Steve Lead is a freelance cover artist and industry podcaster, with many years' experience working on book cover designs in the publishing industry. Today, he sits down to help demystify the complicated process that goes into creating a book cover. We discuss briefs, trends, industry pay (or lack of it), the impact of thumbnail images on print books--and finally, the elephant in the room: the burgeoning technology that is generative AI, and what it might mean for us all.00:00 Introduction and Background03:08 Interactions with Authors and the Design Process07:03 The Design Brief and Constraints09:02 Pay and Salaries in the Design Industry12:04 The Impact of Thumbnails on Book Covers32:31 The Role of AI in Writing and Design34:00 Concerns and Fears about AI in the Creative Industry35:06 Legal Ramifications of AI in Publishing36:27 The Need for Accountability and Fair Compensation37:21 Controversies and Criticisms of OpenAI39:16 The Impact of AI on Artists and Creators41:14 The Dark Side of AI and Social Media44:34 The Use of AI in Social Media Platforms46:18 The Potential Benefits and Limitations of AI48:08 The Controversy of Cover Quotes on Book Jackets53:43 The Frustration with Front Cover Quotes