tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post7849979336082681864..comments2024-03-19T03:17:32.228-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: Book Covers: Are They Important in the Digital Age?Jody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-28991975890339691372023-09-14T09:06:42.867-04:002023-09-14T09:06:42.867-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jennifer Walshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02717117544983733528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-55078874515292602992023-05-30T19:05:18.894-04:002023-05-30T19:05:18.894-04:00It's fascinating to dive into the visual realm...It's fascinating to dive into the visual realm of book publishing and understand the impact that cover design has on readers' perceptions. In terms of an hourly wage, <a href="https://www.frugalishness.com/50000-a-year-is-how-much-an-hour/" rel="nofollow"> 50000 a year is how much an hour</a> equates to approximately $24.04 per hour based on a standard 40-hour workweek.Ashlee Rolfsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11066073147667336746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-5181291303056845922023-05-30T18:41:13.373-04:002023-05-30T18:41:13.373-04:00Thank you, Jody Hedlund, for shedding light on the...Thank you, Jody Hedlund, for shedding light on the importance of book covers and introducing us to the practicality of the Children's Place <a href="https://www.aintpayingfull.com/promotions/children's-place-coupon-code-$10-off-$40" rel="nofollow"> coupon code $10 off $40</a>. Your blog post stimulates our literary senses while providing a valuable solution for saving on children's clothing.Barbara Nimmohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01515250792415879927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-20784526029532450292012-08-21T00:49:51.082-04:002012-08-21T00:49:51.082-04:00A good cover always make a difference because it i...A good cover always make a difference because it is the first thing people will see. Take for instance, the book "Lady Lawbreaker" by G.J. Fuller (You can see it's cover on Amazom.com); that book's cover hooked me instantly. It's simple, but really gets your attention. So yes, the cover makes a big difference.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-40992006402109156032012-03-03T07:04:49.327-05:002012-03-03T07:04:49.327-05:00Like your cereal box analogy, Bill! And wishing yo...Like your cereal box analogy, Bill! And wishing you all the best with your covers!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-64637950069162700342012-03-02T10:43:46.628-05:002012-03-02T10:43:46.628-05:00Having just agonized for weeks over my covers, I s...Having just agonized for weeks over my covers, I sure HOPE they matter! And while it is--and always will be--subjective, even I, as an author, can look at other covers and think "boy, I hope the writing is better than the artwork." Think of it as a box of cereal--if the outside of the box doesn't appeal to you, for whatever reason, chances are you're not going to bother tasting it.Bill Cokashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16100840155626191109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-30510285382809506782012-02-19T17:22:00.250-05:002012-02-19T17:22:00.250-05:00Thanks for your response to my question, Jody. It&...Thanks for your response to my question, Jody. It's an interesting topic. Having the heroine depicted on the cover doesn't bother me as a reader either, in fact I think I like it. But then when I imagine the cover for my novel, I shy away from having my MCs depicted in great detail. Go figure! :-)Cally Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08313803959936813426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-89707537040199082182012-02-17T21:53:07.175-05:002012-02-17T21:53:07.175-05:00You're right Miika, I've seen a lot of pos...You're right Miika, I've seen a lot of posts on cover art lately too. I think it's forefront on a lot of our minds, especially those who are self-publishing and trying to figure out how much to invest in covers. Obviously traditional publishers invest a lot, have seen the value in great covers, and are continuing to put in the effort to make stand-out covers. As you said, the focus may be shifting just a bit, but consumers are still drawn to well-developed covers.Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-59200612724907499602012-02-17T18:59:15.737-05:002012-02-17T18:59:15.737-05:00That's one very nice cover.
For some reason t...That's one very nice cover.<br /><br />For some reason the topic of cover art sees to be getting aired more often these days.<br /><br />I think cover art still has the power to grab a reader's interest at a glance and make them curious enough to see what's on the next page.<br /><br />As has been mentioned, people are so used to the "instant feedback" factor of online that they're not as likely as you'd think to read reviews or synopsis - but if they are, it'll likely be helped by the cover art grabbing their attention first.<br /><br />I don't think there's anything wrong with bringing up "judging a book by its cover", because it simply is how we handle skimming through the online world at speed.<br /><br />It does make for new design challenges from the art perspective, because of the different formats. I just finished working on a new Tunnels & Trolls book and one of the first things discussed when that started was what formats to provide the art *in* to cover different media.