The book is written and I'm awaiting feedback before publishing. I've been designing covers again (and this beats housework any day ...) To make it less self-indulgent I'm turning it onto a poll.
At a glance, which one would you'd reach for if you saw
it on a shelf, wanting to know if it was something you might
like to read?
would it be (l-r)
a) splurge of larks
b) boat ribs
c) boat of celebration
d) apples and serpents
e) none of these
Much as I love your art, I think a book cover needs to have something recognisable on it, as a hint about the contents.
ReplyDeleteThe first one looks a bit like a nebula, so it would make me think the 'voyage' would be in space.
The second one (since the title includes 'voyage') makes me think battered old boat, possibly old warship, definitely rusty metal.
The red one is angry, but (again because voyage puts me in mind of boats) could just about be the front end of a gondola and its reflection, at a pinch.
I like the apples and serpents, but it has a dated kind of feel to it - so it implies that the book is set in the past. (It makes me feel 'late 50s early 60s' - not sure why.)
Does that help?
If you want to have a look at how covers vary with time and location you could do worse than look at this: http://www.jonathancoewriter.com/
ReplyDeleteIt helps if you've read some of his stuff, but even as a total newcomer you'd get something out of it. There are very few authors' websites that have quite this number of covers on them, or arranged in a way that makes them so easy to compare.
Morning AJ - I DID answer these comments, at length, so what Bloggger has done with them I do not know!
DeleteThe Jonathan Coe front covers were fascinating, confirming first of all that there is no single 'right' answer - ever a heartening lesson! - and I agree both about the need to indicate content and the dated feel of d) which, since the book is set in 2010, is misleading. I do have an idea for removing the starkness which I hope will not detract from the design ... watch this space. And thank you.
i like d) best - i also feel that it works best as book cover from layout, with the illustration resembling both a dynamic group and an interesting situation / scenario.
ReplyDeleteDorothee - d) has been my favourite for ages, but it works far better as a full layout than just a front page. The twelve apples are supposed to represent the twelve brides too, which I liked. I appreciate your commenting, thank you.
DeleteThe apples and serpents cover comes across to me as the most stylish. Yes it's true that it may not be readily discernible to the reader what it's about, but I think the cover really stands out as not trying too hard.
ReplyDeleteThank you Derek - I think I may have to play around with this to make it more appropriate, without losing the simplicity of it.
DeleteMy vote would be for d) as well, but I must admit the apples made me think "teacher", not "bride". a) is my next favorite. It seems like a vaguely oceanic scene. Also, of the prints, it is the least detailed, which makes the text pop out a bit more. I found b) difficult to read, and c) too harsh in color.
ReplyDeleteYour comments about harsh colour and complexity were a very useful indicator of how such things are 'read'. I have spent a lot longer on d) which probably helps, but am aware that I am re-usung a favourite image ... I know what you mean about apples = teacher, rather than Eve ... Thank you, Kay.
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