Because it’s All About that Cover

This week my thoughts keep landing on book covers and how important they are toward a book’s overall success in the current market. Let’s be real. People can preach that old adage over and over again, but the fact still remains. Readers buy books according to a few very important guidelines, the first of those guidelines being what those readers see the first time they pick up a book (or click on the thumbnail).

Ladies and gentlemen, it really is all about the cover.

Yes, there are other guidelines. Is the title catchy? The cover copy (otherwise known as the description of the story) is also supremely important. Word of mouth—because seriously, twelve or thirteen years ago, who would have picked up a vampire romance without being told by countless friends that it was to-die-for awesome? Amazon reviews help a lot these days too, because a book that boasts 200 five-star ratings wouldn’t have those ratings unless it was at least a little bit good, right?

But always, always it comes down to first impressions, and the first thing a reader sees when picking up a book is the cover.

It’s kind of like when people color their hair with funky rainbow dyes. People judge. They might try hard not to, but unless they are the free-thinking creative type, most people have a very hard time accepting differences that are as bold and daring as hot pink hair. Luckily, people don’t generally have to pay to see a person’s hair, but they do have to decide whether or not to buy a book.

This brings me to my main question. What are your absolute favorite book covers this year?

To get this party started, here are a few (seriously, very few) of mine. I’d love to hear your opinions on these as well. Oh, and just so you know, I'm deliberately choosing covers of books I haven't read yet, but want to. 

I love this one because it just shows that this character is broken by her secrets. I don't even have to read the description to know I want to read this book.

Well, of course. It's by Ally Condie, so I know I want to read it. but also, I love the simplicity of the shell, showing the ripples of one tiny touch in the water. And the title font. Love the lines it creates.

This one. The title and cover work together so well to tell me that this story is about the words people say and how they affect each of us, and specifically this character who is holding the mirror and feeling invisible. LOVE.

Clearly I have a thing for water themed covers right now. But I love how these people just seem so out of place just below the surface enough that the sun still shines on them. On this one, I think it's the colors that stand out. And also, again, the title font. 

Okay, now it's your turn. Annnnnddd... GO!

Refresh and Renew

I don’t know about the rest of you, but every so often, I get the itch to change things up. Try something new. More often than not, these changes involve clothing styles, blog makeovers, and/or hair color and style.

For me, even something as small as a new hair color can absolutely change the way you feel about life and renew your enthusiasm for…whatever.

If you didn’t notice already, I have a beautiful new header. This is thanks to the extremely talented, super-cool Michelle Argyle, who is a genius with Photoshop (among a number of other things). If you’ve never checked out her website and/or her books, you should. I mean, you really should. Didn’t she do a lovely job? Big, huge thanks to Michelle for helping me refresh my blog.

Last weekend, my niece, Kamy, colored and cut my hair. It was another MUCH needed change that has renewed my enthusiasm for life. I know it sounds stupid, but I have learned that sometimes, a new hairstyle = a new outlook.

What do you do when you’re itching for a change? And how does it help you feel renewed?

Out There With the Brave

At a recent restaurant in which a large number of authors had gathered, Jamie Harrington made a comment that got me thinking. She said, “I love how we’re all just so out-there.” And by we, she meant authors and other artistic-types.

She was sort-of referring to the rainbow of color represented in our many eclectic hairstyles, but also our styles of dress, our conversational topics, our ability to make friends with strangers who live far away. But mostly, I think her comment came down to her loving our bravery.

Later, at a book launch, author Don Carey asked some of us about our chosen styles and hair colors. He wasn’t asking because he believed there was some kind of rebellion behind it, but as research for his work in progress. Because of the nature of his question, I think he got better answers than most of us would otherwise have given.

I told him that for me, it comes to bravery. I AM brave enough to write a book. I AM brave enough to submit and be rejected over and over and over again. I AM brave enough to repeat this vicious cycle continuously until I find success. (Though, I really wish someone would PLEASE help end the insanity soon!)

And if I am brave enough to do all that, well. It isn’t such a stretch to realize that my style choices are a physical manifestation of the bravery I’m clinging to with everything I have. It never hurts to have a daily reminder that YES, I can do these hard things. YES, I can be brave. YES, I can take hard rejections. And also, NO, I won’t quit, however tempted I may be.

Crazy sounding? Yeah, I know. But that’s me.

What do you do to remind yourself to be brave?

Things I'm Thinking About

1. It seems like a cruel joke that Mother Nature has chosen to send us snow during the entire week of spring break. Just. Cruel.

2. I get a kick out of how some people have expressed concern about me since I put purple streaks in my hair. I mean, seriously, peeps, it’s just hair color! (And I intend to keep it for a while because it makes me smile. A lot.)

3. Not that my taste in books has changed much lately, but I’ve found myself giving them fewer pages to hook me before I give up and move onto something else. Not sure why—guess it’s a lack of time thing?

4. Brownies are sometimes a better alternative to cake. They may not be as pretty, but they’re like fluffy-chocolatey-gooeyness that can be eaten at any time of the day and always make a girl feel happy.

5. I still have not figured out the phenomenon that makes all the neighborhood dogs howl whenever they hear sirens. It’s like they have a compulsion to imitate the wail. Sound the alarm, doggies! Do they want to chase the fire truck? Rescue someone from a fire? Munch on the flashing light or siren speaker? If only I could read their minds. Could be interesting.

6. I am proud to admit that my family has been working on being prepared for emergencies—like earthquakes or other natural catastrophes—and if an earthquake hit Utah today, hopefully we’d have what we need to survive for a little while. Except Bandaids. We keep forgetting to buy those. Doh.

7. In less than a month, I will be hanging with some of my bestest author friends at the 2011 LDStorymakers writer’s conference. So. Excited. It’s my fave conference of the year—every year. And I. Am. So. Stoked. *breathes to calm excited belly-dragon-flies*

8. My oldest daughter turned 15 this weekend. It's kind of freaking me out that I'm going to have to teach yet another of my children to drive. And then she'll be asking to borrow my car, and...yeah.

9. I interviewed a way awesome, super funny author today over at the Star Crossed blog. Be sure to stop by and say hi.

10.Apparently, I have a thing for lists lately. I really should analyze that sometime soon.