Let’s Redo The Honeymoon

ByCrystal Parker

Ever since I wrote The Honeymoon ten years ago I have struggled to make the perfect book cover to go along with the story. There have been a few varieties, and a few years ago after not being able to find what I wanted, I decided to use an AI image service to make my own. You can read all about my thoughts and feelings on AI here (spoiler: I’m anti-AI), which will help explain what’s happening today.

For the past few weeks I have been uploading my entire back catalogue to my shop so that I can sell to readers directly from this blog. When I started on the Bidden series books I came across an issue I knew would arise sooner or later: the AI I’ve used in the past. While I have NEVER used AI to “write” any of the books in my catalog, I did ask ChatGPT to help rewrite my blurbs, including for a handful of books in the Bidden series. Fortunately I keep pretty good notes and I was able to restore the non-AI blurbs both on Amazon and here on my own shop. I’m nearly through the series but I’ve come across my next AI hurdle:

This cover was made with AI. The text/font are all “original” to the series and not made by AI but the image itself was generated by an AI app. So, it’s time to update it. For reference, here is what the cover looked like pre-AI:

It’s not the best. It could be a LOT better. So let’s make it better!

I went through my old Bidden saved folders on Adobe Stock to look for images I’ve already earmarked, and I found a few assets that I really like from when I was shopping around for images for Palm Springs (which comes after The Honeymoon in the series). Unfortunately I no longer have Photoshop, and some of the original assets I used to create the branding for The Bidden Series are lost. Fortunately I saved a few things, so in Canva I had no problem making two potential covers, both of which I really, really love:

While I do love them both, I think the version with the pink swimsuit and glasses with offset text is my favorite. To me it looks both bridal because of it’s pinky tones and the floral appliques on the swimsuit, and it gives vacation because of the sparkling water. It’s the sparkling part that I think really sets it apart from the other. What do you think? I think this one is the winner:

And the best part is… no more AI slop!

For more on where I’ve used AI in the past, check out my AI Disclosure (link opens in a new tab).