When I browse the book aisle or a website selling books, it’s the cover that catches my attention first. You could call it he bait on the hook. I then read the blurb on the back and if I like it, chances are, I’m going to buy the book.
I realize some awesome books are hidden under not so great covers, but chances are, unless they come highly recommended, I won't read them.
A cover must capture my imagination. It must make me curious as to what’s behind it. Color is also important. Too pink? Won’t read it. Yellow… um that means hazard. I once didn’t read a book because the cover model looked nothing like the man in the blurb. Nothing. Not even close.
If it’s this important to me as a reader, my book covers are a thousand times more
important to me as a writer. Most of you know a writer has very little say in picking the cover of his or her book.
After you’ve written the book, it’s been contracted and you’re working on galleys, the big day finally comes: You receive an image of your book cover via email.
I remember the anticipation and trepidation I felt as my finger hovered over the ‘open’ button like it was yesterday.
So far I’ve been lucky. Angela Anderson has done both of my book covers and I love them.
- David’s happy trail is missing on the cover of AFTER HOURS, but really, that’s a minor detail.-
But not every author is so lucky. Cover Café had a ‘Worst Cover’ contest. The covers in this blog are number two and three. Here is the winner:
Have you ever read a book that was far better than it's cover? What made you look past to the pages withint?
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6 comments:
Someone needs to nominate my Soft As Moonlight cover for this award. Seriously. Of all my covers, it's the one that makes me cringe and die a little on the inside.
When I got it, I didn't realize I could ask for another (another author at my press advised me of this after the fact) or I would have done so.
You're absolutely correct, however. Covers do sell stories. I've actually had someone on Goodreads say they purchased A Kiss Before Dying from the cover art alone.
Ah, A Kiss Before Dying has an awesome cover!
I didn't realize some presses would let you request another cover. That's great! In my experience, unless they spell your name wrong, or there is a glaring error, you get what you get. : )
Off to go take another look at Soft as Moonlight. ; )
Angela's done most of my TWRP covers, too. She's amazing! I guess I'm shallow -- if I think the cover is bad, I usually don't look further. That's a shame, because I'm sure I've missed some great reads.
Getting a cover that sucks is one thing I have to say I've thought about. Nice to know there's a potential at least to ask for another one. You don't get what you don't ask for! They can only say no, right? If I'm familiar with an author, the cover doesn't matter. If not, I'll go mainly on the blurb, but if the cover doesn't reinforce the picture I've gotten in my head from the blurb, I'll probably pass. Of course, some covers are more eye catching right off the bat ;).
Covers do sell books. When it comes to e-books I'm more apt to read the excerpts and choose which books to read because of that. I know of a lot of covers that simply didn't sing to me, but the books were amazing.
If the book and the cover were awful, I'll skip the author the second time. *sigh.
Hey Lynne
Yes, I judge a book by its cover and title. Both has to be appealing for me to turn it around and read the blurb. Sad but true, because I agree, I probably missed a good few books out there already.
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