Contrary to popular belief, "write it and they will buy" is probably not a portent of things to come. You can write as well as Hemingway but until someone (lots of someone's) buys your book you are just another person who can string words together.

Have a great book design truly can help you get your award winning book off the shelf and into the hands of the readership you need to actually buy what you've written. When's the last time you went into Borders or Barnes & Nobles and browsed books without really judging them by their covers?

We all judge things by external appearances .. first. Once we've accepted that then, and only then, do we bother to look a bit deeper. Even now, however, impressions can impact and something that screams "boring" or "low quality" may not hold your attention long enough to let you absorb the first few words.

If, however, there's nothing to put you off you can easily start reading and then, and only then, are you able to determine if this is a book you want to read more or leave on the shelf.

A designer's job is take your writer's skill and present it in an appealing way so that the above doesn't happen. So you don't get left on the shelf.

If you are writing your first, or your thirtieth book, make sure you invest in three things:

- Editing!
- Interior design
- Cover design

Do not think spending a little money will give you big results. It won't. The adage, "you get what you pay for" is more true in this field than any other.

Think of your book as something that you want read 20 years from now. That must be worth more than $500, right? This is part of your legacy. Make it count.