Diary of an Author - The Power of the Book Cover

Let's face it. We all do it. We are guilty of judging books by their covers. 

 

How does your rating system hold up against mine?

I'll start with the book cover I refer to as The Portrait. People who are concrete tend to like these styles of book covers. It is a picture of the main character and lets the reader identify with the character right away. The plot is central to single character's experience rather than an event or large group.

Another popular style I refer to is Insider Information. The artwork depicts something from the story and its meaning is revealed upon reading the book. Because the artwork is a bit of a mystery, you can expect some inside the story as well. 


A third style is Shock Value. Action may override plot, but not necessarily. 

The Title. Chances are, the book is emotionally driven.

The Picasso. I do not like this kind of artwork and I've never even picked up a book with this kind of cover. (If the artwork is a mess, I expect the story to be a mess. Sorry.)

The Open Box. These book covers give the reader a specific hint as to what the book is about. Pictures of guns, vampire teeth, a map with a route. Like the cover, expect a natural progression in an enjoyable story without a lot of twists and turns. 

BROWSER BEWARE: Like people, books do not always fit perfectly into categories. It's best to keep an open mind when choosing a new book  - and meeting new acquaintances.