We seem to have been talking about covers a lot here lately, but covers really are the bread and butter of books, aren’t they?
I mean, we all say not to judge a book by its cover, but then we all kind of do it anyway (don’t we?) Certainly, a book’s cover plays into our decision making process a little.
For the last year (ish), I’ve been mulling the covers on my Taste of Romance series. They aren’t bad. But they also weren’t completely what I wanted, either. They’re covers I made myself, and as such I will always love them, but I’m honest enough to realize that they’re not amazing.
I’ve also finally allowed myself to admit something: I hate making covers.
Graphic design is simply not in my wheelhouse. I don’t love it. I don’t even really like it. At best, I can tolerate it because putting out a plain, single color cover just isn’t going to fly. I can whack something together, but I’m never going to love the results.
Once I was honest with myself about that, I realized it was time to enlist the aid of a professional and give the Taste of Romance books covers that do them justice. Here are the original covers:
And here are the new versions:
Aren’t they lovely?! I’m so in love with the new covers. Every little thing about them makes me happy. I’m also thrilled that I have the final versions to share with you and that I had time to send out a newsletter before this post. Because my newsletter subscribers always get the first peeks at covers. (So, if you want to be among the first to get a look at any of my new covers, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter (if you don’t already)).
With new covers on their way, I realized that the little inventory of books I carry needed to find new homes pronto. So, I’m having a giveaway! I’ll be giving four lucky winners a complete set of paperbacks of the Taste of Romance series, along with some fun embroidered gifts.
You can enter the giveaway here.
Now, since several of you have mentioned lately that you’re sometimes frustrated by new covers for older books – do you have any suggestions of how I can help people realize that it’s a new cover, not a new story? I’d love to keep from annoying readers if I can!
Hi Elizabeth- the new covers look great,congratulations:) although I have to say that I do like the connection to the story with the red apron on the original cover of Splash of Substance:)
I do get a little frustrated when I see a book that I think is new, only to realise it has just be released with a new cover, although I can understand why authors do this. Is there some way of including this in the description (on kindle)?
Blessings:)
The new covers look great, Elizabeth! Congratulations! I agree that it is always best when we realize our strengths and weaknesses. I like to believe that God made us to help others that way! ♥️
Hi Elizabeth! Congrats on your new covers. Love the new title look – with the distinction of the key words. Definitely a more current approach.
For on-line purchase, hopefully an author could state that the book is being released with a new cover. For paperbacks – not sure if one can include a statement in the blurb on the back cover. Or for a paperback is the information about a new cover release on the copyright page? Not something I would check? Lots for authors to keep track of. As I always told my high school students, most jobs entail more than what meets the eye. This is proof of that statement. Authors do more than just write. Teachers do more than just teach. Best wishes.
There’s no way to include the old cover in the description, but I could add words saying it’s a new cover. If I could think of how to do that without it being weird. :)
Love the new covers.
Oh absolutely! It’d be so boring if we all had the same abilities!
Thanks, Renate :)
I’ll ponder what kind of wording to use in the description to indicate the new cover. There’s always the publication date (which doesn’t change when you update a cover), but that’s down a ways and you have to look for it.
Thanks!
These are great covers, Elizabeth. I like both the old and the new. :)
I love the new covers, but actually the old ones were very nice. Thank you for the chance to win these. Maybe you could say something like, new look for your favorite stories. Blessings
Love the new covers, Elizabeth! May I ask who designed them?
congratulations on the new covers. they are fantastic. so pretty and inviting. they look more up to date with todays covers. your original covers are nice also. i personally like them both. it doesnt matter to me that an author changes the cover, it is the title and the story that stay the same. can you maybe have something like New Cover on the cover?
Great new look! Amazon, at least, will tell you if you’ve already bought a certain ebook, so that helps!
I hope your paperbacks find happy homes.
I love the new covers, though I also thought the old ones were nice. Can you put a small statement on Amazon that they are re-releases? I’ve seen that (I thought it was Amazon) for a book that was in a collection and then released separately.
Congratulations Elizabeth. I know it has to be a real feeling of accomplishment. But I have to say, I really liked the ones you did. Don’t be so hard on yourself. The difference, to me, I see the first set as fun loving and the second as a little more romantic.
I do see the problem with changing covers. I’ve actually jumped the gun before not realizing I already had it. Maybe put something like, same story under a new cover. ?
Thanks Kimberly! I will say I loved the original ones at the time, but now seeing the new ones, I love those so much better :)
Ooh, that’s a fun wording — you think it’s clear enough? Thanks!
Thanks, Brenda! I used Sophia at the Book Branders (http://sfrostcovers.com/)
Thanks, Lori! I shy away from putting it actually on the cover as it’s only true for a short while, then people who are new to the books after the new covers have been in place for a while can get confused and wonder if it’s something they’ve already read.
Thanks, Valerie! And yes, Amazon has kept me from rebuying a number of times – I do love that they keep us in the know!
I do that in the situation like you describe (been in a box and now out as a solo) but these aren’t really a re-release, it’s just a new cover. Nothing inside has changed and they weren’t previously in a box. I worry that calling them a re-release would confuse more people than a new cover does.
Thanks, Kathy, I appreciate that (but I’m still leaving covers to the experts going forward ;) ) I think maybe I’ll just add a little note at the end of the description that says “New cover for 2018 or something along those lines.)
I volunteer in the church library.
I can honestly say, that our readers will pick up the newer covers.
BTW, the Rafflecopter site isn’t working.
Hmm – seems to be working now. Maybe try it again? (It did take a second to load, so maybe it hiccuped.)
But yay! I’m glad you think readers will pick up the new covers :)
Yeah it is working but I don’t do any of what it asked for as in Twitter or Pinterest.
Ah. There is a Facebook comment option and a Goodreads one as well. But I know not all the options are for everyone.
I enjoyed the stories and the covers. I do look at covers. If it is an author that I’ve read a lot of I do check copyright date to see how new it is. If it is older I assume I’ve read it or I enjoy reading it again. As noted amazon helps keep track also. Blessings , happy writing!
not knowing what happens next
Hey Elizabeth, I actually love both versions. I’m amazed at what a great job you did. I certainly couldn’t do that. The new ones are more romancey though.
Oh yay! I’m glad I’m not alone in checking the copyright :)
Thanks, Shannon! :) The new ones really are more romantic.
What great covers. Congrats on the covers. When I look for a new book or a new author< I try to see if the cover will catch my attention.