There’s that well-known saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” But I often hear that cover is the first thing readers see and if it’s a new to them author, there are only several seconds to capture their attention before they might move on to the next, more attractive cover and the book behind it.
I’d love to use this opportunity to hear what you like to see in a cover!
I’ll talk about some challenges I encountered while making/choosing covers. First, it’s a bumpy road trying to figure out what to put on the cover, and I’m still learning. When it comes to my very first romances, a few readers told 
me they bought my books because of my writing and despite the cover, not because of it. Ouch! I had no clue what I was doing, and the designers I hired, while skilled and talented, went with my wishes. (Some readers did like them, so there’s that.) I was so in love with this scene of the river at night and stars that I featured it on the cover of Season of Miracles. Then I was told repeatedly there should be a couple on the romance novel cover, or at least the heroine. So I ordered a new cover. Well, I liked it much less! Besides, I was afraid some readers might consider it a new book and buy it and then feel misled. What do you think of books re-released with a new cover?
Personally, I like covers that give me a vibe of love and warmth, and a couple that looks in love says that to me, so I often feature a couple on the cover now. And it says, “romance,” which is also very important. But I figure, beautiful scenery in addition to it doesn’t hurt. One of my favorite types of covers are the ones Marion Ueckermann made for A Tuscan Legacy series. The Italian scenery looked gorgeous to me, and when I saw these images, I knew they were Marco and Samantha! So the cover for Rapsodia was born.
So now that I know what I (might) want, it should be a breather to find the image for the cover, right? Wrong! These days, I make the cover before writing the book. It’s much easier to adjust my imagination than to find a photo that would fit my main characters! Plus, it’s difficult to find a good image of a couple that hasn’t been already used by other authors. (What do you think when the same couple image appears on many romance covers?) I think Valerie Comer found the perfect solution to this: illustrated covers. I love covers of her books. Doesn’t this cover for Secrets of Sunbeams look beautiful? And it’s totally unique.
There’s a reason why on some of my covers the hero’s face is turned the way that it is sort of hidden. I might be too picky because with a few exceptions, I often have difficulty finding a handsome male model, especially, again, the one who hasn’t appeared on many covers. When I can’t see his face in its entirety, I can imagine him to be a very attractive man, and I hope my readers can imagine him the same way, too. My skills don’t come anywhere close to Marion’s, but here’s my attempt at a cover for Season of Mercy.
What do you like to see on the cover? Is it scenery? A couple? The heroine? The hero? Scenery and a couple? What about a couple you can’t see their faces and can imagine what they look like?
Giveaway: one randomly chosen commenter to this post will receive 1 Kindle copy of the winner’s choice of my books. The ebook will be gifted via BookFunnel. The giveaway is open until 6 p.m. CST on June 8th.
I’d love to hear what you think!
Alexa Verde writes uplifting, diverse books about faith, love, and hope. She has had 200 short stories, articles, and poems published in the five languages that she speaks. After traveling the world and living in both hemispheres, she calls a small town in south Texas home. The latter is an inspiration for the fictional setting of her series Rios Azules Christmas and Secrets of Rios Azules. Alexa has a bachelor's degree in Spanish and a master's in Russian. She's worn the hats of reporter, teacher, translator, model (even one day counts!), caretaker, and secretary, but thinks that the writer's hat suits her the best.
Hi Alexa. Hmm, articulating exactly what I like in a cover is difficult. Something that draws me into the story… I don’t need to see the couples faces as then I can imagine what the H and h look like. It would be very strange to see the same couple on multiple covers!!
Blessings:)
Hi Alexa! Great covers. Some of my favorites. Nice informative blog. I am amazed at the diversity of book covers. How talented authors are not only in writing an entertaining story, but designing their own covers and promoting their books. Unfortunately I am usually first drawn to a book by its cover and title (the combination has to jive), then the blurb, then reviews.
I just perused the 600+ covers in my Kindle folder. Many do not have couples, but most are light and cheerful in color. Some covers only have females with some scenery (Beach Brides, Mail Order Brides, and cozy mysteries). The River’s End Ranch covers only show cowboy boots with beautiful mountain scenery. Fitting because of the setting and each female heroine wears a distinct pair of cowboy boots. While a couple on a cover might draw my attention to buy the book, I do refer to the picture while reading the book. I form my own picture on the author’s description. So I am not one to mind if the heroine’s hair or eye color doesn’t mesh. (Hope that makes sense and is helpful.) A person on the cover usually helps me determine the time period (historical or contemporary).
About redesigns for covers. This throws this avid reader for a loop. I like to be told since often I remember the cover, sometimes the blurb sounds familiar. Not fond when I repurchase a book, start reading and remember I have read it. This most often happens in boxed sets. Read the book in a boxed set and then it was released as a single edition. I remember the boxed set cover.
Best wishes. Happy writing, designing, and promoting.
Very interesting to see the different ways everyone looks at covers! I am an oddball (surprise, right?) When it comes to these kind of things. Like staged homes for sale, I don’t like that! I would much rather see an empty house so I can visualize my things in there. I am kind of like that about book covers. If there are people on it, make sure they really fit the writer’s description! I don’t like to read a description and then look back at the cover and think…ooookaaay…so not them, lol.
