January 17, 2008
Doughboys & Bookcovers
Okay, so you’re in the bookstore and you’re about to decide what to buy. Now look at the cover below. Does anyone remember this debacle? I do. I have this book and I was shocked. SHOCKED I tell you. And so was Suzanne Brockmann. This is what she had to say:
“The cover for GET LUCKY is so awful, I didn’t want to put it right here on the main page for this book. It’s
pretty funny, actually. Here I’ve finally written the story of the best-looking guy in Alpha Squad, and they give me the Pillsbury Doughboy on the cover of the book! For those of you who aren’t familiar with the series, this character, Luke “Lucky” O’Donlon is a real fabulous looking man. He’s what I think of as “Hollywood handsome.” Picture Brad Pitt. Now make him much more blond and about ten times more handsome. That’s what Lucky looks like.”
Me here again. Having ‘known’ Lucky the hunk from the other books, I was invested in this series, so I bought the book anyway, despite the horrific cover.
But what about the stories we’re not invested in?
Are you a cover, blurb, three pages, or first paragraph type of reader? What will make or break the sale for you? If you weren’t familiar with Brockmann’s series, would you have bought that book?
If you weren’t familiar with Brockmann’s series, would you have bought that book?
Er…I’m not one to always judge a book by its cover, but I probably wouldn’t have, I’m afraid. He’s not a bad-looking guy, but…no. There’s something kind of creepy about this cover…
And doesn’t she look like maybe she’s his older sister, congratulating him on passing his SAT test or something?
Unfortunately, there’s not much the author can do about covers that don’t work well, and if there’s no name recognition the sales will suffer.
I’m usually good for cover, blurb, and first three pages.
I’m usually a cover blurb, inside teaser kind of gal. Sometimes though, the cheesy names they give some of these are a real turn off for me.
A cover like this would make me pass the book by - except if it were written by a beloved author.
I do all of that. Except for said beloved authors - then it’s just snap the book up without doing all of those things (another exception - for those author’s whose books are being reprinted, I tend to stop and read the back at least).
I think my WTF? response might have me picking up the book just to read the blurb at least. The covers that stop me from picking up a book are the ones that are too blantant/explicit re indicating the sexual content.
I remember her talking about that at Nationals once. YIKES!
Me personally . . . is totally/only/soley by the cover if I don’t know the writer–if I know the writer and it’s a fave I don’t care what’s on the cover. I DO NOT read back cover blurbs–evah–weird I know.
. . . let me add, because I am the way I am, if I read the back cover blurb, my mind goes into hyperdrive and I will immediatly make up the rest of the story (impatient much!?!) and I get stuck on what I think iwll happen while reading it and cannot enjoy the book–no one has ever called me normal
I would have picked up this book just to see if the guy on the front had really hairy knuckles then I would have moved on. So, yes covers do matter to me with an unknown author. I do read the blurb or I just read the first page. If it doesn’t grab me by then the book gets put back on the shelf.
Side question: where did you get these emocons?
I’m a first page/first paragraph kind of book buyer. The writing has to grab me fast and flow or I’m not interested. A bad cover might really turn me off, but I usually don’t put much stock by the cover because so often they have nothing to do with the story. Which isn’t to say that a good one won’t grab my eye, but it isn’t enough.
Raine,
I agree completely. She looks like the pretty girl patronizing the chubby guy who’s had a crush on her since forever. You know, giving him a little attention, like he’s a puppy dog or something. Makes me want to slap her. She certainly doesn’t look like a heroine in love.
Apart from the chubby hero, that’s one of the main things that really bothered me about that cover. I’ve always wondered what the heck the cover artist was thinking when he drew that thing. I mean, it had to go through several approvals. Didn’t anyone see this before it was too late?
Lynn,
I know what you mean about the cheesy names. I won’t buy some books if the names sound too silly. Or if the cover is just so hideous that I can’t see past it. Sometimes the cover is so bad that it creeps into my mind while I’m reading the story. It just ruins the whole thing for me.
Bailey,
I got caught in a reprint snag when I saw a cover for a book by one of my favorite authors and assumed it was a new book. I didn’t bother reading the blurb and just shoved it in my cart. I didn’t pay too much attention to the title, but when I got home I discovered I had purchased an earlier edition of the book eight or nine years ago.
Jaq,
My sentiments exactly, which is why I could never see myself buying Big Spankable Asses and others of that ilk. The butt on the front cover and title just do nothing for me. I’m sure the story is probably wonderful, but I could not see myself reading it in public or at home. I’ve got kids for goodness sakes.
Dennie,
OMG, The blurb ruins the story for you so you just prefer to go into it sorta blind? You like to be surprised right? See that’s the thing. I don’t buy a book unless I read the blurb. I’m much too picky not to. I don’t want to read about pregnant heroines, or secret babies or women running from psychotic ex husbands. I’ve had enough of that. I also don’t want to read about anything in the jungle or a story about politicians. That’s why I vet everything at the store.
Melissa,
You’d have to ask Cece about the smileys that are here. I’m not sure. But you can try:
http://www.freesmileys.org/
Gina,
I think if the cover is bad, I won’t even give the book a try. I know I’m probably missing out on some terrific reads, but that cover will keep popping in my mind during the story and will ruin the experience for me.
Now see I LOVE BSA (not literally of course)
but I’m the one who wanted to name her next book Screwed so obviously I’m no judge 
As to what makes me buy? Cover first, then blurb (and there better be a blurb none of that quote bs on the back), and then I have to read a few pages.
I don’t want to read about pregnant heroines, or secret babies I am with you there. One thing is after reading so many category books, you can pretty much tell by the title and cover what you’re going to get. Only every once in a while am I surprised and I have FINALLY learned I don’t have to finish a book if I don’t like it. It took me YEARS to realize this.
Melissa…I dont remember but you can just steal them :) I’m sure that’s what I did from someone.
Dennie that’s kind of like “cleaning your plate” huh?
Cece,
Why am I not surprised?
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Dennie,
Yeah, the secret baby thing is old “for me,” real old. I’m just sick of them all the way around. I have a poll on my other blog about what romance readers are sick of reading about and secret babies ranks right up there with (gasp) cowboys. Now see, I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of reading about cowboys.
I lurv them. 