Would you buy a book because of its cover?
March 29th 2008 05:03
I don’t think I have ever bought a book simply because of its cover. I also don’t think I have ever decided not to buy a book because it has a particularly horrible cover. I wouldn’t care really what the cover of my favourite authors’ books looked like.
I once went into a book shop, and picked up Nicole Krauss’s book The History of Love because of its exquisite cover. I then read the first page. That’s when I decided to buy it. I had never heard of her, but the gorgeous cover, together with that intriguing first page clinched the sale.
As an author and rabid reader myself, I know that covers are important, precisely when one is an unknown author hoping people will lift your book off the shelf and read that first page. And there are few more thrilling moments in the life cycle of one’s book than when one is sent the cover design from one’s publisher.
This always feels like a bit of a gamble to me. When you’ve just spent the past two to ten years living with characters you’ve created, streamlining a plot, working out time-sequences, developing a climax, ensuring various forms of narrative closure making sure you are not patronizing your reader, you do have some image in your mind of what the cover should look like. But you have no option but to hand over your creation to a team of ‘experts’ who will make the decision.
Publishers do ask their authors for their opinion, certainly mine has always extended that courtesy to me. But on the whole, they tend to ignore everything you have suggested and find a designer who probably doesn’t have time to actually read the book, but who is briefed about the contents.
As an author I tend to take the covers of my books very personally.
And of my three most recent books, I have good averages – I really love two out of three of them.
My first novel The Dreamcloth has a cover that made me want to kiss the young designer in Cape Town, Michiel Botha who with a few simple elements evoked all the mystery, ghostliness and secrecy of the story. When you are an unknown author, a beautiful cover that intrigues potential readers is your only weapon against the tidal wave of Jodi Picoults’, Bryce Courtney’s and your own anonymity.
The book that has been the most successful (Secret Mothers’ Business), however, has a cover I really truly hate. Here it is.
Apart from the fact that it looks like Austen Powers on estrogen, I also think it is garish and makes you think the book is a light-hearted romp through the joys of motherhood. When in fact, it is about the dark side of motherhood. With a bit of humour to help it go down. I told my publisher I thought the cover was misleading. My publisher thought the book would ‘stand out and grab harassed busy mothers who didn’t have time to browse.’ The cover certainly did stand out. You could see it shining luminously on the shelf from a mile away. I conceded that I knew bugger all about marketing and just sucked it up.
The cover of the UK version, which came out as The Secret Mothers’ Club, was less garish, but very chick-lit, and perhaps all those women who had rushed out to buy I Don’t Know How She Does It and Adventures of a Yummy Mummy, would buy this too. I still have no idea how that book is selling there, but hopefully soon I’ll have some figures.
So I was a little nervous about what my publisher would come up with for my new book Things Without A Name, due for release at the end of May. The book is a strange sort of love story, set in the dark world of rape and domestic violence. I knew it was going to be tough to find a cover that would satisfy me. I also knew that my publisher wanted to make sure it was pitched at those who read love-stories, crime fiction, and chick lit. I didn’t hold out much hope for it, to be honest.
But when this cover came to me, designed by award winning designer Ellie Exarchos, I just gasped. And I cried. Her interpretation of the story through the framed butterfly, all that innocence and fragility pinned down and boxed gave me a whole new way of seeing my own book. Nothing I could have suggested could have even come close to this.
Of course, being the inexact science that it is, we will never know the extent to which covers of books actually impact on book sales. But at the very least, I feel proud to see my name on such a beautiful work of art.
Have you ever bought a book just because of its cover?
www.joannefedler.com
I once went into a book shop, and picked up Nicole Krauss’s book The History of Love because of its exquisite cover. I then read the first page. That’s when I decided to buy it. I had never heard of her, but the gorgeous cover, together with that intriguing first page clinched the sale.
As an author and rabid reader myself, I know that covers are important, precisely when one is an unknown author hoping people will lift your book off the shelf and read that first page. And there are few more thrilling moments in the life cycle of one’s book than when one is sent the cover design from one’s publisher.
This always feels like a bit of a gamble to me. When you’ve just spent the past two to ten years living with characters you’ve created, streamlining a plot, working out time-sequences, developing a climax, ensuring various forms of narrative closure making sure you are not patronizing your reader, you do have some image in your mind of what the cover should look like. But you have no option but to hand over your creation to a team of ‘experts’ who will make the decision.
Publishers do ask their authors for their opinion, certainly mine has always extended that courtesy to me. But on the whole, they tend to ignore everything you have suggested and find a designer who probably doesn’t have time to actually read the book, but who is briefed about the contents.
As an author I tend to take the covers of my books very personally.
And of my three most recent books, I have good averages – I really love two out of three of them.
My first novel The Dreamcloth has a cover that made me want to kiss the young designer in Cape Town, Michiel Botha who with a few simple elements evoked all the mystery, ghostliness and secrecy of the story. When you are an unknown author, a beautiful cover that intrigues potential readers is your only weapon against the tidal wave of Jodi Picoults’, Bryce Courtney’s and your own anonymity.
