Client: Joanne E. Betzler, through The Self Publishing Agency
Role: Cover design, interior design and production preparation
Format: Trade paperback, perfect bound with French flaps
Overview
Nothing to Discuss: Breaking from 20 Years of Intimate Partner Violence is Joanne E. Betzler’s memoir about abuse, grief and the process of reclaiming her voice. The book combines personal testimony with reflection on the patterns that keep people silent within controlling relationships.
I designed the cover and interior on contract for The Self Publishing Agency, working closely with Joanne to create a thoughtful visual direction for a difficult and deeply personal story.
Creative direction
Joanne wanted the design to feel clear, restrained and hopeful rather than dark or sensational. Her initial direction emphasized simple imagery, strong typography, open landscapes and a road leading toward the horizon.
The final cover uses the road as a symbol of movement and transformation, with a bright sky reflecting Joanne’s desire for the book to hold a sense of possibility.
Book design
I selected The Seasons for the title and headings, balancing a serious literary tone with a subtle femininity.
The circular shape on the cover also represents the idea of a portal moving from one place in life to another.
Joanne often addresses her late sister within the narrative. I developed a distinct treatment for these passages so the shift in voice is recognizable without interrupting the natural flow of reading.
The finished book was produced as a perfect-bound trade paperback with French flaps, providing additional space for the synopsis, endorsements and author information while giving the book a more substantial finish.
Promotional
I created a double-sided bookmark that carries the book’s visual identity into a practical promotional piece. It combines cover imagery and author details with a synopsis, website and QR code designed to support discovery and sales.
