Every publisher and every author wants the front of their book cover
to draw reviewers and readers. I have some thoughts on the topic. I’ll
start by example.
My latest novel, DEATH PROMISE, a romantic suspense
mystery thriller, will be published by Encircle on May 2, 2018 .
http://encirclepub.com/product/death-promise/
It’s already available in pre-order from Amazon
both in print and as a Kindle book.
Why was this cover selected? First, let me say that
much thought went into the creation. From the cover, readers know immediately
that this novel features a romance between a man and a woman. Second, from the
cover there is a suggestion of danger--the city at night, the woman holding a
gun. Third, it’s clear the novel is intended for an adult readership. I
particularly wanted that distinction because I also write YA novels, and unlike
those books, DEATH PROMISE does contain some sensual material.
As readers, do you initially judge a book by its
cover? It stands to reason that writers want to create an appealing cover that
draws the eye. Cover art can make or break a book especially if the author
isn’t well-known. What kind of front cover will grab the reader’s attention?
What kind of cover art should a book display? A lot depends on the genre of the book itself.
The cover should be appropriate to the type of book. A basic question to ask:
is the book going to be sold on the shelf of a bookstore or is it going to be
available only online? Is the novel going to be a hardcover, trade, paperback
or e-book?
With hardcover fiction books,
as with all others, the cover needs to fit the genre, be attractive, while the
title should be easy to read and intriguing. Cover art needs to play fair with
readers so that they don’t feel cheated when they select a book.
Paperbacks need simplicity in
covers. The artwork should also support the title and the genre. E-book covers shouldn’t
be too fussy or busy either. The old saying “less is more” works best for a
book cover that’s displayed online. A short title with a large, easily readable
font and bright contrasting colors shows up well on the computer screen. Publishers
want to avoid covers that are complicated and hard to read. Plain, simple
graphics are preferable.
What
are the qualities of a good cover?
We
are able to read the title and author and all subheadings with ease.
The
image that doesn't interfere with the written information.
The
book cover is memorable: simple
yet vivid and pleasing to the eye.
The theme is expressed by the image and in keeping with the genre of the book.
The bottom line for good book covers is that they make you want to read what's between them.
What are your feelings
regarding cover art? What draws or attracts you to a novel? What do you dislike
or prefer not to see?
