A few days on

[kinzel]

We're still waiting for to see if we get any action out of these last two day lily pods ... but so far they aren't changing color. Sigh.

Also, we've been busy and will be busy, so am here not as often as I'd like. I have office stuff to do this afternoon, it appears to me.

In the public author warrens of the net there's been quite a bit of discussion lately about book covers -- you've seen Rolanni mention them a few times, and now here's a brief poll for you, from Mindy Klasky, who wants you to judge a book by .... well, here's a link to the blog that talks about the poll:

http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com/258462.html

Comments

Book covers

[(Anonymous)]

The main point of my cover criticizing letter was that potential NEW readers would be more likely to look at your books if the books had more enticing covers. My artist husband thought the M & D cover looked liked slightly frightened tourists who got off at the wrong Metro stop. This will not attract the attention of a young adult reader new to the Liaden Universe. If your objective is to sell more books, especially to readers new to what you offer, you need more compelling covers. Whether existing fans care about cover art is irrelevant. We know the excellent reading experience that exists between the covers and will buy the books despite the covers.

Re: Book covers

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

Ah -- and I've bought art professionally for collections, was my own (and then along with Sharon) an art agent for SF artists, put on gallery displays of art, and have been a children's and YA librarian as well. Me, I think the Mouse and Dragon cover is good.

Re: Book covers

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Wow, and the Mouse and Dragon cover is easily the best we've ever had. In my opinion, of course, and there's a reason I'm not an artist.

However! As I Am Sure You Are Aware, complaining to authors about the quality of their covers is a bootless enterprise, at best. Authors have nothing to do with their cover art. Authors are widely believed to know squat about cover art. If you want to see a change in Liaden cover art to "more enticing" (whatever that means, universally) then you need to discuss this with Management.

Management in this case is Baen Books. Here's the contact page (http://www.baen.com/contact.htm)

Alternatively, you can register and log into Baen's Bar -- go here (http://www.baen.com), click the link to Baen's Bar in the top menu tabs and follow the directions -- and bring your concerns and advice to Toni Weisskopf, in her forum there.

Cover art is, as you say, meant to entice readers. If our cover art is repelling readers and losing us sales, then Actual Readers need to say that to the Actual Publisher.

Covers

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks for the clarification. I'll take my observations directly to Baen. The unofficial test in my department is up to 12 people who would NOT pick up M & D to look inside based on the cover and I won't repeat the unflattering stories that were made to explain the cover. If covers help drive sales Baen should give you better covers. Nancy