We've all heard the phrase all our lives "don't judge a book by it's cover",
but when it comes to an actual book,
DO YOU ?????
It's been awhile, but it's time for a Rant of the Day!
Since getting free ebooks for my tablet, I have come to a pretty frightening conclusion: publicists, and apparently authors, are no longer obsessing over book covers. Especially when it comes to ebooks. And it bugs the bejeezus out of me! BIG TIME. As it does many fellow bookaholics, I'm sure.
How'd I come to that conclusion?
Check out this cover:
Nothing against Victoria, or her publisher, but I have seen this cover art/typography for TWO YEARS on countless books- I even had one I reviewed (Primary Victim, back in 2010)- and have seen it literally on SIX ebooks alone in the past 2 months. Now with Primary Victim, the cover fit. But on some of the books, it doesn't really seem to.
So why the same cover?
Is it laziness on the publishing company to not get a cover that MATCHES a book?
The author for not insisting on cover approval?
Or a combination of both?
SIGH.......
So to my author friends, want to be authors, and blog readers, can I make a couple of suggestions about the book cover, for rumination and future use?
1. Your cover SELLS your book. PERIOD.
I don't care if you have written the best novel in the history of the written word, if your cover doesn't attract attention, people are NOT gonna pick it up and read the synopsis, and buy the book to read.
Your cover needs to GRAB the reader to be's attention. Take for example this cover:
Simple isn't it?
2. OWN your cover!
Seriously, with all the photo editing programs and apps out there, authors you should use your OWN picture (hey you have the copyright, woohoo), so that YOU know the picture MATCHES your story. Find a font that works, play with the size, and make the reader WANT to read your book.
Sell your cover as part of the book. Take ownership of how your book is presented to the world at large!
3. Make your typography speak volumes!
Not a photographer? Could care less about that perfect picture?
Get the right typography and colors and make them sell your book. Take this book:
What stands out to you?
Yup- the title, loud and clear. Author's name? Easy to read and find! Again, there are COUNTLESS programs out there to play around with and find the style you are looking for.
Ok you say, but my book is different. Ok then- go old school:
4. Art is your friend!
If you can draw, then draw the fairies, house, room, etc, that makes your story special.
Can't draw?
Enlist family and friends, and the starving art school student, if need be.
From personal experience, I would also add, check out your local high school art class. You might be pretty surprised how teen angst makes for some excellent artists! When we held a contest to do a program cover for our festival, we were literally blown away and the quality and maturity of the pieces. Plus you know their family and friends will buy the book, because of the artwork!
So there you have it. My four EASY suggestions to authors and want to be authors, and their publicists and book companies.
PLEASE from the bottom of all our bookaholic hearts, help us judge a book by its cover and get us to READ the book!
What are YOUR thoughts on the topic?
Now is your chance to vent and be heard!
*** Disclosure: I have NOT read any of the books shown in this post. BUT I have downloaded Jump Cut, because YES, it grabbed my attention ***
I am a highly visual person and one of the first things I notice with a book is the cover. This makes me want to turn it over and read the back. If you have a boring cover, why would I want to take the time to see what it's about...unless you are a well known author. For lesser-known writers, you better make your cover stand out...and in a good way.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing- I think alot of bookaholics are visual at heart too!
DeleteI had to take a second look at The Crimson League book, because that is the same cover on the book Heart of a Hero, a children's book about a dog who endures a lot until she finds her purfect owner.
ReplyDeleteWeird...and doesn't sound like it matches the book either!
DeleteThanks for reading and commenting!
Hey, stopping by from SITS! I definitely judge books by their covers and quite frankly- their fonts as well! Much like blogs, the initial visual impression tells the reader quite a bit even more the content has time to sink in.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this one. I judge a book by its cover and am very much less likely to read it if I've seen the cover before or if it doesn't grab my attention.
ReplyDelete