The Dreamcloth
The book that has been the most successful (Secret Mothers’ Business), however, has a cover I really truly hate. Here it is.
Secret Mothers' Business
Apart from the fact that it looks like Austen Powers on estrogen, I also think it is garish and makes you think the book is a light-hearted romp through the joys of motherhood. When in fact, it is about the dark side of motherhood. With a bit of humour to help it go down. I told my publisher I thought the cover was misleading. My publisher thought the book would ‘stand out and grab harassed busy mothers who didn’t have time to browse.’ The cover certainly did stand out. You could see it shining luminously on the shelf from a mile away. I conceded that I knew bugger all about marketing and just sucked it up.
The cover of the UK version, which came out as The Secret Mothers’ Club, was less garish, but very chick-lit, and perhaps all those women who had rushed out to buy I Don’t Know How She Does It and Adventures of a Yummy Mummy, would buy this too. I still have no idea how that book is selling there, but hopefully soon I’ll have some figures.
The Secret Mothers' Club
So I was a little nervous about what my publisher would come up with for my new book Things Without A Name, due for release at the end of May. The book is a strange sort of love story, set in the dark world of rape and domestic violence. I knew it was going to be tough to find a cover that would satisfy me. I also knew that my publisher wanted to make sure it was pitched at those who read love-stories, crime fiction, and chick lit. I didn’t hold out much hope for it, to be honest.
But when this cover came to me, designed by award winning designer Ellie Exarchos, I just gasped. And I cried. Her interpretation of the story through the framed butterfly, all that innocence and fragility pinned down and boxed gave me a whole new way of seeing my own book. Nothing I could have suggested could have even come close to this.
Things Without A Name
Of course, being the inexact science that it is, we will never know the extent to which covers of books actually impact on book sales. But at the very least, I feel proud to see my name on such a beautiful work of art.
Have you ever bought a book just because of its cover?
www.joannefedler.com
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Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I like all of your covers except for the Austen Powers one - but I think you are right about the chick-lit thing. I know myself when I pick something up expecting it to be lighthearted, only to find it so much darker, it can be off-putting. It's the same with films. It can be misleading, and you have to adjust your expectations to really appreciate it.
That said, I'd rather that than think something is going to be really intense and find that it's fluff.
Michaelie
Comment by Lady Henrietta Muddling
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Comment by AmyHuang
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No, I never have. I have been tempted, and have picked up a few books because they "looked" good but after reading the back cover decided not to buy them.
I DO love the cover for your Things Without A Name!
Amy
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
Well - it was the cover that drew me to it. I had to like the subject. But - it's the first thing you see unless you know what you're buying prior to entering the store.
But regardless of the cover - everyone has the most different tastes and nothing will make everyone gasp with joy.
I think the best cover was your first one but to some people it probably looks a bit Gothic.
I really love the covers of Vena Cork's books.
The "Austen Powers" Secret Mothers Club to me looks like a self help or diet book. LOL, the second version looks like a do it yourself handyman book. Sorry - I mean absolutely no offence but the latest looks simple, elegant and intriguing. Simple and effective works.
But now I am interested so will have to track one down and read it.
Best of luck!!!!
Comment by Jayne Kearney
Writers In Writing (and other writing)
The cover for your new book looks amazing and I shall be lining up at the bookstore for my copy.
The thing about a great cover is that it makes it easier to display your favourite books around the house without sacrificing your aesthetic sensibility.
I'm looking right now at the cover of Helen Garner's Joe Cinque's Consolation - it looks a little bestseller-ish but by the book's end it has quite a significance.
I must concede though, I would never buy a book by its cover alone. Blurbs are pretty important as well - I think they are definitely another art form.
Jayne
Comment by Anonymous
David ...
Comment by JP Shaw
Sassy Ink Author
I am a romance reader so I must confess I have bought a book just for the cover. One where a man and woman are holding the hand of a child with a mountain backdrop might not intrigue my sexual passions as much as one where the man with rippling muscles has no shirt on and one hand placed on the hip of his sassy siren decked in nothing but some scanties where the two are in an embrace only rubber people with no joints can achieve. Yep I'd buy that one first no matter what the jacket reads.... LOL.
I'm shameful I know.
Comment by Joanne Fedler
Secret Writers Business
Michaelie, I really dislike a cover that feels misleading. But again, what is misleading to me, may not mislead you... I know there is an entire science and art to book cover design which I am only starting to understand... some covers are 'title driven' as Secret Mothers Business was - this was strategic, as I was an unknown author in Australia, so the publisher went with a title that would catch the eyes of mothers.
Lady H - a lot of people get mislead by a pretty cover... as David points out.
Amy and Jayne, your both right - I think a blow away blurb is much more of a clincher. I think the cover is the tease, the blurb is the titillation, and the first page is the clincher. I think that's how it works for me. But I think the cover definitely gets people to first base.
