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Saturday, February 18, 2012
http://www.rwa.org/cs/readership_stats
Above you see a link to the RWA's readership survey for 2011 and the results were somewhat surprising. I did notice that covers were important to the reader in deciding if they want to purchase a book--the back cover.
Makes you think about your blurbs, doesn't it?
For me, I'm a sucker for a pretty cover and that's what draws my attention first. If the cover leaps out at me, I'll click on it or pick it up and read the first page--of the fifth chapter.Which I do for one reason, and one reason only. I want to know if the entire story will engage me. Too many authors put so much focus on the opening they forget about the rest of the book. If you want to know if the writing is consistent, go to a later chapter and check out the opening page. If that interests me, I flip to the back and read the blurb. Do I like it? Now I go back to the book and ask myself, is this part of a series or does that author have other books. If not, it doesn't stop me from buying it, but it might affect my searches for e-books by this author in the future (You want to be on the future buy list). As with most readers, I like the adventure to continue, and continue, and continue.
Back to the covers. So if most romance readers place little stock on the cover, why should authors get all worked up when a cover goes wrong, mind you, this has never happened to me yet, but I have seen poor authors receive some ugly and just plain horrible covers.
Well, my mind is on covers because I have two in production I'm waiting for. Now, I know Decadent does pretty covers, so I'm not worried, just antsy because I want to show everyone the covers for my upcoming stories.
So while I wait for covers for my science fiction romance, let me show you a few that I just love.
Above you see a link to the RWA's readership survey for 2011 and the results were somewhat surprising. I did notice that covers were important to the reader in deciding if they want to purchase a book--the back cover.
Makes you think about your blurbs, doesn't it?
For me, I'm a sucker for a pretty cover and that's what draws my attention first. If the cover leaps out at me, I'll click on it or pick it up and read the first page--of the fifth chapter.Which I do for one reason, and one reason only. I want to know if the entire story will engage me. Too many authors put so much focus on the opening they forget about the rest of the book. If you want to know if the writing is consistent, go to a later chapter and check out the opening page. If that interests me, I flip to the back and read the blurb. Do I like it? Now I go back to the book and ask myself, is this part of a series or does that author have other books. If not, it doesn't stop me from buying it, but it might affect my searches for e-books by this author in the future (You want to be on the future buy list). As with most readers, I like the adventure to continue, and continue, and continue.
Back to the covers. So if most romance readers place little stock on the cover, why should authors get all worked up when a cover goes wrong, mind you, this has never happened to me yet, but I have seen poor authors receive some ugly and just plain horrible covers.
Well, my mind is on covers because I have two in production I'm waiting for. Now, I know Decadent does pretty covers, so I'm not worried, just antsy because I want to show everyone the covers for my upcoming stories.
So while I wait for covers for my science fiction romance, let me show you a few that I just love.
The Scarlet Empress/Cover has changed
Okay, I'll leave you with one last bit of artwork, the new banner on my website, because hey, the survey says...
Have a great weekend,
D L
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9 comments:
LOVE all the covers on here, and your banner! Thanks for showing mine. :)
Covers for me are extremely important. I've had some great cover artists and cannot complain about any of mine, but I have seen some which prevent me from reading any further.
Can't wait to see yours! I'm waiting for three right now. :)
'fraid I'm a cover girl. From the comic books I used to pick up at the corner liquor store, to the romance novels at the grocery store to any bookstore, new or used, I can find...and online! If the book catches my eye I will read the blurb...and yes, I love the covers we get at Decadent!
Those are some great covers! Im just now getting into sci fi and loving it can't wait to see what's comin from Decadent!
I agree these are great covers. I admit that I look at covers first. Then I'll read the back cover blurb. Then I'll read the 1st page. If I'm not sure whether I want it or not, I do open to the middle of the book and read both pages. Same as you, if it engages me then I'll buy it.
(And for the record, I too believe Decadent does AWESOME covers! Of course, I'm not biased or anything...)
I once read a book where the heroine was described as having raven hair, and on the cover she was a blonde--light blonde. I couldn't finish the story, because my mind kept going back to the cover, which was a historical. I can't begin to imagine how upset the author was over it. It is one of the things that e-authors seemed to get more input in, than print authors from the big houses. One of many reasons I love e-publication.
I'm a cover girl. It has to grab something inside me to pick up and read the back cover.
Lovely banner, Dawn. :D
Yes, covers are what draw me to pick up a book and look at it. Then the blurb. But if the cover doesn't grab me, I don't even get as far as the blurb...
Alls of these are awesome that you showed. I would've picke 'em all up! Great choices. And love your banner, too! Gorgeous!
Covers grab me first too, then blurbs. These covers are excellent. Great banner too, Dawn.
Love your cover examples here...so pretty and yummy :) Yup, I'm a total cover girl, too. From pretty to lickable...if it grabs my attention, the blurb and excerpt comes next. I've brought books on covers alone. And from book trailers. But I've seen some shockers that scream 'badly produced' book with out-of-proportion characters (where they've been stretched to fit the cover, or worse, widened) spelling mistakes and unreadable text. Worse still are the full on naked shots that are popping up all over the ebook stores at the moment. That's crass and turns me off.
Love cover reveals!!!