Writers really have no say in our covers. Readers are always shocked to hear that. Of course, indie publishing is changing that, and I know I feel the pressure of getting it right. I don’t envy the big publishers trying to nail down the PERFECT quality to sell a book. Sigh…Oh, those stroking covers that make us pick up a book!
I’ve tried to figure out what it is that draws me to certain covers, and though I’ve read stats that say naked male chests sell books, I’m not always drawn to those. There is some other quality that draws me. I mean – look at Twilight. There is no hot man on those covers – not the originals – but they spoke to people in some other amazing way.
With a new book out – The Storm that is Sterling – I am, of course, hoping my cover helps draw readers to pick it up from the shelf. Interestingly, I’ve read that the color RED is a big plus. People are drawn to it. Oddly, almost every cover I had for my first six plus NY releases were red. Even with Nocturne, when other people got different colors – I was red. Even anthologies I was in ended up with RED covers! It was kind of crazy.
The Storm that is Sterlng is my first blue cover and Damion my first purple. I’ve been writing books for years and finally I have new colors. I’m actually excited about that.
So I’m curious about what you like or dislike about a cover.
What makes you take a look, even if you don’t know the author?
What makes you ignore the book?
And, finally, has online buying changed what you look for at all? I’m shocked at some of the horrible covers on some top selling indie books! What is it that is making the readers find those books and buy them despite the cover? Then I see striking covers on books that aren’t selling.
I’d love to hear your answers! Just answer one or more of the questions or add whatever comment you have about covers to enter to win a goodie bag filled with books, some bath and body works Vampire Blood that you will love — so cute! — and any one of my backlist books I have in stock.
Added bonus!! If you tweet or facebook about Sterling today, I’ll send you a copy of any of my ebooks you like!
I personally don’t like naked or semi naked chests on a book cover, but part of that is because I really hate when people make assumptions about what I am reading based on the cover (that’s a whole other blog post though lol) In general I much prefer ones like the Twlight series. Something simple and dramatic. I am a huge fan of urban fantasy covers, some of them I just want to stare at. A good cover will still suck me in online, so that’s really no different for me.
Hi Lisa,
It’s rare that I’m I’ll buy a book because of the cover but I will check out the blurb because of the cover. It is usually the colors that catch my eye and I think bright colors are noticable. Online buying gives us more choices but I think it is overwhelming sometimes. I am always trying to get a good idea of what the story is about so I know if it’s something I would enjoy.
I’ve been known to buy a book just because of the cover. A few times anyway. Sometimes the artists get it just right that I can’t resist. Fortunately the back cover blurb backed up my decision to buy the book! If that blub is super bad and doesn’t interest me, I just might put that book back on the shelf, though. But I love a terrific cover. LOL especially a bare, sculpted chest, Ash!
I like a variety of the covers, a hunky guy, hero and heroine together or even scenic covers. The most important thing for me is that they reflect something of the novel. If they’re unique and colorful is also a plus. I dislike covers when the hero/heroine doesn’t match the description in the book or covers that are to bland. Online buying has made covers even more important, because I usually only click to read the blurb if the cover caught my eye or it’s an author I’ve read before.
I have occasionally bought a book based on the cover, but now that I read only eBooks I’m not as picky about book covers as I used to be. I can put my preferred cover on the eBook when I load it in to Calibre. I hate it when publishers change the cover style of a series of books part way through the series. I like all of my covers to have the same look to them and a change in font or picture style really annoys me.
Like Mariee, I like a variety of covers. The type of cover I dislike with an absolute passion are those with cartoons/caricatures on them. In my opinion there is absolutely no way that type of cover can represent the type of story I read but and they seem to pop up regularly on UK editions. I thought the UK editions of Julia Quinn’s ‘Bridgerton’ series were appalling.
I have never bought a book based on the cover but I have probably passed up some good books because of how their covers and spines are presented. For me, the catch is the title. I buy a lot from brick and mortar stores and there’s nothing worse then browsing through books with covers and title colors so similar they bleed together making it hard for an interesting title and author name to jump out and catch your attention. I love bright colors on covers and if the characters are going to be presented on the cover, I’d love for them to share the same physical descriptions of the ones featured in the book.
For me there are two main things that decide if I want to read a book or not, nice cover and intriguing blurb. I notice a cover first but if the storyline doesn’t appeal I won’t read it just because I have so many books on my TBR pile. Sometimes if a blurb is really really good and the covers aren’t
appealing I may pick it up either the price is good or the author I am familiar with. Sometimes popular authors go indie and that is partly why their books sell because they’ve built a following.