Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Torn Between Two Covers

Hi.

"Don't post this shit about book covers on your blog," they said.  "People don't DO that," they said. Or they would if I had voices that talked to me.  Luckily, I am sane, so I don't hear those voices and am posting this anyway.

Right now I'm torn between two choices for "Not Quite Darcy".  Do you have a preference?

My editor wants me to ... as she said on the art form she gave me ... "This story is BIG on humor, so something whimsical, light-hearted, with a play on time-travel. The setting is nineteenth century England, but it’s hardly your typical historical, so we’re better playing up the humor than the historical bent."

Without going pie in the face (and ignoring any pudding that might go in faces, ahem!) which of these two choices do you like?

Choice A (Or Silhouette):
Have two silhouettes, with their backs to one another, male and female.  The male would look traditionally Victorian.  Either in profile or full view.




The female would look more like this:
Or a full body version.  Carefully avoiding any copyright infringement and getting rid of the ipod, sadly. (Publisher has a legal department, right?)  If the image is profiles, Eliza could be blowing a bubble.  If it's full body, figures would still be back to back. She would be in modern dress - dancing with a feather duster or we could swap that for a broom if  you like. William could be holding out a book, ever so politely.  Key would be juxtaposing the ipod manic girl with the standard rigid Victorian silhouette and I think full body does that most effectively.

Background to be hot pink.

I feel this one captures the feel of the book the best and answers my editor's wish for it not to look like a typical historical.



CHOICE B (or Fuzzy Focus)
How about this?
Since the title would lend itself to such a cover.  But instead of a fugly guy with a disturbing collar, a handsome guy just out of focus.  Like this one.


Also, to lighten this one, it could be done as a blurry photo with a bright 'wash' of yellow or pink.  So it doesn't look like Deadly Serious Literature.

So?  You there?

Which one do you like better?  
If you like choice one, full body or profile?

WE WILL BE SENDING A THANK YOU GIFT! A VOUCHER FOR A DISNEY RESORT FOR 5 DAYS!  FREE PARKING!  PLUS A FRUIT BASKET!! WE'LL BE GETTING BACK TO YOU REAL SOON ON THAT.

But really, thank you.  I owe you pie.  Or a fruit basket.


5 comments:

  1. I think the first option is probably on the right track. It's clever and cute and tells a lot about the story.
    There are a few series that I think pull off the cartoon-style cover well.

    http://amzn.com/B002YKOXGG

    http://amzn.com/B000OCXHRW

    This one is especially similar to what you are talking about: http://amzn.com/B000UZQJO6

    I will tell you, that I've been told (but not seen actually statistical data) that covers with pictures of cute models sell more books. I don't know. *shrug*

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  2. I think the 1st direction would be most appropriate, but I am concerned about how difficult it would be to pull off well. The charlaine harris books are a great example of a cartoon style that works, but they are very contemporary. You might be better off taking a classic style painting and altering it like this one does:
    http://www.amazon.com/Sense-Sensibility-Monsters-Quirk-Classics/dp/B005GNJOUI

    you could take a classic style painting like this:
    http://blog.incipeindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Pride-and-Prejudice-Jane-Austen.jpg

    and apply your idea of someone blowing a bubble, or something else funny and slightly anachronistic.

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  3. You've probably already decided by now, but I would vote for the first option! It captures the tone of the story much better, IMO. Yours, William (since I haven't read the revised NQD version) is very funny - and the first version captures that fun sense of humor and pop culture mixed with a Victorian setting.

    Either way, I can't wait to read it!

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    Replies
    1. Plus, it would sell better with the teen set, which is a huge market these days. I think you can't go wrong with the first one!

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  4. As it turns out, their marketing department might not like any of my ideas. Oh my! We shall see. I have pitched choice number 1 as my first choice and as a secondary, that pic of a girl blowing a bubble. If they present option 3 instead, I'll deal with that, I suppose.

    Thank you so much for your input!

    ReplyDelete