tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post347814984103791274..comments2024-03-27T18:06:04.484-04:00Comments on Murder by 4: You Can’t Judge a Book by its CoverMarta Stephenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126647102399666578noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-62185004999285118352009-05-20T16:46:51.179-04:002009-05-20T16:46:51.179-04:00I realize I'm way late with this answer, but I hea...I realize I'm way late with this answer, but I heard a good 'cover' story at the Pennwriters Conference I just returned from. <br /><br />One author told of selling 2 romance novels, the ARCs went out to the stores, they ordered, then after they saw the cover, they cancelled their orders. The art department refused to budge, the publisher cancelled the books, and the author bought her rights back. <br /><br />Fortunately, she's now about to put out the third of a mystery series that she likes writing better. <br /><br />Norma HussAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-79854693117357760532009-05-18T22:04:00.000-04:002009-05-18T22:04:00.000-04:00My cover art horror story is a bit different, beca...My cover art horror story is a bit different, because I did the cover illustrations for both my mysteries. I published with a POD press, and I had total control over the look of the covers. (BTW, I was a professional artist long before I became a mystery writer.)<br /><br />I'm very pleased with the cover for my first novel, Mood Swing: The Bipolar Murders. The cover for the second one, Eldercide, was another story. The book centers on a home health care agency, and the clients who begin dying unexpectedly. My initial illustration featured an elderly woman lying peacefully in bed, her dog sleeping at her feet, while a shadowy figure lurks in the background. My husband thought it wasn't dramatic enough, so he posed for the final version, in which the woman is throwing her arms up in horror, the dog is howling, and the man is hovering over her with what looks like a dagger.(Actually, it's a syringe.)<br /><br />Once I began getting feedback from potential readers at signings, I realized the illustration and title might be turning them off - too lurid and noir. More people were buying Mood Swing. One bookseller refused to carry Eldercide because she found the drawing "ghastly" and hated the word "elder."<br /><br />This summer I'll be reissuing the book with a new title, Evening Falls Early, and a new cover. One of the advantages of POD publishing - you can tinker to your heart's content. Of course I hope both books will ultimately be picked up by a "traditional" publisher, but that's another story.<br /><br />Beth, thanks for giving me this opportunity to share. And I'd love to hear from other readers - you can check both covers out on my blog.Julie Lomoehttp://julielomoe.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-83894130663798978372009-05-17T08:23:00.000-04:002009-05-17T08:23:00.000-04:00Hi, Beth! Love your two covers - they're very clas...Hi, Beth! Love your two covers - they're very classy. ;o) <br /><br />My publisher (Twilight Times Books) has been wonderful, and for the first four books I was allowed design freedom. Just got my print ARC from Mazurka and I'm thrilled that they let me keep my original concept and design. I used photos I'd taken in the 80s from Paris, and photoshopped like hell. It was grand!Aaron Paul Lazarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-49512034782962860152009-05-17T06:58:00.000-04:002009-05-17T06:58:00.000-04:00I will definitely keep this in mind! For some reas...I will definitely keep this in mind! For some reason, we readers tend to frget that the cover art might not be the idea of the author or even be something the author really hates. <br /><br />And I believe it is the same with back cover blurbs?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04523843355458133836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-14777782120354112912009-05-17T00:26:00.000-04:002009-05-17T00:26:00.000-04:00I admire you for turning down that first cover, Be...I admire you for turning down that first cover, Beth. I also admire 5 Star for working together with the writer, in this case, you, and allowing a mutual decision for the cover. Too often, we hear about disgruntled authors complaining about their not being allowed to participate in the book package, or the movie being totally different from the book they wrote, etc. It's comforting seeing you stand up for your rights and 5 Star for asking you to.Rosa's Journalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14478053066270415893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-15373923113818441182009-05-16T14:01:00.000-04:002009-05-16T14:01:00.000-04:00Wow! I guess I never realized about the process f...Wow! I guess I never realized about the process for the cover art. I would have assumed that the artist would read the book or at least a healthy summary of the book. <br /><br />I can honestly say that a book cover has never turned me away from a book. I have disregarded books because a titled seemed to silly to me...or bought one because a title intrigued me. But never due to the art.<br /><br />Jen<br />http://jensbookthoughts.blogspot.comJen Forbushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13325129568512353951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-81687736584486824042009-05-16T13:02:00.000-04:002009-05-16T13:02:00.000-04:00Hi Beth,