I do live the look for the Tuscany series, and I am collecting them all before I read. I adore Valerie Comer’s covers as they are so fitting to the series!
As for redoing a cover, I am with Renate in this, very frustrating to purchase and realize I already have read it!
Thank you for the inside look into how authors mske these decisions!
I like pictures clearly “artist drawn” like Valerie’s or photo reproductions – scenery and a couple is good – gives the potential readers some hint of where and who story is about also clues about era- contemporary, historical, regency or whatever. Mostly I like a clean looking cover – don’t put so many details the viewer gets tired trying to figure out the picture. Think of really good magazine covers – like the classic Time magazine covers – rarely had busy scene but a bold and clear statement of what was inside.
IMHO BTW – I love the cover with night scene and sparkling stars and bells! Classy looking and romantic.
Hello Wemble! Yes, I like to imagine what characters look like, too. :) I often see the same couple on different covers. :( Thank you so much for your input.
What a great and thoughtful comment, Renate! And thank you so much for your kind words about my covers and blog post. Thank you for looking at 600+ covers (and wow on so many books in your Kindle folder!) Interesting idea about cowboys boots and mountain scenery. I agree it’s fitting to the idea of the series. I loved your words about light and cheerful in color covers. I need to remember that!
Thank you for your input, Paula Marie! I need to make sure description fits the cover (and it should, I agree). And yes, it was my primary concern with redesigning cover, that some readers who already read it will buy it again and will be disappointed. Thank you so much for commenting!
I’ve probably stated this on this blog before, but in the “old days” when I looked for books in bookstores and the library, covers were the last thing I saw. I saw the title and authors on the book spine. If it caught my attention, I’d pull the book out and read the blurb on the back or the inside cover. Sometimes I’d decide on the book without even caring about the cover. But now, 98% of my shopping is done online whether from the library or a shop. Covers are the first thing I see. If it’s cheesy looking, I usually move on. I have a hard time explaining what I like or don’t like, I only know it when I see it. I do like covers with pretty houses and/or landscapes, with or without people. Regarding the same models on multiple books, that is a turn-off for me. I do love the covers of the Tuscan Legacy series. The landscape is outstanding.
Thank you so much, Linda! Yes on a bold and clear statement on the cover. And huge thanks for your kind words about my cover for Season of Miracles. That was what I thought when I saw the image!
I forgot to say, the cover of Season of Miracles is fantastic!
Thank you, Sherri! I loved what you said. When I used to choose books at the library, I rarely looked at covers. But now nearly all books I get online, so I pay much more attention to covers, too. I so agree on the outstanding landscape for A Tuscan Legacy series. Marion Ueckermann gets all the credit for that one. :)
Awww, Sherri! That is so kind of you to say about the cover for my first romance! This is such a pleasant surprise.
What on the back or inside the burb is what gets me to read a book Not the cover.
I don’t mind cover updates, as long as it is mentioned in the blurb somewhere. I prefer not to see faces so that I can use my imagination. If there is a face, it needs to match the description pretty close, especially hair color.
My first impression of a cover is decided mostly by color and saturation. I want to be able to tell whether it’s primarily a romance (which I am looking for) or a suspense or mystery (which I don’t read).
Thank you so much for your input, Kim Hansen! I’m glad to hear that. Graphic art is still something new to me, so I’m glad when the book is chosen for the blurb and not the cover.
Hello Lila Diller! The discription definitely needs to match the cover. That’s why I had to change Mercy from a brunette to a blonde after finding the image for the cover. I so agree that the cover has to reflect the genre. I’m learning things today. Thank you very much for your input!
I am drawn by color. I don’t care if there is a couple on the cover. In fact when I told my publisher what I wanted on the cover of my Wildflower Island series I had no idea couples were supposed to be on the cover. She went with my suggestions, and I don’t think it has had a negative impact at all.
I like to see couples and maybe some scenery too. I also enjoy seeing a pet on the cover with the couple or part of the couple. Lately I am drawn to fall scenes or mountains and lakes. I am sick of seeing half clad men on the cover. You really don’t need that to sell a book.
Thanks so much for featuring Secrets of Sunbeams! I do love that my illustrator draws from my description and/or photos we’ve found that represent the characters.
For the Arcadia Valley Romance series (which are stock photo images), I chose the images before writing the story so that they would mesh well. I have an upcoming series with stock photo covers as well, and I’ve done the same thing there – made sure I had the image first.
I am not talented enough to create my own covers, so I hire that part done either way. In the amount of time it would take me to learn how to lay out my own covers and choose the typography, I could probably write 2-3 more novels! I will leave it to the experts!
Thank you very much, Kimberly! Now you made me curious. I need to look up Wildflower Island series!
Thank you very much for commenting! I love the idea about a pet with a couple. If I find a good image with the couple with a pet, I’d love to add a dog or a cat to the story. So agree about half-clad men. I don’t think I’ll ever use that on my cover! I appreciate you stopping by.
