The Writers' Network! discussion

It's simple. I like that. It doesn't overwhelm you with details like my covers do. That being said I don't think it's eye catching for most people though. I personally would pick it up or click on it to read the description. But some might overlook it due to its simplicity.

Did you have any thoughts on what a replacement would look like? That is if that thought crossed your mind.

While I think simple is good, the cover itself doesn't tell me a lot about what kind of book it is. Without he clue in the title, I would probably overlook it as being a non-fiction type book, I'm afraid. That being said, I do like the simplicity. Could you maybe add a tagline?

Definitely change the font. Make both the title and your name a little bigger. As Victoria said, it's difficult to know what the book's about so you need to address that issue. Good luck!

It is always worth looking up cover artists that are just starting out. My latest cover was designed by a start up artist who was happy to do it for a nominal fee and many internet shout outs (as well as credit for it on my copyright page)

Hmmm...I'll agree with some previous sentiments in that it's simple, and that can be good...but it's a bit too simple, I would say. It sort of makes me think of a metaphysical tretise or some sort of mental self-help thing.

I can't draw either, so I absolutely see what you're saying. I didn't want to bring an illustrator in on my first work, but dreams of fascinating original characters and vistas on my cover were out of reach as a result. I went through three cover redesigns before I was satisfied. I can't create new images, but I'm good with GIMP/Photoshop and am pretty decent with manipulating existing images. As a result, my current cover is a collection of free clipart, carefully placed gradients, and a bit of stipple-brushwork. The cover before that was just a photograph with a sepia tone, and before that I tried to create a cover that would look like a magic book found in the story. They both paled in comparison.

If you can't draw one of your characters, maybe you could find a sillhouette image that looks similar, and set it against an artsy backdrop? Like put the figure in a photograph of a window and have the lighting subdued enough that the figure not having any features wouldn't be strange?

The book is about superheroes, right? How traditional are we talking? Could you grab a clipart image of a man flying or hero-posing, and set it behind (or before) a blinding sun or something like that (again making it appear as though the lack of features is normal)?

Dang, I'm always viewing these forums from work and the gestappo IT people block everything, so I can't see your photobucket link. I need to get on from home more but I don't often have the time in the evenings, what with the kids and all.

I had to check your new cover out by looking at your goodreads page. Still very simple, and that's still not a bad thing. I will say that it feels more to me like the type of story I am reading in the description. The previous one just led me to think it was a religious or metaphysical book. I'd say it's an improvement :)

One thing -- is goodreads just displaying it strangely for me, or is everything a bit off-center to the left?

For future reference, you can use any public domain photo you like (as long as it is definitely public domain/free for commercial use. You can also buy licenses for photos for pennies. Dreamscape is supposed to be a good site for public domain pics, as is flickr. I like freestock, there are some gorgeous images on there. The thing is, if you want to use certain parts of the image, but not all of it you need to make sure the license is for derivatives too. The sites I mentioned, especially freestock will walk you through that in laymans terms too.
If you get into playing with images I can definitely recommend GIMP.com as it is free, although it is a very big download, and looks complicated at first, but it is very useful/addictive.
Publisher would probably do the job for the classic, simple look covers you like (I like them too).

I like your cover too. reminds me of A Clockwork Orange for some reason, not sure why.

Probably LOL. I dug out my old battered copy to compare, but I have read it in the bath too many ttimes and it was disintergrating too much for me to make it out :~D

You don't read in the bath? I thought everyone did lol

Still waiting for Kindle to invent a waterproof one. If you can make shower radios it must be possible.

But yeah, I have three kids. Bathtime is the only quiet "me" time I get :~D

Just an idea, what about using some kind of kaleidoscopic tunnel, with a greek symbol in the opening?

There are great images here : Stock Photos

BTW, I love doing covers, so if any of you want me to give it a try, PM me :)

William wrote: "That is a really good idea, a waterproof kindle! With nook and everything threatening them in the marketplace it might help them keep an edge on the market!"

You think I can copyright that idea? ;~)

Hi all. Just wondering what you think of the cover for book 2 of the Srange Stories collections, Strange Worlds (cover image by Laura Brown, courtesy of Amanda Cooke of Cooke-Arts)
Can't work out how to post a picture directly into a goodreads post, so here is a link to it on my website http://victoria-pearson.webs.com/apps...

Thanks william, so glad you like it :~)

@Victoria, I like the cover. Very original.

I'm working on coming up with a cover idea for my first book of the 'Rise of the Zyfoids' series but I don't have a company to do the work for me. Just a bunch of talented teenagers lol. I'm thinking of having a close-up picture of one of them and making half their face robotic. Or, I could take a pic of one standing on a hill and use photoshop to create a bunch of that one person. I don't know, any ideas on that?

Both of those sound like great ideas to me, and fairly easy to do with photoshop or gimp.

Seriously though, don't fully discount the idea of getting an illustrator or artist to help. There are as many start up artists as there are start up authors, and many will work for a nominal fee and credit in the copyright page/on your website, etc. With my book cover, I had a vey fixed idea of what I wanted and found them to be really flexible and helpful with it. I think it is standard practise to give the artist and their agent a copy each of your finished book, and allow them to use the image on their own promotionl stuff (although this can help your books visiblity too, if they mention your book and link to it).
Having said all of that, talented teenagers can undoubtedly do a brilliant job for you, you only have to have a browse through places like deviart to see they have the whole digital-art thing down :~D

Yeah, they are very talented. So far, they've come up with the designs to all of my book covers. Each one is just a cheap camera and photoshop. They can do a lot with that and they come up with all the ideas. I attempted to come up with the cover for the second dark deception book but it was a disaster lol. My 19 year old intervened and took over from there. I'll have to post the cover for the next book once I have it so I can get opinions on it. They'll probably have a couple of pics to choose from.

Why not mock up a few covers, then run a poll on your website/facebook/goodreads/whatever, and ask your readers to vote on their faves? And post the link so we can vote too lol :~)

That's a good idea! I might do that once I have a few pics.

So, I just discovered that createspace has professional photography, some with model and some without, for use on their website if you publish through them. I was very impressed with the photos they have available and am using them for the series that's in editing now (Rise of the Zyfoids).

Apparently, they don't charge anything unless you sell books. It raises the manufacturing cost but not by much. It might be worth it. Once I have the first one published, I'll post a pick of it to see what everyone thinks.

Here's a link to the cover of the book. Again, this was photography available on createspace...

https://www.createspace.com/BookCover...

I can't seem to make that link work, it just says "no preview" :~(
I used createspace images for my first book, and I was very pleased with the result.

Rise of the Zyfoids: The Plague

Its done so I added it. I can never get links to work right.Sorry. But here's the final product.

Thanks

Here's the Second one in the same series:

The Abduction

Thanks!

I'm surprised lousybookcovers.com has not come up in this chain?

Go to site and see :)

William wrote: "Well, I like the concept, the layout is nice and what comes to mind is urban poverty, Nietzsche-style philosophy, street-crime and rebellious, self-destructive youth. As to the art, to me it looks ..."

... a little homemade, yes, my thoughts exactly. Also does the picture of a kid/young person smoking under a neon sign seem a bit familiar? I'm sure I have seen a similar image somewhere.