Can Covers Make or Break A Book?

Fair question, isn't it? How many times have we read smart-alecky, snarky comments about covers? Some are well-deserved, that's for sure. Others poke fun -- if you haven't been to Bam's blog, you've got to check out her cover snarks here. She's simply hilarious.

How much impact does a cover have on a book?

A cover tells a lot about the story. The mood, the theme, the overall feel. It is the first thing a reader sees. A vampire/werewolf book would typically have a dark mood, emphasizing the darkness of the creatures/humans that are the main characters in the story. A chick-lit would often have a cartoon in the front, indicative of light humor. BDSM? Usually a cover that involves handcuffs or any instrument that would bring to mind bondage. Sounds simple and straightforward enough. You would think. *g* Here's a sample of a cover that I think is really hot:



Nice, isn't it? It's sexy yet understated. Tells you right away it's erotic. The arm around the woman screams possession, mastery. (Or am I reading too much into it? LOL)I really liked it. And no, I don't write for that publisher, nor do I know the author. But I do like the cover.

An attractive cover will certainly draw the reader's eye, enough to make her pick up the book and read the blurb -- or in the case of ebooks, click on it and check out the blurb. Dramatic colors and evocative poses help, too. Romances almost always feature "clinch" covers. Lately, covers have been more daring. A body part here, a buttock there. Hey, we've all seen the hot EC covers. *g*

On the flip side, there are covers that just suck great, big, hairy donkey balls. This can be somewhat of a death knell for a well-written book. An ugly cover can turn off a reader before she even ventures to read the blurb. As an author, how much control do we have over covers? Some, but not a lot. I have a vision for my covers, and I try my best to communicate that to the cover artist. Of course, there are always things that will limit the cover artists, like budget, availability of photos, etc, etc. That's where computer programs come in. Remember, it's a business, folks. Bottom line is the profit margin.

So yes, I think covers play a large part in a book's success. Of course, it's still up to the author to weave a gripping plot line to hook a reader from start to finish. Then again, you don't want to lose a reader before she even reads the story. A beautiful cover is like icing on a delicious cake.

Feel free to point me to covers that you love. Better yet, tell me of some horrendous ones you know. *g*