No, but I have certainly been drawn to check one out simply for its external design.

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

Potter in a Harry

2. March 29th 2008 @ 05:55. Lady Henrietta Muddling Says:

A lot of people get married because they like the dust jacket?

Project Job Search
Travel Debate
Travel String
Love Adventures

3. March 29th 2008 @ 06:41. AmyHuang Says:

Hi Joanne

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

Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness

4. March 29th 2008 @ 08:30. Jason King Says:

Have bought numerous books just on the cover.
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!!!!

Writers In Writing (and other writing)

5. March 29th 2008 @ 10:21. Jayne Kearney Says:

I have to admit, Jo, that I was also not a fan of the cover for Secret Mother's Business - although I was a major fan of the book itself!

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

6. March 29th 2008 @ 15:20. Anonymous Says:

Well I got married because of the cover. And found it wasn't a very good read. Does that answer your question?

David ...

Sassy Ink Author

7. March 29th 2008 @ 17:08. JP Shaw Says:

I prefer the second cover for secret mother's business, SECRET MOTHER'S CLUB, and the book itself was divine and a fun read both emotionally and humorously.

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.

8. March 30th 2008 @ 01:28. Joanne Fedler Says:

Thanks guys for all your comments...

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

Generation Y Life

9. March 30th 2008 @ 03:23. Wynona Lavota Says:

Hello,

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.

10. March 30th 2008 @ 05:41. tlcorbin Says:

Absolutely! Joanne, I buy diaries and artist note books that contain blank pages, very satisfying to my way of thinking; practical too. It's hard to sketch over preprinted pages, unless I am doing a collage. Raven

Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train

11. March 30th 2008 @ 08:42. Morgan Bell Says:

i definately pick up books because of their covers, but i will buy them because of the blurb (or if i have read a review or am familiar with the author) . . . i do agree that your second book does look a bit garish but i think readers will buy ugly books if the concept in the blurb strikes them

one of the ugliest books i own

From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop

12. March 30th 2008 @ 10:35. Lilla Says:

Hi Joanne,

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 ...

Movies and Life

13. March 30th 2008 @ 20:51. Tracy Says:

Hi Joanne

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

Kalikapsychosis

14. March 31st 2008 @ 00:18. Kleonaptra Says:

Oh, congrats on being a published writer! Something I think a lot of orblears are aspiring to.

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!

15. March 31st 2008 @ 05:13. Anonymous Says:

i was drawn to the hard copy of robert dessaix's 'night letters' because of the title. cost me a bit - just as well it's a good read. the cover is very italianate and gorgeous.

your cover for 'things without a name' is beautiful.

16. March 31st 2008 @ 05:41. Anonymous Says:

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.

Rhythmatism
Budget Centsability

17. March 31st 2008 @ 05:47. Cheryl J Says:

Sorry, I'm new to Orble and keep making myself anonymous. Mine is the above comment. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it eventually!

18. March 31st 2008 @ 06:16. Joanne Fedler Says:

Wynona and Lilla - I reckon that's how it works - the cover is just a hook to get you to pick up the book. Crap blurb and ho-hum opening and people will put it back on the shelf, no matter how lovely the cover.

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

and welcome to Orble.

Jo

randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips

19. March 31st 2008 @ 06:29. Louie Says:

always have always will

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)

Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train

20. March 31st 2008 @ 15:29. Morgan Bell Says:

haha hi joanne, i dont have anything against the hornby cover, its just bold and primary colours and bulky block writing not dissimilar to your second cover . . . i was just using it as an example of a great writer who didnt have a "delicate" artwork for a cover . . . i also think its an example of a cover thats misleading of the contents, it seems to be marketed like a childrens book (a bit like irvine welsh book covers)

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!

Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc

21. April 1st 2008 @ 00:09. postmoderncritic Says:

Hi Joanne,

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!

Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak

22. April 1st 2008 @ 04:03. Cibbuano Says:

I love picking books based on their cover. It's superficial and shallow, I know, but I suppose I'm just a superficial person.

Samaritan's Stories

23. April 16th 2008 @ 05:33. samaritan Says:

I don't think I've ever bought a book solely because of its cover, but I've sure picked up a lot because of their cover and then went on to buy them after finding out more about them. I have though actually bought CDs solely because of their cover. Which is kind of weird, but there you go.

Samaritan
www.fringefaith.com

Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy

24. April 19th 2008 @ 03:21. Miswanderlust Says:

Joanne

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