June 15, 2007
Covers-4-U
As I noted on my blog, the results of the Cover Cafe’s 2006 Cover Contest are posted here.
This came right on time for me, since I happen to be filling out my cover art request for The Last Man On Earth. 
The wide variety displayed at the site made me stop and wonder…
What is it that you look for in a cover? What is the first thing that catches your eye?
Is it the color? And if so, which is likely to grab your attention first? The models (if any)? The artistic style, the font, the title? The amount of skin shown, the mood the illustration imparts? Do you prefer realism, hard edges or angles, or dreamy, idealistic settings or scenes?
Or do you go right for the author’s name if it’s someone you like, without caring one bit about what someone’s pasted on top?
Think my taste varies with the genre.
Hm. I look for something that catches my eye…and then the title next. And if it’s an author I like, then all the better.
I’ll freely admit I’m a cover ho
If it’s an author I know and like, then I usually buy regardless of the cover, if its a new author than I must admit the cover does influence my decision. Unless I’ve had someone recommend the book, and then I just buy.
(sorry, I just had to see if they’d work, I felt the need for smilies).
Bernita, that makes loads of sense.
Mik, that order is about the way I do it too…unless I can only see the binding edge, then the title has to grab me.
Ames…
Ann, thanks for the information! (and see–the smilies DO work for you sometimes, lol!).
I have been looking at different places to try and sell a book and two places I don’t wanna even submit to ’cause I don’t like their covers… as to buying, I dunno, I get a lot of books and the covers may turn me off–I may NOt get one if I don’t like it, but I don’t buy one because I like it.
I have bought books for the cover and been sorely disappointed! But again, I’ll admit, the first thing that attracts me to a book, especially a new-to-me author, is that cover, so I can definitely see why it’s such a big selling point.