Next time you see All Shook Up, it will have a brand new cover (and some new content!)
I’m at the point in my writing career where I’ve been doing it so long, some of my earliest releases have gone out of print. Which might seem a little sad (and it would be) except that it means I’ve approached my former publishing house and been granted the rights back to some of those early books!
Case in point, my Memphis Moments series. All Shook Up and Can’t Help Falling in Love came out in 2012 as part of the Heartsong Presents line. The third book in the series, Love Me Tender, never released because the line was being sold and eventually shut down (which also means there is a book from the Memphis Moments series that my readers have never read!)
Fast-forward to 2017. Now I have the rights to those old books back and that means hopefully they can find new life and new readers! (I’ll bet not many of you—even those of you who have read some of my books—read those two! They were not widely available due to circumstances beyond my control!)
One of the coolest things about the situation is that I’m able to make some edits to those stories now before they are re-released. I’m not changing anything major, but I am making a few minor adjustments to the stories and also bringing them up-to-date. (for example, one character in All Shook Up listened to music on his iPod…and in the new version, he just wears ear buds and has his playlist on his phone.)
My most recent release has a cover that I love! Hopefully the Memphis Moments series will end up equally eye-catching.
But my very favorite part about re-releasing the series is that the books will get new covers! That old saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” is something I never listen to! I love looking at book covers and often a great cover will make me purchase a book just as much as a great summary will.
So here’s where I need your help. I’m curious to know—what is it about a cover that makes you interested in at least reading the back cover copy? What is it about a cover that makes you pass the book over and move on to the next one?
Please let me know in the comments your thoughts on covers! Do you prefer to see a couple on covers? One character? Scenery only?
I’ll share my opinion first: I am naturally drawn to covers with brides on them. Those always make me pause and look closer at the book and find out what it is about. Pastel and bright colors (pinks and purples especially) also tend to catch my eye.
How about you? What makes a great cover in your opinion? (No wrong answers here! I’m genuinely curious to hear some thoughts!)
Annalisa Daughety writes contemporary fiction set in historic locations, including the Walk in the Park series, Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio, and A Wedding to Remember in Charleston, South Carolina. She lives in Arkansas and is hard at work on her next book.
How exciting Annalisa, congratulations on getting to re-release your stories:)
Hmm, book covers…for me the cover needs to reflect the type of story. For example, a romance should have happy, bright colours- nothing dark or sinister, whereas as suspense story should avoid bright, happy colours and show only part of the character/s.
Have fun:)
Congratulations on your re-releases, Annalisa! Your new cover looks beautiful. Typically, I like to see the couple as well as a nice scenic background.
Congratulations Annalisa! Unfortunately I AM drawn to a book by its cover. I am not fond of dark covers or covers where the couple is to intimate. Neither am I impressed by male hunks shirtless.
I enjoy uplifting, cheerful pink lavender blue covers. For the holidays deeper holiday colors and just scenery seems appropriate. Whether the cover has a couple or just one person doesn’t matter, as long as the couple fits with the title and the romance. Often I like seeing a character’s back and having her look over her shoulder – drawing you into the story. Whimsical artsy covers are also delightful – those covers reflect an out of the box author and story. Best wishes.
Hi Annalisa–Congrats on rereleasing your books. :) I love people on covers for romance. There are so many great ways to do covers—so many talented people! I know yours will be beautiful.
Congratulations on re-releasing your stories, Annalisa! I am drawn to various types of covers, but one of the things I really want on a cover is an image that accurately reflects the story. I like a glimpse of what awaits when I open the book.
Congratulations on the re-release! I had never read a story by you until Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley and I really enjoyed your A Romance Rekindled! I feel like the cover sets the tone for the book. I often look back to the cover while I’m reading, to visualize the area or the people in the book. I’ve only seen a few covers that were poorly done, so I appreciate the wonderful covers that the authors have. What tempts me more to buy the book is the synopsis or the back cover, and either having already read something by the author or having it recommended by someone I trust. I also like to “open” the book (I’m usually on Amazon) and read the first few pages that one is allowed to see. That gives me a better idea of what the book is like and whether I will be interested in it.
Congrats on the opportunity to breathe new life into older books by rereleasing them! Have fun! :D
Congratulations on this ‘second time around.’ I look at both the cover and the synopsis to make a decision about a book. Steamy couple and shirtless men are off-putting but a clever picture or a good use of font and color are attractive.
