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| COVER BY GEMINI JUDSON- UP FOR EPIC'S ARIANA AWARDS FOR COVER ART- FROM WHISKEY CREEK PRESS |
For me, a cover should have colors I like, a theme that appeals to me, and letters than are pleasing to the eye. I admit I prefer "pretty" covers. Since I don't select horror or anything very frightening to read, then it follows that red blood, a dead person, or anything resembling pain or death really turns me off.
Choosing a hard copy of a book is easy--it's right there in front of me, I can pick it up, turn it over, and run my fingers over the cover. I can flip the pages and determine if I like the font, the spacing, oh, and several more picky little things. Each of us has our own list of likes and dislikes, and each of us is entitled to choose how we wish.
With eBooks, though--precisely romance eBooks--the game changes. We can't feel the book, but we can see the cover. In fact, the cover may be the most important thing about your book. Yes, I truly believe that.
When I discovered the small presses and realized the possibility existed for me to get a book published, I knew I had some choices to make. Since I'm picky about covers, and I'm old enough to do what I want, I studied publishers before I selected one for my very first submission. Yes, that's right. I chose the publisher most likely to give me a cover I liked. Curious to know which publisher that was? It's no secret, for anyone can find out by publishing dates of my books on Amazon--every single one is there.
The publisher was The Wild Rose Press. The covers were beautiful, for the most part, very well done, professional, and enticing. I studied the Home Page where numerous covers were all in neat rows and out of a dozen, there were maybe one or two I didn't like so much. Those, as I recall, were in a category of stories I just didn't care for. It follows, right?Why am I so very careful to choose a publisher that shows covers I like? Besides the cover giving me a hint about the contents, I also envision my own books in print. Fortunately, The Wild Rose Press offered prints as well as eBooks, so all was well.
Still, the publisher must sell eBooks, and the competition is fierce, isn't it? Look at the rise in the number of eBooks published each week, the increase in the number of small presses, and also the increase in the number of Indie authors. It's staggering.
A publisher or an indie author must have professional, eye-catching covers. Think of how many book covers the eye scans on any one Home Page or list.
I have read conversations about omitting covers altogether for eBooks, and some agree. Me? No. I believe the cover for an eBook will become even more important.
So, good luck, Gemini! I hope to see this cover in print one day soon.
Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas
http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com
http://www.celiayeary.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Celia-Yeary-Author/208687145867971
I absolutely agree completely. A cover is the book's first chance to make a first impression. And they are fun! I LOVE your Crystal Lake Reunion cover, it's perfect. Nice post!
ReplyDeleteLove your Crystal Lake cover, Celia. Gemini also did my cover for Fragrance of Violets, and I think it's perfect. I'm like you, in that blood, guns etc. put me off a book, and so does anything to do with vampires and werewolves. I'm not keen either on the bare muscular chests which seems to appear on a lot of book covers these days!
ReplyDeleteYour book cover is gorgeous, Celia. All my covers to date have been pretty and scenic. My next one up is very different, a hot cowboy in a tank top and a beautiful girl. No bare chests, but still sexy. It wasn't the cover I asked for, and it took me a while to get used to it, but now I'm very eager for this book's release. I'll let you know if "hot" really does sell more books than "pretty."
ReplyDeleteThank you, Summer. They are fun, for sure, and it's always good to make a first good impression. Glad you agree!
ReplyDeletePaula--once again, we're so much alike in what we like! And don't like. I admit, I am a natural born scaredy cat--don't like to be frightened. But when I must, I can write a western fight scene!
ReplyDeleteYou know I love your color--it has my favorite colors, for one thing. Just beautiful.
Jannine--do let me know if that hot cover makes a difference in sales. I've always held to the belief that they don't...but with my Jimmy Thomas Dime Novel covers, I'm changing my mind. Those sell!
ReplyDeletegood luck, Celia. And I agree with you. Our book covers have to speak for us and capture the reader's attention.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Caroline. It's really Gemini who is up for the award, and oh, I do hope she wins!
ReplyDeletecovers are here to stay and there's some really great ones and really bad ones. I also don't like the horror covers but, they do serve the purpose of being the first thing that draws the reader to look.
ReplyDeleteHi, Celia! I agree that covers make an impact. Your e-books have nice covers, but I have seen too many e-books with covers that were an immediate turn-off! Best wishes for your "Crystal Lake Reunion" cover, which is lovely : )
ReplyDeleteANNETTE-true the covers we don't especially like only means someone else will..and yes, they serve a purpose. That's what the cover should do--make a statement about the contents. Thanks for your comment!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Virginia--of course, if the cover wins the award goes to Gemini--but I'm thrilled to be up there with other great covers.
ReplyDeleteMine is in a category of four--Mainstream. It's not a pure romance, although there is a sweet love story--gotta get that in there!
Celia, you already know how I love this Crystal Lake cover. Gemini's nickname "gem" fits her perfectly and I'm delighted that she has just done a cover for me. I, too, like scenic covers better than people which sometimes spoil the mental image I get reading the book. And I think it would be as terrible mistake to omit covers from e-books. Good luck to Gem and you for a win on this one!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Celia, covers are the first thing a reader sees, so they must be able to pique their curiosity. Good luck in EPIC'S ARIANA AWARDS. Hope you win!
ReplyDeleteLinda--we do agree on a few things, don't we? Haha.
ReplyDeleteThis is the cover I love most--second would be my Texas books with Desert Breeze--those are beautiful, too.
