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Jim Cox Report: April 2026
Dear Publisher Folk, Friends & Family:
I always welcome a chance to help out authors and small press publishers -- and in this case, Rose Rosetree who is a dedicated and experienced author that I've known for many, many years now. She recently emailed me the following:
Any recommendations for finding a new book cover designer
4/3/2026 5:21:24 PM Central Daylight Time
Dear Jim,
I hope it’s okay with you if I join the legions of authors asking for your help.
Finding a new designer for the cover of my next book, and later ones, seems too hard to me.
The last few times I tried, it was a mess. Can you please let me know if you have any ideas on quality cover designers or steps for finding them?
Appreciating you and MBR,
Rose Rosetree
Energy Spirituality(R) Website: www.rose-roserosetree.com
I wrote back:
Dear Rose
Happy to be of help. Here are some online resources regarding book cover designers. And I cannot stress enough the the quality of a book's cover design is essential in successfully marketing a book to its intended readership!
500+ Book Cover Designers in Publishing (Reedsy)
https://reedsy.com/design/book-cover-design
Book Cover Design Services (Fiverr)
https://www.fiverr.com/categories/graphics-design/book-design/cover
Top Book Cover Designers: April 2026 Rankings (Clutch)
https://clutch.co/agencies/print-design/book-covers
And you will find a great many thematically appropriate websites of different folk offering their book cover design by typing into the Google machine the words Book Cover Designers
As to discerning the quality of the work, look at the examples they post. As to their reliability and collaborative skills, ask them for references.
Jim Cox
Midwest Book Review
Next, I thought this response to my Jim Cox Report for December 2025 on the subject of publicists and employment of AI in the creation of book reviews from Peter Blaisdell would be of interest to authors and publishers alike:
Book Publicists and Discoverability for Indie Writers
Hi Jim,
For whatever holidays you celebrate, may they be happy ones for you and your family!
I read the Dec Jim Cox report and, as always, it was thoughtful and encouraging for indie writers like myself. I have a couple of topline reactions re book publicists which was the theme of this month's report:
My admittedly limited experience with publicists is that they often recommend tactics that the writer may very well already be aware of but not have the time OR money to complete themselves; so, one is advised to do what one already knows one should be doing, improve the cover, create a better blurb, get a bigger mailing list, leverage social media better, create a better website, reach out to more reviewers, etc, etc. Gosh, if it were that easy and cheap, we'd have likely done it ourselves.
Publicists may very well work for 'mid-tier' authors who already have some traction and where reviewers, podcasters, media outlets are somewhat likely to consider giving said indie author a platform. I'm more skeptical that relatively unknown authors are benefitted in this regard despite what the publicist might claim.
On a somewhat related point, AI is upending things completely and it would be great to see how a publicist could advise/support their author/clients on this front. This genie (AI) isn't going back in the bottle, so indie authors need to know how to navigate and market in this minefield (truly we are dancing in a minefield!). Personally, I wouldn't use AI to write any part of my work - frankly, I have too much fun dreaming up and writing my own stories without AI intruding on the process! Also, LLMs are trained on copywritten material (probably including my own work) with no effort to compensate the original author, so I'm loath to support them. HOWEVER, even reputable cover designers are now using AI.
I've been informed that Photoshop now has AI embedded in this tool. I ran afoul of this when a reviewer who seemed to like my writing (again, no AI involved there) refused to review my most recent book because the cover designer had somehow used AI in the cover - which looked great BTW. I hadn't discovered this AI use until just before launching the book on Amazon, and, frankly, hadn't understood the implications of its use in the design process until after my book 'went live'.
All this is to say that indie writers are swimming in deep waters here, yet much of the discussion about AI in publishing has turned this into a red state vs blue state kind of emotion driven swamp. That's not helpful to writers (he said with dry understatement). I wonder if publicists have any role in advising indie writers on this front - aside from issuing stock response such as don't use AI assisted designers??
Cheers,
Peter Blaisdell
Quote of the Month
Blessed are we who are appalled
that brute ignorance can so easily dominate
over decency, honesty, and integrity.
Blessed are we, who choose not to look away
from systems that dehumanize, deceive, defame, and distort.
We who recognized that thoughts and prayers are not enough.
We who stand with truth over expediency,
Principle over politics,
Community over competition.
Kate Bowler, Theologian
"The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days"
Website of the Month
Energy Spirituality(R)
https://www.rose-rosetree.com
Here are reviews of books that will be of special interest to authors, publishers, and hardcover bibliophiles:
Invention and Craft, 2nd Edition
Ronda Leathers Dively
Anthem Press
www.anthempress.com
9781839989773, $89.95, PB, 300pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Invention-Craft-Second-Exercising-Creativity/dp/1839989777
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/invention-and-craft-second-edition-ronda-leathers-dively/1143330108
Synopsis: Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "Invention and Craft: Exercising Creativity in College Writing and Research" by Ronda Leather Dively is a first-year college composition textbook that employs creativity theory to augment best practices in writing instruction.
