tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post5096833702732375122..comments2024-03-29T09:22:57.031+00:00Comments on Declan Burke: Book Covers – You’re The JudgeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-22282916825877586462009-07-24T17:48:04.591+01:002009-07-24T17:48:04.591+01:00Bookwitch's helpful review aside, most people ...Bookwitch's helpful review aside, most people browsing a shelf whether be it virtual or real may not have read reviews of a given book. If they have, they're likely to disregard the cover anyway. The cover should, as Josh says, be a hook to zap all the casual browsers and make them curious or interested. I still don't think #1 has that nailed.Fionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09563849027802245148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-72280578386498866342009-07-24T16:41:30.207+01:002009-07-24T16:41:30.207+01:00You know... the more I think about it, and the pos...You know... the more I think about it, and the post bookwitch left, the more I caution not getting caught up in trying to graphically align the book cover with the story (as seems to be the case in #1). No one that is browsing knows what the book is about, so trying to make the cover an extension of the story line is pointless. Use the cover as a hook. Make it a marketing tool to get someone to pick it up and look at it.Josh Schrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00962399653280903290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-581486007846391812009-07-24T15:29:10.951+01:002009-07-24T15:29:10.951+01:00Dec,
Not sure how much advice an old whiskey swil...Dec,<br /><br />Not sure how much advice an old whiskey swiller can give, but here goes. I've not read the book, so I don't know what comes closest to the story, however #1 just seems too whimsical to me for some reason. Maybe it is the font that was used. The picture itself makes me think of some garden-variety novel that has nothing to do with crime or mystery. <br /><br />Of the three, #2 is my choice, but even here I'd edit it. With everything stacked on top of one another, name, title, graphic, it is too confusing to focus on it. It tends to make me want to glance at it and look away. I think figure and ground all jumble together to make nothing stand out.<br /><br />#3 is weighted towards the bottom and feels asymmetrical. It doesn't have anything that entices me to want to pick it up.<br /><br />You know how positive of a guy I am, so take anything I say with a grain of salt, but here's the thing; If I'm in a bookstore browsing, and I'm not looking for a book by someone I know, the cover is what gets my attention first, not so much the name of the story. I can't say any one of the three would compel me to give the book a look. <br /><br />Glancing over at the Eightball Boogie cover, that one grabs my attention. It has a graphic that is simple, yet compelling. It immediately lets you know that foul play is afoot and mystery is happening. From the three CAP covers, there really is no way of knowing what the book is about. It could be a historical text about Sicily, or about Martha Stewart's time in prison... neither of which would interest someone looking for a mystery/thriller.<br /><br />Sorry to be such a kill-joy, but I hope something in there helps you a bit. Good luck with it!Josh Schrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00962399653280903290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-20691419308355023462009-07-22T10:56:22.734+01:002009-07-22T10:56:22.734+01:00I thank 'ee kindly, Ms Witch ...!
Cheers, Dec...I thank 'ee kindly, Ms Witch ...!<br /><br />Cheers, DecDeclan Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14322645323239292406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-48787766194305022392009-07-22T10:50:26.586+01:002009-07-22T10:50:26.586+01:00Decided I just have to link here to what is now ra...Decided I just have to link here to what is now rather old news, but also a little inaccurate, but I can tell your readers need a CAP review.<br /><br />http://bookwitch.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/the-blue-orange-rave/<br /><br />I can't help it if people go round changing book titles every so often.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-3519454426397286582009-07-22T09:15:37.273+01:002009-07-22T09:15:37.273+01:00You know what, I'm leaning back to the 'co...You know what, I'm leaning back to the 'cosy' cover again ... I think it's the lure of all those cushions, and long siestas on Greek afternoons ... Maybe I need to write a different kind of story. <br /><br />I did like the Pacman font at the start, but no, it'll have to go ...<br /><br />Cheers, DecDeclan Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14322645323239292406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-57884357874063632492009-07-21T21:40:01.116+01:002009-07-21T21:40:01.116+01:00So, you've all changed your minds now?So, you've all changed your minds now?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-4884313944566042102009-07-21T19:37:42.939+01:002009-07-21T19:37:42.939+01:00Yes, I guss the font on No. 1 does look Pacmanish,...Yes, I guss the font on No. 1 does look Pacmanish, which does seem a bit on the cozy side. So lose the font but keep the cover.<br />==============<br /> Detectives Beyond Borders<br />"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"<br /> <a href="http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/</a>Peter Rozovskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09977933481463759162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-75003805216273711122009-07-21T17:49:08.787+01:002009-07-21T17:49:08.787+01:00I think it's probably the font that puts me of...I think it's probably the font that puts me off number 1 and makes me think it's a 1920s cosy. I think with a butcher font I would like it best.Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780558832861165256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-39002761125680129312009-07-21T16:43:33.886+01:002009-07-21T16:43:33.886+01:00Bright colors always attract me.Bright colors always attract me.Joe Baronehttp://joebaronesblog.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-6751083323828747132009-07-21T14:58:42.130+01:002009-07-21T14:58:42.130+01:00I'd go for no 1 without the Pacman font! To me...I'd go for no 1 without the Pacman font! To me its the most mysterious cover with the most to say. The others look cheap. And I also agree that authors' names should never be bigger than the title, that just tells me that "the book is crap but we're selling it on the back of past reputation". The major publishers just rip off each others covers and there's too few interesting ones around.enganohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09531325695241833970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-76712054763236951932009-07-21T14:26:26.861+01:002009-07-21T14:26:26.861+01:00Number two gets my vote Dec. Good luck with this!Number two gets my vote Dec. Good luck with this!Alan Griffithsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-15705262060223290622009-07-21T12:27:17.747+01:002009-07-21T12:27:17.747+01:00Numero dos para mi tambien!
