Opinions wanted on new book cover - Page 2

katekindle · 05-24-2011, 01:12 AM

Unclear as to who or what exactly is being represented. Like line drawings, but these need to be darker and have a theme, stuff that is, happening around the character. Also use double bold on the print.

bhartman36 · 05-24-2011, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisanthropic

The consensus seems to be that the font used for the title is too hard to read - is that due to it's placement over the image or the font itself?

I think the font would be okay if it didn't overlap with the image. If you either moved the image or changed the color of one of them, I think that would help.

chrisanthropic · 05-24-2011, 01:25 PM

I'm still not satisfied with the fonts and I actually have a few other things popping around that could replace this one entirely, but since I'm still getting feedback on this thread I thought I'd post the slightly reworked version that addresses a few of the issues you guys brought up.

**Note**
The image is a rough sketch and will be replaced by the final drawing once I get it from the artist.

Larger version here.

mcrow24 · 05-24-2011, 02:19 PM

IMO, the character in the picture looks very cartoonish for a gritty fantasy novel and does not represent that well.

That's not the same as saying the are is bad, it's not, but I just think that it's important to get the feel of the book in the cover. If this was on the shelf, I'd probably never pick up if I was looking for a "gritty" fantasy book.

mr ploppy · 05-24-2011, 02:28 PM

That one's a lot better.

bhartman36 · 05-24-2011, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisanthropic

I'm still not satisfied with the fonts and I actually have a few other things popping around that could replace this one entirely, but since I'm still getting feedback on this thread I thought I'd post the slightly reworked version that addresses a few of the issues you guys brought up.

**Note**
The image is a rough sketch and will be replaced by the final drawing once I get it from the artist.

Larger version here.

I like this cover a lot better because of the clarity of the text, but I agree with others that the image doesn't convey the seriousness of the book. It looks anime-ish to me. It's definitely getting in the right direction, though!

GraceKrispy · 05-28-2011, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anke Wehner

The cartoony style makes me think it's aimed at younger teens, if not children (says the comic and manga reader, oddly enough)... "gritty" isn't exactly my first association, more "cutesy".
.

Yes, my first thought was of the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary. I had the same complaint about readability of the title, but I see the second image took care of that. So now the clarity is better. I still get cute-ish from it. I definitely don't get gritty fantasy. Maybe it's the expression on the pixie's face that gives me "cute teen fantasy." The big eyes and the sort-of smile give me that impression. I think narrowed eyes and playing up the pixie-ish features (ears and such) may give a bit more grittiness?

SneakySnake · 05-28-2011, 10:48 PM

Still looks like a kids book. Thieves in the apple orchard?

chrisanthropic · 05-28-2011, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

Still looks like a kids book. Thieves in the apple orchard?

Well shit, with all of the brilliant commentary I'm tempted to leave the cover as is just to see what else comes of it...

Seriously though, thanks. I'd rather hear it now before we put it into print. Brutality is a kindness at this point. Also, SneakySnake- that was hilarious.

SneakySnake · 05-28-2011, 11:49 PM

Why don't you elve up your avatar and use that? He is so cute. I loved the colours on your proposed cover by the way. Looked a bit like a faded version of Oliver(with pointy ears) with that brown you get on aged books.

chrisanthropic · 05-29-2011, 12:40 AM

@SnarkySnake - Thanks! I love the sarcasm - it's my first language! Also, what you say about the colors is perfect since that's what I was going for.

Now I'm tempted to work with a different image all together for the cover since the consensus seems to be that it looks to much like a YA book. But I do have some newer versions from the artist (color, b&w, and sepia) so I wonder if anyone is interested in seeing them and giving feedback to see if I should just abandon it and move on to a different image?

Also, gritty may have been a misnomer. The setting is what I consider gritty fantasy (whores, thieves, disease and STDs, little magic) but the protagonist is a half-elf female and is a bit of a coming of age tale in those sordid surroundings.

crich70 · 05-31-2011, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisanthropic

@SnarkySnake - Thanks! I love the sarcasm - it's my first language! Also, what you say about the colors is perfect since that's what I was going for.

Now I'm tempted to work with a different image all together for the cover since the consensus seems to be that it looks to much like a YA book. But I do have some newer versions from the artist (color, b&w, and sepia) so I wonder if anyone is interested in seeing them and giving feedback to see if I should just abandon it and move on to a different image?

Also, gritty may have been a misnomer. The setting is what I consider gritty fantasy (whores, thieves, disease and STDs, little magic) but the protagonist is a half-elf female and is a bit of a coming of age tale in those sordid surroundings.

