Want an example of a book cover gone wrong? At left is a repackaging of Anne of Green Gables (three books in one). For anyone who has enjoyed Anne of Green Gables (1908), looking at this come-hither 21st Century teenage model has to make you a little crazy. At least it does me.
Did the person in charge of the book packaging have any idea what the stories were about or the age in which they were written? Either the answer is no or they simply did not care.
This 1985 movie version (at right) is much more representative of Anne. Don't you agree?
Most novelists with books released from traditional publishing houses have input into their covers but not final say. Sometimes a publisher reworks and reworks a cover to get it right and to the author's liking. Sometimes that doesn't happen and an author just has to grit their teeth and bear it as best they can.
My WWII novel, The Victory Club (just $2.99 for Kindle, Nook and other eReaders; on sale for limited time for $2.99 as well on audio), has had several different covers since it was first released in 2005.
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| 2005 Trade Paper Release | 2006 Audio Release | 2011 eBook Release | 2013 eBook Repackaging |
I'm delighted that the publisher of the eBook decided to redesign their cover as it never seemed right to me. I love the new cover that just launched.
Below is one of my RITA Award winners, The Shepherd's Voice. I never liked the first cover as it just seemed blah. It certainly didn't let the reader know that the story was a romance. The cover for the eBook (Kindle, Nook and others) and Audio editions released in 2011 is one of my all time favorite covers. It definitely says romance, and it makes my heart go sigh.
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| 2000 Trade Paper Release | 2011 Ebook & Audio Release |
I've been blessed with many wonderful covers, and I'm very grateful for the creative folks who work so hard on them. I'm especially delighted with the covers of my current series, Where The Heart Lives. They don't get much better than these three.
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| Belonging (2011) | Betrayal (2012) | Beloved (2013) |
Do you have any favorite book covers? Covers that you remember apart from the novel itself?
~robin
That new Anne cover is atrocious. It doesn't relate to the books at all.
ReplyDeleteMt favorite book cover is for Little Women. The one I have has a painting of the four sisters around the piano. I like it because both the style of the painting and the clothes they were wearing depict a period piece, the scene is one from the book, and it gives you a little glimpse of what the book is about. On the other hand, while I was looking at Amazon to see if they had this cover (they don't, but they have some similar ones), I saw one there that was chocolate brown with pink scissors all over it. Weird! I guess that's harking back to Jo's hair-cutting to raise money when her mother was going to see her injured father, but ti doesn't really give you any idea as to the character of the book.
Argh! Anne with an 'e' has RED hair. What were they thinking?! The second cover is much better.
ReplyDeleteRobin, I must agree. The covers for your Where the Heart Lives series are gorgeous! They make me want to pull them right off my computer screen and read them. :)
Some of my favorite covers (if I can narrow it down) are any of Julie Klassen's book covers. They speak of innocence, the historical genre she loves to write about, and give you a brief insight into what the story might be about.
Have a blessed day!
Andrea
Oh NO.....that's just wrong!!! Anne has RED hair and that blonde is definitely NOT Anne of Green Gables! (okay, I'm usually not outspoken but this book is dear to my heart--not to mention the fact my own kiddos are redheads *wink*). ~ I'm thinking my copy of Little Women has the same cover that Barbara H. described (above)--Love it! ~ And I also agree that your covers from Where the Heart Lives are gorgeous, Robin. ~ Thanks for sharing today, and for letting us "vent" about poor Anne *smile*. Hugs, Patti Jo
ReplyDeleteThat Anne cover is atrocious! They were trying for a "sex sells" mentality when the book is a celebration of innocence.
ReplyDeleteYour new covers are marvelous! You must be thrilled to bits.
I've done the Snoopy Happy Dance each time I've received my Bethany House Publisher covers. Back in the early days with another publisher, there were a few covers that left me sick at heart.
I get a kick out of seeing the covers for translated books. Sometimes, the picture is the same but the title changes. It's been a few years since high school, but my German still allows me to chuckle at the translations.
Cathy
I agree, that Anne cover is atrocious! I've been an Anne fan forever, and have turned my girls into Anne fans,too. i wish they had asked Sullivan films (they are the company who filmed the Anne of Green Gables movies) for permission to use a picture of Megan Follows as Anne. Much more innocent, and appealing to readers like me who wants good, clean, God-honoring books for my girls (6&9) to read.
ReplyDeleteI love the book covers for your newest series--they are beautiful. The model on the Belonging cover reminds me of Jane Seymour.
I like so many book covers from different authors and publishing houses, but the covers for Dani Pettrey's books Submerged, and Shattered are amazing.
Blessings,
Tammi in Maine
Thanks, everyone, for sharing your own thoughts on covers. Enjoyed reading your comments.
ReplyDeleteRobin
I agree with everyone's comments about the Anne cover. It's all wrong for that series.
ReplyDeleteI remember a cover from a book that came out over five years ago. It's called Along Came A Cowboy, by Chris Lynxwiler. I just love the rugged cowboy on front. He's pretty close to perfect.
Vickie