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Conundrum: My cover art won't be ready in time for proper ARC acquisition.

584 views 8 replies 8 participants last post by  C. Gold 
#1 ·
kBoards, I'm in a conundrum.

I have a new series release date set for mid July.
Given the workload for the particular cover artist I'd like to hire, I won't receive the completed book 1 until a scant few weeks before release.
I expect this to severely limit the time I will have to leverage the completed book cover for social networking as well as ARC acquisition.

So, without extending the release date, which I may have to consider:
Is it common to pursue ARCs without a cover?
Are there any creative methods that others have attempted to market a "coverless" book prior to art?
Will promo sites accept a book for six or eight weeks in advance knowing that the cover is in progress?

I'm certain others have encountered this situation. If so, what were your solutions?
 
#5 ·
For your mailing list, to your fans, it might not make a difference.

If you are posting an offer through a service, it definitely will. I am on the Hidden Gems ARC list and we get quite a few emails with books to choose from. I only read about one book a week (unlike many of those readers who read a book a day or more) so I am more choosy about which books I request, and the cover and blurb are critical.

"Free book" isn't enough for me as a reader/reviewer. I have limited time and I want to read something that is well written and well edited, and the cover gives me some good clues.
 
#6 ·
As missbedora mentioned, it depends on the type of ARC. If it's HG then you basically NEED a good cover because that's what will first drive people to your book.

However, I believe you can book a HG ARC without a cover and change it later. Usually you'd launch a HG ARC a week or so prior to launch, so by then your cover should be done.
 
#7 ·
Tizzy said:
As missbedora mentioned, it depends on the type of ARC. If it's HG then you basically NEED a good cover because that's what will first drive people to your book.

However, I believe you can book a HG ARC without a cover and change it later. Usually you'd launch a HG ARC a week or so prior to launch, so by then your cover should be done.
If it's okay to change the cover, could you use a premade temporarily, and then swap it out for the other cover later?
 
#8 ·
Years ago, it was quite common to get uncorrected proofs with a plain green cover, but I haven't seen that in a very long time. Now I only ever get a faux paperback with the hardcover artwork, without an index, and with a warning not to quote anything without obtaining the final version, but in truth the proofing is generally perfect.

Amazing the graphic artist is booked up five months in advance!
 
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