Yes, we're pulling for Gemini--she's nominated in several categories, so certainly she'll win something.
Thanks so much for reading...
Thank you, Anne--your opinion always means a lot.
ReplyDeleteCelia,
ReplyDeleteI agree, we need covers. To me they should be a hint of what the reader will find between the pages. Beautiful covers, like your Crystal Lake cover, are eyecatching and tend to soothe a reader into wanting to see what's inside. I feel very fortunate to have found Jenifer at DBP. She's open to my ideas, and then goes on to improve them with her skills. Hot, sexy covers seem to work for the genre they represent. For me I want a hint of heat, not a forest fire to draw me in. But that's just me. Wishing you all th best with the upcoming Award!
Nancy
Thank you, Nancy. Jenifer did all three of mine with DB. And yes, they are so pretty--I just love them.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you, Celia. I love the brightly colored, clean and enticing covers you have on all of your books. I certainly hope they don't get rid of covers for ebooks. they definitely do draw customers toward topics and genres the like to read.
ReplyDeleteCelia, you are right. Book covers are very important to attract a reader. Of course, like everything else, a 'beautiful' book cover depends on the tast of the reader. You have nice appealing covers.
ReplyDeleteYou have lovely covers, Celia. And I often judge a book by it's cover too. I won't reject a book with a crappy cover, but I might pick up another book first.
ReplyDeletePaisley--I don't see how they could get rid of covers for ebooks, but it has been discussed. One of my publishers does not add the cover to the ebook for the ereader...I've seen that a few times. I don't even like that--I feel cheated if I chose the book and liked the cover on the website, then when I download the ebook...cover omitted. Most don't do that, but a few do.
ReplyDeleteThanks for you comment!
It's all in the eye of the beholder, isn't it, Mona? Some of the "big" authors, Nora, etc.--have almost nothing on their covers except the title and author's name. Now, that's name recognition for you! How I wish.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting.
Maggie--I know. I have chosen a book but don't care for the cover--but it must be a favorite author or something like that. I almost want to say, how dare they put a tacky cover on that good book!
ReplyDeleteNever satisfied, are we?
Thanks for your input...
I've heard many, many times, "I don't judge a book by its cover." To that, I say bah! Because what caught their attention in the first place? The cover! Because that's the first thing you see, even before the title or anything else. So I heartily agree with you on the importance of covers and...
ReplyDeleteyour cover is beautiful! I love it. :)
Jacquie--I agree 100%! Yes! We do judge books by their covers--we're visual people...of course, we do! Thanks for agreeing...you're a good friend.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGood luck In the Ariana Awards.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more that a cover can make or break the success of a novel. I've been lucky for the most part, my covers are tastefully done. Of course, there is the odd one I am very unhappy about. It will make my decision on where to submit my next book that much easier, eliminating the one who knew I was unhappy with the cover and published it anyways.
Great topic, Celia.
Adelle-a gift is an artist who listens carefully to the author and who works with her, no matter how long it takes. I hate to get one who says, You have two tries to get this right...or something along that line. But sometimes, isn't it hard to convery exactly what you want? A cover is very important, and I really appreciate an artist who listens.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I positively agree, Celia, covers are the first thing a potential buyer sees. If the cover is boring or looks amaturish, well, you safely bet that the reader will move on. a pleasing, professionally created book cover is like the flower to the bee. It draws the reader to your story. Once you have their attention, then you can present that logline and blurb to seal the deal.
ReplyDeleteI love beautiful covers and agree they can sell books, or the reverse if they're bad. I would hate them to disappear.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree and think the covers need to be eye-catching! Your cover for Crystal Lake Reunion is beautiful. I especially like your cover for Texas Blue too.
ReplyDeleteSARAH--sort of a one-two punch. First the cover grabs attention, then a catchy blurb...maybe that's the next thing we should talk about! Thanks--
ReplyDeleteMAGGI--true, a bad cover will turn off a reader. I know it does me--isn't it just as easy to make a good one? Thanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteDiane--those of my favorites, too. I think today is voting day--have no idea how it works, but I'll find out eventually is Crystal Lake Reunion wins its category.
ReplyDeleteHow can I not agree? I'm instantly drawn or not drawn to a cover before I decide to explore a book further.
ReplyDeleteThe Crystal Lake cover is so beautiful and peaceful, just right for a sweet romance I'd like to read.
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
I totally agree. I need to see the cover art before making my decision to buy, whether in print or ereader.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think it's important for ebooks to have covers. Especially when ebooks aren't readily available to pick up off the shelf.
ReplyDeleteMorgan--it's does a romance and it's "sweet" in that there's no real sex scene...but the story is a little dark..the prologue is on the book page at WCP. I wish they'd put part of the first chapter or an excerpt instead, but...I do have a prologue.
ReplyDeleteJean--I think we've all always felt this way, but I do believe for ebooks the cover is even more important. For one thing, there are so many! You've got to have a cover that stands out.
ReplyDeleteTina--yes, you got my point! Because they seem out of reach...the cover must pull you in. In a library or book shelf, you see the spines...you don't see the cover first.On a home page--you see the cover before anything.
ReplyDelete" But sometimes, isn't it hard to convery exactly what you want?"
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, it helps when you are working with an artist who 'speaks the same language' as you. This also goes for editor/author relationships.
Adelle--what a joy it is to get and editor or artist who listens, and yes...speaks your language. I've actually had better luck with artists--they seem to be open-minded and easy-going--but editors? I think I'll save that for another day.Thanks for visiting!
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