[nikkarina]

I had a friend take a picture of herself, and then I sent it to a cover designer at Damonza.com, and together we brainstormed this cover, what do you think? Modern, and interesting enough?

 

[Gertie Kindle]

I had a friend take a picture of herself, and then I sent it to a cover designer at Damonza.com, and together we brainstormed this cover, what do you think? Modern, and interesting enough?

It's certainly eye-catching but doesn't convey the genre to me at all. I was thinking chick-lit, but it seems to be about a young girl planning to shoot up her school.

Odd that Nessa is one of the characters in your book and Nessa wrote a review.

 

[robin_hart]

I love the cover!  It definitely catches my eye. I gotta say though, the name of the reviewer, combined with using the same eye catching statement as you did here, combined with the fact that there is a Nessa in the blurb, sends off warning bells as a reader. 

 

[nikkarina]

I love the cover! It definitely catches my eye. I gotta say though, the name of the reviewer, combined with using the same eye catching statement as you did here, combined with the fact that there is a Nessa in the blurb, sends off warning bells as a reader.

Thank you! I love both your covers as well, did you create them yourself? Also, Nessa is my best friend, she is the first person who ever read my book. I did use her name in the book. And she did write a review of it... I guess that does come across as fishy. But I think if she read the book she has the right to review it. Even if that makes the review seemed biased.

 

[robin_hart]

Thank you! I love both your covers as well, did you create them yourself? Also, Nessa is my best friend, she is the first person who ever read my book. I did use her name in the book. And she did write a review of it... I guess that does come across as fishy. But I think if she read the book she has the right to review it. Even if that makes the review seemed biased.

Okay that makes sense now! I picked the images and had someone else do the typography.
I think people are wary ever since a bunch of authors were busted for writing glowing reviews about themselves, so I think that's why the matching name sent off alarm bells. But of course your friend has every right to review your book.

But really, the reason they look so pretty is because of Chri's typography. She's very reasonable, though I assume soon she'll be much more expensive. You should talk to her for your next books, because she's really good, especially with Young Adult. I think she could have done even better if I hadn't been so set on the images I wanted. But she made the images look great and the title too.

 

[nikkarina]

It's certainly eye-catching but doesn't convey the genre to me at all. I was thinking chick-lit, but it seems to be about a young girl planning to shoot up her school.

Odd that Nessa is one of the characters in your book and Nessa wrote a review.

I'm not positive whic genre it should be labeled as to be honest with you. It is romantic, and suspenseful and young adult. It is more of a dramatic book with a lot going on. Any ideas on what genre that would be in? I wouldn't think chick-lit

 

[nikkarina]

Okay that makes sense now! I put my friend's names in too, I just don't show anyone my writing that knows me. I picked the images and had someone else do the typography.
I think people are wary ever since a bunch of authors were busted for writing glowing reviews about themselves, so I think that's why the matching name sent off alarm bells. But of course your friend has every right to review your book.

Well your covers look very professional! I think for my next covers I wont hire someone it is too pricy. And oh yes I heard about the review scandal, ahahaha. I think it is just ridiculous, and frankly if I had to write my own review of my book I wouldn't know where to start!

 

[Gertie Kindle]

I'm not positive whic genre it should be labeled as to be honest with you. It is romantic, and suspenseful and young adult. It is more of a dramatic book with a lot going on. Any ideas on what genre that would be in? I wouldn't think chick-lit

Young Adult Romantic Suspense. I know that sounds like I'm not serious but I am. Both young adult and romantic suspense are legitimate categories which is why I combined them.

I'm not saying it's a bad cover. It's a pretty good cover (except your name and the subtitle are unreadable). It just doesn't convey the genre which is very important. It's a light-hearted cover for a serious story. I looked at the cover and thought chick-lit. If that's what I was looking for, after reading your blurb, I would have been disappointed and passed it by.

 

[nikkarina]

Young Adult Romantic Suspense. I know that sounds like I'm not serious but I am. Both young adult and romantic suspense are legitimate categories which is why I combined them.

I'm not saying it's a bad cover. It's a pretty good cover (except your name and the subtitle are unreadable). It just doesn't convey the genre which is very important. It's a light-hearted cover for a serious story. I looked at the cover and thought chick-lit. If that's what I was looking for, after reading your blurb, I would have been disappointed and passed it by.