My pleasure to feature Secrets of Sunbeams! I really love your illustrated covers and how unique they are! Yes, a very good idea to choose the image first. I learned it the hard way. Thank you so much for commenting!
I like covers with a couple or just the hero. I mean we’re trying to appeal to women, so why not give them a hunky guy to draw them in. But when I’m buying, I pay more attention to the author. And the genre and blurb. If it’s a contemporary, I will automatically read the blurb.
I used to think I didn’t judge a book by its cover (and I don’t if I know the author, I’ll just read it despite the cover–sometimes they are just not good).
Lately I’ve realized that I’ve judged a few covers (and was greatly disapointed for thinking the book was going to turn out in one direction I didn’t want to go.. ) Now I’m definitely back to reading when I know the author despite the cover… and I don’t like changing covers, I feel cheated (unless the book was first out in a bookset and then re-released by the authors, that’s a different story).
I like both your season or miracles and your season of mercy covers, but if I had to choose the cover, season of mercy wins. The whole Tuscan Legacy covers, though, they definitely look great and make me want to read even the authors I don’t particularly know/haven’t read before.
I can’t really pin point what I like though, it’s very subjective I guess, but a feeling of warm and sweet goes a long way.
I admit that a cover does influence me at times when it comes to books.
That’s a good point. Thank you for your input, Shannon! And I have to say, I pay more attention to the author, too.
Thank you so much for your kind words about my covers, Priscila! And that’s exactly what I love about ATL covers, the feeling of warm and sweet. :)
Thank you for your input, Cheryl! And that’s the reason we strive to create appealing covers.
I guess I get bored easily LOL. So, I float over “same-same” covers. I like unique. But, if a face grabs me, that works too. Your smiling blonde on Season of Mercy caught me. I really like Valerie Comer’s cover! The goat totally grabbed me. Humorous too. I smiled :) Emotional grab is great. I haven’t noticed same face covers, so I must not be critiquing covers that much. THANKS for asking.
Thank you for your input, Bethany Marks! Yes, unique cover is great, and if there’s some humor added to it, all the better. That’s one of the reasons I like Valerie’s covers. :)
This conversation has been so fun since there is such a variety among even readers. I read a couple books a day so I am constantly looking for new books/authors. For me, I use covers as an instant indication of suitability in terms of heat (no naked people lol) and professionalism (well-crafted cover usually indicates a serious approach to contents as well)
As to the other details of the cover, in my frenzy, I don’t even notice them. For me, a well-written blurb is so much more influential in terms of whether I click to purchase. Great covers have masked sloppy books but rarely is a great book not accompanied by a great cover.
I read e-books on my Kindle. I can honestly say that I don’t pay that much attention to the covers. I am mostly drawn to the authors on Inspy Romance and buy the ones that are featured in the different blogs. I love it when the different authors have a sample of the book on a blog. I get hooked and buy it or I pre-order it.
Thank you so much for stopping by, Anitra Parmele! That was was a very interesting and thoughtful comment. I feel like now I need to pay even more attention to how I make my covers!
Thank you so much, Nancy K.! I’m so glad to hear that blogs like this one are influential in the readers’ decision which books to buy.
I have seen the same covers (mostly of couples) on several books by different authors. Gets me a bit confused at times especially if I’ve read one of the books. I’m less attached to covers of ebooks since I’m not starting at the cover constantly. I do love covers with beautiful and memorable dresses.
Thank you so much for commenting! Yes, so true about covers for beautiful and memorable dresses. I love them, too, especially for historical romances.
Hi Alexa,
I loved this post. If the book is a Romance or Drama I find I’m more drawn to covers where the couple is slightly shown not full-faced because that way I can picture them in my mind how I want to. For fantasy, I like covers which are colorful and dramatic. For suspense, I like ones with an edge to the cover. I’m not one to be drawn by the plain wordy covers.
Now with that said, I have to say what actually draws me to a book is the subject and the author. Those are the first things I look at. I’ll see what it’s about and then if I am familiar with the author then I’ll pick it up OR if I’ve heard about it EVERYWHERE! I respect other author’s recommendations.
This was fun to think about!
Thank you so much for such an informative comment, Marylin! So true, covers depend on the genre, and you described them well. I have to say, on romance covers, I also like to see couples where I can’t fully see their faces, or at least hero’s face. And yes to friends’ and authors’ recommendations!
The cover draws me, but if I don’t like the blurb I won’t pick it up anyway. I’m pretty flexible and don’t know that I have any specifics that I like or don’t like.
Thank you for commenting, Andrea Byers! I’m glad to hear that the blurb plays an important role, too.
The covers and synopsis influence me when it comes to picking a book to read. If it’s by an author that i am familiar with then I don’t always rely on that. Would enjoy reading these books.
Thank you for commenting, Vivian! I agree. If I’m familiar with the author, I don’t pay as much attention to the cover. I already know the writing is good. I appreciate you stopping by!
Thank you very much for everybody who commented and entered the giveaway! I loved reading your comments!