melanie.ansley needed a new book or magazine cover design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 87 designs submitted by 24 freelance designers.
M. Ansley
Writer of animal fantasy
Needing a book cover that can work for ebook and soft cover later on. "Theo and the Forbidden Language" is a fantasy adventure set in an alternate, medieval North America. It's about a rabbit and bear who must fight the people determined to rob animals of their ability to speak. Theo the rabbit is the last of his kind: he has the ability to read and write, and if he can find a fabled library that is full of long lost knowledge, he just might be able to save his fellow animals. There are sword fights, adventure, and secret societies determined to stamp out literacy. It's "Watership Down" meets the "Redwall" series, but with some much darker undertones.
Ideally the cover should be simple and clean with a light, textured background (perhaps papyrus? As the story has to do with language and writing).Font should indicate the fantasy genre. The cover needs to convey that this is a story about anthropomorphic animals, but not feel like it's purely for children--therefore I'd rather avoid cartoon or anime. A coin with a rabbit's head on it, or an abstract design of a rabbit's profile, would be great central motifs. I have attached a rabbit head pendant which I have permission to use.
Very open to suggestions, with the biggest priority being that the story's genre/topic is still obvious as a small thumb nail. The pendant I've included in the brief is free for use, while the other image is more for stylistic reference--it's high contrast, and a realistic portrayal of a hare, with a touch of something menacing or dark.