(This post has been delayed due to Covid-19. I’m thrilled to finally be able to share it.)
I spent a lovely afternoon with my husband at a book store.
When we finally found the books there the game began.
The Cover Game
What can you tell from a book cover? If you know the book, what makes sense about the cover? If you don’t know the book, what do you guess the story is about?
What clues to genre does the cover give off? Is the book meant to inform or entertain more?
Do only established authors get to put their names on top of the title? Do certain fonts express credibility?
Most interesting to me was the branding of an author. How can you tell it’s from a particular person? Do an author’s books all have something in common? I want to compliment V. E. Schwab on the use of the first letter of her first name in her book covers. It struck me and I’ve since become a reader and fan.
If you’re ever again able to browse in a bookstore, here in Indiana or elsewhere, it is a fun exercise and will give you much to think about.
What will my covers have in common?
From now on, I will always make sure my covers convey the visual arrows I want potential readers to have. As far as cohesiveness, they will all be painted by my true love.
Have you ever played the cover game? What did you learn?
Ashley Crookham's Writing 