Cover Art

Most authors think the most important decision is whether the main character lives or dies. But if you self publisher or go with a small press, the most important decision you will ever make is what cover will befront your book.

90% of all books are sold based on cover art. Remember that, it's a fact that is ground into the head of everyone in the publishing industry. Cover art literally makes or breaks a book.

Now, good cover art should be good art, but that is not the principle you need most to achieve. Book companies have spent a great deal of time, effort and money teaching book buyers what a book is based on it's cover. So there you go you can judge a book by it's cover.

Do an experiment, go into the book store and look at your favorite author. Then go and look for authors in the same genre. You will notice they all have similar covers. There might be three or four variations, but they all look similar. Especially among genres.  This is less aesthetics and more psychological advertising. If Fabio is on the cover, it's a romance like the last one you read with Fabio on the cover.

It is important for the images you find there to be of good quality, but let's face it, the artwork on V.C. Andrews books is nothing you would hang over your hearth. It's more about elements and placement. The point of cover art is much the same as a hook. You want to make the picture so intriguing that the reader looks at it and desperately wonders what is beneath it. Conversely, you want them to look at it and find it so familiar, they know what to expect.

The first mistake most authors make is to make their own cover art. Unless you are a commercial artist, it's not a good idea. And if you decide to go the route of small press, look at their catalog and the artwork them have out there. If you don't like it, chances are no one else will too.

There are a lot of inexpensive options out there for small presses and self publishers. Most POD's and e-book companies offer artist services. It is worth it to you to pay for them. Look at the art before you pay, though and make sure you get approval on the work. Do your research, too. Look at other books like yours and find out what the industry standards is for your genre. Then make sure yours are similar. You need to be competitive. You only get one chance to make a first impression and and in the publishing industry, your cover art is your first impression.