Book cover design is an art. It is also such an important element as it is the reader's first introduction to the ideas contained in the novel.
I have been fascinated by the creation of these three different book covers for my novel The Lie Of You.
This is the cover for the paperback edition which comes out on 17 July 2014. I love its Film Noir quality and the image of a woman watching. What is she watching so intently and what exactly is her intent? Both are very apt questions which are examined in my novel. The tagline is so clever: One woman's fear is another woman's weapon...
I love the use of neon pink for the title too. The cover was designed by Jessie Price of Head of Zeus and I think it is masterly.
And this is the cover of the German edition of my novel which is being published by Piper on 8 December 2014. I think this is great too.
As with the other two covers the theme of intense watching is foregrounded. Straight away we feel that the watcher has an unhealthy obsession with the object of her gaze. The German title Denn Du Gehost Mir means: For You Belong To Me.
I would love to know which cover appeals most strongly to readers.
THE LIE OF YOU is published by Head of Zeus. I am on Twitter @janelythell
They're all good but I particularly like the one at the top. I think the crispness of the image and the sharp contrast of neon text adds to the sense of threat suggested by the tag line. this cover suggests efficiency and success in the threat. The others, with their fractured layering, suggest a bit of mental disintegration which, whilst also scary, can mean the threat posed is not as strong or effective. I also think the top one is more unusual.
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear your view of the three covers Catherine. Thank you.
DeleteI agree with you about the first one. Once I saw it I thought it captured exactly what I was trying to convey.
The shadows from the blind are wonderfully Film Noir too.