Help deciding on a cover.

[lovecraft68]

So I have two versions of a cover I made for my latest e-book and I am totally undecided on which one to go with.

Asked a few friends and I keep getting either no answer or a 50/50 vote.

So I figured I would try to get some feedback from the AH.

Basically its the same cover except one has a flame effect. The flames are relevant as the character can control fire.

ON one hand I do like the flames and feel they are fitting, but....

The cover looks darker and more "ominous" without them.

Any opinions one way or another and why?

 

[sr71plt]

If I posted this, you'd make a comment about it being "me, me, me."

I have an opinion (they are both likely to disappear into a dark blob in a thumbnail), but since you don't respect my opinions . . .

 

[Saxon_Hart]

Personally I'd do without the flames. To me they make it more like a cover of a Slayer album than a book. It looks pretty dignified without the flames and has more of a gothic feel. IMHO.

 

[_Lynn_]

The flames look like a child stuck them on there.

 

[lovecraft68]

If I posted this, you'd make a comment about it being "me, me, me."

I have an opinion, but since you don't respect my opinions . . .

No, I would only say that if you were touting its success.

Go back to the authors and their books thread and you'll see I actually complemented one of your covers.

And quite honestly I have no high hopes for this one. This story is a "reward" to myself I spent the last three years solely writing erotica and this one goes back to my horror roots (albeit with some erotica)

And I would be interested in your take. I started the thread to get as many (and varied) opinions as possible

 

[lovecraft68]

The flames look like a child stuck them on there.

Yeah, child being me. I am attempting to learn my way around photoshop.

I also planted the woman in the middle of the crow.

 

[lovecraft68]

Personally I'd do without the flames. To me they make it more like a cover of a Slayer album than a book. It looks pretty dignified without the flames and has more of a gothic feel. IMHO.

Hmmm good take, but as soon as you said it I thought of the old cheesy speed metal band from the 80's "Helloween"

And the story does have a goth theme.

 

[_Lynn_]

Yeah, child being me. I am attempting to learn my way around photoshop.

Oops.

I'm learning GIMP. I can relate.

 

[sr71plt]

No, I would only say that if you were touting its success.

This "which cover do you like?" ploy has been a book promotion technique ever since there was an Internet. I think it's a legitimate one. But you call (but only just me) on any use of what others consider legitimate book promotion techniques.

And I told you. The overpowering dark coloring will reduce a thumbnail--which is how most online distributors would carry it on lists--to a black blob. You need to pull the black clouds back to toward margins more, IMO.

 

[D_Lynn]

You can't lose on this one. I like both of them.

The flames do make me think of a comic book for some reason. A tad cheesy. But maybe that's just me...

 

[alwayswantedto]

<deleted>

 

[PennLady]

Yeah, I prefer the one without flames myself. The one with flames looks cartoonish.

Although to be honest, I think the woman herself looks a bit cartoonish but since she's rather small in relation to the cover as a whole, it's not so bad.

ETA: Also, I have to say I think sr is right on the coloring and all. With so much black, and the writing not being too bold (I guess I mean wide; the letters are rather narrow to me), the title will not be terrible legible in a thumbnail.

 

[sunandshadow]

The flames are kind of oversaturated for the rest of the cover, if their color were altered a bit then the flame cover might be clearly better. As it is, the two are about the same; dark is classier but flames draw a relevant readership.

 

[lovecraft68]

This "which cover do you like?" ploy has been a book promotion technique ever since there was an Internet. I think it's a legitimate one. But you call (but only just me) on any use of what others consider legitimate book promotion techniques.

And I told you. The overpowering dark coloring will reduce a thumbnail--which is how most online distributors would carry it on lists--to a black blob. You need to pull the black clouds back to toward margins more, IMO.

You told me now. I don't recall a previous conversation discussing this.

I can easily add more of the blue hue and lighten it up a little. Or at least I think I can. I'm trying to learn the software.

As for a promotional gimmick. I suppose it could be seen that way on a different platform than this.

This is the AH a forum with perhaps a couple of dozen steady posters. I don't think I'm in a real marketing hot spot here.

 

[mynameisben]

The darker cover looks better. It represents a story that's so good, it doesn't need cheesy props (flames) to sell it. The red outline for the arms is a terrible idea, and detracts from the idea that the central figure has wings.

I think the red text doesn't have enough contrast against the black background. If you want to sell your book, people gotta be able to read the title.

