Behind the design
We were always told never to judge a book by its cover. Ignore that advice when you look at the cover design for my debut memoir, Golden Scars. I have a hard time taking my eyes off it ... but I'm biased!
Christa Varley designed the cover and the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. In this article, I'd like to take you behind the design and share some of the symbolism and "happy accidents" that occurred during the design process.
Color palette
The colors we chose for the book cover were meant to complement the brand colors for my PR and communications consultancy, Clarion Communications. Since a cornerstone of my approach is clarity of message, I sought a color that evoked clearness and transparency. I chose sea glass or a light turquoise/blue.
The two main colors in the cover design are dark teal and gold. Happy accident #1: I immediately gravitated to the teal color as teal is the color designated for ovarian cancer awareness. In the book, I not only share my journey with breast cancer but also my experience supporting my mom as she battled ovarian cancer.
Female form
At the center of the design is a sculpture of a female body. As Christa, Amanda Filippelli, my book coach and editor, and I were brainstorming ideas for the cover, I shared a picture of a sculpture that holds a special place in my heart. The sculpture, Expansion, by Paige Bradley, depicts a woman seated in a lotus position. There are cracks on her torso and her arms. The sculpture is lit from the inside allowing light to flood through the cracks.
Kintsugi
The sculpture I mentioned above reminds me of kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken objects with gold. Christa added a kintsugi-looking design to the female form.
I first learned about kintsugi a few years after I was widowed. The art form carries a profound symbolism. At its core, kintsugi celebrates imperfection. In a world often driven by ideals of perfection and flawlessness, this art form reminds us that brokenness is an integral part of the human experience. It's a reflection of how we, too, can endure challenges, setbacks, and hardships, and emerge stronger and more beautiful for having faced them. The use of gold to mend the cracks highlights the idea that our scars, both physical and emotional, can be transformed into something precious and valuable.
Feathers
When I first looked at the cover design, I asked Christa about the significance of the feathers. Some people believe that seeing a feather can be a sign from a loved one who has died. While I love that symbolism, the feathers have a stronger meaning for me.
Happy accident #2: My late husband, Steve Barry, was a waterfowl biologist for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. When we met, he was working with a team from the Cleveland Zoo to reintroduce trumpeter swans to Ohio. I love seeing these beautiful birds flying near Lake Erie. They remind me of the love and passion Steve had for his work.
I love the rich colors and symbolism conveyed through the beautiful design on the cover of my book Golden Scars.