<br /><br />Which is where a house with a marketing department and an art department are a bonus, I think - the media might have changed but that just means having people who understand them are a bonus.<br /><br />The focus may have turned away from facing front on shelves, but it's still facing the front *somewhere*.<br /><br />Disclaimer: Of course, I may be slightly biased on the topic :Pmiikahttp://gfx.moonwolfs-lair.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-24408560046442763562012-02-11T21:18:09.742-05:002012-02-11T21:18:09.742-05:00Thanks for the vote of confidence on the cover, Ja...Thanks for the vote of confidence on the cover, Janelle!<br /><br />And Brooke, thank you so much for linking to my post on your Friday Fives! I appreciate that!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-12850668582812988042012-02-11T20:59:51.602-05:002012-02-11T20:59:51.602-05:00I confess - I totally judge a book by its cover! A...I confess - I totally judge a book by its cover! A good cover sucks me in and a less than good cover turns me off. If a book gets a lot of good reviews or a friend highly recommends it, I may still read it regardless of the cover, though.<br /><br />Loved this post and the discussion that followed! I linked it as one of my Friday Fives this week. :) http://iblog4books.blogspot.com/2012/02/friday-five-3.htmlBrooke @ i blog 4 bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07693737740658752031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-28985354994099415372012-02-11T17:43:49.157-05:002012-02-11T17:43:49.157-05:00I would say that in the digital age, covers are eq...I would say that in the digital age, covers are equally as important. There are so many books in this world, and people use book covers to determine if a book is going to appeal to them. So even though we're not putting an e-book on a physical bookshelf or displaying it in our home, we're still looking at it before we purchase the book. I always joke that I'm attracted to shiny, pretty things, but I think that's true for most of us. An appealing, well-designed cover catches our eye and tempts us to read on, but it also lets us know whether the book is going to be our "cup of tea." Ultimately, the success of a book is based on a number of other factors--quality of the writing being No. 1--but a beautiful cover certainly helps. And the cover for "Unending Devotion" looks great!Janelle Madiganhttp://janellemadigan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-3748618611244476602012-02-09T01:11:30.495-05:002012-02-09T01:11:30.495-05:00Great book cover, and I'm pleased to learn tha...Great book cover, and I'm pleased to learn that the author does get a say.<br /><br />I find most books by word of mouth so I am less influenced by a cover, but if I'm browsing, online or physical store, a cover will have an emotional impact on me. I particularly love to see the main character, because that image stays with me when I read the book.<br /><br />Good luck!Graeme inghttp://www.graemeing.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-68403691237879722662012-02-08T09:56:33.527-05:002012-02-08T09:56:33.527-05:00Oh yes, I think covers are extremely important. Wh...Oh yes, I think covers are extremely important. When I was browsing on my Nook, I had a hard time knowing what the books were about by title alone. So then I used the cover option to scroll through covers and that helped SO much, it was crazy.Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-23404509005662255142012-02-08T07:06:33.366-05:002012-02-08T07:06:33.366-05:00Cally, That's a great question! Yes, I probabl...Cally, That's a great question! Yes, I probably do lean toward a more ambiguous cover model shot for the front cover. But even though the models' faces were turned away on my first two books, they were "revealed" on the backs of the books and spine. So, those who buy a paper copy or get it from the library will see the model's whole face. <br /><br />And actually, for most romance novels, the face of the heroine is usually revealed. So, I've come to accept that as part of the genre marketing. Fortunately, the model on my next book is pretty close to what I'd envisioned and described. Whew! :-) <br /><br />All that to say, I'm not sure if seeing the model's face bothers readers or entices them. I know it usually doesn't bother me. Thinking back to some of the books I've read recently that had cover models' faces and I guess I didn't even think about the face while I was reading. But perhaps it is an issue for some! Not sure!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-44552620971461597262012-02-08T00:49:58.867-05:002012-02-08T00:49:58.867-05:00Covers grab me every time, and yours is quite appe...Covers grab me every time, and yours is quite appealing, Jody. That young woman is drawing me in! <br />I enjoyed the post and learned a lot! Thanks!!patti.mallett_pphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453756965198648016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-74085704683609826012012-02-08T00:21:06.894-05:002012-02-08T00:21:06.894-05:00I agree with you and the commenters above, covers ...I agree with you and the commenters above, covers continue to be important in a virtual age. I have a question for you: how do you feel about your MC being depicted on your cover? Do you worry that your readers won't get the opportunity to create their own version of your heroine in their minds or is that a non-issue for you? Just curious. :-)Cally Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08313803959936813426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-72325097217533441312012-02-08T00:05:55.538-05:002012-02-08T00:05:55.538-05:00How fun to come back and see what cover your publi...How fun to come back and see what cover your publisher selected -- and why.It's a pull-me-in-cover (although not the one I voted for. This is why I am a writer, not an artist.)