Category: Covers

Decanted

The author says:

Aimed at women of all ages, Samantha Goodyear quits her high-pressure accounting job to work grape harvest in France where she falls in love with the heir to a wine domain. When the romance ends disaster she heads to Napa to make a wine of her own.

Nathan says:

I actually have no criticisms at all. It seems perfect for the audience and subject matter.

We were actually given the full wraparound cover, and I do have three comments there:

  1. The white text against the maroon background is a little hard to read
  2. Between the more generous spacing of the blurbs and the tight wrap of the text next to the author photo (especially with the outer margin), the sales copy looks cramped.
  3. The “Reader Favorite” badge doesn’t impress anyone (sorry) — that particular badge has been featured on too many unimpressive books.

Other comments?

Peak Self-Control

The author says:

Improve your self-control and pursue your lifelong dreams with science-backed practices. Are you tired of setting the same goals for yourself every year and still not succeeding? Do you have problems controlling your anger and maintaining good relationships? Do you find yourself not motivated to complete what you need to do? Inside this paradigm-shifting book, discover:

  • How to improve self-control in this distracted world and start achieving your life goals one after another in no time
  • Little-known things that may be sabotaging your relationships, financial health, and full potential
  • Frightening facts industries don’t want you to know that manipulate your decisions and spending behavior
  • Quick and easy ways to design your surroundings for success, to beat addiction, and to attain your desired weight
  • A health condition you can’t afford to ignore, one that leads to criminal behavior
  • Strategies to ignite your willpower (even if you have a busy 9-5 job) so that you can complete your assignments earlier and enjoy spending more time with your family

Peak Self-Control employs willpower science to help you take back control of your life now, create your desired habits, and fulfill your wildly important goals.

Nathan says:

I’m of two minds about this one. On the one hand, it seems to be a little less adorned and colorful than most self-help books. On the other hand, the restrained design might actually exude confidence, which is especially good for the subject matter.

(I do know, though, that “will power” in the subtitle should be one word.)

Helpful comments?

Rogue 13 [resubmit]

The author says:

Rogue 13 is a contemporary fiction novel set in Las Vegas Nevada. It is targeted for adult readers with an affinity for action romance thrillers.

An FBI agent on an undercover operation is sold out exposing her op, blowing her cover, and leaving her at the mercy of the dangerous individuals she has been investigating. A former black-ops agent the intelligence world believes was neutralized long ago immerges from the safety of his obscurity to aid her escape. Labeled as a rogue agent with her own agenda by her superiors, and falling into the crosshairs of the intelligence underworld, the two unite their unique skillsets in a fight to clear their names amongst a world intent on silencing them.

[original submission and comments here]

Nathan says:

Some steps forward here, some steps back. The Vegas setting is more clearly indicated; however, the reticule over everything makes it all murky.  The title/byline font is still more distracting than it needs to be — thrillers do well with clear, thick solid type.  And the stock photo has the same problem it had the last time: She looks like she’s about to blow her boyfriend’s brains out.

Other comments?

The Neighborhood

The author says:

The Trevor Family – filthy rich, dysfunctional. In an attempt to reconnect with his family, Henry decides to take an unusual vacation to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Fate takes a turn and leads them to an idyllic neighborhood, where everything is more than perfect. The hospitable people, their lively parties, and picturesque homes make them never want to leave again. Almost. Until they meet the weird twins, Mary and Joe. “You can never leave,” said Mary-Joe synchronously. “They have plans for you.”

Nathan says:

There are two issues here: (a) this is not a good cover technically, and (b) this is not a good cover for your book.

(a) The three main figures are obviously spliced together (the light source on the man on the left is the biggest giveaway), and their bizarre assortments of costumes tell us nothing about the milieu of the story. At least two of the three look like their images were taken from Halloween costume sites. The creepy kids look like they were inserted as an afterthought.

(b) So this story takes place in the Congo? I can see absolutely nothing of that in the cover. If I were forced to guess, I would say that this is the cover of a book trying to be Addams Family-esque, with a household of magicians (or psychotic Ren Faire groupies) living in suburbia.

The first step you need to take is to ask yourself, “What is the biggest ‘hook’ in this movie? If I had to blurt out to someone in an elevator why they should read it, what would I say?  And then, how do I indicate that same ‘hook’ visually?”

Other comments?

The Lottery Ticket 2035: The Hunt For Money

The author says:

The year is 2035. The story is about love and survival. Christine Conder by her own actions, but against her will, is a contestant in the most serious lottery game ever played. Money generated by this new lottery supports the advancement of government programs throughout America and millions of people, young and old, are buying tickets for a chance to enter ‘The Hunt for Money.’ Signs flash along freeways and in downtown parking lots: “The Hunt for Money—$493,940,076—Enter to Win—Hunt for Money—Enter to Win!” And the dollar amount changes daily.

There is an unquestionable lack of morality in America. Some say it was caused by the promotion of violent video games while others say it was caused by the unprecedented violence accepted in television programming. Televisions are the babysitter parents do not have to pay. Cancer is no longer the number one killer but now despair and fear generate the highest coincidence of suicides ever known to a society of civilized people—It is a desperate time in America, and there is a growing desire to hunt for money. If you win an opportunity to hunt in this lottery you may become rich, or you may lose everything.

There is a difference in belief between two sisters. One believes there is a God and that we must return to those values, the other does not. Yet they love one another unconditionally. That bond grows stronger during Christine’s struggle to survive.

Nathan says:

First up, I applaud you for publication at an early age. The tools available to you are something I would have killed for in my youth. (Not family or friends, of course. But strangers would have been fair game.)

Now here are some pointers to make a cover that will attract people to your book:

  • There needs to be a focus. On your cover, there’s no particular part worth looking at.  The power of type is too often underappreciated, but in a cover where the imagery doesn’t really have any focus, the type needs to do the heavy lifting.  It needs to be strong, eye-catching, and easily read.  You’ve got a lot of space; use it. I should be able to understand at least SOMETHING from the tiny thumbnail view, because on Amazon or other ebook sites, that’s the first thing I’m going to see, and if that doesn’t draw me in, I’ll never click through to see more.
  • While it’s possible to pull off a cover with just strong type and an unremarkable background image, a better strategy is to use an image with a strong icon.  You know that people are going to think of your book in relation to The Hunger Games, so let’s look at that cover:

Strong, clear type with plenty of contrast with the background, and a single focal image. I’m not saying you need to imitate this cover slavishly; you need to understand the principles of why it works.

  • Where are the author names (called the “byline”) on the cover?  I have to explore the back cover to find your name, and your coauthor’s name is nowhere to be found.  They don’t need to be as big as Stephen King’s or James Patterson’s names are on their covers — they’ve got such a huge fanbase that their names are the biggest selling point — but they should still be there.
  • Since you gave us the back cover too, a couple of comments specifically for that: Don’t take up the back cover talking about yourself, talk about the book first.  Then use extra space to introduce yourself. And remember that paragraph text needs to be in as readable a typeface as you can find — the more text there is, the more readable it needs to be.

Other comments?