We are networking here, correct? I appreciate this feedback about covers as I’m working on my very first and I feel like I’m on the right track. Thank you everyone!
I’ve noticed that I’m drawn to covers that fit together artistically. There are some self-published books that the covers just look amateur-ish, and for some reason, that turns me off. Certain font styles really draw me in, for some reason! I do like seeing people on the covers, and I like scenery, but it has to fit the story.
How exciting that you have the rights back. I personally don’t like covers where the people are cut off, like heads, or their backs are turned so you can’t see their faces. That seems to be the trend in the last year and I’d rather see the people, it helps me connect to the characters.
How exciting to get to give a book a second life!
I agree 100%. I love large bright pictures of the main characters of the story. It helps me to get a picture in my head of the characters and really get immersed in the story. Unless another is one of my favorites I will totally Overlook a book that does not have a good cover picture.
Congrats on getting the rights back to you. And thank you for re-releasing those books.
I like seeing people in general in the cover, whether a couple, a single person, or families, those are all fine as long as the picture is sweet and of good quality. I usually like a nice background that looks real (some of the Love Inspired covers always make me feel the background is completely fake and sits wrong with me, but backgrounds like the Arcadia Valley book set that you posted here look a lot more real and triggers my interest).
How exciting, Annalisa!
Congratulations!
One of my pet peeves is the cut-off head syndrome that’s been “popular” in recent years.
I like vivid colors and interesting/intriguing background, no matter what is in the foreground.
Congraulations! I’m a very visual person, so I like a cover that captures the writer’s image of the main characters in a scene from the book.
You’re right | never read any of those. They sound interesting. I am drawn to covers with pretty scenery, people in modest clothing, and accurate setting for the story. I avoid dark covers and covers with shirtless men or women in skimpy clothing. Thanks for writing books I can enjoy!
I agree with others in that I like a cover where the people are dressed modestly. It is a big turn off to me to see a guy bare chested or a couple kissing. I want to the cover to show that it is a clean book and that I would enjoy reading it. Since I read e-books on my Kindle the covers don’t matter as much to me. I usually go to Amazon and read the synopsis and reviews before I buy the e-book.
Congrats on your news! I like covers with people facing you (not heads turned around or cut off) and all dressed modestly.
I do judge a book by its cover. I’m drawn to colorful, fun, eye catching covers. A couple that look like they are having fun together. Pepper Basham’s Twist of Faith is one of my favorites. I smile every time I see it!
If I see a cover with babies, children and/or pets, I will always stop and read a bit and usually end up getting the book!
For the authors that I love, I will probably continue to read all of their books no matter what the cover looks like. For sure, I would have missed out on some great books if I didn’t read them because the cover did not appeal to me. I usually follow goodreads & book blogs of those with similar interest to decide what to read. :)
Thanks! That sounds good. I definitely don’t like dark colors for a happy book!
Thanks, Jill!
Thanks, Renate! I agree about the cheerful pink and lavender blue covers! Whimsical artsy is good, too. So many possibilities… :)
Thanks, Lindi!
I agree, Britney! I can think of a few books I’ve read where the cover just didn’t match the story. That’s definitely important.
All good points! And I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed A Romance Rekindled!
I am drawn to books with either both characters or just one. It must look realistic.
Thanks! :)
Thanks for your comment! Realistic is important to me, too!
I’m the same way–thankfully there are some books I read based not on the cover but on the synopsis. I would have missed out if I’d skipped those due to the cover!
Re-releasing your old books sounds like fun! I like couples on the covers with a scenic background. And some cows. Because I love cows. Lol.
What is it about a cover that makes you interested in at least reading the back cover copy?
1. Does it evoke an emotion?
2. What does it reveal about the setting? (In contemporary fiction) I like rural and natural settings over stories set in the city. This stems from my love the great outdoors and my little farm.
3. Period Drama – Historical covers draw me in when the cover clearly reveals an era that intrigues me.
What is it about a cover that makes you pass the book over and move on to the next one?
1. Smut. I really cannot stand covers where the characters are making out or are scantily clad. I’ll take a tender moment over a passionate embrace any day.
2. Clip art. If I can make a nice meme, anyone can design an attractive cover.