Cover feedback please?

Gregg Bell · 10-27-2015, 11:30 PM

It's for my novel American Ballerina. Here's the blurb (that Rizla so skillfully tweaked--thanks Rizla!):

Lily Russell is a world-class ballerina. In her mind at least.

She’ll stop at nothing to join the prestigious Royal Ballet, and her jealous ex-lover is fueling her fantasies.

Then Lily meets a king, who is no fantasy.

Two loves, two cultures and two worlds collide to force a single choice, a choice that may cost Lily her dreams, her sanity and even her life.

A mind-bending clash between what’s real and what’s imagined, American Ballerina is a compulsively readable suspense ride that never stops.

JSWolf · 10-27-2015, 11:43 PM

I don't like the font used in the title and the yellow is a bit bright. I don't see the ferris wheel fitting in with the blurb. It looks OK, but just doesn't fit.

I would expect there to be a picture of a ballerina on the front cover to fit in with the blurb.

Cinisajoy · 10-28-2015, 12:07 AM

What the heck?

Dr. Drib · 10-28-2015, 09:03 AM

I don't mind the font/layout for the title/author, but the rest of the cover makes me think of a gray, dark, depressing day during a cold, cold winter in a strange and depressing culture.

But hey! That's just me!

HarryT · 10-28-2015, 10:01 AM

Can you explain your choice of cover, Gregg? Like others, I see no obvious connection between the cover and either the title or the blurb. An image of a ballerina on the cover would seem more logical.

pdurrant · 10-28-2015, 10:07 AM

If you upload the cover as an attachment, I'll be able to see it. (One of my internet connections blocks mediafire.)

issybird · 10-28-2015, 12:45 PM

Isn't that a picture of the London Eye? I agree that the association isn't obvious.

I'm going to ask a question I've been wondering: Gregg, how well do you know London? And English English? Well enough to be convincing?

Gregg Bell · 10-28-2015, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I don't like the font used in the title and the yellow is a bit bright. I don't see the ferris wheel fitting in with the blurb. It looks OK, but just doesn't fit.

I would expect there to be a picture of a ballerina on the front cover to fit in with the blurb.

Thanks. Yeah, that was my concern (that it doesn't fit). The roundabout connection is that that is the London Eye Ferris Wheel and my protagonist is an American (wannabe) ballerina in London.

Gregg Bell · 10-28-2015, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

What the heck?

Ha ha. Yeah.

Gregg Bell · 10-28-2015, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I don't mind the font/layout for the title/author, but the rest of the cover makes me think of a gray, dark, depressing day during a cold, cold winter in a strange and depressing culture.

But hey! That's just me!

I agree. It's kind of gloomy. The smoke. Night. Back to the drawing board.

Gregg Bell · 10-28-2015, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Can you explain your choice of cover, Gregg? Like others, I see no obvious connection between the cover and either the title or the blurb. An image of a ballerina on the cover would seem more logical.

Hi Harry. The photo is of the London Eye ferris wheel. That is my, granted very faint, connection to the story because the main character is a wannabe ballerina in London. I'm starting over.

Gregg Bell · 10-28-2015, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

If you upload the cover as an attachment, I'll be able to see it. (One of my internet connections blocks mediafire.)

Hey Paul. Don't know that it's worth seeing but I'm attaching it. (I'm going to scrap it.)

Gregg Bell · 10-28-2015, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Isn't that a picture of the London Eye? I agree that the association isn't obvious.

I'm going to ask a question I've been wondering: Gregg, how well do you know London? And English English? Well enough to be convincing?

Hi issy. Yes, the London Eye. And yes, don't know London well but my main character there is an American so she won't know London all that well either. I'm sure some Americanisms will creep into her English English but that is understandable because she's an American.

issybird · 10-28-2015, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Hi issy. Yes, the London Eye. And yes, don't know London well but my main character there is an American so she won't know London all that well either. I'm sure some Americanisms will creep into her English English but that is understandable because she's an American.

But she'll still have to navigate London and the people she speaks to will be English and there's all the minutiae of daily life which is quite different from America.

Cinisajoy · 10-28-2015, 01:11 PM

I didn't know London had a ferris wheel. Perhaps something more iconic like Big Ben. Even then the cover would confuse me.
Title American Ballerina
Cover England
Do I bother reading the blurb?

10-27-2015, 11:30 PM	#1
Gregg Bell Gregg Bell Posts: 2,266 Karma: 3917598 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Itasca, Illinois Device: Kindle Touch 7, Sony PRS300, Fire HD8 Tablet	Cover feedback please? It's for my novel American Ballerina. Here's the blurb (that Rizla so skillfully tweaked--thanks Rizla!): Lily Russell is a world-class ballerina. In her mind at least. She’ll stop at nothing to join the prestigious Royal Ballet, and her jealous ex-lover is fueling her fantasies. Then Lily meets a king, who is no fantasy. Two loves, two cultures and two worlds collide to force a single choice, a choice that may cost Lily her dreams, her sanity and even her life. A mind-bending clash between what’s real and what’s imagined, American Ballerina is a compulsively readable suspense ride that never stops.

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10-27-2015, 11:43 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,209 Karma: 145488788 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I don't like the font used in the title and the yellow is a bit bright. I don't see the ferris wheel fitting in with the blurb. It looks OK, but just doesn't fit. I would expect there to be a picture of a ballerina on the front cover to fit in with the blurb.

10-28-2015, 12:07 AM	#3
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	What the heck?

10-28-2015, 09:03 AM	#4
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,352 Karma: 59447733 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	I don't mind the font/layout for the title/author, but the rest of the cover makes me think of a gray, dark, depressing day during a cold, cold winter in a strange and depressing culture. But hey! That's just me!

10-28-2015, 10:01 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Can you explain your choice of cover, Gregg? Like others, I see no obvious connection between the cover and either the title or the blurb. An image of a ballerina on the cover would seem more logical.

10-28-2015, 10:07 AM	#6
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,681 Karma: 315126578 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	If you upload the cover as an attachment, I'll be able to see it. (One of my internet connections blocks mediafire.)

10-28-2015, 12:45 PM	#7
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,150 Karma: 234223171 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	Isn't that a picture of the London Eye? I agree that the association isn't obvious. I'm going to ask a question I've been wondering: Gregg, how well do you know London? And English English? Well enough to be convincing?

10-28-2015, 01:11 PM	#15
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	I didn't know London had a ferris wheel. Perhaps something more iconic like Big Ben. Even then the cover would confuse me. Title American Ballerina Cover England Do I bother reading the blurb?