Book cover design

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Permalink Reply by Melanie Glotfelty on July 4, 2007 at 6:35pm

Hi Roy,

I work at a small publishing company. I don't design covers, but cover designs are presented to the board and we do discuss them as a group. Bottom Line: Covers are Critical. You definitely don't want your book to look like everyone elses does. It can be the greatest book on golf in the world, but how would anyone find it? The cover should reflect what the book is or is about, but generic shots do not exactly scream "my book is better than the others." My advice would be to find the most important thing about your book, whatever makes it different and reflect that on the cover. You don't just want to convey the subject, but the style that it is written in. Don't forget to speak to your audience. A picture can not only speak a thousand words, but it can also save a thousand hours of trying to pitch the book.

Melanie

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Permalink Reply by Roy Palmer on July 5, 2007 at 2:40am

Thanks Melanie for taking the time to comment. I find I agree 100% with what you are saying. It will be a very different book because I don't play golf! The most important thing about the book is that it will focus on the fraction of a second just before they play the shot, not technique, not visualisation but other vital factors are oblivious to. I guess with this in mind the cover starts to take shape.

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Permalink Reply by Melanie Glotfelty on July 7, 2007 at 11:20am

A book about golf by someone who doesn't play golf? Intriguing. You work with all kinds of athletes. Is there a reason you didn't pick a sport that you play yourself.

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Permalink Reply by Taryn Simpson on July 5, 2007 at 8:02pm

Hi, I did some consulting for a guy that wrote a fiction book about golf. I think the cover is neat, but you're right, there is a golf ball on the front!

Take a look.

Taryn

Attachments:

• Lifetime Loser.jpg, 36 KB

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Permalink Reply by Marta Stephens on July 7, 2007 at 5:25pm

HI Roy,

I'll ditto everything that Melanie said. Your cover needs to reflect your style and the most important aspect of the book. If everyone else's books show someone staning on the green, how about a design from the ball's point of view, say, looking up at the greeen from inside the cup! You get the idea. It needs to be different enough to grab someone from the other side of the bookstore.

Melanie's comment about the cover needing to reflect the most important part of the book made me think of a difficulty I had with the naming of my book. I couldn't come up with anything for it for three years. I decided to study each subplot and try to find a common denominator. I finally found the title in a line in the book. Maybe you can do the same with the cover. Good luck with it.
Marta

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Permalink Reply by Roy Palmer on July 8, 2007 at 3:21am

Hi Marta

Thanks for your comments. I like the idea of seeing it from the balls point of view. I also have problems with titles for books. I always think it will take shape as I write but it hasn't happened yet.

regards

Roy

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Permalink Reply by Roy Palmer on July 14, 2007 at 3:19pm

Hi Lisa

Thanks for your comments. I will definitely steer clear of a bare chested guy hitting a golf ball :0) Ive started to develop some ideas about the cover and as you say with the right words it can really make the difference.

Where can I see the cover of your book?

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Permalink Reply by Skeeze Whitlow on August 18, 2009 at 11:51am

The21writer@alumni.marymount.edu

My second novel is now audio – like old time radio. All you have to do is listen. It’ll make you laff. Go to www.NewFiction,com

Choose ‘Senate Parking’

Skeeze Whitlow

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