 

[lovecraft68]

Yeah, I prefer the one without flames myself. The one with flames looks cartoonish.

Although to be honest, I think the woman herself looks a bit cartoonish but since she's rather small in relation to the cover as a whole, it's not so bad.

ETA: Also, I have to say I think sr is right on the coloring and all. With so much black, and the writing not being too bold (I guess I mean wide; the letters are rather narrow to me), the title will not be terrible legible in a thumbnail.

Good points. The font itself is thin and I am not sure I can"fatten" it up.

I was not thinking "thumbnail".

In my mind I see the cover as its shown when someone slicks on it on Amazon or SW where you see a decent size image. As I answered him, I think I can fix that.

 

[lovecraft68]

Oops.

I'm learning GIMP. I can relate.

I have gimp and stared messing with it, but a guy in the design department at work found his old photoshop software and gave it to me.

 

[sr71plt]

You told me now. I don't recall a previous conversation discussing this.

Reread my first post to the thread.

This is the AH a forum with perhaps a couple of dozen steady posters. I don't think I'm in a real marketing hot spot here.

I haven't thought this when you've hopped on me (and only me) for self-promotion here either. Now that you actually have stuff to promote, are you going to stop hopping on me for what you and others here do as well to promote their works? (as I said you would when you had something to promote.)

 

[lovecraft68]

The darker cover looks better. It represents a story that's so good, it doesn't need cheesy props (flames) to sell it. The red outline for the arms is a terrible idea, and detracts from the idea that the central figure has wings.

I think the red text doesn't have enough contrast against the black background. If you want to sell your book, people gotta be able to read the title.

I'm going to send this post to my other half who insisted my original color on the font was too bright. I had actually gone with Silver initially.

 

[lovecraft68]

This "which cover do you like?" ploy has been a book promotion technique ever since there was an Internet. I think it's a legitimate one. But you call (but only just me) on any use of what others consider legitimate book promotion techniques.

And I told you. The overpowering dark coloring will reduce a thumbnail--which is how most online distributors would carry it on lists--to a black blob. You need to pull the black clouds back to toward margins more, IMO.

duplicate..

 

[lovecraft68]

Reread my first post to the thread.



I haven't thought this when you've hopped on me (and only me) for self-promotion here either. Now that you actually have stuff to promote, are you going to stop hopping on me for what you and others here do as well to promote their works? (as I said you would when you had something to promote.)

Okay well lit is doing something weird then. I looked back to your post and see what you said-and also see you did not edit it-but look where I quoted you, that part is not in there, and I didn't edit it out.

As for marketing here in general. I had a thread asking if people felt the "authors and their books thread" did any good. I am not sold this is a great place for marketing.

Its a hell of a learning platform however.

 

[sr71plt]

As for marketing here in general. I had a thread asking if people felt the "authors and their books thread" did any good. I am not

But you're going to respect the different perspective of those who do believe it's legitimate marking, right, and not harass them about it, right?

 

[Handley_Page]

The size of a thumbnail image it kinda important, I suspect. I think the wings should not be as wide and the face clearer (& is the noose significant ?)

 

[lovecraft68]

But you're going to respect the different perspective of those who do believe it's legitimate marking, right, and not harass them about it, right?

Right. If people here feel they have garnered a paying audience then more power to them.

See, understand something. I don't ride you for "hawking" your wares. I ride you for the over the top "Whatever, you've done I've done more of and done better" posts.

There's a difference.

 

[sr71plt]

See, understand something. I don't ride you for "hawking" your wares. I ride you for the over the top "Whatever, you've done I've done more of and done better" posts.

Much of which you (and some others) have had the means to check out and you've gone blind to because for some reason you want to be competitive and don't like seeing what the balance is. Which is your problem, not mine. You're just a jealous little turd. So fuck off on that stuff. You are messing the forum up with your personal vendetta that you weren't authorized or elected to pursue in the first place.

Once again, I'm not going to cut my life down to meet your life's expectations. And when it comes to writing/publishing erotica, anyone here can clearly check us out on their own--even though it's only you who thinks this is some sort of competition.

On this particular topic--on working publishing--you're in kindergarten compared to me. That's been clear from the first day you posted to Lit., asking questions on publishing, and not liking the informed answers you got, and immediately (and forever) turning into a petulant child. You can't even hold back from whining about it in your sig line.