[gmw]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Thanks Desk. Yeah, it's like 50/50 as far as I can tell with people either hating or loving people on the cover. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAHR7_VZdRw

I read somewhere, a long while ago now: to sell a book in the U.S. you have to put a person on the cover, elsewhere you can be more creative.

I don't know where the idea originated, but whatever the source I have seen quite a bit of apparent confirmation over the years. I remember particularly noticing the appalling U.S. covers to The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen Donaldson, compared to the stylish U.K. covers; over the years I've been so glad that Australia mostly gets U.K publications.

Mind you, it is getting much more difficult to tell with traditionally published books. So many use generic clipart from various 'net sources - cobbled together professionally, of course, but still looking extremely generic, an "any book will do" solution - that the difference is becoming more subtle (see the latest U.S. vs U.K. editions of Robert Goddard's books for example) ... but the difference is still there.