The importance of book covers
All of us have favorite authors, and when one of their books comes out, we go to the bookstore and buy it. But what about those times when our fav author is "between books" and we're on the prowl for something to read, something new from someone new. Unless you've had some "must read" recommendations from your book buddies, you're on your own.
So what do you look for when you're cruising the shelves? Something that catches your eye, right? And in my opinion, nothing grabs attention like a good cover. In fact, it's critical.
We all have our cover preferences -- that cover style that tells us "this is your kind of book, buy it now!" Ideally, the cover conveys the type, tone and target. The type of book (epic fantasy, urban, paranormal, etc.). Tone -- meaning serious, light & fun or somewhere in between. The target for cover art is its target audience, and the publisher and their artist/designer for that particular book include elements that the people who buy that kind of book will find irresistible. It's an art. Kudos to the designers and artists.
I find my cover irresistible. ; ) Aleta Rafton (the artist for MLTF) rocks! It's exactly the kind of book I'd want to read, and if I were a reader and not the author, I'd snatch it off the shelf in a hearbeat. Others find my cover cheesy, but still loved the book. It's all about preference. One person's fabulous is another person's cheesy.
So what do you look for when you're cruising the shelves? Something that catches your eye, right? And in my opinion, nothing grabs attention like a good cover. In fact, it's critical.
We all have our cover preferences -- that cover style that tells us "this is your kind of book, buy it now!" Ideally, the cover conveys the type, tone and target. The type of book (epic fantasy, urban, paranormal, etc.). Tone -- meaning serious, light & fun or somewhere in between. The target for cover art is its target audience, and the publisher and their artist/designer for that particular book include elements that the people who buy that kind of book will find irresistible. It's an art. Kudos to the designers and artists.
I find my cover irresistible. ; ) Aleta Rafton (the artist for MLTF) rocks! It's exactly the kind of book I'd want to read, and if I were a reader and not the author, I'd snatch it off the shelf in a hearbeat. Others find my cover cheesy, but still loved the book. It's all about preference. One person's fabulous is another person's cheesy.
posted by Lisa Shearin at
8:28 AM
4 Comments:
I loved your cover, and it conveyed the mood of your book perfectly. However, not all authors are so lucky. The author who I just featured had a cover which, in my opinion, conveyed the impression that it was a very different sort of book.
Thank you! I knew I was going to like it even before I saw it -- soon after I signed with Ace Books, I went to my fav local bookstore and checked out all the Ace covers. Every last one of them were stunning. I couldn't wait to see what mine would look like. Now I'm waiting to see the cover for Armed & Magical. I'll open that JPEG like a kid ripping into a gift on Christmas morning. ; )
Yes, Lisa, lucked out with her cover! I'm visually focused, so cover art is a big deal to me. When my author Blog Buddies get stuck with a lousy cover, I really feel for them.
:o(
I certainly don't think I can do a better job than an artist. I can't create art. I just know what I like when I see it.
Cover art is important. I saw the cover for MLTF while opening the DC, and I liked the look. While I enjoy artists like Elmore and Royo, I always wondered who fought in those outfits. There's no functionality to them.
Raine looked like a practical, competent person, not a bimbo. Even if she probably does have a pommel bruise on her breast from sitting down with that sheath setup. Slower draw from there too, but hey, most people don't run around all weekend in garb to even think about that. I will stop being a stage combat anachronarc now, I promise.
Speaking of good covers 'Resenting the Hero' had great art too. I can't remember if that's another ACE title, but I wouldn't be surprised.
But good cover art doesn't do you much good once it is on the shelves. Unless you are one of the chosen ones, or you have your friends/fans go into bookstores and make your title a face-out(always a good idea, btw), all the book browser has to go by is the title and any spine art. You have both on MLTF, and I'd make sure they do it again with A&M.
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