Book Cover Design 101: Unleashing the Monster

[chrisdolley]

As promised on Saturday here's news about my upcoming eNovelette, Magical Crimes. News and some sample covers. I've cross posted this post to the SFNovelists and BVC blogs.

Authors are capricious gods. We’re always interfering in the lives of our characters. We hate it when life’s too easy for them. We crave conflict and struggle and whenever the

Comments

[threeoutside]

As a joint Chris Dolly and CSI (the original series) fan, I must say, I can't WAIT to get hold of this book.

I agree that the black is easiest to read. If you think it's too harsh, maybe match the dark blue or gray of the guy's vest?

The caption ‘Stick of rock, cock,’ is lost on me as a Yankee. I mean, I get the obvious prurient reference, but the phrase itself makes no sense to me. Could you explain the situation a little more?

[threeoutside]

And I did catch that I'd misspelled your name - immediately after hitting the Post Comment button. Sorry.

[chrisdolley]

Cock is also a term of endearment in the UK. At least it was when I was growing up. So 'how are you, cock?' would be as common a form of greeting as 'how are you, mate?' or chick or hen or love.

So, 'stick of rock, cock?' could be taken as someone asking a friend if they wanted a stick of rock. Of course it could be taken an entirely different way...

[threeoutside]

Ah. OK, got that. so what's a "Stick of rock"?

[ftemery]

I agree, the black is easier to read, but the multi-color is more *fun* and fits the image better, IMO. I'd also use the same font for your name and the title. But then I'd also use a full-page cover of the picture and put your name smaller and in white in the lower-left corner on the green water - which might not work anyhow. It's just that I'm doing covers as we speak, only I'm more stuck on titles than covers since I'm lucky enough to have four different photo apps, plus I shoot a lot of photos. Best of luck - sounds like a sure-fire hit.

[seaboe]

I'm with verb. I like the yellow best.

[peanut13171]

The dark ones work best for me (#2 and #6). The fades don't work for me.

[dreamkatch]

I like #1 and #2, the ones with the gradients really don't fit the rest of the "feel" of the cover. The design is vintage style, and gradients really don't go with that. Take a look at some vintage posters and look for a feel you like, then copy it! I would even go with a different font, like a sans-serif instead of a decorative. http://www.allposters.com/-st/-Posters_c85635_.htm take a look at the lettering for the Chicago Worlds Fair, and for Maccheroni Pianigiani. I think fonts like that with a solid color...here I threw something together.

[chrisdolley]

I'm impressed! I think the font in the example above is a bit too 1930s art nouveau - says he, undoubtedly showing his ignorance about both the 1930s and art nouveau:) But it made me think - always a plus - why not look at the font the artist used with the postcard.

[chrisdolley]

Hmm, my attempt to add an image fails miserably. The url is:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RnoICdmSZT8/RlapEh5cClI/AAAAAAAAABE/tfEoe4K8y20/s320/mcgill-postcard.jpg

What I'm thinking of doing is settling on a primary cover and, it being an ebook, offering alternative covers for people to download if they wish.

The ultimate in customer choice:)