Jason - don't know Vena Cork's books, but I am intruiged now to go look them up. I actually love beautiful book covers.
JP - what can I say? You're SO easy....
Thanks to all of your who love the cover of Things Without A Name. I definitely think its simplicity works. Btw, so often the cover is such a contested issue as between publisher, designer, marketing team and author - but this cover, first attempt by the designer, EVERYONE just loved. Pretty unusual, but made me think perhaps it does have a universal appeal. I'm holding thumbs.
Jo
Comment by Wynona Lavota
Generation Y Life
No, I haven't bought a book because of it's cover but an interesting cover or title will make me pick it up and read the blurb. If I like what I see, (and if it does't cost an arm and a leg) I'll proceed to the counter.
Comment by tlcorbin
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Comment by Lilla
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I like your covers, but I donlt think I have ever bought a book by its cover, although it is often the thing that makes me pick it up... but if the blurb on the back cover (or inside jacket), as well as a skip read of inconsequential pages here and there within the book, doesn;t grab me, then no matter the cover, I will put it back down...
good luck with the sles of the new one... the cover is glorious... but he story sounds brilliant!
Lilla ...
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I've never simply bought a book because of its cover, but it's definitely part of the initial process. If I like a book and its premise, then it becomes less important. Conversely, if I like the sound of the book and don't like the cover, then it's not important (but it's still in the back of my mind when I look at it).
Out of your books (congratulations on them), my favourite cover is the last one, Things Without a Name.
Great post,
Tracy
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
I like dreamcloth and things, I think those are really inspired. Im sure I have bought books just on covers, but when I was younger! Since I frequent second hand bookshops, its a gamble. I usually check out cover, blurb, then open at random and read a paragraph. If it grabs, buy, if not move on.
But Im going to be looking for your books, for sure!
Comment by Anonymous
your cover for 'things without a name' is beautiful.
Comment by Anonymous
I would never make a purchase decision on a book because of the cover. If a cover is eye catching or appealing I will pick it up and read the blurb, but that said, I would most likely walk past something that had an awful cover if I haven't already heard of it by word of mouth or review etc even if it ended up being a great story. So in the sense of marketing the book, it is an incredibly important part of the sales process.
I haven't read your books but after reading your blog, The Dreamcloth and Things Without a Name appeal to me so I think I will give them a go. The covers of both are wonderful and the latter reminds me of the cover of The Lovely Bones, simple but evoking a particular emotion (yours is a much better cover by the way), I would definitely pick this up to read what it was about if I saw it on a shelf. The artist did a wonderful job.
The Secret Mother's Business cover is not my cup of tea at all. It doesn't sound like it matches the actual book. But if I was a mother I may be drawn to it from the title. I hope the new cover does well for you overseas. I'm looking forward to reading your work now.
Comment by Cheryl J
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Comment by Joanne Fedler
Secret Writers Business
Raven - of course, you're right. Covers are huge on journals - as is quality of the paper, for me. It's gotta be like silk, waiting for my pen.
Morgan - I like the Hornby cover! What you got against that lovely cover???
Lilla - thanks, I also think the cover shines.
Tracey - I agree.
Kleonaptra - thanks
Anonymous - Night Letters is an intruiging title - mmm, I wonder to what extent book titles impact on book sales? I had a huge debate with my publisher over the title of Things Without A Name. I love it (obviously, I chose it) but some people in marketing hated it - they thought it didn't tell people what the book was about, which is why they've gone with the byline 'sometimes you have to lose faith to find love,' so that people know this is a love story. Well, it's more than that, but there's love in there. I think maybe I'll do a post on book titles next...
Clare J: thanks for your lovely comments
Jo
Comment by Louie
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I think in ths day and age, with so many books to chose from, it would be hard to say covers don't play a part...I always read the back tho, and if i dont like whats in it i wont but it, but i'd be lying if i said the cover doesnt play a part in me checking out what the bok is about (of course there are other criteria such as Author)
Comment by Morgan Bell
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im basically just ageeing with you and trying to relate with an example, i hope your not on the phone to nick hornby telling him im disparaging his covers haha
i will have to keep an eye out for your books, i like your writing on orble!
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
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I've only done it once, online... I decided that I had to have the book no matter what its contents held, because the cover art was worth the price itself. As it turned out, only one of the fifteen or so short stories was in any way interesting, but I'm happy with my cover. It's of two men (representations of famous actors, actually) cuddled up to each other on a couch. I should probably get it framed!
Congratulations on being a successful author!
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Comment by Miswanderlust
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I was going through my collection of antique books and was reminded that books of yore had plain covers. Each book sported a title and a plain brown, blue,. red, or green cover. (Yet many of these books were widely read). Today's breadth of what is recognized as book art today is so much more varied and vibrant than fifteen/twenty years ago. I wonder what would happen if book publishers went back to this practice?
Mis