THE Group for Authors! discussion

I'm thinking about publishing another printing of my novel, using different cover artwork and text. The original cover was aimed at a certain demographic, but I've found that a much larger group likes the book, but may be turned away by the cover.

Anyone out there had any luck reaching a new readership by changing a book's cover?

Not personally, but I know that Eva Ibbotson has become one of Barnes and Nobles best sellers in stores, since she redid the covers of her books in 2008 to 2010ish when the origional was published in 1985. I personally have all five of her novels that I know about.

In truth, I think it's the cover's job to get a reader's attention, and the blurb's job to keep it. So, in that case, it's not always a 'good' cover that does the job.

I know of one author who had a cover that most of her readers hated. She reached the top 25 on Amazon, yet most of the good reviews talked about how they read the book DESPITE the cover.

Seems to me that even though most people didn't like the cover, it did its job.

I have copies of paperbacks by authors I admire, and each one has a different cover, though they are the same title by the same author.

If you look at the difference, the book was either republished by a different publisher, or, was in its XX run and the publisher felt justified in the expenditure of new art and cover design.

I have also seen books put out with different covers right from the get go, but those are gimmick type of things done by the marketing people.

Santa Montefiore has published a few of her books under different titles and artwork. Personally I find it a little frustrating as she is one of my favourites and buy all of her books without ever reading what the story is about. Not sure if this is relevant but wanted to give a little feedback from a readers perspective.

I'd never change the name....just the artwork on the cover in an effort to attract people who didn't connect with the original artwork.

Changing the artwork would not piss me off. But I buy a book with title and artwork I do not recognise, by a writer I admire, and then find it was already the same book I had under a different title, I would be very pissed and return the book.

I'm with ya!

There's nothing worse than a cover that gives the wrong information about the contents book. I should know! I've been there.

On the other hand, I purchased a book purely because I liked the look of the cover. I'd forgotten that I had it. It's called "Grains of Sand'" by Martin Buckley and it's all about his travels through the deserts of the world. Fascinating reading.

I understand that, for sure, Lynne. I've bought quite a few books for the cover, then realized I'd already read then at some point in the past.

If I change my cover, it will still be relevant to the story, just a different style, maybe not quite so dark.

I buy books that have cover appeal frequently and if that is the only redemable quaility about it, then the joke is on me, but generally readers, especially young adult female readers buy books for their covers, even if it is not something that they would normally read.

I've been thinking of late of changing the cover to my book. When I wrote it, I hadn't planned on a sequel but I'm working on one now. I'd like the covers to harmonize but the current cover of the first one doesn't readily lend itself to that.

What is the first thing a reader sees? The title and cover of your book! So you should really make those two things count. If you believe that changing the cover will be in your book sales best interest, then you should do it. I have at least two different cover versions of the Harry Potter books, just because I couldn't decide! I love book covers! If your cover is ugly...I'm guilty of skipping it, unless the tite and synopsis attracts me.

I'm probably going to do it. It probably won't hurt the marketing and may even help, but mostly because the artist in me keeps tugging on my hem about it.

Ah.....your inner creative genius is stirring after a long sleep.

If you go with a new cover, I strongly recommend also getting a new ISBN (or a new ASIN if it is a Kindle edition). It will avoid a lot of confusion down the line.

rivka wrote: "If you go with a new cover, I strongly recommend also getting a new ISBN (or a new ASIN if it is a Kindle edition). It will avoid a lot of confusion down the line."

Hi Rivka, could you tell me why? I am in the process of redoing the covers on my series as I am also going with another publisher/printer in Aus and want to revamp... but I hadnt planned on a new isbn. The content remains the same though page count is different due to formating.

Because Goodreads and other cataloging sites will keep the OLD cover with your ISBN.

Larry wrote: "I'm thinking about publishing another printing of my novel, using different cover artwork and text. The original cover was aimed at a certain demographic, but I've found that a much larger group li..."

Hi Larry I have just done this with my book and changed the title to Tristan and the Kruger Millions through Authorhouse. The whole project is going far, far better than last time. I have a new ISBN number

My new book also has a new cover which relates to the story far more intimately and I am confident that things will be much better.

rivka wrote: "Because Goodreads and other cataloging sites will keep the OLD cover with your ISBN."

Ah, good to know. I wouldn't have known that and wouldn't have used a new ISBN. Thanks for the info!

My book was published about a year ago and first of all I was happy with the cover. Sales were fine for the first few months and then they just tailed off. Various people then said that the cover was not good and in fact one person said that the cover suggests reading for 8/9 year olds when it should be YA.

I'm trying to get the publisher to change the cover and I've seen a very nice new one but they have to check on the copyright.

Rivka, will my publisher automatically change the ISBN number because it is with the British library at the moment? I would hate to think that my old cover, if I manage to get it changed, will still be floating around!

Lynne wrote: "Rivka, will my publisher automatically change the ISBN number because it is with the British library at the moment?"

I'm sorry, I don't know. Best to ask your publisher directly.

As a female reader...I don't generally buy by covers. The book blurb rules. I browse bookstores and websites by genre, by favorite authors, by books showing as for people-who-liked, discussed in goodreads groups I belong to—all will get me to at least look at a book's description.

Now with ereaders, if looks interesting but an author completely unknown to me (particularly self-published)—I sample and decide. Have beta readers evaluate your samples.

My favorite author giving your book a glowing review (on goodreads, their blogs, book jacket, wherever) also makes me look.

If a book cover gives a clear indication of genre, age group, etc. that's helpful when found on sites not well organized or in smaller real bookshelves like grocery and drug stores. Should look good in a website thumbnail.

All that said, I think a reader will flip a book over to see the description if there was something interesting to them on the cover, particularly if the "something" indicated book was about exctly what they liked to read.

An extremely bad or extremely good cover can get a reaction. Really amateurish covers are a turn-off and I will look at last if seeing a bunch of website thumbnails.. it will need some friend with similar reading tastes or other hype.

Recently one of my favorite authors from a big 6 publisher did put out a really awful cover ( title and author name clear but graphics a blurred bunch of oddly colored swirls of something that gave zero indication what book was about). And I did think "uh-oh, this is not going to draw in new readers." I had to elbow a real life friend on a Barnes and Noble excursion that, yes, this is that guy we really liked when we were standing in front of the book (author name withheld to protect the potentially innocent; possibly the publisher overrode their good taste or the drawing came from a beloved child's crayon box or something).

Moral of my story: book covers do not necessarily sell but a really bad one (particularly if bad enough that reviewers mention) can be a real turn-off to browsers. And there are readers that do buy by cover.