Contest update: you still have 3 weeks to enter to win Graceling by Kristin Cashore, click here.
I went to McDonalds for lunch today. Not because I wanted to. But because my children did–funny thing that. It’s like they don’t care what I want. Weird, I know. Anyways, I took a big bite of my sandwich. To my dismay, no salty, greasy, absolutely delicious bacon. I pull off the bun. Nothing but lettuce. And some yucky brown lettuce too. Wait . . . *sniff, lick* Oh, that’s the bacon. Though how they figure out how to slice it that thin, I’ll never know.
What’s the point of all this? Expectations. When I purchased a sandwich with bacon on it, I expected to TASTE the bacon. I didn’t expect it to taste like a fillet minion. Or split-pea soup. McDonalds doesn’t care so much about that–they just want to save money.
The same thing goes for you, my dear readers. You pick up a book with a picture of a smoking hot, shirtless man, and it better be a romance . . . not a nonfiction book on chest hair removal. (If you’re wondering what in the heck is the point of this post, I told you I have a tendency to ramble at the beginning of the month. Hang in there, it’s coming.)
The Point: Book Covers. I want mine to send the right message. I want a reader to walk into a bookstore, stop in their tracks, and walk trance-like to my book. “Dear reader,” my book will say, “I’m a YA, epic fantasy about a girl haunted by the burden’s placed upon her. Pick me up. Take me home. Read me and then tell all your friends.”
Also, I promised I’d brag about everyone who blogged about my contest. Why? Because they obviously have such good taste in blog posts. So without further ado:
Thanks all of you for working so hard!
Author
I like it!
Do you want your cover to appeal to boys?
That is seriously a beautiful cover! I hope you get it!!
Thanks for the mention Amber! Love the cover of Witch Song…it's beautiful!
I LOVE the cover!! Seriously I would pick up your book just by the cover alone! I hate to admit that I can be a person who judges a book by its cover I know guys Im sorry 🙁 but seriously Amber this is really nice!!
Kristen
My Bloody Fairy Tale
Anthony: I read a stat that 50 or 75% of boys can't read a book with a female protag. So I don't know if it's worth trying to appeal to them???
That being said, my first choice was an actual scene rather than just the face. But did you know artists often charge per person/item? So the three characters plus the scene would be significantly more. Something to think about.
Chantele: Thanks! I'd be thrilled with it.
Kate: You're welcome, girl. Returning favors, right?
Kristen: Yay! That's kinda the point. And don't worry, we all do it. Seriously, bad cover art can destroy a good book's sales.
I like the cover. I'm your facebook friend, twitter follower and blog commenter. Do I get points?
Amber, I'm IN LOVE with the cover! I love the close-up face and I think that's what you need to do to attract the YA audience you're looking for. I'm going to call you. We need to talk!
Jolynne: Yes.
Michelle: Call me anytime . . . except tomorrow. We're shooting the trailer tomorrow.
Also, I have an announcement: This will not be the cover. :'(
BUT, we've contacted another artist who's going to go for the same look, plus it'll be personalized. I'm cautiously optimistic.