<br />;o)<br />Even in a digital age, I think covers will still be important. That old adage, "Don't judge a book by it's cover" is still false -- and will remain so for years to come. <br />Most of the people I talk to are first intrigued by a book's cover -- if not that, then they pick up a book because someone recommended it or because they like the author.Beth K. Vogthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04032849469366266791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-8332436087851704442012-02-07T21:18:00.594-05:002012-02-07T21:18:00.594-05:00This is the cover I loved, because of it's sim...This is the cover I loved, because of it's simple beauty. It's elegant. <br /><br />And yes, covers make a huge impact on me. Many times I don't purchase...even if it is free on Kindle...if the cover is bad. I figure if it's not worth putting a great cover on it, it's not worth reading. That may not be true all the time, but that is where my mind goes.Sherrinda Ketchersidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07581676437345249386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-79331918457400346992012-02-07T19:14:09.766-05:002012-02-07T19:14:09.766-05:00It's a great cover, Jody! I wish September wer...It's a great cover, Jody! I wish September weren't so far away.<br /><br />A covers is the first thing that prompts me to pick up a book unless I'm looking for a specific title/author that has been recommended. I rarely browse for titles online, so a cover wouldn't be as important to me there. I prefer real books to eBooks, too. How old-fashioned of me, right?Carol J. Garvinhttp://careann.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-4979571767633599442012-02-07T18:59:59.651-05:002012-02-07T18:59:59.651-05:00Very cool. Love how you've drawn us in to the ...Very cool. Love how you've drawn us in to the process of getting a book to print, Jody. There is so much to learn and think about at every stage of a book's development. I'm happy that this is the cover I voted for. Somehow it makes me feel a bit affirmed in my aesthetics, smile.Donna Amis Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15408854527092656997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-41913293170226665822012-02-07T16:05:14.553-05:002012-02-07T16:05:14.553-05:00Great choice for the final cover! It fits in with ...Great choice for the final cover! It fits in with the look of your other two books and has a real Jody Hedlund Vibe goin' on. ;-) Before I read a story, I like to spend a little bit of time looking over the cover art so I can settle into the feel and mood of the novel. My biggest peeve about the Kindle is how it skips straight to the beginning of the story, unless you specifically type in "go to cover." Not sure whoever set it up that way, but it's annoying, and takes away from the overall experience for me. <br /><br />Also, I agree with what many others have said about choosing a book based on the cover. IMO, one thing that is sorely lacking in self-published e-books is quality covers. Ugh. I can almost always tell by the cover that a book is self-pubbed. I never even knew I had this cover-snob side to me until I started seeing all the ho-hum e-book covers out there. Now I have a newfound respect for the job of a cover designer.Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15634681223129304563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-20001173531242322002012-02-07T14:42:13.347-05:002012-02-07T14:42:13.347-05:00I think covers are still VERY important. Especiall...I think covers are still VERY important. Especially if I'm looking at a self-pub or small press book, I assume if they have NO cover or an unappealing one, then they couldn't be bothered to advertise their work well which probably means they couldn't be bothered to fix issues inside of the cover either.<br /><br />Sylvia<br />http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/Sylvia Neyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09700149683391617521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-19602635917425206542012-02-07T12:52:19.530-05:002012-02-07T12:52:19.530-05:00That's the on I voted on! Yay! It's so bea...That's the on I voted on! Yay! It's so beautiful!Holly Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06439288384303839640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-68842076192770469032012-02-07T12:33:49.039-05:002012-02-07T12:33:49.039-05:00I love the cover, Jody! And interesting thoughts a...I love the cover, Jody! And interesting thoughts about what goes into the decisions too. I'm wishing I'd gotten a Kindle with color so I could see the book covers in all their glory. Maybe next time... :)Sarah Forgravehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09101753891967001104noreply@blogger.com