tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post5431329135916341856..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Selling a Book By Its CoverDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-2103281737991530072012-09-21T16:21:50.380-06:002012-09-21T16:21:50.380-06:00I'm fortunate with my publisher that I actuall...I'm fortunate with my publisher that I actually have some input to what I would like to see on my covers. Many don't with traditional publishers. I agree, you DO judge a book by its cover. I'll often pick up a book because of how it looks.Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-48180792962462500542012-09-21T15:32:24.505-06:002012-09-21T15:32:24.505-06:00Like Christopher, I'm going to say that most p...Like Christopher, I'm going to say that most people ignore the advice not to judge a book by its cover. In fact, we do exactly that.<br /><br />The cover on my first novel is a real dud, and I still haven't come up with one that suits me or the story. The cover on my second book, however, is a winner with a major "WOW!" factor. Now if I can just apply that to the first one when I get around to doing a revision of the interior . . .Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-15642341420521592502012-09-21T14:27:35.917-06:002012-09-21T14:27:35.917-06:00I've read of several authors who have made lem...I've read of several authors who have made lemonade out of their cover fiascos. They used the bad cover as promotional gimmicks. One had what she called "The Pillsbury Doughboy" as her cover hero, another had a heroine who had three arms, and a third had a serious amount of pink on a story that wasn't about fluffy bunnies and moonbeams. <br /><br />Each said essentially, "Sure, this is a stinky cover, but buy the book anyway."<br /><br />Another had his Western novel's cowboy hero in a pink shirt! He had a caption this cover contest which was really funny.<br /><br />I've had my own series of near disasters with covers including an artist who didn't understand that covers are iconic to their genre and wanted to put an action adventure cover on my romantic suspense. One who didn't have a clue about science fiction and wanted to put a flying plate UFO on a space opera. Another gave me the now infamous "Galactic Grope" cover which looked like a man's fingers pinching the nipple of a gigantic breast rather than a man's shackled hands reaching for a star. <br /><br />Since someone always wants to see this cover after I mention it, here's a link:<br /><br />http://marilynnbyerly.com/firstcover.html<br /><br />In one case, I actually commissioned an artist myself because my publisher's artists simply didn't get what science fiction is. <br /><br />And I definitely agree that someone who has true talent in graphic design and covers should create that cover instead of the author using some stock photo and bad lettering.<br /><br />According to publishing studies, the cover is an author's biggest promotional tool, and it's foolish not to have a good one.<br />Marilynn Byerlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16720129999636676998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-6809441536008458542012-09-21T11:50:53.188-06:002012-09-21T11:50:53.188-06:00As an avid reader and sometimes artist, I agree th...As an avid reader and sometimes artist, I agree that the cover aids in sales immensely.<br /><br />On a personal/story note, Debby, I have read the adept books and loved the aromas that the "adept's" mother uses: sandalwood and cinnamon. I have adopted using those after reading about it. Very nice!Danyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04202277039276715818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-30336083454623758962012-09-21T09:43:14.469-06:002012-09-21T09:43:14.469-06:00Great post - I'm still giggling at the fat fam...Great post - I'm still giggling at the fat famous five going caving. ;)<br /><br />I can vouch for the fact that cover art sells books (and bad cover art doesn't). Years ago now, a certain publisher (name withheld to protect the guilty) put out an ebook of two of my gay male stories with a tasteful picture of a female nude on the front cover.<br /><br />Needless to say, it sold in tiny quantities and I haven't been back to that publisher since...Fiona Glasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03906545058188198820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-85895189487629501932012-09-21T09:29:37.304-06:002012-09-21T09:29:37.304-06:00A bad cover can KILL a sale, no question about it....A bad cover can KILL a sale, no question about it. It's also true that not every writer can judge a good cover. It's the same school of thought as "I may not know art, but I know what I like." Don't even think about applying that mindset to your book cover. Hire a professional - there are plenty of affordable ones today. If you have a book that isn't selling, why not re-do the cover? Bet it helps.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-46559255438944799922012-09-21T08:16:56.544-06:002012-09-21T08:16:56.544-06:00They say, 'Don't judge a book by it's ...They say, 'Don't judge a book by it's cover' ... but we still do.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-19464415053453840942012-09-21T08:03:06.020-06:002012-09-21T08:03:06.020-06:00I couldn't agree more. I just received the fir...I couldn't agree more. I just received the first draft of my book cover and it looks incredible. Will it help sell books? I think so. :)Jodi Carmichaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00744726333983892310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-82979032897400358892012-09-21T07:13:55.140-06:002012-09-21T07:13:55.140-06:00There certainly are a number of wonderful tools an...There certainly are a number of wonderful tools and options for writers who want to disconnect from the gatekeepers of big publishing. BUT. A good book still needs competent copy-editing and cover art. It always saddens me a bit when I get a book that obviously has not been copy-edited at all.Alanhttp://libdronemuses.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-40621712884792484292012-09-21T06:43:07.292-06:002012-09-21T06:43:07.292-06:00I agree about the importance of having a cover des...I agree about the importance of having a cover designed by someone who actually has experience in the art. It isn't enough to just slap text on a nice photo. I am so happy with the covers my publisher has done for the Seasons Series. Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-80194490256704843842012-09-21T06:33:01.481-06:002012-09-21T06:33:01.481-06:00Good post, Debby. I find it interesting that many ...Good post, Debby. I find it interesting that many who dove right in to self publishing for the freedom to have "artistic control"—designing their own covers—didn't know that they would land knee-deep in ineptitude. Like writing, some things look deceptively easy to others—and designing a great book cover is one of them. Yes, there are some clunkers in the world of the traditionally published, to be sure. I just hope that when my cover is designed, it will be by someone who specializes in just that.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.com