Taking a Walk

LeeGoldberg · 07-16-2010, 03:07 AM

THE WALK is, by far, my best-selling book on the Kindle. It out-sells the e-editions of all of my MONK novels and the e-editions of all of my previously out-of-print stuff. Every month I sell more copies than the month before. And today, a little over 12 months since I put the book on the Kindle, I reached a milestone: I sold my 7000th e-edition of THE WALK.

So today I am changing the cover.

What!? Am I insane? Why the hell would I mess with success? Because I think I can sell even more copies with a slicker, bolder, updated version of the same concept...and because it will tie in graphically with my other books on the Kindle. Besides, one of the great things about the Kindle platform is that if the change flops, I can go back to the old cover in a few hours. So here's the old cover...

And here's the new one, designed by Carl Graves.

I think Carl did an amazing job...and I predict my sales, which have gone up every month, will shoot up even more with this cover. What do you think? Am I sabotaging myself...or is this a smart move?

GeoffC · 07-16-2010, 03:32 AM

Only time will tell, but personally I prefer the first one ....

banjobama · 07-16-2010, 04:16 AM

The new one looks more balanced to me. And it may be just the contrast from the red flames, but that green road in the first one ain't doing much for me.

Verres · 07-16-2010, 12:22 PM

In my opinion you are doing the right thing with your new cover. The whole design looks more 'classic' to me. Especialy the font of the title. Also the flames look better now that they are only taking 50 % of the picture and the man on the cover now is almost in the golden ratio. So

from Germany for your new cover.

Robin O'Neill · 07-16-2010, 04:56 PM

Bigger, simpler. Forget about detail--It doesn't "read" in a thumbnail. The more like a billboard these things are, the better.

Robin

LeeGoldberg · 07-16-2010, 08:53 PM

I think you're right, Robin. it's how they look "small" that counts in catching the eye in the Kindle store...

Lee

dgillette.rm · 07-17-2010, 09:32 AM

While I do like the new cover better, the point might be moot. How do you measure the sales due to the poor smucks who see a new cover and think they are buying a new book? I was bitten by this more than once before I got organized.

LeeGoldberg · 07-17-2010, 02:10 PM

I don't see how anyone could be confused... the artwork has changed, but the title of the book, the plot of the book, and the name of the author hasn't!

And if you already bought it on the Kindle, Amazon will alert you that you have already purchased it.

Lee

David Munch · 07-18-2010, 12:27 PM

I like the old one most. The only thing better with the new one, is that the road blends better into the fire.

Valmore Daniels · 07-18-2010, 01:28 PM

Overall, I like the new one better, but I find I like the fire graphic in the old one better - more contrast.

jaxx6166 · 07-18-2010, 10:43 PM

Isn't Carl the guy that does Konrath's covers?

Anyway - I like the second one better, it's pretty much the same image, but the camera is pulled up tighter. Makes the character more important than the flames in my eyes.

Oh. And Fonts. Fonts are nice too.

LeeGoldberg · 07-18-2010, 11:27 PM

Yep, the same Carl.

Lee

DaringNovelist · 07-19-2010, 01:06 AM

I also like the old flames better - but the rest is fabulous. Significantly better. The human figure in particular has a certain gravity that draws you in. (And though I like the old flames better - they probably wouldn't downsize as well, so it's a moot point.)

Camille

Angst · 07-21-2010, 12:06 PM

A cover is intended to bring attention to your book in a bookstore; to differentiate your book from the books surrounding it and to draw the potential buyer into picking your book up, and perusing it, and, hopefully, buying it. This holds on Amazon also, where your book is presented, with others, on "if you liked this book, you may also like these books" lists.

That said, both covers are very good. I would give the edge to the first cover as that was the one that drew my attention.

After looking at the thumbnails on Amazon, the second cover works better as a thumbnail.

LeeGoldberg · 07-23-2010, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angst

After looking at the thumbnails on Amazon, the second cover works better as a thumbnail.

That's vitally important...because that is how the majority of Amazon customers will view/experience your cover. Few readers actually click on the cover to blow it up to full size.

