No matter what, it should say “Buy Me.”

March 02, 2011

Readers do judge a book by its cover. Most authors don’t have any say in the design, so they have to trust their publisher to hire the right people for the job.

The best book covers speak for the book in a single image.

Some depict a scene from the book, make you ask “What the eff is going on?”

Others simply say “Beautiful.”

Or even the occasional “Huh?”

(I had to look up the meaning to her cover. I’m still scratching my head.)

At times they, whisper sweet nothings in your ear…

Or make you “Purrrr.”

But the ones you least expect, say “Surprise!”

I have no idea what my book cover will say one day. I can't even imagine what it will look like. But no matter what, I hope it says "buy me."

10 comments

Nicole McMarch 2, 2011 at 6:18 AM
Ill buy it no matter what!!

And yea, I put off reading The Hunger games for a while because the cover did not appeal. Mistake!!!

I still remember buying Twilight. I read it before it was HUGE. In fact, no one I knew had even read it! So long ago! Definitely not the case now! :)
ReplyDelete
Dana ElmendorfMarch 2, 2011 at 6:26 AM
OLBFF's are always good for one future book sale.

I put off reading the Hunger Games too because I thought the cover looked to Military-ish...boy was I wrong. One of my favorite books.

I saw the Twilight movie, and then found out they were books. It was the first book I had read in YEARS, like 15 years. So people can trash the book and movie all they want but it got this little momma reading again. (Not that I have ever been a big reader before, but I am now.)
ReplyDelete
KarenGMarch 2, 2011 at 9:46 AM
And one thing I'm noticing is that the trend to ebooks hasn't diminished the importance of the cover, if anything it has made it even more crucial to get the tone and idea of the story across. Great post! These covers so perfectly express what you're saying, too. They are all incredible.
ReplyDelete
Dana ElmendorfMarch 2, 2011 at 10:54 AM
Karen I wish I was the genius who designed the covers. Like you said, the "tone" they emanate is perfect. And I'm just not buying into this whole ebook trend. Guess I'll be like the older generation of people who refuse to have email. I'll probably buy paper until the day I die.
ReplyDelete
Catherine DentonMarch 2, 2011 at 2:43 PM
Haha. Agreed! I'll admit, a few books have said those exact words to me.
My Blog
ReplyDelete
Bethany MattinglyMarch 2, 2011 at 2:49 PM
Great points. I can't really imagine mine either; there are so many options.
ReplyDelete
Kathi Oram PetersonMarch 2, 2011 at 3:56 PM
You're right. Author's don't have a say in their book covers. I've been very lucky. I received the cover of my new book last Thursday and I was thrilled. Lucky! You bet!
ReplyDelete
Dana ElmendorfMarch 2, 2011 at 5:35 PM
Catherine, it's like the designer was in our head or something....hmmm.

Bethany, at least you have options. I'm not even sold on my Title yet. I need to get this second draft finished so I can see my cover a little more clearly.

Kathi, that's great! I can't imagine the fear. Some book covers out there are sad pathetic little boogers. I wonder how often authors are disappointed?
ReplyDelete
RenaeMarch 2, 2011 at 7:22 PM
I am so guilty of judging a book by its cover. I love books that pull me in with a beautiful package.

Great points!
ReplyDelete
Dana ElmendorfMarch 3, 2011 at 6:54 AM
Renae, guilt or post purchase anger. Like when you let a cover ~coerce~ you into buying it and...it sucks. Happened to me recently with a popular book.
ReplyDelete