Candy Shopping at the End of the World [resubmit]

Covers

The author says:

I plan on hiring someone for a re-design, but I thought it was worth getting feedback on this draft.

The world is falling apart due to climate catastrophe, violent insurrections, and government corruption. Suburban father Howard Hall decides to take matters into his own hands against one of the men he views as responsible for the societal decay; the candy mogul Li Wen. After modifying his RV into a vehicle of war, he leads his family on a siege of the Wen Estate. However, the battle proves to be more complicated than expected when a group of teenage punks show up to terrorize both the Hall family and Wen’s personal army.

This short novel is a satirical action thriller set in the very near future of the United States. The target audience is adult fans of humorous speculative fiction and would likely appeal to fans of authors like Thomas Pynchon, Norman Spinrad, William S. Burroughs, Nick Mamatas, and Carlton Mellick III.

[original submission and comments here]

Nathan says:

It’s an improvement, but not much of one; the title overlapping on the skull pulls focus away from it, and the candy still isn’t recognizable as such thanks to the color filters.  I think hiring someone is a good idea.

In the Name of Love

Covers

The author says:

Story details Italians migrating to America, then one of them becomes a citizen and is drafted into the navy during The Vietnam War. It’s a true story. It’s a historical love story about my parents meeting thanks to the migration, and also having to be apart because of the war.

Nathan says:

A cover has two main functions: Tell you what the name of the book is, and indicate what it’s about — and both of those have to be done at a glance.

The upper image above was the largest I was sent, but I think that exemplifies the weakness of this cover best: YOU CAN’T READ ANYTHING. There’s plenty of text, but it’s undifferentiated (really, is “Inspired by True Events” just as important as the title?), and the background keeps me from reading any of it easily.

If I discern the battleship on my first glance, then I may understand that there’s war involved, probably 20th century. But I don’t get “love story,” I don’t get “immigrants,” I don’t get the specific period (the Vietnam era is worlds apart from either of the World Wars, for example).

You have just an instant to hook potential readers before their eyes drift along to the next cover in line. If you can only convey ONE important thing about the subject matter in the single second (generously) of attention that your cover will get, what’s that one thing?

  • Is it the Vietnam war milieu? Use the typeface and images to convey the period and setting.
  • Is it the immigration drama? Use images of Italy and America in contrast.
  • Is it the love story? Use the typeface and color scheme (sunset colors, for example).
  • Is it the fact that it’s a true story? Use documentary-style typefaces like Trajan and faded photographs.

And just a note: You don’t want a colon in your byline. In fact, unless the title of the book is also a proper name, you don’t even need “by.” readers understand that, if there’s one name on the cover, it’s the author’s.

Other comments?

Candy Shopping at the End of the World

Covers

The author says:

The world is falling apart due to climate catastrophe, violent insurrections, and government corruption. Suburban father Howard Hall decides to take matters into his own hands against one of the men he views as responsible for the societal decay; the candy mogul Li Wen. After modifying his RV into a vehicle of war, he leads his family on a siege of the Wen Estate. However, the battle proves to be more complicated than expected when a group of teenage punks show up to terrorize both the Hall family and Wen’s personal army.

This short novel is a satirical action thriller set in the very near future of the United States. The target audience is adult fans of humorous speculative fiction and would likely appeal to fans of authors like Thomas Pynchon, Norman Spinrad, William S. Burroughs, Nick Mamatas, and Carlton Mellick III.

Nathan says:

I think the main problems with this cover become apparent in thumbnail: Nothing stands out. Even at full size, the objects to the left of the skeleton are unidentifiable. (From the description, I might guess that they’re candy, but…) And the title and byline look like they’re trying to be as unobtrusive as possible.

This is a cover which might benefit from a ground-up re-think. After all, you’ve got a nifty juxtaposition of post-apoc and candy; it should be easy to create an eye-catching cover from those elements.

Nevertheless, here’s a five-minute redo to show how even the existing elements could be improved:

No, I do NOT recommend the typeface I used. Five minutes, you know. (And even here, I’m wishing for some clear candy elements.)

Other comments?

The Prayer Meal

Covers

The author says:

How can I keep praying when nothing seems to be working? I get tired of praying without results! Is it possible to pray effectively? The Author’s tale of her journey so far in the warrior clan of God’s kingdom addresses the above struggles Christians face. If you desire more in your prayer life, this Book is an ideal Book for You! Reading this Book will challenge every reader to strengthen their prayer life and keep praying!

Nathan says:

I noticed that the file name of the image is “PUBCODE MEDIA PREMADE COVERS (9).png,” so you may not have a lot of control over changes. That said, I still think you can make better use of the space with a few tweaks:

  • Move your byline to the shaded area at the bottom, where the bigger letters will be more readable than the current subtitle.
  • Push the title (and the sunburst motif above it) right to the top.
  • Use the open space left below the title to display your subtitle at a bigger, more readable size.

Other comments?

Kong Boys

Covers

The author says:

In summer 2006, twenty-year-old Gerald Yeung and his childhood friends from Hong Kong travel to South America and Africa on their parents’ dime. Confronted by challenges foreign to their privileged upbringing, the “Wannabe Backpackers” persevere in their Christian Dior clothes. They make plans to do it again when they turn thirty. The decade that follows doesn’t go exactly to plan. Gerald chases the American Dream in a town of twenty thousand and subzero winters. Others pursue a fast-and-furious life in Hong Kong. They all experience failed relationships, career setbacks, and a decreasing ability to impress girls at clubs. The summer of their thirtieth birthdays, they hit the road again to fulfill a lifelong dream — the 2016 UEFA European Championship. Set during European soccer’s most anticipated event, Kong Boys traces a friendship that transcends distance, culture, and time, dovetailing the different trajectories of seven boys in a decade of changes in Hong Kong. Kong Boys is a celebration of youth, brotherhood, and a sport of incomparable beauty.

Nathan says:

You know what? I’m gonna give the commenters first stab at this. Have at it, guys.