Comments on: Book Covers 101: Your Cover Sells Your Book

By: James Preston

James Preston — Sat, 18 May 2019 20:27:26 +0000

Melinda, how could I have missed this essay? Oh, I was AFK for reasons that seemed good at the time. Anyway, hope this still finds its way to you. Thanks! And it's perfect timing as I am reviewing the design for Remains To Be Seen, my new thriller. I like both the old & the new versions of the cover for Stronger Than Magic, but I see just what you mean. Thanks again.

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Wed, 15 May 2019 15:38:04 +0000

This is siper eye opening, Melinda. I hear authors get SO mad when the character's hair color is wrong. How refreshing to find out IT DOESN'T MATTER.

By: dholcomb1

dholcomb1 — Mon, 13 May 2019 19:12:23 +0000

It's amazing how much designing a cover for your audience matters.

denise

By: Melinda VanLone

Melinda VanLone — Mon, 13 May 2019 18:42:05 +0000

In reply to Julie Glover. You're very welcome :-)

By: Melinda VanLone

Melinda VanLone — Mon, 13 May 2019 17:41:24 +0000

In reply to Terry Odell. If it were me, yes I'd redo the first 4 covers as part of a marketing blitz celebrating the new release. It would not only bring them more in line with what your ideal reader expects, it would hopefully bring you lots of new readers rather than just those who already know you. The good news is romantic suspense doesn't really require the typical bodice ripper type of approach. A couple run-in from something in a moody landscape, for example, is often a better way to capture that type of reader. Also keep in mind that for romantic suspense often a single male on the cover isn't attracting who you might think it's attracting. It's often more successful to have a couple or a single female, rather than a single male.

By: Julie Glover

Julie Glover — Mon, 13 May 2019 13:26:52 +0000

Sometimes we writers get so involved in our stories, we think it all needs to show up on the cover. But that's what the INSIDE is for. The outside is, as you've so beautifully addressed, a marketing tool to get people to open the book / buy it! Thanks for breaking it down so well.

By: Terry Odell

Terry Odell — Mon, 13 May 2019 11:53:23 +0000

So true. The cover is a marketing tool, and the author needs to understand that. I ended up redoing covers for the first four books in my Blackthorne, Inc. series because they weren't letting readers know they were romantic suspense. I was focused on the "suspense" but many reviewers were complaining about the romance in the book. (Let's not get into "Read The Description!" argument.) I'm going through this as I write a new book in my first series, where I hated typical romance covers and avoided the obvious -- put people on the cover. Do I redo 4 covers, both print and digital when #5 comes out?

By: Laura Drake

Laura Drake — Mon, 13 May 2019 11:05:45 +0000

You are so right, Melinda - and it took me a long time to understand this (along with June Westerfield, beating me on the head).

The most important thing I learned? Unless you have an artist's eye, and can completely divorce yourself from the story, HIRE the cover OUT!