Since the cover is so connected to the re...Hi Beth,<br />Since the cover is so connected to the reader, one would think the publishers would pay more attention. I've bought romances which featured boats on the cover but not in the story, science fiction with shooting jet flyers that didn't exist, and suspense stories with quirky lettering that made them look funny. Once or twice of this and I don't trust the publisher and don't buy the books. I hope more authors speak up like you did, Beth, and more publishers pay attention!Holly Yhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15008045552115170802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-76543982114280593392009-05-16T07:29:00.000-04:002009-05-16T07:29:00.000-04:00Good stories, Beth - and excellent outcomes. My ow...Good stories, Beth - and excellent outcomes. My own ongoing one proves that covers do make a difference. My latest crime novel, The Darkness, was published by YouWriteOn.com. I'd designed and sent them a cover for it but, for some unaccountable reason, when it first appeared it had a horrible generic cover that made it look like a crochet manual or something. I pestered them and, at last, the correct cover appeared on the online sites. I have copies of each version and it's hard to believe that they contain an identical text.<br />Of course, Amazon still haven't got round to using the new cover. They removed the old one when I wrote to tell them it was wrong but, when I tried sending them the new one, they said only the publisher could do that.<br /><br />(Heaves deep sigh and wanders away muttering to self.)Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345949773423764808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-50968990910364873672009-05-16T01:37:00.000-04:002009-05-16T01:37:00.000-04:00Neat stories, Beth. On my first cover, they did as...Neat stories, Beth. On my first cover, they did ask for my idea and used a stock photo close to what I suggested. On the others, I had a lot of say. My best story is on, Duo of Opposites which shows a couple holding hands. Because the woman's hands didn't work, they ended up using a man and his young son holding hands. Looks great and unless I tell them, nobody knows it's two males. (The son was thrilled that his hands ended up on a book cover.)<br />LynetteLynette Hall Hamptonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424510949171019173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-75045395558451214732009-05-15T22:58:00.000-04:002009-05-15T22:58:00.000-04:00Thanks to everyone for your good wishes, and for s...Thanks to everyone for your good wishes, and for sharing your stories, too! I'll still check tomorrow am for any late comments/questions, so keep them coming!<br />- BethBeth Groundwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13999372882748655834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-69462168684895766702009-05-15T20:52:00.000-04:002009-05-15T20:52:00.000-04:00Like you, I wasn't sure if I should speak up when ...Like you, I wasn't sure if I should speak up when I received the cover to my first novel, "Silenced Cry." I was cried but decided not to be very silent about it. Fortunately, I'm blessed with a wonderful publisher who is totally open to new ideas. When I presented her with the cover that a friend of mine and I desiged, she loved. it. <br /><br />Thanks so much for this entertaining post, Beth. Best of luck on the tour!<br />MartaMarta Stephenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14126647102399666578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-89647909850848071772009-05-15T18:48:00.000-04:002009-05-15T18:48:00.000-04:00Hi Beth,
First of all, congratulations on the rele...Hi Beth,<br />First of all, congratulations on the release of your second book! I'll recommend that our local library purchase both books.<br /><br />Your experience with Five Star was amusing and instructive. Both covers are great.<br /><br />With my books, iUniverse required me to be pretty explicit in what I wanted, and some tweaking was still necessary.<br /><br />Bob Sanchez <br /><A HREF="http://bobsanchez1.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">http://bobsanchez1.blogspot.com</A>Bob Sanchezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08350825385315155962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-56232852953008629162009-05-15T18:06:00.000-04:002009-05-15T18:06:00.000-04:00Educational for new authors - thank you, Beth! It'...Educational for new authors - thank you, Beth! It's wise for publishers to respond to authors and expect specific and persistent suggestions. <br /><br />I have been fortunate to have beautiful covers - every one amazes me. They are dark, moody, haunting and always relate to the theme of the book. And this is truly good luck and not my doing! <br /><br />My husband surprised me by taking two covers and framing them. They really are works of art.Susan Fhttp://www.royalescape.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-72309033674844505192009-05-15T17:24:00.000-04:002009-05-15T17:24:00.000-04:00PS - Happy Release Day!PS - Happy Release Day!Charlotte Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09336641340221491792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-81504537143922092352009-05-15T17:21:00.000-04:002009-05-15T17:21:00.000-04:00Hi Beth,
