Unleash Your Inner Speech Therapist Author: Bridging the Gap with a Book Cover

by Bev Jessup

Have you ever felt like you have a book inside you, Bev Jessup, a fellow SLP, knows exactly what you mean! This post is all about creating a book cover designed to attract Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) who dream of taking their practice global and experiencing the freedom of location independence.

The Power of Your Story

Bev opens by reminding us that everyone has a story to tell. As SLPs, you possess a wealth of knowledge and experience that can empower others. Writing a book allows you to share your expertise with the world, potentially helping countless individuals on their communication journeys.

Book Covers: Design Decisions and Emotional Triggers

The heart of this post dives into the world of book cover design. Bev explores two key aspects:

• Design Elements: Selecting fonts, colours, and utilizing templates to create a visually appealing cover.

  • Example: Imagine using a calming pale purple background, a colour associated with peace and escape. This can be especially appealing to SLPs who might be feeling burnt out working in traditional settings.

  • You could layer crisp white text for your title "The Empowered SLP: Your Guide to Global Teletherapy Practice" and a vibrant speech bubble icon to represent communication.

• Emotional Triggers: Understanding how the imagery and text on your cover spark emotions in potential readers.

  • Example: A therapist depicted on a world map with a plane icon nearby might trigger feelings of possibility and adventure for SLPs yearning to break free from geographical limitations.

Case Study: Bridging the Gap Book Cover

Bev uses her own book, "Bridging the Gap: The Speech Therapist Guide to Going Global with Teletherapy," as a real-life example. She walks us through her design journey, including:

• Initial Design: Bev initially decided to design the cover herself, but encountered challenges like choosing the right elements and ensuring a professional look.

• The Power of Intuition: Through this process, Bev learned to trust her own creative instincts and vision for the cover.

• Using AI for Inspiration: Bev experimented with AI writing tools to gain insights into the emotional triggers her cover design might evoke in potential SLP readers.

• Final Cover Design: The final cover features speech bubbles with watercolour backgrounds, symbolizing communication possibilities beyond borders. A bridge connects the bubbles, representing the transition to a global teletherapy practice. The colour palette of calming purple and hopeful pink reflects the emotions Bev wants to inspire in her readers.

Key Takeaways for Aspiring SLP Authors

As you consider creating your own book, Bev offers these valuable takeaways:

• Branding: Align your cover design with your existing brand colours and overall message as an SLP.

• Target Audience: Identify the emotions you want to evoke in your ideal reader, the SLP yearning for a global practice.

• Cultural Sensitivity: Be mindful of how colours and symbols might be interpreted differently across cultures.