First Issue

A couple of years ago, in a Halifax used bookstore, I managed to nab a first edition copy of Adventures of a Columnist. First published in 1960, the book is a collection and commentary from Pierre Berton, who at that time was a daily columnist with the Toronto Star.

The book sat on my shelf for a while but just recently I picked it up again to start reading.
In between reading sessions, it’s been sitting on my kitchen table, desk, and coffee table, and every time I walk by it, I’m arrested by the design.

The copyright page reveals that the book was designed by Frank Newfeld. Of course! Newfeld has been a top designer in book design and illustration for the last five decades. He’s designed hundreds of covers for many of the big publishing houses, and has illustrated some of the best known books in Canadian children’s publishing. (Any 30-something Canadian will be familiar with the drawings in Alligator Pie by Dennis Lee — all of them Newfeld’s marvellous work.)

With Adventures, the first thing that grabs you is the front cover.

There’s something intensely compelling about Pierre’s last name in that huge typewriter font. The book title set in a handwritten script — and sharply picked out in red — is a nice contrast and keeps the cover from being too cool.

The banded design of black and white above the main section of the jacket is echoed in the case design. And look at that elegant addition of Pierre’s scribbled signature, again in red to echo the title treatment.

Finally, take a look at the double-spread title page; it simply commands your attention.

Trends in design come and go, but Frank Newfeld’s work proves that great design is great design, no matter what decade it comes from.

Printing books uses a lot of trees. Short of going for a fully electronic release, here are some ways you can minimize the environmental impact of your book.

Know the 3 Kinds of Material for Making Paper

1. Virgin fiber: made from fresh trees
2. Pre-consumer waste: composed of the scraps generated at the paper mills during the paper-making process
3. Post-consumer waste: the material you put in your recycling box

Choose Recycled Stocks
From an environmental perspective, the more recycled content in your paper, the better. Avoid virgin fiber if you can. If you buy virgin stock, at least make sure it is certified as having been responsibly harvested and not from old-growth forests. You save one tree for every 90 books you print on 100% post-consumer recycled stock.

Pay Attention to the Bleach
The whiter the paper stock, the more chlorine is needed to bleach it, so choose papers that are less bright. For book publishing, papers that are less bright are better anyway because they’re easier on the eyes for long periods of reading. If you do want a brighter stock, look for papers that are certified “elemental chlorine free.”

Let Readers Know
Let your readers know you support and use tree-friendly printing practices. In North America, if your chosen stock contains at least 50% recycled content, with a minimum of 10% post-consumer waste, you can display the EcoLogo. In the United States, if you print on recycled stock, you can display a recycled content logo from the American Forest and Paper Association.

Rate My Book Cover is a simple website that lets you view and rate cover designs on a scale from 1 to 10. I’d guess that most, if not all, of the covers are from self-published authors. You can even submit your own cover design if you’re interested in what others think.

I can’t say I agree with many of the rankings. Some downright hideous covers rank above 5 and some quite good ones are down in the 3s and 4s. I wouldn’t trust the feedback as market research into whether your design is any good or not — but the site is an interesting way to while away some time. Have a bit of fun with it.