Other Formats, Other Covers

by Barb in Key West, where I can’t complain (because everyone would jump on me if I did.)

One thing I haven’t been good about publicizing is the covers, some of them so well done, that are created for my books when they come out in other formats, like audio books or large print. When these alternative formats are released simultaneous with the print and ebook editions, I tend to use the print covers for publicity. When the other formats come out subsequent to a book’s initial publication, I don’t usually mark the release in any particular way.

So I’m going to make up for that now in one swell foop.

Sometimes the covers of all the formats are the same. For example for the novella collection Eggnog Murder.

Eggnog Murder Hardcover Eggnog Murder Trade Paperback Eggnog Murder Audio Book

Sometimes the covers are different.

Halloween Party Murder Hardcover Halloween Party Murder Mass Max Paperback, coming August 23, 2022 Halloween Party Murder Large Print

For Halloween Part Murder, the publisher, Kensingon, has changed the color of the lettering from the hardcover for the mass max paperback. They did this once before (with Yule Log Murder). I suspect it may be because the original color didn’t show up sufficiently in the smaller format, but I don’t really know. I kind of like the large print cover from Thorndike Press.

Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody Mass Market Paperback Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody Audio Book Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody Large Print, coming March 9, 2022

I really like the audio book and large print covers for Jane Darrowfield, Professonal Busybody. Of course, it’s weird to talk about covers for ebook and audio book downloads because they’re not physical objects and therefore can’t be “covered.” I suppose “cover” is better than “image by which we identify a specific collection of ones and zeros.”

Madwoman Next Door Mass Max Paperback Madwoman Next Door Audio Book Madwoman Next Door Large Print coming April 6, 2022

On the other hand, yikes! What is going on here? They’re all terrible and way too busy considering the amount of text required by the title, Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door. (Which is entirely my fault. My editor tried to warn me.) Sorry about the small size of the large print cover. That’s all that’s currently available

Steamed Open Large Print Stowed Away Large Print Shucked Apart Large Print, coming March 6, 2022

Large print covers are generally big and blocky with bright colors for the same reason the text is large–so people with low vision can see them. However, the publisher has gone a whole new way with the cover for Shucked Apart. I have no idea if it’s across the board change or particular to the Maine Clambake Mysteries.

New Clammed Up Audio Book Cover from Tantor Media New Boiled Over Audio Book Cover from Tantor Media Fogged Inn Audio Book Cover from Audible

The rights to the audio books for Clammed Up and Boiled Over, the first two books in the Maine Clambake Mystery series, recently reverted from Audible. Tantor Media picked them up. Tantor kept the same recordings, but gave the audio versions spiffy new covers, which match the rest of their line. The audio books are selling better since the move, if my most recent royalty check is any indication. It’s probably not because of the covers. Tantor owns the rights to books five through ten, so it’s in their interest to get people started on the series. I hope they pick up the rights for Musseled Out and Fogged Inn when they become available.

Readers: What do you think? Any particular covers catch your eye? Do you hate any of them? Let me know in the comments.