More on Book Covers

Thanks for all the feedback yesterday. It’s so interesting to see the different perspectives. As for the Violet Dawn cover, I have to agree that the text for the title is big. Why? I think the artist needed to make it that big to “anchor” the snake. As for the different fonts, I agree it’s not that usual to mix sans serif and serif type. The font for my name has that faint “chiller” effect in that not all the letters are exactly even. I suppose the juxtaposition of the two kinds of fonts is meant to be another jarring sort of thing. Like the snake.

Oh. Speaking of the reptile. It’s now gray, not so dark. (Click link above to see new version.) Stands out a lot more. The first snake was just put there because of its cool shape. But we had to make the snake a Black Mamba. (No need, by the way, to write me and tell me black mambas are not found in northern Idaho. This one . . . happens to be. Oh, and black mambas aren’t really black.) You’ll see a brush stroke on the tail that looks a little removed from the rest of the snake. That will be taken off. As for the snake’s head—no one commented how it goes off the cover. This was to keep it from looking too scary, so says the artist. I have to laugh at that, because it’s been the trend lately to cut off people’s faces on covers. Supposed to lend a bit of mystery to the character. Now I see it even applies to snakes, for the opposite reason. Here are some examples of cut off faces from new fiction: Creston Mapes’ Dark Star. Kristen Heitzmann’s Secrets. James Patterson’s Mary Mary.

In the comments from yesterday these books were mentioned. Tom Morrisey’s Deep Blue. This is a great cover that you need to see in person. It’s another Zondervan cover. Tom sent various art selections to me and a few other Z authors for us to choose which one we liked best. I chose this one, hands down. The really cool thing is the embossing of the bubbles. When you move the book in the light, the bubbles sparkle like they’re moving. Eric Wilson’s Expiration Date. Very interesting cover, as was his first book’s cover, Dark to Mortal Eyes. Melanie Wells’ When the Day of Evil Comes really does have a creepy-looking man in the water.

I think covers are mostly for those readers who aren’t familiar with the author. I mean, if you really like an author and are waiting for his/her next book, you’re gonna buy it regardless of the cover. But if you don’t know the author, you need something to compel you to pick the book up.

On a completely different note—I scheduled my funeral today. In other words, I called the dentist. And don’t you know the gal who answered the phone was just oh, so chipper! Sounded like she oughtta be working in a candy store instead of the Devil’s Drill. More on our most luuuvly conversation tomorrow.