Reviews | Allenjomocjr-designs

Responsive, courteous, humble, and gifted, Allen is above all a good listener. After comprehending the contextual relevance of a piece of artwork I had submitted, Allen was quickly able to redesign a striking cover that reflected perfectly the thematic current of my collection of short stories, especially one in particular, while maintaining the necessary organic integrity of the original sketch. I feel fortunate to have worked with Allen, and I look forward to doing so again.

Marisa Labozzetta

author of the novels Sometimes It Snows in America and Stay With Me, Lella; the collection of short stories, At the Copa; and her latest collection of linked stories, Thieves Never Steal in the Rain. She is a two-time Eric Hoffer Award winner, a John Gardner Fiction Book Award Finalist, and a Pushcart Prize nominee.

Allen Jomoc understood the controlling metaphor of my novel. The singular, arresting image he created raises questions about the book's title that, it suggests, only reading the book can answer. I couldn't have asked for a more intriguing and visually powerful cover, and a more engaged, gifted and patient collaborator.

George Guida

author of the critically acclaimed novel The Uniform

My novel If I Didn't Care tells of two women, one black and one white, raising sons in the years of strong racial segregation from Pearl Harbor (1941) to Brown v. Board of Education (1954). Allen Jomoc Jr. did an outstanding job of designing the cover for my novel, but arriving at a fitting design demanded that we do repeated reworkings. The complex problems of mothers raising sons in a racially segregated America, the difficult and often violent experience of African-American military troops in World War II, and the Jim Crow strictures preceding school integration in 1954 had to be illustrated in the book cover by visual means, not verbal ones. Allen Jomoc Jr. produced an excellent final copy, as approved by both the author and the chief editor. His design touches carefully on sensitive and lasting social themes.

Roger McKnight

author and a professor of Scandinavian Studies. He has published several books.

I had the pleasure of working with Allen on the design of my book, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the process and the outcome. From start to finish, working with Allen felt incredibly natural and easy. He provided me with four exceptional options for book covers to choose from, each showcasing his creativity and attention to detail. I found a cover that resonated with me immediately, and with Allen's expertise, we refined it to perfection through just a few email exchanges. His timely responses and professional demeanor made the entire collaboration seamless and enjoyable. I wholeheartedly recommend Allen to anyone seeking a skilled and dedicated book designer. Thank you for your exceptional work!

Ivan Lesay

Former State Secretary, Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic. His debut novel Topography of Pain was published in 2020 and received the prestigious 3rd place in the Slovak National Book of the Year 2020 award.

My editor at Guernica Editions and I both wanted a cover that would stand out from the basic run of the mill, overly pastel, blah covers that seem to be common on books these days. We described what we wanted to Allen, and in no time at all, he came up with a working first draft. I suggested adding a wren to the cover which he incorporated, and then it was done. Perfect!

The cover Allen finally came up with is beautiful. I love it!

Dave Carty

Professional writer who's crafted over 1000 articles for a host of national publicationships. He recently published Red Is The Fastest Color.

When readers see my book cover, I want them to feel enticed into entering the fictional space of my story. That is exactly what Allen Jomoc accomplished with the cover for my novel, Ivory Black. Brushes dripping with black and white paint stand before dreamy swirls of gray and white, inviting prospective readers to immerse themselves in the story about a painter who uses his art to deal with trauma and loss. A book might be authored by one person, but it takes a team to make it succeed. I’m very fortunate to have an artist as gifted as Allen on my team. Working with him was a delight, and I hope to work with him again.

Brian Duren

author of the Whiteout, won the Independent Publisher Gold Medal for MidwesternFiction. His second novel, Ivory Black, is forthcoming from Guernica Editions.

Allen Jomoc has a rare talent for blending powerful imagery with graphic elements of deep significance, effortlessly conveying the essence of a book's story to readers. Working with Allen was not only gratifying but easy . . . in fact, the only difficulty I encountered was in deciding which one of his thrillingly creative concepts to use for the cover of the book. I highly recommend him!

