Friday, June 4, 2010

Judging a book by its cover.

I've just been sent the cover sketch for my next Molly book, called Bless the Bride. It's absolutely gorgeous. I wish I could show it to you, but it's top secret at the moment.
The only problem is that it isn't right for the story. The story does lead up to Molly's wedding, it's true, but most of it takes place in the dark, dangerous alleyways of New York's Chinatown.
So here is the dilemma--should the cover reflect the dangerous backstreets of Chinatown or should it relfect the excitement of leading up to Molly's wedding? I fear if the cover looks too romantic it will put off my male fans. And there are so many interesting insights into Chinese life in this book which might attract readers of history and culture.
You can see it's a juggling act. The gorgeous cover would entice readers who like their mysteries a little romantic, but then they'd be disappointed because the book isn't all about romance. However brides sell better than Chinese backstreets.
So, dear readers--how much does the cover influence you when you buy a book? Are you annoyed when the cover doesn't truly represent the story?

21 comments:

  1. Those of us who already know and love Molly won't be influenced by the cover.

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  2. Yes,this is what my agent is saying and it's true. But obviously I would like to attract new readers with each book--and I'd like to attract people who enjoy NY history as well.
    Such a hard decision!

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  3. I'll buy the new Molly Murphy book regardless. But I do think the cover should have something to do with the MAIN idea of the story.

    I'm not into fluffy romantic stories, so if I were to see a cover with a bride on it, I'd probably not decide to read it.

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  4. I've been occasionally annoyed when a cover doesn't match the book. But most of the time, if the book is good enough, I get so caught up I forget the book even has a cover!

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  5. Just before I read your blog I had looked at the cover for John Hart's "The Last Child." I'm looking for a book for the weekend and the cover made me think this may be the one to read. The art makes the story look adventurous, mysterious; and the profile of the youth riding his bike suggests the tale will evoke memories of my days as an 11-year-old cyclist. I'll be disappointed if the story moves in a markedly different direction.
    Covers are a major factor in my buying a book. Reviews, reader recommendations and the author's previous works are other reasons.
    As a male, I wouldn't be drawn to a book that had overtones of a romance novel. I would more likely go for the Chinatown cover.

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  6. I've never read a Molly book, so I would definitely be swayed by the cover. I'm always disappointed when a cover is marketed towards women but the book would be enjoyed by men as well; that's a huge segment of the population that will never purchase one of your books. Leave the girlie covers to romances (which I also enjoy), but I like the covers of mystery novels to look, well, mysterious.

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  7. It sounds like the picture goes with the title, so the picture itself would not put me off. Molly was the first of your series that I read, and I was drawn to the books initially because of the covers. I love that I feel like I'm looking at a candid snapshot of her in the streets of New York. The fact that Molly is often in profile or has her back to the camera gives it an element of mystery. I would like to see a picture of her in a wedding dress from that era...in the same style as the other covers...maybe Molly in her wedding dress in Chinatown???

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  8. Covers are a big influence when I purchase a book (or even get it from the library) if the author is unknown to me. If the mystery has a little 'romance' in it that's one thing but I don't go much (at all) for the reverse. So only a bride on the cover would make me put it back.
    MHO
    Maribeth
    Giggles and Guns

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  9. My, yes, covers can have a big influence on buyers. I once had a romance cover where the hero and heroine were half naked in an embrace in the interior of a Colorado silver mine where the temperature was a constant forty degrees. I don't care how much you want to "go with the moment," that was ridiculous! I laughed at that one. Can't wait to see Molly's new one.
    Cynthia Thomason

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  10. Covers: BIG. First impressions: HUGE. I tend to reject (sometimes unfairly) covers that look too silly, too fluffy, or too predictable. I was looking through the 'new mystery' section at the library today and couldn't work up enthusiasm for any of them (yours weren't there, having already been checked out, of course).
    I'm with Megan on this cover: the wedding dress only stays if the background is heavily Chinatown/mystery.
    Good luck on this: I'll be looking for the book, with or without great cover (since I know your name and the quality of your work).

