So I stumbled upon this and....wow...

[Stevie]

Sarah wrote: "I was googling my own book, just to see how I was ranking, what came up and so on, and I found this website: http://lousybookcovers.com/?p=322627

Part of me is like, well, at least they were passi..."
Never listen to a troll!! That's my advice, there's a lot of sick puppies out there, don't let them into your house....

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger)]

Stevie wrote: "... there's a lot of sick puppies out there. Don't let them into your house..."

But Stevie, we're dog rescuers. We have a house full of sick puppies. That's our main mission in life. : D

But I agree, in my Fae Realm, trolls are the bad guys.

[Nat]

Sarah wrote: "I was googling my own book, just to see how I was ranking, what came up and so on, and I found this website: http://lousybookcovers.com/?p=322627

Part of me is like, well, at least they were passi..."

I do find it sad. I mean, don't these people have jobs, or hobbies. Their life is so empty they hang out to gripe about other people out there doing something. Very sad for them.

Your cover is really nice, personally.

[W.M.]

Sarah. Don't fret! The “critic” probably has never written a successful book (much less a book) at all. I’m not sure the commentators have written any books either.

Think about it: This “critic” is trying to promote their business by blasting someone else. Who would take the time to construct a website of such a negative connotation?

Do what you do best write.

Keep writing; keep fighting.

[C.B., Beach Body Moderator]

The creator of the site has 23 book credits, and 466 Goodreads ratings for their books - just FYI.

Not discredit your advice or anything WM, but honestly they are quite a prolific author and at least appear successful enough to keep at it.

Some of the commentators are also established authors, editors, publishers, and designers.

Just... yeah...

[Christina]

C.B. wrote: "The creator of the site has 23 book credits, and 466 Goodreads ratings for their books - just FYI.

Not discredit your advice or anything WM, but honestly they are quite a prolific author and at le..."

Yeah, but I looked at his 'can you do better?' page and... eh... nothing stood out as particularly artistic or inspiring. It was all just a bit of stock photo composite. Something about a pot and a kettle...

[C.B., Beach Body Moderator]

Yes, I much prefer the method of helping others when they ask for it as opposed to just tearing people down!

Advice: Don't look for new websites to frequent when you are drunk, depressed, or have writer's block!

The general attitude here is much better. I like this way much better.

(also, I always thought the same thing about pots and kettles)

[Christina]

C.B. wrote: "Advice: Don't look for new websites to frequent when you are drunk, depressed, or have writer's block!"

But do Google 'weird mannequins'!

[[deleted user]]

V.M. wrote: "C.B. wrote: "The creator of the site has 23 book credits, and 466 Goodreads ratings for their books - just FYI.

Not discredit your advice or anything WM, but honestly they are quite a prolific aut..."

Exactly. If they really want to help someone they should probably do it an constructive way. Be honest, but don't be brutal about it, or don't make the joking aspect the point of the critic. It's great SIA offers a place to safely criticize and help others.

[Lyra]

I just want everyone to know how much I love this thread, and this group. It all makes me feel like I'm being covered in a warm blanket.. with a hot cocoa in my hand.

Yeah, I'm in an extra mushy mood, I guess. But seriously, cover art and attracting readers with it is one of those things that made me want to get a lobotomy last year. lol Other than the editing process, which I loathe to the extreme, covers and blurbs are the bane of my author existence. This thread very much helps numb the pain. <3

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger)]

Lyra wrote: "I just want everyone to know how much I love this thread, and this group. It all makes me feel like I'm being covered in a warm blanket.. with a hot cocoa in my hand. ..."

Hi Lyra, Do you mind if I sit under the warm blanket of acceptance and encouragement with you? This is exactly how grateful I feel about being part of this group, and I'm still a writer, not an author yet.

[Emily]

Sarah wrote: "I was googling my own book, just to see how I was ranking, what came up and so on, and I found this website: http://lousybookcovers.com/?p=322627

Part of me is like, well, at least they were passi..."

That's seriously just rude. People tend to forget there are people behind covers, so it is a bit sad. There is nothing constructive about the post either-- it's just shaming.