Qin Sun Stubis

author of the historical nonfiction epic, Once Our Lives

As a first time author, I was thrilled to work with Allen on the cover of my memoir - All Creatures Weird and Dangerous. The consummate professional, he worked through numerous iterations to transform a photo into a work of art that captured the essence of my work.

Timm Otterson

DVM,MS, author of All Creatures Weird and Dangerous, 2022 release from Guernica Editions

Allen is a wonderful designer! He took our ideas and made them so much more. I’m very pleased with my book cover’s quiet dignity and surprising punch. We truly appreciate Allen’s energy and talent.

Nina Barragan

Author of the forthcoming memoir, Printmaker’s Daughter, Painter’s Wife

What impressed me about Jomoc's cover for my novel was its artistic elegance while also conveying the earthiness of the 1910 Mexican revolution.

Jerome R. Adams

Author of Across the Face of the Storm

I couldn't be more thrilled with the beautiful cover design Allen Jomoc created for my novel, 37. Allen was able to capture the essence of the entire novel with a compelling graphic. This was no easy task since 37 is a combination of contemporary fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction, magical realism, and short stories! In addition to Allen creating stellar cover art and design, he was also so patient and kind throughout the process as my publisher and I requested many tweaks to the design, color, fonts, etc. I am so happy with the book cover! I have received many, many positive comments about it, how unique it is and how it draws the reader in, and even how somehow Allen worked his magic to make it look as if the cover actually is lit and glowing from within! I highly recommend Allen and would gladly work with him again on future projects.

Joy Cohen

Award-winning writer and educator. Author of three published works of non-fiction, and many theatrical scripts, video scripts, teleplays, and screenplays. Author of novel, 37

Allen Jomoc is a very talented fine artist and graphic designer. He is a hardworking gentleman who is willing to go the extra mile working with clients to realize their dreams and vision. He has designed cover photos for many authors and publishing companies and have a remarkable experience in this regard.

Dotun Adelekan

Author of Redeemer, On May 14, 2019. The conference of Musical Educators in Nigeria (COMEN) gave an award of recognition to Engr. ‘Dotun Adelekan for his contributions in Church Music Compositions and promoting the Musical Arts in Leaps and Bounds.

I was thrilled beyond expectation with the work that Allen Jomoc did for the cover of my novel, River. He clearly had a strong sense of the book, and was also focused on helping me articulate what I envisaged--what I hoped the cover would capture and convey. Allen said from the outset that he would not rest until I was happy with the cover; he produced a range of possibilities and worked with me to narrow the choices, and then hone the vision. He was tireless in his efforts and it was clear to me that his goal really was to arrive at a final cover that left me feeling not only satisfied, but fully delighted. It was an absolute pleasure working with Allen on the book cover and I hope to work with him again on future books. His talent, deep experience, artistic expertise, sensitivity and commitment to his work are superb and I recommend him highly and without reservation.

Shira Nayman, Psy.D.

Author of RIVER, Cape Branch Emerging Woman Writer Award

The Harbinger Mystery Thriller Collectio

What a brilliant professional. Allen did an outstanding job on the initial cover and then was ready and eager to make the adjustments I needed for the final product. With attention to detail and prompt communications it has been an absolute delight to work with Allen and I would do so again in a heartbeat :-)

Carolyn McCray

Author of Plain Jane, Amazon Bestseller

Allen has a talent to create a bookcover that not only captures what the book is about but creates a bookcover that is amongst some of the best in the market today.

Lorhainne Eckhart

Author of Lost and Found, Amazon Bestseller

Allen immediately offered me a selection of compelling initial cover images, and then we worked together to fine-tune the image I selected, creating the visual atmosphere I was after—he’s open-minded, creative, professional, easy to work with, and quick to understand exactly what I wanted for the cover.

Mark Fishman

Author of Thirteen Heavens, Chicago Review, the Carolina Quarterly