Okay, folks, here's where you make your voice heard!
Wait, not yet - I haven't told you what I need your voice for.
I self-published Season of Sacrifice two years ago, and here is the cover:
The picture is a shot taken looking straight down the Hole in the Rock, which is the topic of my book. My great-great-grandfather engineered the passage down that hole, and this is a major part of my family history.
My good friend (and hyper-in-Costco-squealer) Jenni James is uploading this book to e-book for me, and she came up with this cover:
She explained to me that in e-book, you need to be able to tell what a cover is from the thumbnail, and the first cover might not be as eye-catching to a buyer.
So, my questions for you are this:
1. Do you like the second cover?
2. Do you think it's strange to have the print version of the book and the e-book with two different covers?
3. Do you think I should use the canyon or the girl for the cover of the e-book?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts - I look forward to hearing what you think!!
37 comments:
In all honesty I don't like either cover. Neither would make me want to pick up the book and read it, though the second one is better.
I don't feel like either cover gives me any idea of what the book is about and for that reason I wouldn't give it a second thought when perusing the digital book shelves. Sorry, that's probably not much help.
Yes, go with the second cover. I like it.
I like the second cover better, even though the first has a lot of meaning behind it. The second cover really catches the eye.
Here was my first impression of the first cover: Dry, heat, uncomfortable.
Second cover: Hmmm. Unique. Evening - nice. Appealing.
My second opinion of the first cover went up, especially when I learned what it was, and I'd have a really hard time, in your shoes, not going with it.
Also, no it's not weird to have more than one cover. I'd want them to be similar (we're using a different forest for the background of book one than what is on the ebook), though, so that people recognize them.
Many books have different covers, so don't worry so much about that.
The second one would make me buy your book. Even if it's an ebook.
I like the picture of Hole in the Rock.
i like the girl, for a couple reasons. as much as the canyon has to do with the heart of the book, it doesn't really tell someone who hasn't read the book (or moreso, doesn't know /recognize the significance of the location), a whole lot. The girl tells me it's probably a female character--and her dress also tells me the time-frame we're looking at. that was my first thoughts.
I like the second cover better - but if your friend paid for that picture, the circle in the middle wouldn't be there, so make sure she really paid for it. I would hate to see you get in trouble for it. Also...I am self-publishing a few of my 'other' stories. I wish I could make my fonts look as good as she made yours!
~Marie
I really like the cover with the girl. It is more eye catching!
I'd never seen a picture of Hole in the Rock until this afternoon when my son's scout leader was explaining where they are going on their hike this weekend. Marcia Lynn McClure has different covers and I don't think it is strange.
I think the second cover might appeal to a wider audience?? Maybe?
I really like the picture of the canyon. It's cool. But I think your friend might be right.
I think you'll get more readers from the girl cover. You MIGHT be able to redesign the canyon cover to grab readers but the girl cover grabs readers right now.
I don't think it's bad to have two different covers.
Those are one girls thoughts.
definitely go w/ the second one. it's eye catching. and no it's not weird to have two.
Hey, I love the new ebook cover design. It is very eye-catching. I think you should go for it:-)
Wow. Tough decision. She's right about the whole thumbnail issue for ebooks. I love the connection in the first picture though. But the second one is lovely.
That was a lot of help, wasn't it?
I like both covers but I think both books should have the same cover. I am a sucker for silleouettes, but in this case I think since the book is a part of your family history, I would use this cover.
I think the new cover looks classy. It seems appropriate to have a different cover for the e-book.
Hmmm...
Jenni might have a point about the thumbnail view.
I can tell the first one is a canyon shot but I also know the story.
The second one is vague lending to intrigue about the story. It also look updated to what is selling on the market now.
There are TONS of books that have different covers.
I vote #2.
Good luck!
I think it depends on what the book is about. The first one speaks to me of historical fiction and doesn't catch my eye as much as the second. The second looks like something I'd be more interested in. It promises romance and what can I say, all books should have some of that. :) Good luck!
Christy
The girl cover looks like a romance book - not what the book is about. The canyon cover is directly related to the story. May I suggest photoshopping a small picture of your ancestor at the on the top corners, superimposed over the canyon. That way no one will mistake the canyon photo as say a climbing guide or a hiking guide.
