I recently redecorated my bedroom. This was a task I’d long put off because, quite frankly, I couldn’t make up my mind. Not because of a dearth of bedding options, which is the focal point of the room, but because I wanted something specific — something I was having trouble finding.

Kids’ bedding is full of color and vibrancy, while adult bedding tends to be bland and boring. I find this fascinating, because if anyone needs to be reminded to have fun, it’s adults. And although I concur with experts who say one’s bedroom should be a place of tranquility, I clearly disagree about how to achieve that.

So, the search went on, as I combed through pages and pages of bedding choices until I finally found something colorful and interesting. Something that would make me feel like I was in a tropical paradise somewhere — my idea of relaxation.

What on Earth does this have to do with book publishing, you ask? More than you think.

I’m talking about covers, after all.

Spending the past week revamping the WMG Publishing inventory system gave me an opportunity to look at our products from a broader point of view, including taking in our covers as a whole.

As we evaluate our current covers — redesigning some of them — and conceptualize new ones, we’ll keep in mind what those covers say about the book contained within them. We’ll consider the colors, images and fonts we use to see if they’re sending the right message. After all, a book can have a great-looking cover, but if the message it sends is hard-boiled mystery while the book itself is a paranormal romance, well folks, we have a problem. Similarly, if a great book has a so-so cover, we’re not doing the content justice.

So, keep an eye on the WMG Publishing website and check out all the new and revamped books coming your way. We’ll feature a couple regularly at the top of our home page.

And don’t forget to take a peek under the covers, too.

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Allyson Longueira is publisher of WMG Publishing. She is an award-winning writer, editor and designer.