The three main image elements don’t mesh with each other stylistically or spatially, and worse, I don’t come away with any inkling of what the book is about or why I should read it.

I find that covers for new editions of “significant” literature from the past works best using one of two starting points:

• A photo of the author.
• An image sourced from the time period of first publication.

Any other comments?

The author says:

An adult techno-thriller mix of Tom Clancy and John Le Carre. An honest Russian scientist is compelled by the difficulties of living in Russia to sell the submarine technology secrets he has developed, via a shady business associate and that person’s nephew, the Russian Consul in Seattle. Although these people believe they are selling the technology to a fishing company, it is a front for US Naval Intelligence, who are desperate to obtain the technology. A Naval Intelligence Officer travels incognito to St Petersburg to conclude the deal, but an honest Russian Special Investigator is on the shady business associate’s trail and knows what is happening. The businessman attempts to bribe and influence his way to immunity via the KGB (now known as the FSB) and offers to betray the scientist, the Navy Officer, and potentially his nephew too. A duplicitous American Diplomat, an accidental shootout, and a problematic escape by slow train heighten the stakes while the angry involvement of Russia’s President bullies the CIA into refusing their support when the mission needs it the most. What happens to the Consul in Seattle, can the scientist and his family escape to the West, and will the Navy Officer marry the scientist’s daughter?

Nathan says:

Tom Clancy and John Le Carre don’t Venn as well as one might think — Clancy is solidly techno-thriller, while the recently departed Le Carre is old-school espionage — but here are what the current covers for each look like:

The problem, of course, is that their names take up half of the cover because they’re well-known authors, and you’re not. But here are mistakes I see on your cover compared to the comparable titles you suggest:

• Your typeface is too playful. You want something strong and easy to read.
• Your image is too busy, both from multiple overlapping elements and from the godawful filter you used (sorry, but it’s true). You want something strong and simple; either a photographic or photo-realistic image with a single strong focal point, or, like the Le Carre novels, something stylized and simplified (but still focused around a single focal point).

Other comments?

The author says:

Although still in love with George, Colette has dumped him so he can be with his ex-girlfriend, and mother of his baby, Jeanette. In this book (#2 in series) accomplished musician and songwriter, Colette, starts a new life in Norfolk with best friend and boatyard boss Leanne. When Colette joins an all-girl band and falls for lead guitarist Candy, she has doubts about completing her gender transition. She has an emotional decision to make when an unexpected turn of events makes it possible for a reunion with George. Action romance with a transgender main character set in 1968 UK (no explicit sex scenes)

Book two follows on from book one, but can be read as a standalone novel. This is a concept cover in the same style as book one already published on Amazon.

Nathan says:

You just know that I’m going to have to find out what book one looks like. Here it is:

Keeping the first cover as a reference, I’d say: Good job in keeping things consistent for branding, with both the layout and the cover model staying consistent.  The biggest problems are where you break the template — no subtitle, and “Book Two” standing out by itself.

By advice would be to add a subtitle like this: “Book 2: only good girls rock” or whatever.  Keep it all on one line (which means, with the addition of “Book 2” to the line, the actual subtitle needs to be shorter than the first).

Other comments?