Question for mods/superlibs about changing/replacing covers on a GR author's self-published eBooks

[Darren]

Quick question for rivka or a superlibrarian about covers.

This author is a GR author and has recently added 4 new books in 2 series to her account. Currently none of them have cover images, and she stated that she doesn't have her final cover art ready yet, but would like to create temporary 'placeholder' covers and add them, and then replace them with the final covers once she has them completed.

I know the normal rule is never to replace/delete covers but to create alternate editions, however in this case she is the author and publisher and the books are ebook only, so there's no physical volume that will be released with the temporary cover. Would it be appropriate in this case to add the temporary covers she provides now, and then replace them when she provides the final ones once they're complete? Otherwise I'll suggest that she hold off on supplying any covers until she has the final art ready.

The four books in question are:
Deadly Sins
Deadly Nights
Blood Oath
Blood Vengeance

Thanks in advance all,
Darren

[Vicky]

So long as the books are never PUBLISHED with the temporary covers this shouldn't be an issue.

The whole reason we don't change covers is so members can shelve the book (and cover) they own. If there's no way for a member to own an edition with a temporary cover, then it can be changed.

[Cait]

I agree with Vicky. A lot of the big publishers use custom placeholder images for books whose covers are not yet available. I don't see why an indie author couldn't do the same thing.

(This has nothing to do with whether the books are print or ebook, by they way. It is strictly a question of placeholder covers vs published covers, and published ebooks are definitely published.)

[Vicky]

An afterthought to suggest to the author. It might be worth her while to add a "Cover not Final" note somewhere in the corner of her temporary covers. It's not at all necessary but it will ensure there's no question later about whether or not the covers were temporary.

Something like this book has: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10...

[Emy]

Is it worth adding a Lib note too saying that it's a pre-pub cover and delete this note once the 'real' cover is released?

[Banjomike]

Recently, there have been a few cases on Goodreads of a temporary placeholder cover escaping and appearing on review sites and selling sites. The author then has the problem of pursuading people that a cover has not been used in the wild when it clearly has. If a temporary image is used it should be CLEARLY temporary with a very obvious blob saying "temporary" or "placeholder". She shouldn't go with subtle, she should go with loud.

My other suggestion is that the best place for an author to ask such questions is in this group.

[Darren]

Thanks all. I passed along the okay for the author to use temporary covers, so long as they're clearly marked as temporary. I'll also add a library note about the temporary cover. As for asking questions in this group, she hadn't planned on adding covers at all originally, so she wasn't inclined to ask any questions about it. She was asking to have series added for 4 of her new books, which I did and then mentioned I could add the covers to her books if she wanted. That's what brought on the whole conversation.
Thanks all.