Pirate Patty Reviews

One of my favorite books of last year. Look at that cover.And today that is what I wanted to talk about. Cover Art. How much time do you put into your covers?

I’ve been noticing the past few years with the rise of self-published authors especially that the covers all look the same. Different title, same covers. Why would you want your cover to be like someone else’s? Did you not research it?

All the time we hear “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Well, guess what? We all do it. When I walk into a bookstore content is not grabbing me like a tracking beam to your book. I’m drawn to the one that I can take one look at and say, ” Oh, my I know what this is going to be about and I want it!”  There should always be something on your cover that gives the reader a sneak peek.  Take the above book for example. I saw it and immediately wanted it. In my head I’m hearing Russian, Fables,Winter and Magic oh yes!

So when you look at your book cover what does it say? Is it a statement of what’s to come once you open it? I finished a book last year with a simple cover that didn’t state anything about what it meant or how it related to the content. It was a tremendous book! But If I hadn’t been an early Beta reader and then the ARC copy, the cover would have never made me even pick it up at the store.

One of the reasons I do not read romance books is because the majority of them have the same man with the six-pack abs, glistening. Is there just the one model? But at least I know what is going to be in them. I don’t like it. But I know.

Final thoughts?   Make friends with artists. Put some real thought behind the cover and you may just find your sales will increase!

xx P