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How important do you think the book cover is of your published book? Do you think it sells your book?
These two questions I have just asked has been the main subject of a friend who self published her book. It sounds so easy. But I know it is not. My friend spent months in book stores studying book covers. The color or color combinations. The authors name on the top or bottom of the book cover, the size of the name. Also, the title of the book has to be fitted in on the cover. Now we have the authors name and the title but where do the graphics go? Do you really need graphics? The complexity of creating an eye catching cover is overwhelming.
After studying hundreds of book covers she decided that most of the book covers were dreadful. The colors were dark and dingy. There was too much on the cover and sometimes you could not tell which was the authors name and the title of the book. Many times the graphics was so strong you can not even read the words on the cover. Sometimes less is better.
She decided with a friend to create her own book cover. It was not that easy. First a picture had to be taken for the graphic of the cover. Special lights were used. The knowledge just to set up the lights was way over my friends head. Then of course the picture was down loaded into the computer and into the Photo Shop website. The work and knowledge which went into this was extraordinary.
Finally the colors for the cover were picked. The fonts for the letters were picked and the graphic picture was cut and pasted creating an eye catching covert. My friend loved her book cover and e-mailed it to all her friends and family.
Then the comments started pouring in. Yes, I like the cover but, etc., etc, etc. It is very hard to make everybody happy. But you know what. The only person that needs to be happy is the author the owner of the book. The next time you read a book look at the cover. What made you pick this book up instead of that one?
Thank you for reading my article. Please feel free to read my other articles on various subjects.
Copyright 2009 Linda Meckler
Linda is the author of her first published book, ?Ghost Kids Trilogy. "Christy, 12 and her Brother Brad, 16 move into an old house and meet Ghost Kids. Adventures keep you mystified until the hunt for Pirates' Treasure. Love, Family Values and Charity burst off the pages.
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