What Makes For A Knockout Front Book Cover?

What features do you like to see on the front book cover (dustjacket, if you will) you pick up and browse? This question gives writers gray hair. First, it's subjective. What you like, I may not be as fond of. So, I thought I'd draft a list of the things used on front book covers, and my reactions to each one.

#1. All small letters for the title and/or author. A distraction for me. I always prefer the grammatical to the artistic.

#2. Cover blurb furnished by a New York Times or USA Today bestselling author. No problem. I used them myself with much gratitude.

#3. Line included touting the author as New York Times or USA Today bestselling author. Who wouldn't like that as a writer?

#4. Line included touting the author's awards (Edgar, Spur, Pulitzer, Pushcart, Book, etc.). See #3.

#5. Author's name put in larger print size than the book's title. Distraction for me.

#6. Inclusion of line saying "Author of Previous Whatever Title." No problem for me. I've included the same line on my books.

#7. Black as the primary color used in the graphic. Yuk.

#8. Red as the primary color used in the graphic. Again, yuk.

#9. The words "a novel" or "a mystery novel" used in the title. I don't like them, but if my publisher uses them, then I've got no choice.

Happy reading to you and yours!

By Ed Lynskey
Twitter: @edlynskey

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