Promoting a problem-solving, insight-driven approach to composing, it casts students in the role of meaning-makers by pinpointing strategies for transforming knowledge, the hallmark of successful expository prose.
"Invention and Craft: 2nd Edition" offers an explicit treatment of knowledge transfer fosters recognition of patterns within and across genres and encourages students to apply lessons learned in subsequent rhetorical situations. Furthermore, "Invention and Craft: 2nd Edition" provides an instructional framework that maps similarities between expository writing and creative activity in other venues as a means of demystifying the former and broadening students’ repertoire of composing strategies.
Acknowledging individual cognitive styles and diverse interests, "Invention and Craft: 2nd Edition" places a high priority on energizing students and building their confidence as writers.
Critique: This trade paperback edition of "Invention and Craft: Exercising Creativity in College Writing and Research -- 2nd Edition" by Professor Ronda Dively is a complete and comprehensive instructional course on how to best and successfully write compositions and publishable papers at the college/university level. Exceptionally 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, the new and expanded second edition of "Invention and Craft" from Anthem Press is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Ronda Leathers Dively is aretired Southern Illinois University Rhetoric and Composition Professor and writing program administrator. She is also the author of Preludes to Insight: Creativity, Incubation and Expository Writing (Hampton Press, 2006), Invention and Craft: A Guide to College Writing (McGraw-Hill, Inc., 2016) and Creativity and the Paris Review Interviews: A Discourse Analysis of Famous Authors’ Composing Practices (Anthem Press, 2022). Additionally, she has written numerous articles on expository writing pedagogy and writing program administration.
Award-Winning Publicity: 8 Media Boosters to Magnify Your Story
Liz H. Kelly
Goody PR Press
https://goodypr.com
9798234025197, $19.77, PB, 264pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Award-Winning-Publicity-Media-Boosters-Magnify/dp/B0GVSTDBQ3
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/award-winning-publicity-liz-h-kelly/1149845503
Synopsis: To help you shine a spotlight on your brand or book, with the publication of "Award-Winning Publicity: 8 Media Boosters to Magnify Your Story" professional publicist Liz H. Kelly provides an 8-Step Publicity Process in 8 easy-to-read chapters with real-life examples -- including an award-winning campaign and 20-minute PBS story about a client’s book that won a Regional Emmy Award.
Based on 20+ years of marketing and PR experience booking thousands of interviews for clients, Goody PR Agency CEO/Founder and author Liz H. Kelly uncovers how to get earned media (TV, print, radio and podcasts) that can increase your brand awareness, trust, and credibility more than any paid ad.
"Award-Winning Publicist" is DIY how-to do public relations instructional guide that features award-winning media examples from Kelly's National Publicity Campaign for American Paper Optics / Eclipse Glasses. Kelly's innovative approach resulted in 54 TV interviews in only 8.5 months on all major media networks, and won 6 PR industry awards, including:
Best Publicity Campaign, 2025 Marcom Awards, Platinum
Best Public Relations Program, 2025 Marcom Awards, Platinum
Best Media Relations Campaign, 2024 Bulldog PR Awards, Gold
Using these strategies and tactics, Kelly also includes helpful tips based on securing coverage on the TODAY Show, CNN, BBC World News, NPR and Bloomberg Radio, and feature stories in People, Forbes, Fast Company and Psychology Today.
"Award-Winning Publicity" presents a Results-Driven Publicity Process in 3 Parts:
PART 1: Build PR Success Strategy: Story Magic and Creative Campaign Boosters
PART 2: Gain Positive Press Value: Media Outreach, Media Training and Media Relations Boosters
PART 3: Magnify and Measure Wins: Digital Marketing, Book Marketing and Top Media Boosters
Authors and entrepreneurs will:
Fail Forward, be resilient, and bounce back when you get a “No” from a producer.
Develop a Wow Story that gets a Reporter to say, “Yes.”
Develop a PR Strategy, Creative Campaign and unique story ideas.
Research the Best Reporters and Pitch the Right Spokespeople at the Right Time.
Become a Superstar Spokesperson using Media Training Tips and the Power of 3s.
Build Long-term Media Relationships with Reporters, so you get invited back.
Maximize Your Reach with Digital Marketing Strategy and Video Campaigns.
Increase Your Book Marketing Results using our Author Checklist for Before, During and After Publishing.
Magnify and Measure Media and Business Wins with Positive Publicity that makes your story go viral.
