Do you judge a book by its cover?

[Dawn]

i hope not. My book covers are a bone of contention for me. I am published by a small company and I had little say. My first cover looks like a horror story and yet it is a murder mystery but is more about relationships within a family ( actually a few families) and delves into the nature versus nurture theories.
I hope people look past the cover and open the book. My second cover I just plain hate.

[Christopher]

Dawn, there a couple of elements here. First, are your books selling? If so, perhaps your publisher is onto something. If not, perhaps that could be a way to address the issue, armed with articles and advice on the importance of book covers to sales and how to make them pop. Second, is it possible that you had ideas for your book covers and are dissatisfied because the company did not follow your vision? Might there be a need for a second, open-minded look? I know my graphic designer routinely goes away from my initial concepts, but she always comes up with great visual designed and I have learned to trust her.
I hope this helps.

[Jim]

Dawn wrote: "i hope not. My book covers are a bone of contention for me. I am published by a small company and I had little say. My first cover looks like a horror story and yet it is a murder mystery but is mo..."

Dawn,

You may wish to review your publishing contract.
I am not an expert; however, based upon my personal experience, the graphic design artist assigned to create the cover is obliged to collaborate with the author. Final documented approval rests with the author, not the graphic design artist.

[Catherine]

I don't judge a book by its cover, although a cover should tell me about the book's content. For instance, a cover with naked bodies entwinned is bound to be erotica and I give it an instant miss, as I do with monsters or vampires.
Unfortunately, some badly written SP books have brilliant covers, and I think, if only the author had spent as much for an editor as they obviously have on the cover, I would be more likely to buy the book.

[Christopher]

Great point, Jim.

[Christopher]

Catherine, you make a solid point. There needs to be a balance between image and content. I suspect Dawn believes that balance is missing for her work.

[R]

Can you check out these book covers and tell me what you guys think?
and http://www.amazon.com/Tainted-Adela-R...

[Trisha]

I shouldn't but damn yes I do

[♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle)]

Absolutely! I have bought books just because I liked the cover. Never even read the synopsis. I have a problem. lol

[R]

hahaha Cookie yeah... me the book cover gets me to open and read the book summary

[♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle)]

R wrote: "hahaha Cookie yeah... me the book cover gets me to open and read the book summary"

That's what I need to learn to do. Most of the time I actually read the synopsis, but when the cover is really pretty, I just buy it. :)

[Gabriella]

Invariably if I'm drawn to the cover the synopsis just confirms that this is the right book to buy at this exact moment. I love book covers. I once collected New Yorker magazine covers.

[Paul]

If we're unfamiliar with the author or the work, then the cover offers us that initial invitation, drawing us in for closer inspection. A good cover can often spark that first interest, but it should never seal the deal.

[Nita]

Yes I do. Call me shallow, but the first thing that attracts me to it is its cover. And other things come later. But, ya sometimes covers do get deceptive :)

[Douglas]

***this book recieved its 1st 5-star review****** I designed my first book cover to be simple, the closed box with the do not open, I felt people are courious and a mysterious box telling you not to do something would attract attention. My second novel cover is more expressive. But I believe sometimes simple is better and I write my books to draw people in, to seek the information to incourage people to use there mind to get them involved. I believe simple is sometimes better

[Creative]

Ah, I have been thinking about this. What you will find is in special circumstances the obvious or perhaps the most thought upon, most shiny, most capturing, most clear thing, is not best suited for you, and in ways in which you probably could not imagine. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) the Holy Grail I will ask you - how smart was he when he chose - would you have gone for the same? In some ways it was the most obvious, but to what ‘eye’ are we looking when we search for books? Sometimes notions can be turned around fully. If we turn around this notion in this contemporary modern age, where price can put you off especially if the cover is not as perfect to your standards? You see the Holy Grail cup was perfect to the humble, thus life is given to him in that movie. Why would he do that? Yet he is the real adventurer? The interaction is only on your part because only you can search, the books merely present themselves. But some books must be presented for the purpose of the discoverer. Will the number of pages put you off too? Let’s place all those books on that table, which one would ‘Junior’ pick? Sometimes you have to put yourself out of yourself into a darling mind that of where the example has been shown too you. This presides and has been shown in many ways one of where the flock of white sheep head one way and the black sheep the other. Even to the point where perhaps the greatest ‘INVESTOR’ Warren Buffett does the similar or the exact as the scenario of the sheep thus evidently standing out. Good luck with your choices people, remember Indiana Jones ‘Indy’ stepped out of his comfort zones and had adventures, daring adventures, which of course brought the exciting experiences, because he never quite understood what he was doing, but discovered what he was doing.

[J.S.]

A cover matters, especially for a little-known author. Even with a famous author...it's art, and I want it to grab me!

[Julia]

While I wouldn't buy a book solely on the strength of its cover, I do depend on the cover to give me some basic information e.g. the genre. I always read the back blurb and even crack it open, but the cover is the first impression: a poorly designed cover would warn me of a shoddy book.

Nevertheless, I've seen that in some instances an unusual cover will work for the best. That is the case with C.A. Pacat's Captive Prince trilogy. The cover is downright minimalist, and it stands out when listed with all the other yaoi titles, which usually have very visual, very colorful covers.

