Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Cover Art: Friend or Foe?

I love cover art day, don't you?

I mean, there it is! Your BABY, illustrated for the whole world to see! Those words you've slaved over for hours, days, weeks, months, finally "for real!"

I'll admit I thought I was on the picky side when it came to this stage of the process. I don't mean to be but when I go to the trouble to fill out "cover art sheets" I would hope that the artist on the other end actually sees it.  Sometimes I wonder. But no matter how, um, odd those first iterations might be I have been able so far to get all my covers just the way I want them.

But I've been thinking about what drives me to read more about a book from the zillions and zillions of covers we are bombarded with daily.

Is it Flesh?

Is it intrigue and mystery?

Is it a dog?

I know I like a cover to look uncluttered, with a simple message--not too much going on to hint at the story.

I like some flesh unless the story really doesn't need it.  And frankly, sometimes less, is definitely more.


What makes you choose a book from a bunch of covers?  There is a voting thing (yet another and no none of my covers are in it so you can rest assured this is not Liz, being egregiously self promotional so there) that got me thinking about it. You can vote NOT for your "favorite" but whether or not you'd even read more much less buy the book based on covers in certain categories.  Check it out!
https://jabbic.hbarwa.com/readers/


And forgive a girl a real giggle for These....

13 comments:

widdershins said...

'I'm about to let one ...' *chortles massively!*

Me said...

This is entirely too funny and right on point!

Omegia

Cecilia M. said...

A wonderful article. and those covers..LOL. Loved them. I'm obsessed with covers! Before I buy a book, I go for the cover first, then the blurb, THEN that's when I buy it. Doesn't matter how much the book costs, as long as those two pass my critical eye..it's a done deal.

Jessica Subject said...

These are hilarious! :)The models and positioning does make a difference, but I look to the background as well. Need just the right combination, which doesn't always happen.

Tasha Turner said...

Oh just too funny. I loved these. I needed a laugh today. Thank you for providing it.

Michael Offutt, Tebow Cult Initiate said...

Wow. These should so be the titles of real books on shelves. I think people seeing them would do a "double-take".

Melissa said...

This is why the older books were called bodice rippers and women were embarassed to read them. Now the book covers today are hot and we can't get enough of a great cover and a great story. Yea Liz!

Liz said...

I would give ANYTHING to have written something called "Kangaroo Gang Bang" alas, it's already taken.

Liz said...

Michael! Where is that photo of you Tebowing over your computer keyboard??? *taps fingers*

Bianca Swan said...

Love it!! Thanks for making Wednesday not such a bad day. I am still laughing.

Denise Verrico said...

I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. The Scotsman in the mullet is inspired.

Christopher said...

Those are absolutely fantastic covers. With titles like this, I might almost consider purchasing them just to leave them somewhere random.

Artists have to be so careful to be sure that their hard work doesn't evoke something completely different. But you know, when it does, it's so often hilarious. :)

Authors Promoting Authors said...

Thanks Liz for giving us some hilarity and making a very pointed statement about cover art! :o)