Well that category makes more sense than anything I was thinking! I understand what you are saying about the cover...I had the title done in blood partly for that reason. The reason behind the picture is the main character has all the problems she does because of her unusual beauty. This is why I put a picture of a girl with beautiful lips, and perfect teeth, she fits the character. But I can see how someone could mistake it for chick-lit and then be dissapointed.

 

[Gertie Kindle]

Well that category makes more sense than anything I was thinking! I understand what you are saying about the cover...I had the title done in blood partly for that reason. The reason behind the picture is the main character has all the problems she does because of her unusual beauty. This is why I put a picture of a girl with beautiful lips, and perfect teeth, she fits the character. But I can see how someone could mistake it for chick-lit and then be dissapointed.

The blood isn't drippy so it just looks like red lettering.

 

[nikkarina]

The blood isn't drippy so it just looks like red lettering.

Fair enough. I am wishing now I had known of this forum before I paid out a few hundred to have this cover created. Maybe it would have turned out more true to the story.

 

[Scarlett_R]

Welcome to the boards Nikkarina! I do really like the cover, but yes it does sound like it doesn't convey the message you wanted to tell.

Although the blood isn't dripping it can still have the appearance of smeared blood, but I agree without reading the blurb my initial thought was women's fiction- something light hearted, perhaps the smear of lipstick rather than blood.

 

[nikkarina]

Welcome to the boards Nikkarina! I do really like the cover, but yes it does sound like it doesn't convey the message you wanted to tell.

Although the blood isn't dripping it can still have the appearance of smeared blood, but I agree without reading the blurb my initial thought was women's fiction- something light hearted, perhaps the smear of lipstick rather than blood.

Thank you! And well it does seem that way now...The thing is if you were to read the book you would probably say the cover fits nicely. BUT seeing as people will not read the book before seeing the cover, I guess it just doesn't convery the story as it should. But it what it is at this point! Hopefully it will sell either way.

 

[Gertie Kindle]

Thank you! And well it does seem that way now...The thing is if you were to read the book you would probably say the cover fits nicely. BUT seeing as people will not read the book before seeing the cover, I guess it just doesn't convery the story as it should. But it what it is at this point! Hopefully it will sell either way.

Don't be afraid to change the cover if it doesn't sell. I've changed covers a few times and it's made a difference. I know you've spent money on this cover, and you love it, but you have to be prepared to change gears.

 

[robin_hart]

Yeah but go ahead and see how this does.  It does catch my eye, and from there it's the blurb's job!

 

[robin_hart]

OH GOSH.  I just started the preview....the beginning, you need to warn people...I mean I know the blurb states it but I missed it the first time around.  Please please please consider warning people, given the shootings that have been happening, about the sample of your book and the fact that she is fantasizing about shooting people, and it's graphic, even if it's a dream sequence.  Too.  Soon.

That said, I really don't mean that to be harsh, because I don't have a problem with violence, and I think the book has an interesting concept.  But I'm just saying it's really, really soon after a huge shooting of innocent children to be put inside the head of a school shooter.

 

[ruecole]

I really like your cover, but would've guessed it was a light and humorous YA (is there chick lit YA? ).

I think it could still work if the colours were a little darker and less cheery looking (especially the pinkish-lollipop-red of her lips) and the contrast was increased (so her skin was really pale and not so healthy looking). It would just require a few filter layers.

One thing to keep in mind for future books: when hiring a designer, make sure they know they're familiar with your book's genre.

Hope that helps!

Rue

 

[J.R. Thomson]

Very good... especially for a first cover

 

[nikkarina]

OH GOSH. I just started the preview....the beginning, you need to warn people...I mean I know the blurb states it but I missed it the first time around. Please please please consider warning people, given the shootings that have been happening, about the sample of your book and the fact that she is fantasizing about shooting people, and it's graphic, even if it's a dream sequence. Too. Soon.

That said, I really don't mean that to be harsh, because I don't have a problem with violence, and I think the book has an interesting concept. But I'm just saying it's really, really soon after a huge shooting of innocent children to be put inside the head of a school shooter.

I don't want to give away the book but it's really more a book of hope then in tragedy. Bailey is saved by her best friend from going through with the shooting. No one is shot in the book. I started writing this book 5 years ago,..
Before all of the mass shootings. It is pure coincidence that I just finished and published it at this time. Also, maybe I could make it more clear in the blurb what the book is about. But truly there is a lot of hope, and love in this story.

 

[nikkarina]

Very good... especially for a first cover

thank you very much