I haven't read this book yet, but just looking at the second one gives me a distinct idea about what it's about. I'd guess, a story in the 1800's or so, pioneer, most likely, and possibly a romance. It looks intriguing.
I like the first pic too, but it leaves me wondering a bit more about its story. Is it a hiking book? Or a book similar to 127 Hours?
If I had to choose, I'd go with the second one personally. just because it's clearer.
I vote for #2, actually. Nothing against cover #1, but #2 speaks more of the story to me, and no I don't think it's weird to have two different covers for the same book.
I like the new cover, no I don't think it's weird. I agree that people look at covers to decide what to read. It'll be great!
I'd stick with the same cover--less confusion.
1. I like it, but I'm not going all crazy for it. I sorta don't get the swirly thing. It's fine but it's not as catchy as, say, your Secret Sisters covers which I love.
2. I don't think it's strange at all. It's done all the time. For example, the huge bestsellers Wheel of Time books have different ebook covers than their print covers. I'm thinking it's common.
3. I don't really have a preference one over the other.
Hope that helps!
1. Do you like the second cover?
The 2nd cover is nice, but it kind of shouts sappy historical romance to me. I would probably never have read the book if I had seen this cover, nothing wrong with it, but as I said it doesn't really represent the story.
2. Do you think it's strange to have the print version of the book and the e-book with two different covers?
I would think for recognition, you would want both versions to have the same cover.
3. Do you think I should use the canyon or the girl for the cover of the e-book? I like the canyon picture, after all the story is about making it through that canyon.
I'm chuckling a little - no, the picture hasn't been purchased yet - that's what the swirly thing is, to tell us we need to pay for it. You can download photos and play with them to see if you like them before you buy them - that's what this is.
From what I'm seeing here and what I'm seeing on Facebook, the votes are coming in about fifty-fifty. This isn't making this easier. :)
What you need to do, Tristi, is to superimpose the silhouette over the canyon picture. Best of both worlds.
If I had to choose, I'd go with the canyon, but then I'm a sucker for Hole in the Rock-type stories.
I prefer the first cover, I agree that the second might have a wider appeal, but the first is much more interesting, maybe a black surround around the photo ?
MY first thought when I saw the new cover was, why is Scarlet O'Hara on her book? I just did, I like your original cover myself. The second one does look like a sappy romance to me, which I refrain from reading. Just my thoughts.
The second is more lovely and identifiable in a thumbnail but does it relate to the story? It's a totaly different mood and tone. What are the elements of your storyline you want to capture?
I prefer the second. The first makes me think I'm going to be reading non-fiction about the canyon. And on a thumb nail picture it would be hard to even see the picture on #1
I like the second one, too. :) Scenery doesn't grab my attention nearly as well as a face does.
Tristi, I've read your book and I'd go for a cover with two women because it's about polygamy. Perhaps One woman in the foreground looking back at a woman in the distance. I'd find something like that intriguing. Of course I don't know how easy it would be to find a photo that fits the bill. Good luck with this.
Have read Season of Sacrifice, I'm not a fan of the ebook cover. Her dress doesn't seems more like Scarlett O'Hara style than Pioneer trekking across the plains style. It doesn't have the right look and feel for what your book is about. It's not a southern romance. It's the story of your ancestors and their journey.
I personally prefer to have the same cover for print and ebook. I'm very visual and like to have one consistent image. I can tell just by looking at a book cover if its one I read or not and be able to remember most of the plot and if I liked it. So, just from my preferences - I'd say be consistent and use the same cover for both.
I like the second cover, except for the swirl pattern in the center, which seems out of place.
I LOVE the second one. It's definitely more eye catching for me, and more intriguing.
I like the same cover for books and e-books. Your canyon cover makes me think of a travel book, but your second doesn't quite make it for me either. Since you already have a cover for the hardback, I'd do the same for the e-book, for consistency. Also, I am visual and often look for the cover when I search for a book.
The overall idea of the second one is appealing but the short sleeves and puffy skirt tell me it's more Southern belle romance than pioneer. Pioneers had gathers but not full slips underneath and they definately had long sleeves. I'd say keep searching. Maybe look for a pioneer apron dress. Could you possibly superimpose a pioneer silhouette (even just a bonnet)over the canyon background? A connection between the two would be best but a different cover wouldn't bother me. Good luck!
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