Book Covers: Seducing the Reader

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I still love going to book stores. You never know what you will find and that is a pleasure digital book stores can't quite replicate. I love perusing the tables and shelves. Inevitably my eyes are drawn to the covers.

I pick up the book and read the back. If that sounds intriguing, I open it and read the first few pages to see if I like the writer's technique.

Even as I scroll through the digital marketplace, covers are still the primary element that catches my eye. Then I read the book description. Then I "look inside."

This is the process most book lovers go through when they shop, so it is critical to have a cover that seduces them into reaching for your book.

What makes a good cover is up for strenuous debate. Some people are drawn to graphic designs. Some people like seeing faces, others don't. Some are captivated by an unusual single element on a solid background, like a rose or a bloody knife. Readers differ and you can't please them all.

However, one thing experience has proven is that your cover should reflect the genre. Mystery lovers are looking for a book that suggests a crime. Thriller lovers are looking for danger. Romance lovers are looking for a couple or something that suggests love and romance. Horror lovers look for creepy. Fantasy lovers want to know whether it is gritty urban fantasy, vampires - modern or historical, or medieval fare with dragons.

Your cover suggests whether the tone of your book is comedic, cozy, or terrifying. Font choice for the title and subtitle often play a large role in this. If the font doesn't match the tone, it is like putting a sign for plums in front of a display of oranges. 

Stock images matter too. False advertising is the number one cause of bad reviews. If your artwork suggests cuddling cute kittens and someone murders cute kittens, it won't go well for you.

Your book should be dressed properly, like for a job interview. Make sure the title, subtitle, tag line, author name, and series information are all legible and spelled correctly. Fonts matter. Placement of words in conjunction with images matters. The cover should not be overcrowded.

If your book is purchased by a publisher, you will have little input on the cover. They will design it and if you don't like it, you may have to suck it up. Some authors have fought for changes and won, but they are the minority.

If you self-publish and design your own cover, you have total freedom. But with that freedom comes responsibility to make sure you have the best cover possible. It is the most important calling card you will ever create. It will appear in thumbnails on online stores. It will appear on marketing materials you distribute. It might appear blown up to easel size for a book signing. The original file needs to be sufficient for those purposes in pixels and bytes.

Over the next few weeks, we will look at custom and premade cover options and resources then tips for creating your own cover.

What elements draw you in? What elements turn you off?