[Lauren]

Yes, I do. A nice cover grabs my attention. But I will only buy a book if the blurb sounds good as well.

[Justin]

We have a similar discussion over at Fringe Fiction. I tend to at times judge a book by it's cover yes. However I'm one who believes that a cover is a key selling point as it's te first thing a reader sees before deciding on whether or not to read the book. As for me personally, if I see a book with a really well done cover, chances are I will judge it as being a good book and pick it up, browse it and decide whether I'll read it. If the cover is poorly done or not that engaging, chances are I judge it as not my type of book or not good enough for me to consider reading.

[Kaye]

I do if I am not familiar with author or series.

[Harald]

Douglas wrote: "
***this book recieved its 1st 5-star review****** I designed my first book cover to be simple, the closed box with the do not open, I felt people are courious and..."

Congrats! :) Yep, simple is usually better. And you've done that (although the box lettering is hard to read in thumbnail). Keep at it!

[Christopher]

Book covers do call me over, give me the wink, and get me to check them out, so I believe they are important. Then the title, blurbs, and back cover copy seal the deal or blow it. But all of that is part of the cover, and should work in concert to get a potential reader to open up the book and read a bit. At that point the writing has to secure the sale.
Perhaps, I can over the opposite perspective as well.
I give considerable time and effort to designing the covers of my books and invest in a graphic designer to help give my work the best chance to attract readers. I even have beta readers for my cover copy, people who do not read the book before weighing in on how well the cover works to get them to want to do so.
Why do all this? I believe I owe it to potential readers who are considering giving their precious time to reading my stories. How can an author do less?

[T.R.]

This topic arises fairly frequently and no matter what, and I do read the comments, I find I have not changed my mind. I accept all people say about the importance of the right cover but if I had adhered to allowing covers to dictate my next read I would have missed some good tales. To be honest I usually only skim across a cover while turning to, with a physical book, or scrolling down, with an e-book, to the synopsis (blurb). That is where I decide where the book is for me or not. Then, just to balance the point, there are covers that promise much but the book disappoints. Naturally we should aim for the best cover we can for our books but not get unduly stressed by it. If anything I think we should stress more about the synopsis and one sentence descriptions.

[Rose]

I was really drawn to the cover of a book I saw on Kindle Scout, called The Marred in the Kiln. The cover was a painting of Jesus sitting in front of an old style kiln. The painting was really organic, earthy, and sort of fauvist. It reminded me of the covers of books that were assigned reading in high school, like covers of The Good Earth and Things Fall Apart. Kinda nostalgic. I love fauvism.

I recommend The Marred in the Kiln. It seemed like a really neat idea (contemporary version of David and Goliath). I could only read the first few pages, but if it gets nominated, they will give me a free copy of the book. The first few pages sounded like crime mystery and romance, two of my favorite genres. I can’t wait to see how the David and Goliath plot develops.

If you like to read it go to this link: : https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/TZ2V...

[Anna]

When I am just looking around in the bookstore I will pick up a book based on either its title or name, but it then depends on the synopsis whether or not I consider buying it. But I can admit to buying a second copy of a book I really enjoyed because the other has a nicer cover than the one I have.

[Isabelle]

Stephanie (Bookfever.♥) wrote: "I do. A pretty cover will make me buy a book more than a not pretty one :P"

I completely agree!

[Angel]

As a reader, I don't care about the cover because if the content is crap, the cover doesn't make a difference. The content is what I care about. But, as an author yes, I try to make sure the covers are as attractive and quality as possible to match the content, of course.

[Joan]

I think the right cover is essential. With such a sea of books offered, if the cover doesn't catch my eye, I won't look further to see if I'm even interested in reading it. I do agree with Angel, though, that if the content does not live up to the cover's attraction, then the author has lost me.

[T.R.]

I really would have missed some good books if I had let the cover design influence me. Some good books do not have especially good covers but then some poor books have great covers. No for me it is always the synopsis even if it is an author I have enjoyed reading before.

[MaryJo]

My experience has also been great covers do not necessarily mean a good read. On the other hand, a so-so cover can be a wonderful story. I go more by the description of the story, and the author who wrote it, if he or she is someone I'm familiar with.
Then I will check posted reviews.

But to my surprise I found out some people have strong opinions on covers. One reader who now likes my books avoided them at first because the covers - of the 1st 3 - are photos! She tended to avoid books with photographs rather than art work, etc.

[T.R.]

MaryJo wrote: "My experience has also been great covers do not necessarily mean a good read. On the other hand, a so-so cover can be a wonderful story. I go more by the description of the story, and the author wh..."

Just another indicator of how we are all different and unique and have different perspectives. Something we should never forget. 'One man's dinner is another man's poison' etc. After all reading is a subjective experience.

[Christopher]

I agree. Taking the time to ensure you book has a great cover makes a statement about professionalism, dedication, and love of the work. Slapped together, or, as you say, generic covers always put me off, prevent me from giving the writing a chance.
Never underestimate the power of a professionally designed cover.

[Justin]

Yes, because if a book cover is well-made, it catches my eye, and I'll likely read the book description to see what it's about. On the other hand, if it's done poorly, then I 100 % judge it as lazily done and ask myself if the cover is poorly done, then am I to assume the book is too?