It got me thinking though, what would happen if I hated my cover. What would I do? I guess I'd just have to accept it. I'm the author, not the cover artist.
But, my God, wouldn't it suck?
As a reader, I'm drawn to pretty covers. Of course, if I don't like the blurb and excerpt, I won't buy it. But the cover is the first step for me. Below is a selection from my ebook collection. All of them have eye-catching covers (and all of them are hot books!)
E-publishing used to have a bad name for cover art, but I think we can safely say that has changed dramatically over the last year or so. These covers are hot and classy, the same covers that you would see on the erotic romance shelf in your local bookstore.
So what about you? As a reader, do you go straight for the pretty covers? Would you buy solely on a good cover, or do you need to see the blurb and excerpt?
Writers- how important is your cover to you? Would you reject a cover if you didn't like it? Do you find a good cover has any bearings on the popularity of the book?
Before I go, I'll leave you with my cover. Power releases on the 4th of July and I can hardly wait!
Have a great Sunday everyone!
10 comments:
As a reader, I try not to judge a book by its cover. Some of the ugliest books have the best stories! Still, I admit a bad cover does make me more wary.
As an author, I will (and have) rejected a bad cover. It's only happened once, but the new version was MUCH more in line with my vision for the book, and I think the cover artist was more pleased with it as well.
Oh I love their covers at Cobblestone! Everything is so unique and too I find them so matching to the stories! I've seen wonderful covers at EC, Samhain and others! Too I've seen covers that didn't appeal to me, maybe like cartoonish, or blurry or just not able to figure out what the genre or theme is from the cover. I know some say that the cover doesn't make the book, but it sure does make the package of the book! Having a great cover tells the reader of its professionalism, the genre/theme, then got the blurb to see if its what you'd like to read and then you got the book within it. So thats the package! And I love seeing it all.
I think if I was an author and the cover didn't match to the story or wasn't professional, I'd ask for another cover and give details. Good probably to have it in the contract I'd assume, that you have the right to reject a cover that didn't match the story or wasn't professional and had the right to have another cover made and not limited to once, but until its acceptable to you as the writer.
So far your covers have rocked! Gosh I babbling today, LOL. You have a great Sunday too, its nice and quiet here at home!
I love your cover, Ava Rose. Can't wait to read what is inside now that I've seen the cover. You're right, the cover is the first step. And I have got to say, there are some very sexy covers on in the e pub world now.
Those are some nice covers, but you have to admit that the world of epublishing in general has some really really had ones. I don't care so much for epublishing covers, I have to admit if I'm sure that I'll like the contents, but I would NOT buy something with green aliens in bed with cartoon women (and yes, I've seen that) or hideously imagined so-called-mermen (yes...) if I wasn't sure.
The standard appears to be improving though.
When it comes to print books, however I have very pointed views. I consider that the cover is not only the first impression (obviously) for your prospective buyer - but a cover should be its own promotion. And what's the point of that if the person who just bought it is too embarrassed to take it out with her on the bus - or doesn't dare leave it around the house in the fear that someone sees it
Ransom, for example, by Lee Rowan has a really dreadful cover (and the author knows I think so and agrees) and I nearly didn't buy it because of that. I only bought it because it was next to my own book on Amazon on the "buy Ransom with Standish" section so I was curious enough to read the blurb and consequently bought it - and very glad I did.
There's nothing much you can do if youdon't like your cover, but it looks like you are lucky in your publisher and they do better than most.
Erastes--
I've been hesitant to buy books with terrible covers too, but a few times I have found the book to be great once I get past the cover. There's one particular m/m book I've been considering buying on Amazon for ages, but the cover is so awful I just can't bring myself to buy it. It's probably a great book, but I couldn't take it anywhere...
The first thing I look at is the cover. I just love a beautiful cover.
Mary Suzanne
Exactly, Cassandra. I don't travel on the bus/train any more, but I would have trouble with many books if I did. A friend of mine uses a removable dust jacket from another book which completely defeats the object of having someone buy it.
M/M is notorious, and I don't get it. Het romances don't necessarily have to have naked M/F on the cover so why the heck does M/M?
I have done two polls recently discussing this and the overwhelming response is that people don't want embarrassing covers.
Cover art is important for catching the eye. There are so many books to read that many great reads get passed by due to uneyecatching cover art. The only time I ignore cover art is if it's an author I'm already familiar with or I'm specificly looking for a certain title. Just my 2 cents, Bridget
I AM going to judge a book by it's cover. Especialy mine LOL! Cover art shoudl NOT suck this day and age. And if you don't like your cover, fix it! THe publisher has to feel comfortable with it and so do you. I don't promote my REB covers because the covers aren't all that, but I do promote the books beccause the stories are worth it, otherwise I wouldn't have written them lol!
Have a great day!
It's hard being a reader AND a cover artist :D I am naturally drawn to all things visual and now having an inside perspective of the 'cover' industry I often find myself studying them LOL!
I do agree that there are some really bad covers out there and I often shake my head at what the artist, let alone the publishers were thinking. My heart goes out to many an Author who must be crying 'My career is ruined' LOL.
I've only ever had one Author come back to me requesting a new cover. It wasn't because the cover was of poor quality. It just didn't portray the storyline as she would have liked.
However, on the Cover Artists side of things - please remember that we are not mind readers. Try to give as much information about what you would like to see on your cover. Everything from colour to birthmarks LOL!
The majority of cover artists, believe it or not, do aim to please.
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