Hybrid Author Success: COVERS

Hybrid Author Success: COVERS

As a traditionally published author, one of the days I most dreaded was the one on which my agent would call and say something to the effect of, “Okay, don’t freak out. Your cover arrived and you might not like it,” or “Your cover arrived and you should think about it before you hate it,” or “This is the worst cover I ever saw but we can’t change it.”

Creative people have ideas about their work and the way it should be marketed—especially those like me, who came from a magazine, newspaper, and yes, even PR, background and know what attracts the media’s attention. As traditionally published authors trying to build lasting relationships with the Big 5, we are made to think we should keep these opinions to ourselves. Or at most, that we can express them, but expect they won’t be addressed. We are made to think that the Big 5 art team knows what’s going to sell. But the truth is, they aren’t always right, and another truth I believe to be true is that as artists whose tastes have been acknowledged, we have earned a right to trust our guts. Here’s a bit of history on a few of my covers with the Big 5 . . .

DIARY OF A WORKING GIRL

This came out in 2004, in the wake of lots of hand drawn covers. It was clear these were on the way out, and also, that without the market direction of bestsellers like the Shopoholic brand, buyers mistook these books for YA or even children’s books. I cannot tell you how many bookstore signings were spent explaining these books were for adults. I came back to my agency with a visual presentation—even a mockup from a digital fashion artist friend—with a luxury handbag inspired logo—with a grown-up polished feel. Completely ignored. The book did alright, enough for them to keep me on and give me another few deals, but nothing stellar. As a young ‘on, you feel self-doubtful and heap the fault on the quality of your book; this is rubbish.

I reworked this title for its 2011 re-release, in honor of the film BEAUTY & THE BRIEFCASE, which I would have used as a new title and cover, only couldn’t get anyone with the power or the rights to take this action in time. . . needless to say, this movie has gone on to create an amazing presence on cable TV and the new streaming mediums, including NETFLIX, and the recognition in a bookselling environment would be through the roof—alas, no luck on this front, as traditional publishers informed me that television movies are not a big enough reason to make a licensed movie edition of a novel. Again, dumb move. Dumber on me for looking down at self-publishing at the time as a last resort, and missing the opportunity to put out the title at the film’s release (more on this at a later date).

This was my first go at a cover and I didn’t want to put a lot of money into it. At the time all I knew was to identify the types of photos I liked from one of the photo sites like istockphoto and pass it onto an affordable designer, which I was referred to by RWA. The first go was depressing:

 

 

 

 

The second go was good, though not perfect . . .

 

 

 

 

Now, I’m more skilled, and more importantly, more trusting of my gut. Equally as integral, I found an artist who seems to be on the same page as me. I can put together a visual mood board and she comes back on the money—even if she tweaks part of my brief, she’s right and her way works better.

THE VELVET ROPE DIARIES
2006; the WORST cover I ever saw.

 

 

 

 

 

My agent actually laughed. The publisher wouldn’t hear of the slightest change to even the tagline, which gave no information and made absolutely no sense. This book basically disappeared into the ether. Here’s the visual brief via pinterest I’m giving to my designer for the re-release of this one, for which I am also changing the title to TRIAL BY FIRE. I’m excited to see where this goes.

THE PATRONS
My first proper self-published novel (rather than previously Big 5 released titles I re-published) is coming out in the US later this month. Here’s the brief I gave my designer:

“I have some special requests for design for my novel, THE PATRONS: It is a playful literary book, probably mostly for women.  I am looking for a cover that looks covered in lace (I have some link examples below), and perhaps (if it looks good) some men’s shoes poking from around the back/spine, unlaced.  For the font, I’d like to keep it classic like cartier/vogue.  I like the style of most of the covers shown here:

Lace image example (not EXACTLY right, but I’d like it to look like the book is covered in lace)”

Here’s what she came up with:

 

 

 
I LOVE IT. Can’t wait to see the response.