The Cover

I received an invite this last week to someone's Facebook page - someone who designs book covers. And I'll tell you, some of those were really stunning. I'd definitely stop to see what it was about.

I recently succumbed to temptation and got a Kindle Unlimited subscription, and my Facebook feed has been FLOODED with ads for books. And every single one of them caught my interest because of the picture FIRST. Then it was the story. And everyone knows about those classic romance novels with the barely-dressed folks gracing the cover, ridiculous expressions and crazy hair.

So you can see - the Cover sells the book before you get a chance to sell the book. It tells the reader what the book is about, directs them to the kind of books they prefer. Romance novels = half dressed people. Etc.

I mean - I can't be telling you anything you wouldn't be able to figure out for yourself.

My first book - I designed the cover myself. I thought it was pretty good (at least at the time). 

 

 

 

Would I say it was good enough to sell the book? Not really. It's pretty, yes. Phenomenal? No. It doesn't tell anything about the book - except for matching with the title. By looking at the script, you could say this is going to be some kind of romance right? Maybe.

Anyway. As one website put it, "A book cover is the book’s billboard, and even without the reader or author knowing, it causes expectation. If a reader sees a book with an amateur cover, they’re going to believe that it’s also poorly written." You see a sleazy romance cover - you expect the usual cookie cutter romance book. 

So, my first book - you could definitely tell it was done by an amateur. And I believe it accurately reflected the quality of the book within. No professionally paid editor. Self-published. 

 

This book I'm writing now -  I want so much more for it. I want to see how I've grown as an author (heck, I want to make sure I do grow). A following I most certainly will not have (unfortunately).

But gosh darn it, a well written book is a must. So this little bee is going to keep on working. Until next time!