First of all, obviously, they have to be pretty accurate about conveying a book's essence: There's nothing more annoying to a reader than buying a book with a soft, romantic cover only to suffer a bloody chainsaw murder on page five.
Also, a designer wants to drag you to a book across a crowded store. Once the book's in your hands, he wants you eaten up with curiosity about what's inside. (CINDER wins that award, in my opinion.)
Today's post explores a few of the techniques designers have been using on covers in the January-June publication season. Cue the eyeballs!
The covers are after the break. Which ones work for you? Why?
The eyes! They won't let me go!
Eye-catching oddities
(Speaking of oddities: If the cover on A BEAUTIFUL EVIL looks familiar, that's because you saw something like it here [scroll down to the "pairing up" grouping]. But the book being marketed with that cover last fall now has a new cover and is slated for Fall 2012. Two different publishers, too. Just keeping us on our toes!)
Yep. I'm curious.
In fact, I can't tear myself away.
Whoa. Cool typeface.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGEjnlrH4NYrbVmKKD6VGihsxnpgYIvz1uREuQQqxc8bkIr7jIbJF-KdIkKT8L3AAbW7ii0bUbHyYxYLAPhJ1VgEoW40fJ91dex19qUrb8JaMROz9TgODHFC1vwjpMsDqkx-G9WlGgzU/s200/Vindico.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7OYvpbjtHgwdgEObMyxW_U4zW6RZvnfxlo3JgzHd3LRRw0ONNMzpgfqNUxJLgNN5tYL73mrnOIhpRJGtB-T8p3RxCQpwVkIPS1OTMg3kqIH86Kuj4zv9ON7tcR1zX1q_ippmOgELjzw/s200/master+of+misrule.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjUAEg-pCdCxypg5zow847Re9yJBDXXRlRsJ6rA_IUe_L-aogVRf1PEE_H3Penc_p-gQg3GC0-e5yhS99EK_j2CrCYyLrWuCOKnAExt7wQrHZBITfEUSOp_86wK_ktUAdX0Y3WH_wYEs/s200/railsea.jpg)
Swirling and Twirling
That flower doesn't look safe, somehow.
Mirror, mirror
Brrrrr. (Uh-oh?)
Blood red. (Uh-oh!)
What are they looking at?
Me! They're looking at me!
In fact, I can't tear myself away.
Whoa. Cool typeface.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGEjnlrH4NYrbVmKKD6VGihsxnpgYIvz1uREuQQqxc8bkIr7jIbJF-KdIkKT8L3AAbW7ii0bUbHyYxYLAPhJ1VgEoW40fJ91dex19qUrb8JaMROz9TgODHFC1vwjpMsDqkx-G9WlGgzU/s200/Vindico.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7OYvpbjtHgwdgEObMyxW_U4zW6RZvnfxlo3JgzHd3LRRw0ONNMzpgfqNUxJLgNN5tYL73mrnOIhpRJGtB-T8p3RxCQpwVkIPS1OTMg3kqIH86Kuj4zv9ON7tcR1zX1q_ippmOgELjzw/s200/master+of+misrule.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjUAEg-pCdCxypg5zow847Re9yJBDXXRlRsJ6rA_IUe_L-aogVRf1PEE_H3Penc_p-gQg3GC0-e5yhS99EK_j2CrCYyLrWuCOKnAExt7wQrHZBITfEUSOp_86wK_ktUAdX0Y3WH_wYEs/s200/railsea.jpg)
Swirling and Twirling
That flower doesn't look safe, somehow.
Mirror, mirror
Brrrrr. (Uh-oh?)
Blood red. (Uh-oh!)
What are they looking at?
Me! They're looking at me!
***
Ellen Booraem is the author of SMALL PERSONS WITH WINGS and THE UNNAMEABLES. She lives in Downeast Maine with an artist, a dog, and a cat, one of whom is a practicing curmudgeon. She's online at www.ellenbooraem.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Have your say...