Lee

View Poll Results: Is the new WALK cover better or worse than the old one?
Yes, it's better.	29	87.88%
No, you fool, it's worse. Why are you fixing something that ain't broke?	1	3.03%
It makes no difference. You wasted your time and money.	3	9.09%
Voters: 33. You may not vote on this poll

07-16-2010, 03:07 AM	#1
LeeGoldberg Connoisseur Posts: 82 Karma: 100000 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	Taking a Walk THE WALK is, by far, my best-selling book on the Kindle. It out-sells the e-editions of all of my MONK novels and the e-editions of all of my previously out-of-print stuff. Every month I sell more copies than the month before. And today, a little over 12 months since I put the book on the Kindle, I reached a milestone: I sold my 7000th e-edition of THE WALK. So today I am changing the cover. What!? Am I insane? Why the hell would I mess with success? Because I think I can sell even more copies with a slicker, bolder, updated version of the same concept...and because it will tie in graphically with my other books on the Kindle. Besides, one of the great things about the Kindle platform is that if the change flops, I can go back to the old cover in a few hours. So here's the old cover... And here's the new one, designed by Carl Graves. I think Carl did an amazing job...and I predict my sales, which have gone up every month, will shoot up even more with this cover. What do you think? Am I sabotaging myself...or is this a smart move?

07-21-2010, 12:06 PM	#14
Angst Cannon Fodder Posts: 2,819 Karma: 50921712 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Probably a library Device: PRS-350, Kindle DX, Kindle Paperwhite	A cover is intended to bring attention to your book in a bookstore; to differentiate your book from the books surrounding it and to draw the potential buyer into picking your book up, and perusing it, and, hopefully, buying it. This holds on Amazon also, where your book is presented, with others, on "if you liked this book, you may also like these books" lists. That said, both covers are very good. I would give the edge to the first cover as that was the one that drew my attention. After looking at the thumbnails on Amazon, the second cover works better as a thumbnail. Last edited by Angst; 07-21-2010 at 12:16 PM.

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07-16-2010, 03:32 AM	#2
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,600 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Only time will tell, but personally I prefer the first one ....

07-16-2010, 04:16 AM	#3
banjobama Busy Read'n Posts: 980 Karma: 5039283 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Auburn, WA Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux 5	The new one looks more balanced to me. And it may be just the contrast from the red flames, but that green road in the first one ain't doing much for me.

07-16-2010, 12:22 PM	#4
Verres Zealot Posts: 137 Karma: 5496 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Trier Device: none	In my opinion you are doing the right thing with your new cover. The whole design looks more 'classic' to me. Especialy the font of the title. Also the flames look better now that they are only taking 50 % of the picture and the man on the cover now is almost in the golden ratio. So from Germany for your new cover.

07-16-2010, 04:56 PM	#5
Robin O'Neill Connoisseur Posts: 53 Karma: 60900 Join Date: May 2010 Device: PC	Bigger, simpler. Forget about detail--It doesn't "read" in a thumbnail. The more like a billboard these things are, the better. Robin

07-16-2010, 08:53 PM	#6
LeeGoldberg Connoisseur Posts: 82 Karma: 100000 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	I think you're right, Robin. it's how they look "small" that counts in catching the eye in the Kindle store... Lee

07-17-2010, 09:32 AM	#7
dgillette.rm Connoisseur Posts: 95 Karma: 10072 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: sony	While I do like the new cover better, the point might be moot. How do you measure the sales due to the poor smucks who see a new cover and think they are buying a new book? I was bitten by this more than once before I got organized.

07-17-2010, 02:10 PM	#8
LeeGoldberg Connoisseur Posts: 82 Karma: 100000 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	I don't see how anyone could be confused... the artwork has changed, but the title of the book, the plot of the book, and the name of the author hasn't! And if you already bought it on the Kindle, Amazon will alert you that you have already purchased it. Lee

07-18-2010, 12:27 PM	#9
David Munch Scholar Posts: 1,008 Karma: 3999312 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kobo Libra H2O + iPad Air 4	I like the old one most. The only thing better with the new one, is that the road blends better into the fire.

07-18-2010, 01:28 PM	#10
Valmore Daniels Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,592 Karma: 2822668 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle	Overall, I like the new one better, but I find I like the fire graphic in the old one better - more contrast.

07-18-2010, 10:43 PM	#11
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	Isn't Carl the guy that does Konrath's covers? Anyway - I like the second one better, it's pretty much the same image, but the camera is pulled up tighter. Makes the character more important than the flames in my eyes. Oh. And Fonts. Fonts are nice too.

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07-18-2010, 11:27 PM	#12
LeeGoldberg Connoisseur Posts: 82 Karma: 100000 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	Yep, the same Carl. Lee

07-19-2010, 01:06 AM	#13
DaringNovelist Addict Posts: 197 Karma: 1010202 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: iPod Touch	I also like the old flames better - but the rest is fabulous. Significantly better. The human figure in particular has a certain gravity that draws you in. (And though I like the old flames better - they probably wouldn't downsize as well, so it's a moot point.) Camille