It couldn't hurt to post the images in question certainly. I felt one problem was that the fact that the image was all one color didn't allow the character to pop out at the prospective reader.

chrisanthropic · 05-31-2011, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

It couldn't hurt to post the images in question certainly. I felt one problem was that the fact that the image was all one color didn't allow the character to pop out at the prospective reader.

Thanks for the interest! I've attached thumbnails of the picture.

Larger Images are: here, here, and here.

After the feedback we received, I think we're leaning towards a new image that doesn't convey "Young Adult". So now we're trying to figure out something between YA and chainmail bikinis (or dragons) that still conveys the genre. Hm....dragons in chainmail bikinis? Hm...it's good that I'm not the author.

crich70 · 05-31-2011, 11:50 PM

I like this one best of the three https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
It just has more depth than the other two.

David Gaughran · 06-03-2011, 04:47 PM

The second version is an improvement.

I actually like the concept and what you are going for.

However, you really need to sort out the text. It's not visible enough. It needs to be much larger. You need to make it pop. I have a large screen and perfect eyesight, but that text is way to small for me. Other people will have smaller screens and less-perfect vision, and many others will be viewing on their Kindles etc.

Most eyeballs that see your cover will be on a listings such as this. Those images are tiny. Your text must be readable at that size.

Dave

05-24-2011, 01:25 PM	#18
chrisanthropic Fiend Posts: 148 Karma: 559930 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: none	I'm still not satisfied with the fonts and I actually have a few other things popping around that could replace this one entirely, but since I'm still getting feedback on this thread I thought I'd post the slightly reworked version that addresses a few of the issues you guys brought up. Note The image is a rough sketch and will be replaced by the final drawing once I get it from the artist. Larger version here. Attached Thumbnails

05-24-2011, 02:19 PM	#19
mcrow24 Connoisseur Posts: 82 Karma: 35788 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kindle,Augen "The book", Nook	IMO, the character in the picture looks very cartoonish for a gritty fantasy novel and does not represent that well. That's not the same as saying the are is bad, it's not, but I just think that it's important to get the feel of the book in the cover. If this was on the shelf, I'd probably never pick up if I was looking for a "gritty" fantasy book. Last edited by mcrow24; 05-24-2011 at 02:43 PM.

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05-24-2011, 01:12 AM	#16
katekindle Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: none	Unclear as to who or what exactly is being represented. Like line drawings, but these need to be darker and have a theme, stuff that is, happening around the character. Also use double bold on the print.

05-24-2011, 02:28 PM	#20
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	That one's a lot better.

05-28-2011, 10:48 PM	#23
SneakySnake I'm watching you! Posts: 6,113 Karma: 22344652 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sunny Coast Qld, OZ Device: Sony PRS-900(unused lately) iPadAir2, want me Kindle Oasis	Still looks like a kids book. Thieves in the apple orchard?

05-28-2011, 11:49 PM	#25
SneakySnake I'm watching you! Posts: 6,113 Karma: 22344652 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sunny Coast Qld, OZ Device: Sony PRS-900(unused lately) iPadAir2, want me Kindle Oasis	Why don't you elve up your avatar and use that? He is so cute. I loved the colours on your proposed cover by the way. Looked a bit like a faded version of Oliver(with pointy ears) with that brown you get on aged books.

05-29-2011, 12:40 AM	#26
chrisanthropic Fiend Posts: 148 Karma: 559930 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: none	@SnarkySnake - Thanks! I love the sarcasm - it's my first language! Also, what you say about the colors is perfect since that's what I was going for. Now I'm tempted to work with a different image all together for the cover since the consensus seems to be that it looks to much like a YA book. But I do have some newer versions from the artist (color, b&w, and sepia) so I wonder if anyone is interested in seeing them and giving feedback to see if I should just abandon it and move on to a different image? Also, gritty may have been a misnomer. The setting is what I consider gritty fantasy (whores, thieves, disease and STDs, little magic) but the protagonist is a half-elf female and is a bit of a coming of age tale in those sordid surroundings.

05-31-2011, 11:50 PM	#29
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	I like this one best of the three https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink It just has more depth than the other two.

06-03-2011, 04:47 PM	#30
David Gaughran @DavidGaughran Posts: 23 Karma: 654230 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Device: none (yet)	The second version is an improvement. I actually like the concept and what you are going for. However, you really need to sort out the text. It's not visible enough. It needs to be much larger. You need to make it pop. I have a large screen and perfect eyesight, but that text is way to small for me. Other people will have smaller screens and less-perfect vision, and many others will be viewing on their Kindles etc. Most eyeballs that see your cover will be on a listings such as this. Those images are tiny. Your text must be readable at that size. Dave