Valancourt Books
We’ve got it covered
Valancourt Books is an independent small press based in Richmond, Virginia, specializing in new editions of neglected classics, with an emphasis on horror/supernatural and LGBT literature.
Valancourt Books restores out-of-print books for a new generation of readers.
Rediscovering lost novels, and giving them the spotlight they deserve is no easy feat. With a niche market and all-but-forgotten titles one would think the deck was stacked against them. But fans of strange and horror fiction clamored for the releases as they were announced. So, when asked to design new cover illustrations for several of these books, we were thrilled to be a part of the rediscovery of these lost classics.
Our process.
James R. Montague’s novel Worms is a story about psychosis where the protagonist doesn’t know if what they are seeing is real (in this case worms!). We chose a direction for the cover design where the obsession takes over the visual space simultaneously bearing a resemblance to a brain. Is it all in their head? We’re not telling.
Branding a book?
Our approach to to book cover design is much like our branding process and adheres to the same principles. The cover is a singular representation of a larger story that needs to communicate to the viewer very quickly what to expect. Simplicity, uniqueness, and meaningful design are all attributes we strive to portray in our branding work and it made sense to us to apply those same concepts here.
The power of double imagery.
Whether it’s a bunch of worms masquerading as a brain, or a man as a wolf, the purpose remains the same; to engage the viewer through visual storytelling. Adding a second layer to a graphic often stimulates curiosity. A well executed graphic of this nature can also simply be appreciated for its cleverness. Either way, it can be what makes a person gravitate towards one book over another.
Need help with something similar?
Maybe you have an ad campaign that needs impactful imagery. Or maybe you need a single graphic to accompany an article. Whatever your needs are and whatever your project may be, we can build it together.