The process of deciding on a cover design is about as fun as sitting next to a celebrity in a 12-step meeting and then not being able to tell anyone that you saw them there, lest the Gods of anonymity—or a cranky old-timer—strike you dead. (Speaking of addiction, I spent two hours of my Jet Blue flight last night watching “Sex Rehab” with Dr. Drew on VH1, and, having spent some quality time in sex-addiction treatment myself, I have some thoughts about the whole thing. Stay tuned for a lengthy review later this week, but let me just say this in the meantime: Beauty queen Kari Ann Peniche, one of the sex addicts on the show, is quite possibly the most insufferable person alive, although she has some competition from skateboarder Bam Margera, who I had the misfortune of watching on Cribs last night.)
But back to book covers. Above, you can see the hardcover of America Anonymous (on the left) and the paperback version (on the right). The funny thing about book covers is that people feel very strongly about them, and they tend to assume that everyone feels the same way. So, you might be saying, “Man, the first cover is clearly better–it’s crisp and striking,” when another person, also seemingly intelligent, might respond, “You’re on crack. The paperback version draws you in and feels more personal.” Still others likely hate both covers. These people also likely hate themselves.
In the end, publishers usually make final decisions about these things, although they often humor us writers by asking for our thoughts. When asked for my thoughts, I struggle with this question: How important is it that the cover actually conveys what’s in the book? The hardcover version, which I fought for when my publisher was wavering on it, struck me as a terrific cover, but the paperback version seems to better represent what the book is actually about—a narrative about three years in the lives of addicts. Sure, the book also has science, sociology, and history, but at its heart it’s a narrative book about people. The hardcover version says science and sociology first.
In the age of Kindle, how much do covers actually matter? Check out Jacob Silverman’s piece in The Virginia Quarterly Review, which actually uses the hardcover of America Anonymous to make a point about the trend of nonfiction books that try to cleverly use a map of the Unites States.
Happy Monday from Vegas. I need to go give my talk now at the 10th Annual NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction.
Hey Benoit,
Book covers. Giving all our energy to the text pillowed between the covers, and then having a publisher assert final rights on the cover to represent our work? That has never seemed quite ethical, to me. But then, we are ‘only’ the writer … we write the text which raises income for the publisher who, with our agent, deducts their ‘fair share’ of our monetary reward. Why do we write, again? Because WE HAVE TO. There is some imperative within us to sculpt thought into words and pages. But the cover of our work still matters to us! We own it as much as we do the words within.
I once (once – lesson learned thereafter) commissioned an artist to create a full-colour pen and ink cover for one of my books. The artist worked to a strict deadline and yet produced a beautiful and relevant cover. The publisher subsequently decided there would be no merit (nor additional income for them?) in reproducing the cover in full colour. Not only did they decide that, but they transformed the entire feel of the book by reproducing the art work in a terracotta colour placed atop a bright turquoise cover. It was hideous, and I felt very differently about the published work – not just the cover. I also felt angry on behalf of the artist, and powerless in my interactions with the publisher.
Benoit, I like both covers of ‘American Voyeur.’ The hardback cover instantly ‘describes’ the book; whilst the paperback cover implies the secretiveness of the topic discussed. In some way the paperback cover acknowleges your status as a writer – not ‘just’ a hardback apprentice, but a here-to-stay author.
My suggestion: put aside your ponderings about the two distinct covers; and know they both validate you as an author and accurately hint at the work within.
Tracey
new blog is lookin’ sharp!
i like the new cover – more representative of whats inside, imho.