I was unexpectedly brought onto this project after the original designer backed out, leaving me with only three hours to create a finished book cover. I immediately joined a virtual meeting with the author so I could understand their vision, ask questions, and make sure the limited time I had was spent creating something that accurately represented the world they had imagined.

My goal was to take the imagery described throughout the novel and bring it to life visually on the cover. Because of the deadline, I worked with stock imagery of castles and villages, combining  the different elements to build the kingdom my client envisioned. I experimented with lighting, shadows, scale, and depth to make the palace feel distant and unreachable, drawing the reader's eye through the landscape and into the world of the story.

A book cover is one of the most important visual elements of a novel. Before someone reads the first page, the cover must capture their attention and giving them a glimpse into the story. Despite the limited time, I really enjoyed the challenge of this project. It pushed me to make creative decisions quickly, communicate directly with a client, and stay focused. While having more time is always ideal, projects with strict deadlines taught me something equally valuable: good design also requires grit and the ability to trust your creative instincts when time is not on your side.