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  11. Most people will buy the book because they already know and love Molly. I don't buy books based on the cover, although I admit that some catch my eye so that I pick the book up and investigate further. The cover would never be a deal breaker, or maker,in any case.

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  12. I think it's important for a cover to reflect the book, so it attracts new readers and doesn't disappoint, even though I know that followers of a series will buy it anyway, because they like it. But equally important, covers should reflect what we writers think about our books too. We've conceived and written the things; we should have a definite say in how our work looks.

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  13. I do think the covers should reflect what's inside, because it could be deceiving readers.

    I had gotten a cover design for my third book that was cozy and cartoonish. I put up a stink about it because the readers who would pick it up would have a cow once they saw the four letter words and the gritty scenes. Fortunately I was able to sway my editor into changing it. And the cover I got was so perfect.

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  14. I try not to pay attention to covers, but I'm annoyed when a cover has little or nothing to do with the story or misrepresents the tone of the book. A grittier cover combined with the title would make an intriguing contrast that would catch my attention.

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  15. I think covers have a couple of jobs to do--(1) to get the reader to pick up (or on the net to click on) the book, (2) to signal that what's in the book is going to be similar to other books that kind of reader has enjoyed.

    It sounds like your PR department is angling to extend your historical mystery audience by luring a few of the readers who look for wedding/romance-oriented (no Chinatown pun intended) books.

    I hate to say that a book cover should look like other book covers, but that's part of the "If you liked that you'll like this" sales tactic.

    For example, the kind of book I read a lot of lately (urban paranormal) has a cover that once might have graced an S&M magazine. Combined with a title indicating paranormal stuff (words like "magic" "witch" or demon") the cover shows a pouty-looking woman, usually brunette, in black leather, sometimes seen from behind with a visible tattoo, holding a weapon of some kind. What that tells me (circa 2010) is NOT that there is S&M or even sex in the book, but rather that the book has a strong heroine, who probably has some sort of paranormal powers and may have a romantic interest but won't be giving up her independence go trot off to the altar any time soon.

    The language of images and commerce are tricky and slippery!

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  16. Thank you so much for the comments. I'm going to direct my editor to my blog so that she can read them. I think I'd be disturbed if I thought I was going to read about a romantic wedding and it turned into a murder in Chinatown.

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  17. Your nailed the possible problem succinctly with your comment, "I think I'd be disturbed if I thought I was going to read about a romantic wedding and it turned into a murder in Chinatown." Sounds like to have that cover some hint of more should be on the cover either in writing perhaps or added to the cover art somehow. It is a good question to at least ask your editor.

    In my case, covers usually serve only to draw my attention, but something does need to hint of murder and mayhem or whatever is happening.

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  18. Molly Murphy is not the frills and lace type. Such a book cover would be deceiving. Just a hint of the bridal bouquet or vail would be enough for me.

    Annette

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  19. I can't wait to see the cover, Rhys! My overall response--not having read your series yet--is that I like a dramatic, visually compelling cover, and I don't care that much whether it winds up reflecting all of the book. How can it? A book is 90,000 words of complexity...to tweak the old canard, a picture if 1000th of that. So make it look classy and intriguing, and I'll probably pick it up...

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  20. I like a beautiful cover. And now they appear on all the computer screens and library catalogs, etc. So long as it stops short of "Bimbos of the Death Star" for misrepresenting the book, or having a dead woman who never dies... Jeffrey Deaver complained about European publishers who did that to him. I want the beautiful cover myself! I'll look forward to reading it.

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  21. I'll read it whatever the cover but as far as the romance is concerned - I really hope she dumps him or that he grows up (not likely). He is indicitive of his period and she is something a little bit more forward-thinking. I can't wait to visit Chinatown with Molly!

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