Today's guest blogger is debut author, Sandy Lender, of the Choices Trilogy. Please, extend a warm welcome to her for joining us!
I'm pretty doggone lucky. Not only did I get a publisher to give me a contract for my first novel CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS, that publisher asked for my opinion on the design of the cover.
So often in the publishing industry, authors have to sit back and wince over what a marketing department has selected for their book's cover. When I met Terry Goodkind several years ago, he told me how disappointed he'd been in the first/original cover for WIZARD'S FIRST RULE
Anyway, Terry shared that once his books became amazingly popular, he got to have some say in the cover design and the first novel was being reissued with a more artistic, dreamy look to match the rest of the series. (My description, not his.)
I've heard horror stories of images with lighthouses when the storyline takes place inland, images with a three-armed woman, back cover copy that mis-spells the hero's name, back cover copy that reflects events that don't take place in the story, etc. I was thrilled, as a new author, that my publisher said, "Send me some copy for the back cover" and "Here's a cover idea; what do you think?"
The first image he sent me for CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS had a picture of my heroine's head big and huge in the foreground with her hair very dark red and some kind of actual photograph of a modern dagger in the background. I feared making any comment. I turned off the computer and went to bed. The next morning, he had already sent a new concept. Thank God. He had a couple sword images for me to choose from. And he was reflecting part of Chariss's image out of the sword. EXCELLENT! It's quite cool because the amethyst that she's got on her cheek and her lavender eyes are included on the cover without giving the reader a false idea of what she looks like...It's perfect.
I didn't want him to put the hero, Nigel, and the heroine, Chariss, on the cover together. While their relationship draws a lot of attention (and e-mails) from readers, we didn't want to make it the focal point. There are several plotlines and their romance is just one in the fantasy novel. I think what my publisher came up with contains important elements to attract fantasy enthusiasts, and the back cover copy that we worked up draws all sorts of readers in.
Thanks for checking in today!
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Online Stores - Sylvester Warner Bros. Animation Characters Animation Art, Characters Collectibles
- First Flight Event Covers Covers United States Stamps
- Nature Contemporary (1940-Now) Photographic Images Collectibles
- Pins Tweety Warner Bros. Animation Characters Animation Art, Characters Collectibles
- Animation Characters Animation Art, Characters Collectibles
This post was written by...
Guest Blogger – who has written 245 posts on Love Romance Passion.
Guest Bloggers featured at Love Romance Passion are romance authors, various industry personnel, and readers just like you!
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Good morning to everyone. I asked my publisher, Bob Gelinas, to share some thoughts about our cover-producing process at ArcheBooks Publishing. The art department uses Photoshop for the primary art and InDesign for the dustcover creation. I asked him why he allows his authors input on cover design and what that can lend to marketing efforts. He’s traveling today, but sent me an answer for us ahead of time:
“They know the story best, have a vision for its concept and theme, and are welcome to submit ideas. But the publisher gets final say if those author submitted ideas aren’t appealing and something else would make for a stronger appeal of the finished product.”
Sandy Lender
“Some days, I just want the dragon to attract new readers!”
Hi Sandy! I have to admit, one of the first things that drew me to your book was the tour banner (which, of course, includes your cover). Blame the amazing cover art on my current stalking of you… of course, the sweet excerpt helped!
You’re fortunate. I’ve seen more than one really awful cover, and struggle to overcome my aversion to buy the book, even when the book sounds amazing, or it’s an author I love.
Are you on your way home yet?
I’ve seen covers that really draw me in, and the book actually doesn’t live up to it, which really makes me mad. But most of the books I read, I pick from excerpts or cover info, not necessarily cover art. Unless the cover art is really impressive, then I will take a peek. I do love the cover for Choices. It is interesting but not gaudy or overdone.
Hi again Ms. Lender, I was really surpirsed when I read today’s article. Your publisher asked for your input relating the cover (WOW). I was under the impression –that NEVER happens. Good for you!!! I love the image reflected in the sword very cool & very original.
“Some days, I just want the dragon to give me more coffee, to stay up longer to read.”
Hello, Mysti!
I’ve had that same thing…you stare at a book cover and wonder what they were thinking. Why did they think THAT was going to attract readership. But, you know, marketing people have reasons behind every decision they make. And I think I’m biased because I find that happening with genres that I’m not already seeped in, you know what I mean?
But I’m pleased to hear that the cover of Choices Meant for Gods caught your eye. My publisher and I are working on the cover of Choices Meant for Kings now. It’s rockin’!
Good to see you again today!
Sandy Lender
“Some days, I just want the dragon to win.”
Hi, Nancy,
I know I’ve picked up books because the cover was gorgeous and then got disappointed because the blurb was a let-down or the first page was bizarre…
Haven’t you seen a front cover and just WANTED the story to fit it? I’ve seen fantasy paintings/illustrations that I wish were front covers for novels…
I’m pleased to hear that you like the Choices Meant for Gods cover!
Sandy Lender
“Some days, I just want the dragon to win.”
Hello, Susan!
Please call me Sandy. I was pretty surprised myself (pleasantly) when he asked me to comment. The day that I had my pitch session I met a gal who was complaining about what her publishing house had done with her cover, so I had no misconceptions about designing my cover myself…but it sure felt good to have someone ask my opinion!
Sandy Lender
“Some days, I just want the dragon to win.”
Hi Sandy! I’m enjoying the visits with you about your book! I especially love to see the various fantasy covers! Yours does stand out! I know the cover doesn’t make the book but I always believed its part of the ‘package’ just like the back cover is that tells us about the book, etc.
I think thats great you got to have input on the cover. I mostly hear about some not being happy with their covers and don’t have a say in what has been decided on them as well as errors on them that should be on there because of giving them the info sheet about the characters and story and the cover didn’t fit.
For it its like being in the fantasy and romance section and seeing the book and reading the back cover and then seeing the cover as well. I can usually guess the genre from that.
Sandy, I found the same sort of cover interaction with my publisher, which is a small press. Is your publisher a small press also?
Margay