Quote:
Originally Posted by JSWolf
It's the cover (IMHO) that can get the reader to look further at the book. Maybe read the description and give it a try if the description sounds interesting. That is if the reader doesn't know about you or your work.
But yes, ultimately it is the content that will keep the reader coming back (or not) for more.
|
Completely agree. When I first started, I didn't believe covers influenced me. But I was working at a library at the time and came to realize how much covers mattered (some of the books are "recovered" with plain colors because the covers fall all). I started to pay more attention to my own reactions.
I love the cover for Under Witch Moon, but it doesn't shout "urban fantasy." The industry, probably to save money, went with photoshopping to define urban fantasy--a character or part of one in a sultry setting, almost always half-dark with or without werewolves in the background (or fangs of some sort.)
I love fantasy covers--the art that goes into them is pretty spectacular even without the book inside the cover. But it has been interesting to me to study how the publishing industry chooses and defines what a genre will "look like." I read a lot of cozy mysteries too--and those covers are almost always clip-art or a certain 'cartoonish' type drawing. Almost never photos. Chick-lit can go either way but is more often clipart.
The trends are quite interesting.