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How important are book covers?
In this month's (March2012) Writing Mag page 7, there's an article on the importance of a good cover to a book. Any experiences on this? My latest book Deeping Fen, which was reviewed in the WN - Members Club Feb 2012 has a cover based on a painting done by my wife, Erica, who is a wildlife artist. I have my own publishing imprint and design my own covers. This is the first time I have used her work for a cover. Readers have enjoyed the book and it is selling well but many more than usual have commented favourably on the cover. Does a book cover persuade you to buy the book?
Comments
I also don't like embossed ones, they make me think of sensationalism. I get them only if I am sure of the author.
I like matt, silky covers which actually have the power to make my mouth water. Especially if they are tactile.
They also have to be beautiful/excellently designed/with interesting font used/clever.
I won't buy self-published books normally, mainly because of the cover.
i do think self published books need to try harder. Even get a professional in.
If their insides are worth it of course - there is one in our local Waterstone's which is actually illiterate - the book. The cover is ok. I just don't understand why they are selling it - I worry people who buy it will be put of buying 'properly produced books, thinking the quality of publishing has dropped.
[quote=Liz!]i do think self published books need to try harder. Even get a professional in.
[/quote] I do agree with this.
A good book cover also makes a brilliant advertising poster. The cover has to advertise the genre, the style, the intended audience, as well as the subject of the book. In France there is a horrible fashion for literary works to have plain white covers with just words on, which may make your bookshelf look stylish and tidy but really doesn't inspire the random buyer to pick one from another.
It's not just a cover: it's a sales pitch to someone who likes reading, but hasn't decided what to buy yet, and you want them to choose your book above all others - so you really need to get it right.
It's also, once you've hooked your reader, a part of the club they've joined: if you run a series, it's important that they can recognise at first glance that the next book is like the one they so enjoyed last time. It becomes a signature.
So, in answer to your question - vital!
I think the received wisdom regarding order of importance is: 1-title, 2-cover, 3-blurb, 4-page one, 5-the rest of the text. 1-4 sell book 1; 5 sells book 2. Mind you, before all these as an effective marketing tool comes word of mouth and the title and cover being shown on TV.
That's it, in a nutshell.
There are even listopias on Goodreads full of books chosen for their covers.
They say you should never judge a book by it's cover but we all do it.
http://fiona-maddock.blogspot.com/2011/10/neverjudge-book-by-its-cover.html
I quite like them - they've got a nice feel to them when you pick them up - although there's something slightly fetishistic about them that I'm not too sure about.
I'm planning to e-publish if my agent doesn't sell the ms in the next few months. I've approached my dream cover illustrator and she's quoted me an eye-watering fee but I admire her work so much I've sent her the book so she can mull some ideas. Your writing is your legacy, why not make the whole package the best it can be? - (answers self - because you can't even afford to put the heating on).
Perhaps I should rethink. As the protagonists end up wearing rubber banana outfits at a General's Ball out in the Philippines (don't ask ...) then a cartoon of them dressed up would be more intriguing perhaps. I'll see if I can put the pic up and get your comments first.
The anthology wasn't mine - I just had one story in it - so I had nothing to do with the production of the book or any say in the book cover.
The cover of a (UK produced) anthology that I have a story in is great and I'm happy to display it and show it to people. Whereas the one I was referring to in my previous post just embarrasses me.
Just that the cover for our "One Word Challenge Anthology" needs to be as professional as possible, with agreement all round on the format !
Not just the covers it's the contents as well The Chick Lit phenomenon is a good, recent, example. I understand that phase is now fading. As I don't write Chick Lit,I am relieved! What do we think is going to be the next big craze?
You serious?! What did you do?
Just depends who's the first to come up with something different enough to make a publisher willing to take the risk in the current climate.
What a FABULOUS title!