From a graphic designer perspective, there are definitely ways to improve your cover; things such as creating more depth and balance with the text, and slightly altering the composition to strengthen the harmony between text and picture. These alterations would just make it a bit more competitive in the market.

But in the end of the day, if you're happy, what does it matter to others?

[Denae]

:(
Found my first book, too, Sarah, and I share your sadness.

However, we are the authors. We have some criticism that may or may not be worth anything, and we can choose to ignore it because, ultimately, the books we wrote, we wrote for ourselves.

[Christina]

Sarah wrote: "I was googling my own book, just to see how I was ranking, what came up and so on, and I found this website: http://lousybookcovers.com/?p=322627

Part of me is like, well, at least they were passi..."

Awww, Sarah,

I feel for you on this one. The good news is now you have a group of people just like you whom you can consult with and receive helpful feedback on any bookcovers in the future. Not mean or snarky remarks that whittle away at a person's confidence.

When it's your own book, it's VERY personal and you do what's in your heart. But from a marketing standpoint, it's always advisable to get feedback from others OUTSIDE of yourself.

I saw your cover and the first thing I thought was "Children's book." But it appears that this is not your genre, it was young adult. So, from a marketing standpoint, the young adult reader may not be drawn to your book because it looks like it's being marketed to someone else...a younger audience.

I wish you continued success Sarah and try not to let this bother you. Success is the best revenge! Go out there and sell some books dammit!! you can do it~

[Lyra]

Sue (Dog Mom) wrote: "Lyra wrote: "I just want everyone to know how much I love this thread, and this group. It all makes me feel like I'm being covered in a warm blanket.. with a hot cocoa in my hand. ..."
Hi Lyra, Do you mind if I sit under the warm blanket of acceptance and encouragement with you? This is exactly how grateful I feel about being part of this group, and I'm still a writer, not an author yet."

Aww, sure, Sue! Warm blankets for everybody! :)

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger)]

Lyra wrote: "Sue (Dog Mom) wrote: "Lyra wrote: "Aww, sure, Sue! Warm blankets for everybody! :)I ..."

Thank you, Lyra!

[Leo]

Forgive about my english, it is not my prime language.

Sarah, first of all, you wrote a book. Don't fool yourself, there is tons of frustrated neurotic people around the world who will envy and mock on you because of this. And you know why? Because deep inside themselves obscure and vulgar feelings are convulsing. It is about envy, spite, it is about how they are telling themselves something like "It should be me, why not me? Why others can do such things while I'm just a looser?" They do not make such reasonings consciously so even they don't know about it, but deep inside their subconscious this is what they have.

Have you ever heard a quote that says: "Each one gives away what he owns?"
Of course, how could someone give away something he does not own?

So... you give to the world a book with all of your effort and good ideas and creativity, this is what you have inside yourself, while these people give hatred and envy, because this is what they have inside themselves!

So why bother? You should feel fine, they are the ones who actually deserves pity. We should feel sorry for these kind of people.

Many people in this world live lifes like that, and they will not admit it to others, not to themselves, they will hide their own furstration and will manifest it by mocking on people who have done anything great in life. Aggression is one of the main ways to express insecurity about yourself! Seeing someone making something they could not simply make them sick and generate a deep revolt inside themselves.

I like your cover, and I'm not saying that just for the sake of comforting you, I realy like the articsical style, fire in crumpled paper, genious! You should have added some burned corners.

Now I can't tell if the cover really fits the content of the book, because I did not read it. But overall you should just keep going and ignore these loosers, I've seen it happening to many authors around, so it is not just you, just ignore these people and let us all pray for their lifes to turn into something significant before it is too late.

Cheers.

[Dwayne, Head of Lettuce]

Back with a kind of different perspective on this.

If this were to happen to me (and I'm sure it will) I'd wear it like a badge of honor. Most pop and rock stars feel honored when "Weird Al" Yankovic does a parody of them. So, maybe we should feel the same? That if someone out there is taking the time and effort to laugh at us, maybe it's because we're rock stars?