Additionally, there is a Bonus Content comprised of insights from reporters and experts revealing what is the best time to contact journalists, the importance of sending visual assets (photos and video), and what grabs their attention most.
Critique: A comprehensive DIY instructional guide and 'how to' manual that is ideal for non-specialist general readers with no prior experience at creating and conducting publicity/marketing campaigns, "Award-Winning Publicity: 8 Media Boosters to Magnify Your Story" by Liz Kelly of Goody PR is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Public Relations, Media/Communications, Advertising/Marketing, and Pubishing/Publicity collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Liz H. Kelly (https://goodyawards.com/team/) is the Award-Winning Goody PR agency and Goody Business Book Awards CEO/ Founder, Bestselling Author of 3 books, including Award-Winning Publicity (2026) and 8-Second PR (2022), Speaker, and Podcast Host whose primary mission is to magnify good through the power of positive publicity.With 20+ years of PR and marketing experience, Goody PR's top media coverage for clients include the TODAYShow, CNN, BBC World News, NPR, and in TIME, People, and Forbes.Kelly is a Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business graduate, and a member of the National Press Club.
"The Midwest Book Review Postage Stamp Hall Of Fame & Appreciation" is a monthly roster of well-wishers and supporters. These are the generous folk who decided to say 'thank you' and 'support the cause' that is the Midwest Book Review by donating to our postage stamp fund.
Amy Parks
Jason Matzke
Kirk Hrabrich
Jeremy Kniola
Audrey Folsom
Patricia Stankovic
Jack (no last name)
Carol Potenza -- "Echo of Lies"
Corilos -- "Too Precious to Lose"
Elais Axel -- "Promising Young Man"
Deborah A. Boyle -- "Bored at Home"
Debora Masterson -- "Freedom Quest"
Mel Pine -- "All Intelligence Is Artificial"
Joseph Fisher -- "The Comfortable Pause"
Anne Canadeo -- "More Than You Know"
A. K. Folsom -- "What Darkness Reveals"
Bill Fields -- "A Quick Nine Before Dark"
Peter A. Policastro -- "The Moon Detente"
Robert Rothman -- "A Paradise for Reptiles"
Bernard N. Lee Jr. -- "A Look Back in Time"
Jason Zeffir -- "Zombies of the Upper East Side"
Phillip Nakov -- "Freedom Quest: A Love Story"
Jacqueline McLeod Werket -- "A Grief Postponed"
Joseph Byers -- "Take Action or Accept a Fraction"
Elise Posledni -- "A New Witch in the Northwoods"
Daniel Rirdan -- "The Woman Who Touched The Sun"
Kristen A. Peters -- "The House That Remembers You"
Stephen Hadden -- "Bio-Dead: The Official Novelization"
Linda Colwell -- "So You Want To Be A...." -- Book Series
Cody McDevitt -- "Given No Choice: A History of Abortion Rights"
Tiffany Suson -- "Math Heals: On the Gift and Weight of Being Human"
Tim McDonald -- "Patient to Advocate: Turning Survivorship Into Impact"
Olivia Tanner Greene -- "Keep Your Cool-Anger Management for Parents"
Dan M. Mrejeru -- "The Making, The Rise, Ad The Future Of The Speakingman"
Costantino Delli -- "Creative Optimum Self: Transform Your Life and Your World"
Tatra Press
ISA Therapy
Mascot Books
Ziggy Media LLC
McCall Media Group
Everwell Neuro PLLC
Gale Cengage Learning
Ashby & Graft Real Estate
The Grace L. Zacaroli Trust
Linda Radke -- Story Monsters
Meredith Boas -- Grunge Muffin Press
Elizabeth Frazier -- Waldmania! PR
In lieu of (or in addition to!) postage stamp donations, we also accept PayPal gifts of support to our postage stamp fund for what we try to accomplish in behalf of the small press community.
Simply log onto your PayPal account and direct your kindness (in any amount and at your discretion) to the Midwest Book Review at: SupportMBR [at] aol.com (The @ is replaced by "[at]" in the above email address, in an attempt to avoid email-harvesting spambots.)
If you have postage stamps to donate, or if you have a book you'd like considered for review, then send those postage stamps (always appreciated, never required), or a published copy of that book (no galleys, uncorrected proofs, or Advance Reading Copies), accompanied by a cover letter and some form of publicity release to my attention at the address below.
All of the previous issues of the "Jim Cox Report" are archived on the Midwest Book Review website at www.midwestbookreview.com/bookbiz/jimcox.htm. If you'd like to receive the "Jim Cox Report" directly (and for free), just send me an email asking to be signed up for it.
So until next time -- goodbye, good luck, and good reading!
Jim Cox
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI, 53575
www.midwestbookreview.com
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
www.midwestbookreview.com
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