Swipe Right, Keep Left: The Chaotic Journey of Designing a Book Cover

I knew what I wanted the cover of Swipe Right, Keep Left to feel like:

• Fun

• A bit chaotic

• Definitely about dating

• Definitely not beige or tragic-divorce energy

  
  

But I’m not a designer. I’m just a woman with opinions. I don't even have a Pinterest board.

The AI Cover Chaos: A Wild Ride

So I did what any modern, slightly overwhelmed first-time author might do: I turned to AI.

At first, it was thrilling.

“Create a book cover of a woman on a dating rollercoaster.” Boom, image.

“Change the outfit, make her clothes more like a real person and less like a cartoon pop star.” Boom, outfit changed… and then suddenly her face changed too.

“Okay, keep the face, just change the clothes.” AI: “Never heard of her.”

Every time I asked it to tweak something, it would quietly reinvent the entire woman on the cover. New hair. New nose. New vibe. Shrinking heads. Extra limbs. Rogue hands appearing from nowhere.

It was like working with a very eager intern who keeps saying, “No worries, I’ve fixed it!” and then shows you something completely different.

Frustrating. Fabulous. Weirdly empowering.

But somewhere between the:

• “Why have we suddenly got three arms?”

• “Please stop changing her face, we were finally friends.”

• “No, absolutely not, she looks possessed.” Or as one of my pals said, "The first one is too moody and serious. Looks like she’s out for revenge while carrying a boatload of emotional baggage!"

  
  

Do you think my pal was right?

…I realised I was slowly shaping something that felt right.

Discovering My Vision

Each prompt taught me more about what I actually wanted:

• Less polished, more personality

• Bold but not shouty

• Something that says: “This is going to be funny, but it might punch you in the feelings too.”

  
  

And after a lot of tiny edits, wrong turns, and muttering at my screen, I got there.

The Moment of Realisation

When the final version clicked into place, I just stared at it for a bit. That’s it. That’s her. That’s the book.

Even though AI helped with the visuals, the choices were mine. The colours, the mood, the title placement, the little details—all filtered through my brain and my story.

It felt less like “an AI cover” and more like, “This is the shop window for everything I’ve poured into these pages.” And now when I see it as a thumbnail on Amazon, on my website, or in my files, it gives me a little jolt of pride. Like, oh, look. We did that.

The Emotional Rollercoaster of Book Cover Design

Designing a book cover is not just about aesthetics. It’s about emotion. It’s about capturing the essence of what lies within those pages.

I wanted something that screamed, “Hey! This is going to be a fun ride!” while also whispering, “But hold on tight; it might get a little bumpy.”

The Importance of First Impressions

You know what they say: you never get a second chance to make a first impression. The cover is the first thing readers see. It’s the bait that lures them in.

If it’s not eye-catching, if it doesn’t resonate, then what’s the point? I needed it to reflect my voice, my humour, and my chaotic journey through mid-life dating.

The Final Touches

After countless iterations, I finally settled on a design that felt authentically me. It was a blend of chaos and clarity, just like my dating life.

I added little details that made it pop. The font choice was crucial. It had to be playful yet sophisticated. The colours? Oh, they had to be vibrant.

The Power of Collaboration

Working with AI was like having a quirky partner in crime. Sure, it had its quirks, but it pushed me to think outside the box.

I learned to embrace the chaos. Sometimes, the best ideas come from unexpected places.

The Big Reveal

If you’ve seen the cover and wondered what chaos lies behind it, you can Preorder Swipe Right, Keep Left on Kindle now. And if you want a little side dish, my free dating Rule Book is ready and waiting on my website.

In the end, it’s not just a cover. It’s a reflection of my journey, my struggles, and my triumphs. It’s a piece of me, and I can’t wait for you to dive into the chaos within.

So here’s to the wild ride of book cover design! Cheers!