Comments on: Poll: Which Cover Do You Like Best?

By: dr. j

dr. j — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:09:44 +0000

the thorn picture is too much like the title? without reading the book it is difficult to decide if it is appropriate but i think that a person(one of the main characters) in the picture would attract more interest.

By: Jackie (Literary Escapism)

Jackie (Literary Escapism) — Sun, 08 May 2011 01:47:50 +0000

I like C simply for the fact that I just get drawn into the thorns. It’s like I’m trying to imagine what’s at the end of that path and I would rather focus on the what if than what I can see is the obvious start.

As for the title, what about putting it in the middle?

By: Celia

Celia — Sat, 07 May 2011 04:49:01 +0000

I like D best, but would add the faded Celtic knot.

By: carmen webster buxton

carmen webster buxton — Thu, 05 May 2011 17:52:35 +0000

I like C because it is the lightest; with D it was hard to see the light coming from behind the tree. The letters don’t stand out enough in A and B and D felt like it was losing something.

As long as your name is not common (and it’s not) I think keeping it simple is best. Less to remember when you read an interesting review and note the author’s name. -)

By: Cara

Cara — Thu, 05 May 2011 17:33:36 +0000

I like the ‘new D’ a lot better than the original. It did make quite the difference. Still not 100% sure I’d want to change my vote (C.), but I do believe that both C and D works.

Oh, forgot to mention in my previous comment that I voted for your full name; Shawn C. Speakman

By: wcarter4

wcarter4 — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:01:05 +0000

Option D is the most imposing. Strictly speaking, if I were to judge a book by its cover that’s the one I would be most tempted to pick up and look at (and therefore buy).

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:32:30 +0000

I was thorn between B and D, both of them have elements that I like but I feel that D stand out more than B does. Also looked at the changes for cover D with the writer name at the bottom and I really like it.

By: Shawn Speakman

Shawn Speakman — Wed, 04 May 2011 17:49:24 +0000

Wow, I leave for 24 hours and look at all of you! Great comments all! I really do appreciate it. You guys took time to really get into this and I’m excited by it!

That said, couldn’t you all have been on the same page? Seriously! Now my head is swimming with this and that and the other. haha As of right now, Cover D is winning the poll but some of you made a great suggestion for that cover in swapping the quote area with the writer name. So I’ve done that and it is posted here:

Cover R2-D2

I think that looks better than the original Cover D, so you guys were definitely on to something there. Removing my name from the top helps free up the thorns a bit, an aspect that those who picked Cover C seemed to like seeing more. I have to be honest: I’m torn between Cover C and D. They both have different strengths and weaknesses to them and since the polling is so close I may have to get some of my other writer friends involved in sending their fans here to vote. Give a larger representation of voters and opinions.

Keep the votes and comments coming!

By: Anne Gray

Anne Gray — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:01:15 +0000

I like C because, as others have said, you can see the best part of the artwork. I think D could work with the name on the bottom, because that would at least reveal the curved spine of the tree; I think the curve there, as well as the thorns, really embody the expression of pain in the illustration. As Julian Owens said, the eye goes to the top, but it’s not your name or the title that’s selling this cover, it’s the art – so let the art be seen.

I also agree with other comments that the celtic knot adds nothing and possibly detracts.

On the whole, A, C, and D all work. Just don’t do B.

By: The Mighty

The Mighty — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:03:39 +0000

Also, I’m thinking that whatever you do, make sure the blurb quote is somewhere where it’s going to grab people’s attention—even if that means covering up a little of the (admittedly gorgeous) artwork. Think about it, while I haven’t taken the time to browse through the full self-pubbed list on Amazon or B&N, I’m willing to bet that most of them don’t have well-known authors blurbing them.

And you have bestselling, mega-author Terry-freaking-Brooks blurbing yours!!

I’d smack that blurb right under the title so it’s front-and-center when people see the book and lead off your book description with it as well. Seriously, you have some incredible assets working in your favor and that’s another thing I like about the design of A.

Blurb right under title and the Title and Author Byline fonts don’t overpower it. In C and D the font for the title and author are GIGANTIC, they dominate, and I’m worried that the quote gets lost in the sea of power fonts and deep artwork.