Regardless of your answer, you eventually move on to more deeper revelations about the person. You talk with them, sometimes share small talk, while other times find yourself drawn to tell a new acquaintance a more personal detail about yourself. Could be your opinion about a political issue, or maybe you and this 1st-time person share an experience of a loved one's illness or an encounter with a waitress or clerk at a store. Doesn't matter. Point is something about them made you stay and share time with them and look beyond their outer skin.
Same thing with with books, specifically book covers. What makes a book cover successful? For me I believe it has to pose some question that will make me open to the first pages. Then, just like that 1st-time person, those first pages must do their own work to keep me intrigued and flipping to the meat of the story. I've been pondering all this because my young adult cover is almost finalized and will be revealed soon. Nervous, insecure about its reveal? A little. Because what will readers think when they see it? What about it will intrigue them enough to open to the first pages and give them a chance to do their job - build a friendship with the reader?
Splat Alert: I will be having sign ups to help me reveal the cover, so if you're interested in being one of my bookish helpers please stay tuned!
(The purpose of the IWSG is to share and encourage, posting on the first Wednesday of each month. You'll find writer doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Support and a common understanding spread throughout the group as many fellow writers can relate. Feel free to JOIN in anytime.)On this wonderful subject of book covers, check out one cover that - in my opinion - does its job.
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| GOODREADS |
Fragments of Darkness
An Anthology of Thrilling Stories
Release date: September 13, 2017
With legends of killer mermaids to tales of Civil War era ghosts, ten passionate story-tellers come together to bring you yarns of fantasy, paranormal, and chills and thrills that will entertain, intrigue, and enchant young adult and new adult readers.
Authors include:
Lisa M. Basso -- Heart and Bone
C.L. Campbell -- Reckoner
Dorothy Dreyer -- Under the Surface
Pat Esden -- Black as a Dark Moon, Scarlet as Sumac
E.M. Fitch -- Between Shadows
R.A. Gates -- The Collector
Jessica Gunn -- The Ghost
Debra Jess -- Blood & Armor
Melanie McFarlane -- The Transgressions of Faithe Eileen
Daphne René -- Story of the Unknown Soldier
Big congrats to all the authors!
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Enjoy the rest of your week, everyone.
For me, the cover is not what gets me to read a book, though I like a pleasing one. The blurb is more important to me. Good luck with the cover reveal. Can't wait to see it.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I agree, the blurb has to speak to me somehow. I like it when they make me question something. :)
DeleteOoh! A new cover! I totally go for covers...but I find they disappoint me way too often. Actually, I get hooked on excerpts frequently and go buy the book. There's the power if you ask me--but your average, every day reader? Yeah, it's totally the cover.
ReplyDeleteI find I'm like this with romance, the NA through mid-life woman reads. LOL They all have some hunky guy on the cover. Well, duh. But it's the one's with a fab blurb that I'll actually give a try. Shows me there's something different.
DeleteGood analogy. I'll admit, I'm drawn to the amazing artwork found on so many fantasy and science fiction books.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing your cover. I don't do cover reveals anymore, but be happy to help promote it when it's released.
Thanks, Alex. I'll be in touch this summer.
DeleteFantasy and Sci-Fi covers totally get me, too. My YA is a romance, but there's a lot of paranormal and fantasy aspects to it as well. We went with a fantasy feel, which I like better. Just personal preference.
I'll be glad to spread the word for your cover.
ReplyDeleteCool cover. I like that it made me look closer before I realized it was a woman's face.
ReplyDeleteHi, Sheri,
ReplyDeleteFirst, Thanks for the lovely comment you left at my blog...it meant so much. Life has be quite stressful lately and with the addition of Melissa's worsening condition and the problems of some of my other close friends, life has been quite complicated and I naturally recluse when this happens.
Congrats on your new cover! Totally looking forward to seeing it!
The anthology looks very intriguing! The cover and the blurb are very chilling....CONGRATS to a ll the authors included.
Hope all is well in your world.... Take care of yourself.
I tend to pull away from people, too, when life gets tough. For me, it's a natural reaction; growing up with a severely depressed parent taught me that. It's not the most healthy thing to do, but it's how I cope, so I get it. This is a subject I really should blog about someday. Just not yet.
DeleteTake care of yourself, too. <3
Ooo, I love new covers! I must admit the cover is usually what draws me to a book. Then I'll read the description and maybe sample the first few pages. Of course, that's with unfamiliar-to-me authors.
ReplyDeleteI take the a similar approach. The cover is usually what attracts me to read the blurb. But the cover doesn't have to be all fancy and stuff, although that's what I like most; I'm kind of eclectic in that way. Even a simpler cover can intrigue me enough to find out what the story is about.
DeleteThanks for dropping by!
Covers can be so hit and miss sometimes, especially since there is such a wide variety of personal taste. Best wishes for your reveal! Exciting times!
ReplyDeleteVery true! That's one reason I think some (probably a lot) of authors fear or are insecure about their cover reveal. it can go one way or the other. But I like to think readers are pretty intelligent, not simply basing their opinion on the outer skin but also looking at the blurb and between the pages. I also think an author's authenticity when interacting on social media can affect opinions. Granted, that's a huge topic and for a discussion later on.
DeleteI've always thought your covers great. You do a good job. Cover is a big drawn for me as a reader.
ReplyDelete' Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Ooo...a cover! Can't wait to see it :) I am superficial enough to let the cover influence me. But I'm betting yours will be great.
ReplyDeleteCovers that work and don't can to a degree be such a subjective thing. I like how you put it--ones that raise a question draw you in as a reader.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I try not to let covers influence me, but they do all the time. :)
ReplyDeleteIf you need help spreading the word for your cover reveal, we would be happy to help. Depending on the genre we will put it up on one of our two blogs.
~Jess
Great cover on the anthology! Very arresting. We all hope that our story is what will get readers hooked, but they have to get past the cover first. As a writer, definitely something that makes me nervous! I'll help out with your reveal.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Thank you so much for offering to help out with my reveal! I'll add you to my list and be in touch.
DeleteThat is an intriguing cover. Yes. A book's cover does invite the reader to see what's inside. Looking forward to seeing your new one.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'd like to help with your cover reveal. :)
ReplyDelete