It's Alive! Create a shocking, funny cover for book about headless man!

Entertainment & The Arts

Author of "Clump," a violent but comic novel satirizing medicine, politics, and the entertainment industry. The target audience is readers of authors like Chuck Palahniuk, Kurt Vonnegut, and Penn Jillette.

8.5 x 5.5 book cover (including back and spine) for the novel "CLUMP." Subtitle: "An American Splatire" Author: S. Redman White This is a challenging assignment and your creativity and imagination are very important. The main character is a large, extremely muscular man who has no head. He has a neck stump, out of which a tongue protrudes - though that detail is probably unnecessary. "CLUMP" is kept alive by unethical doctors, and turned into a YouTube sensation when it's discovered that he can dance to beat-heavy music. He becomes an entertainment sensation, loved by all. However, only his handlers know that the brainless giant is homicidally dangerous if touched, going into martial arts mode by reflex. The book details medical mischief, the entertainment industry (television and Radio City style stage shows with dancers), "big religion" (think of the mega-churches of Dallas), and politics (in which appearance is more important than substance). The book is really a satire about all of these institutions using the character of CLUMP as a jumping off point - so the cover should reflect that the novel is not just about the man, but about our world and society. The book is frequently violent and graphic, thoroughly R-rated, and FUNNY in a black humor way. With all of that as background, the cover should show CLUMP, the character, in some form - this could be grittily photo realistic, illustrated (even cartoonish), or anything in between. The cover should convey humor, but also (if possible) a certain element of physical threat (CLUMP is a scary guy, after all) and scope. Designs that are jolting or shocking aren't a problem, as long as they aren't completely off-putting to potential readers. Probably good to always include some note of humor. It's also important to see CLUMP's actual body; he can be tastefully naked or nearly so. His muscularity (no tattoos or other identifying marks) should be intimidating; this is NOT the headless man you want to get a beat down from.

As a freelance writer, I know what it's like to get specific directions from a client, or maddeningly vague ones. I'm really trying NOT to stick you with the latter situation, but this is an odd and complicated book and I'm looking for creative ideas beyond what I've come up with. Note that the book has already been released in self-published form with a cover that I'm pretty happy with. But sales have been less than compelling, and I'm looking for a "makeover" that might get more attention. I'm attaching the current cover: it has an art deco feel reminiscent of Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead" - a deliberate choice because both books are social commentaries. This was my direction to the original illustrator but may not have been a good idea in a marketing sense. CLUMP is shown as a headless figure; he is supporting the great weight of the title and subtitle, because in the book he's really the foundation for all that happens rather than a standard protagonist (he's brainless and doesn't initiate anything on his own). His figure is perched in a cityscape which was intended to suggest that the novel is about the world surrounding the character. As CLUMP's real power comes from becoming an entertainer and idol of millions, a cover depicting him in a showbiz setting (like a Broadway stage) could be appropriate. I've also attached an earlier rough cover which I made myself, which has the figure of a muscular man (and the missing head only really noticeable if you're looking for it; otherwise it just seems like shadow). The title font and color were intended to evoke blood and kinetic action. Whether or not I succeeded is better judged by others. I've included it here simply to give you another example of my tastes.

Every design category has flexible pricing for all budgets. Book cover starts at $299.