Thanks for sharing those cover art stori...Hi Beth,<br /><br />Thanks for sharing those cover art stories. <br /><br />My book, Hacksaw, sports a very dark cover with a weapon that does not even remotely resemble a hacksaw. That particular weapon is, however, in the book - near the end. It told me the proud young artist had read the book. Mark and I discussed in detail whether or not to let it stand and eventually did. <br /><br />We have since regretted our decision as most people see the cover and think the book is horror instead of mystery. That makes it a tough sell. Horror readers who pick it up, put it down in a hurry. Mystery readers have to be encouraged to pick it up. Once they do, things go well from there!<br /><br />On another note, when I saw those crossed skis, I thought they looked like a pair of scissors, like a gift basket person would use to cut ribbon. Guess who else doesn't ski.<br /><br />Charlotte Phillips<br />HacksawCharlotte Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09336641340221491792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-81845458083979006302009-05-15T17:20:00.000-04:002009-05-15T17:20:00.000-04:00As a fellow Five Star author all I can say is "I'v...As a fellow Five Star author all I can say is "I've been there." Loved your stories. Thanks for a good read.chloedog1https://www.blogger.com/profile/06547180902668602050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-56711036911328821592009-05-15T16:28:00.000-04:002009-05-15T16:28:00.000-04:00This is really fun for me to read cover art storie...This is really fun for me to read cover art stories from other authors. It seems like whenever you get a group of authors in a room together, one topic that inevitably comes up is cover art snafus. And, as the readers here have validated, covers are so VERY important in making that "buy" decision. That's why we care so much about them!<br /><br />Readers, do you remember any horrid covers that kept you from buying books? Or wonderful covers that caused the books to not live up to the expectation they caused?Beth Groundwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13999372882748655834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-60937402503056626952009-05-15T15:37:00.000-04:002009-05-15T15:37:00.000-04:00I can see the confusion over the baskets, but a da...I can see the confusion over the baskets, but a dart gun? For a murder mystery? I've glad you got the cover changed; it reminds me of a classic mystery cover.A. F. Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09813561042723593419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-78161695462302659682009-05-15T15:18:00.001-04:002009-05-15T15:18:00.001-04:00Interesting story about the book covers. It's good...Interesting story about the book covers. It's good that the changes were made and the books now have such great covers!Connie Arnoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06264510809220669622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-65762593045045059592009-05-15T15:18:00.000-04:002009-05-15T15:18:00.000-04:00Wow...I can't believe we were thinking along the s...Wow...I can't believe we were thinking along the same lines at the same time and didn't know it!<br />Dee in MTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-62629650165960133662009-05-15T15:06:00.000-04:002009-05-15T15:06:00.000-04:00I'm one stuck with a disappointing cover on my new...I'm one stuck with a disappointing cover on my newest book, One Foot on the Edge. It has the right breed of dog on the cover, but you'd never guess the story is a historical suspense. Worse, the font is almost unreadable. I protested, but it didn't do any good. Kudoes to Beth and Five Star for listening to each other--and probably using a good bit of tact.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-50389382261887355512009-05-15T15:03:00.000-04:002009-05-15T15:03:00.000-04:00My cover art suggestion for Chain a Lamb Chop to t...My cover art suggestion for Chain a Lamb Chop to the Bed -- which is considered a "culinary mystery" and takes place at a dude ranch -- was a typical dude ranch dinner, spread across a red-and-white checkered tablecloth. I then added the following: "Of course you can always chain a lamb to a bed" with a big smiley face.<br /><br />My bad. I should know better than to joke around. And there was a "glitch" in the art department so ARCs were late and there was no time to ask for changes.<br /><br />I must admit the lamb was cute and the four-poster looked comfy.<br /><br />The PS to this story is that Wildside Press is printing my back list in Trade paperback. And guess what's on my Lamb Chop cover?<br /><br />Yep, a lamb. Actually, a sheep. Only this time the artist, er, borrowed Mike Befeler's gun sight :)Deni Dietznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-22451728547452962312009-05-15T14:59:00.000-04:002009-05-15T14:59:00.000-04:00Those are lovely covers I am very glad you got to ...Those are lovely covers I am very glad you got to give your views.Adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12876050775872445521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-88998101039017015232009-05-15T14:36:00.000-04:002009-05-15T14:36:00.000-04:00This was fascinating. Thanks. I'm so glad you did ...This was fascinating. Thanks. I'm so glad you did get some say in the covers, because they both look great.Sheila Deethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13465615546936319164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-86646986816949951762009-05-15T14:02:00.000-04:002009-05-15T14:02:00.000-04:00Five Star does let authors have input into the cov...Five Star does let authors have input into the covers and I appreciate that. I worked with the artist who did THE INFERNO COLLECTION cover. Only problem there was that my name was in red letters surrounded by a black band. So the lettering and band bled together making it practically unreadable. In THE DROWNING POOL, it was fine except for the figure of the dead man in the pool which my daughter-in-law who is quite artistic described as cartoonish. But I was told it couldn't be changed. Maybe we'll get it right the next time!<br /><br />Jacqueline SeewaldJacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com