Historical fiction Book Cover Design (Evoking sad, reflection, and titanic)

Visuals: A single lifeboat isolated in the center of a vast ocean at dusk. The boat is diminutive against an overwhelming expanse of water and a skyline fading into light blue, merging softly with the horizon but still evoking a sense of solitude. The figure of a woman is seated in the boat, her face obscured by her hands as she gazes downward. Gentle ripples distort the reflection of the boat in the water, creating the impression of instability and sorrow. In the background, a faint outline of the Titanic looms far in the distance, blurred with a dreamlike quality, signifying a connection to the past.

Typography: A serif font for the title, such as “Baskerville,” displayed prominently across the top in white with subtle shadowing to help it pop against the light-blue background. The subtitle is in a clean, modern sans-serif font such as "Lato," smaller and positioned just beneath the main title for balance. Accent flourishes resembling ocean waves frame the text gently.

Layout: The title occupies the top third of the cover, with the lifeboat and figure dominating the center as the focal point. The Titanic's hazy silhouette fades into the background near the bottom, lending depth. The author’s name is minimized and aligned contrastly below, leaving space for the emotional visual elements to breathe.

Explanation: The visual composition captures the sadness and isolation of Ruth Becker’s journey, reflecting the emotional tone of the story through the lone lifeboat and vast, empty ocean. The light-blue palette reinforces the historical and somber mood while complementing the reflective nature of self-discovery. The blurred Titanic in the background offers a haunting reminder of the ship’s presence and ties together the historical and fictional elements of the narrative. The chosen serif font for the title evokes a classic, timeless feel in keeping with the historical fiction genre, while the modern sans-serif subtitle balances it with accessibility. The layout is minimalistic, ensuring the scene does not feel crowded, and draws the viewer’s focus to the central point of sadness and connection to the theme. The textured matte paper enhances the tactile experience of the book, and subtle spot UV coating on the title ensures the cover stands out while maintaining its solemnity.