ArleneNumero dos para mi tambien!<br />ArleneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-52676659996036490172009-07-21T11:51:02.310+01:002009-07-21T11:51:02.310+01:00Declan,
No expert on this and of course, you shoul...Declan,<br />No expert on this and of course, you shouldnt judge a book by its cover and all that, but unfortunately, sometimes I do ... Personally #1 is great - I think it's brilliant. The font is a bit weird though. However, I can see the market out there having a preference for the more traditional crime novel format that is # 2.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />PADDYAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-15628605683681730782009-07-21T06:49:57.872+01:002009-07-21T06:49:57.872+01:00I like number one it looks very inviting, ready to...I like number one it looks very inviting, ready to take a closer look inside the Book.Heartbeatozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14673008405151953089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-32124227145052304422009-07-21T04:32:39.545+01:002009-07-21T04:32:39.545+01:00I like number one. A distant vista always carries ...I like number one. A distant vista always carries a subliminal hint of menace, and that's why we read this kind of stuff, isn't it?<br /> ==============<br /> Detectives Beyond Borders<br />“Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home”<br /> http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/Peter Rozovskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09977933481463759162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-27830375723497921642009-07-20T19:34:22.799+01:002009-07-20T19:34:22.799+01:00Much obliged for the feedback, folks ... For the r...Much obliged for the feedback, folks ... For the record, I preferred the first one ... Maybe I've got a cosy ol' heart. But, as Ms Witch says, it's close in tone to the book ... which, to be fair, most people wouldn't have known. Also, you're all correct - a writer's name should never be bigger than the title, no exceptions. <br /><br />I like the second cover too, although I don't like the way the title words into one another ... but I do like the way 'Pays' rises out of the village. Don't like the colours on my own name, though ...<br /><br />Anyway, ta very muchly, I really appreciate it ...<br /><br />Cheers, DecDeclan Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14322645323239292406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-4359618656058038372009-07-20T17:09:43.064+01:002009-07-20T17:09:43.064+01:00I'm with Jon and the 70's vibe, but I'...I'm with Jon and the 70's vibe, but I'm old....John McFetridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09442198820998606682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-27591949600799629692009-07-20T17:03:20.326+01:002009-07-20T17:03:20.326+01:00I think one is the most intriguing-except for the ...I think one is the most intriguing-except for the font. It makes me wonder what's going on behind the bars, in that living room overlooking the sea. The others just paint a nice picture for me.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-64338848626199674942009-07-20T16:51:51.069+01:002009-07-20T16:51:51.069+01:00Number 2 is my pick as well. Although it's fai...Number 2 is my pick as well. Although it's fairly conventional, it certainly has the best use of typography and the boldest presentation. (Number 1 is too cartoony, and Number 3's type is too '70s and doesn't stand out well.) But I agree with some others here, that you ought to ask your designer to change the colors in your byline on Number 2 so that your name pops out a tad more.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />JeffJ. Kingston Piercehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17073921191624535912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-7005912406196466212009-07-20T16:20:48.821+01:002009-07-20T16:20:48.821+01:00I think no. 2 looks like a cheap forgettable thril...I think no. 2 looks like a cheap forgettable thriller - probably a disposable plot - I wouldn't buy it.<br /><br />No. 3 is slightly worse.<br /><br />No. 1 is best though needs work. It's unusual and grabs the attention with the juxtaposition of sofas and bars. How about a scuba diver climbing in the window? Agree with others that it's too busy... a simple font and remove the cushions in the foreground.Egohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08975948917949707602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-83260750885480970162009-07-20T15:57:57.738+01:002009-07-20T15:57:57.738+01:00I'd go w/#2.I'd go w/#2.mybillcriderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02350478005243505108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-84411150181801632732009-07-20T15:45:22.648+01:002009-07-20T15:45:22.648+01:00Not thrilled about any of them, but vote for #2 w/...Not thrilled about any of them, but vote for #2 w/ change of color/s on your name.Josephine Damianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17952030380866201241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-49902952841466759322009-07-20T14:48:23.425+01:002009-07-20T14:48:23.425+01:00#1 looks like a cozy cover. #3, author's name ...#1 looks like a cozy cover. #3, author's name much too big. #2 it is, but can you make the S's into dollar signs? Or is that too American considering the book's contents? Is the dollar sign universal enough to be used that way?Corey Wildehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05566740230330395590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-85320059564657315792009-07-20T14:13:57.935+01:002009-07-20T14:13:57.935+01:00I vote #1 followed by #3 and #2. I don't like ...I vote #1 followed by #3 and #2. I don't like the black title over the island in #2.<br /><br /><br />v-word: epolosi, which sounds Greek.marcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10505120530405862702noreply@blogger.com