Crowing about Cover Art--Judy Penz Sheluk

DEBORAH CROMBIE: It's always a treat to have Judy Penz Sheluk here, and what better way to beat the heat than a new mystery anthology! But did you ever think about how challenging it must be to design covers across a series of anthologies?

Crowing about Cover Art

Judy Penz Sheluck

A lot of thought goes into book cover design. That’s because publishers know that good covers not only help to sell books, they also define the genre, and in the case of mysteries, the sub-genres. A cozy mystery, for example, might feature a floppy-eared dog or a pair of calico cats, a historical mystery, Art Deco styling or other vintage elements, a standalone suspense, a creepy staircase. But what if the book includes several sub-genres of mystery? In other words, what if it’s an anthology?

That’s the dilemma I face every time I get ready to launch another Superior Shores Anthology, where the 20+ stories in every collection represent many facets of mystery and suspense. Of course, it helps that each anthology has a theme, but even then, some themes are easier than others. Take Moonlight & Misadventure (#3). A full moon, some creepy trees…the cover practically designed itself.

Not so much this year’s anthology, Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers. As a catchy title and a theme that allows for multiple interpretations, it hit all the right notes. But how did one design a schemer or a dreamer? True, midnight might lend itself to a moon, but we’d already done one of those. And because the decision was made early on to use the same color scheme and font for every SSP Anthology another moon wasn’t going to cut it

As always, I contacted my trusty cover artist, Hunter Martin, and as always, he asked if I had any ideas. “Well,” I said, “maybe someone sitting on a bench at night? Like they’re daydreaming?”

“Hmmm…” Hunter said, too professional to tell me what he really thought, but let’s face it, hmmm isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement.

Fast forward a couple of days and Hunter approached me with a concept and a rough sketch “What about a crow?” he asked. "A group of crows is a murder, and crows are known for their cunning and intelligence, schemers, if you will. And they love shiny objects, so I thought, if the crow was flying with a key, the key could represent a daydream.”

I loved the symbolism Hunter was suggesting. Loved the rough sketch he sent to support his idea. But mostly, I love the final cover. In fact, I love it so much I even created a 45-piece online jigsaw puzzle for it.

Try it if you dare. The best time so far is 6:30, the longest 14:25. 

READERS: Have you ever purchased a book based on the cover? If so, what drew you in and why?

About Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers: 22 stories of Mystery and Suspense: Desire or desperation, revenge or retribution—how far would you go to realize a dream? The twenty-two authors in this collection explore the possibilities, with predictably unpredictable results.

Featuring stories by Pam Barnsley, Linda Bennett, Clark Boyd, C.W. Blackwell, Amanda Capper, Susan Daly, James Patrick Focarile, Rand Gaynor, Gina X. Grant, Julie Hastrup, Beth Irish, Charlie Kondek, Edward Lodi, Bethany Maines, Jim McDonald, Donalee Moulton, Michael Penncavage, Judy Penz Sheluk, KM Rockwood, Peggy Rothschild, Debra Bliss Saenger, and Joseph S. Walker. You can find it here.

About Judy: The Past Chair of Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) and a former journalist and magazine editor, Judy Penz Sheluk is the multiple award-winning author of seven bestselling mystery novels, two books on publishing, and several short stories. She is also the editor/publisher of five Superior Shores Anthologies, including the 2025 Derringer-nominated Larceny & Last Chances. Find her at www.judypenzsheluk.com.

DEBS: I, for one, am incredibly susceptible to cover art. A recent foray into our shiny new B&N had me agog at all the gorgeous covers (and also wishing I wrote fantasy because there were so many drool-worthy covers in that genre) but I can't articulate what exactly works for me. I loved this insight into a cover designer's process!

What say you, dear readers?