Don’t judge a book by its cover.
I’m sure you’ve heard that little bit of advice over and over. Often we are talking about something besides books when we say it. Don’t decide this or that person isn’t somebody you’d like to know on first meeting him or her. Don’t decide some food dish isn’t going to be tasty because of how it looks.
I checked out the origin of the expression “don’t judge a book by its cover.” The source I found said the idea, in a less concise way, was first in print in 1860 in George Eliot’s “The Mill on the Floss.” In the novel, the character of Mr. Tulliver uses it when discussing “The History of the Devil” by Daniel Defoe.
“and there‘s a lot more of ’em, sermons mostly, I think, but they‘ve all got the same covers, and I thought they were all o’ one sample, as you may say. But it seems one mustn’t judge by th’ outside. This is a puzzlin’ world.”
According to that source, that bit of dialogue laid the groundwork for the idiom. Then the idea next appeared the way we think of it now, more or less, in a 1946 murder mystery Murder in the Glass Room by Edwin Rolfe and Lester Fuller as “You can never tell a book by its cover.” Over the years, we’ve shortened it a bit more, but the idea is the same.
The idea of not judging something by its cover is good advice, but in my writing world, a book is very often judged by its cover. And I agree with this Margaret Atwood quote.
If I pick up a book with vampires on the cover, I want there to be vampires. If I pick up a book with spaceships on the cover, I want spaceships. If I see one with dragons, I want there to dragons inside the book. Proper labeling. Ethical labeling.
Actually if I pick up a book with vampires, I’ll lay it back down. I’m not into reading about vampires. But I do like a book cover that lets me know something about the story inside the cover. I want it to entice me into the story. That’s how I want my own covers to be.
Good cover design is not only about beauty… it’s a visual sales pitch. It’s your first contact with a potential reader. Your cover only has around 3 seconds to catch a browsing reader’s attention. You want it to stand out and make them pause and consider, and read the synopsis. ―
That’s what a cover is supposed to do. It’s supposed to grab readers’ eyes and make them think this might be just the book they’re looking for.
Probably by now you’re wondering what a mailbox with letters in it has to do with judging a book by its cover. I’ve had fun thinking about new covers the last couple of weeks. First, my publishers are working on the cover for my book that will be available for readers next spring or summer. They have done a fabulous job and the cover is gorgeous. I can’t wait to share it with you in a few weeks. You may be surprised because as my daughter said, it doesn’t look much like any of my other book covers. Maybe a little like Words Spoken True. Maybe.
And no, there is no mailbox on that cover. 🙂 While they have been designing that new cover, I have been giving thought to the cover I need for my audio version of Murder Comes by Mail. I’ve finished doing the narration. I’ve done the voice editing. I’m excited about the story all over again after doing the narration. I just need a cover to be able to start the process of getting it available for those who enjoy listening to audio books. I can’t use the same cover as my publishers did for the print version. Artistic rights. That original cover has a mailbox and so, I thought maybe I could put a mailbox on my audio cover too. Then when I went out to take a picture of my own mailbox, the sun was in exactly the wrong place. The wrong place for cover art, but it did make a striking picture.
I’m still in the creating stage with my audio book cover. I threw one together yesterday, but I want something better. Here it is if you’d like to critique it, but I’m pretty sure it’s already on the cutting floor. That’s why I was taking pictures of mailboxes.
I’m an amateur at book cover art, but I am appreciative of the eye-catching beautifully designed covers Revell Books does for my books. Whenever I’m at a book events, I always get comments on how nice my book covers are and how they always speak of the story between the covers.
Almost all my books also have a professional audio book version too. Just a few missed out on that. Those are the ones I’ve been narrating. I’ve done six of them – the Heart of Hollyhill books (Scent of Lilacs, Orchard of Hope, Summer of Joy), Love Comes Home, Murder at the Courthouse, and now Murder Comes by Mail. I designed each of those audio covers too, using my own photos. I like all of them, especially Love Comes Home. We’ll see if I can do one for Murder Comes by Mail that will make me happy. I’ll be sure to post it when I get it finished.
“Never judge a book by its cover; a movie by its book; or a video game by its movie.” ―
Maybe I should add never judge an audio book by its cover or its narrator!
Thanks to all of you who joined in with the Q & A fun in my last post. If you haven’t yet, you still can. The posts stay up forever. I answered the questions about which was my favorite cover by saying Angel Sister. Connie chimed in on that question to say These Healing Hills was her favorite cover on my books.
So, since we’re talking covers now, which of my covers do you like best? If you want to give them all a look, you can see them on my website.
As always, thanks for reading.
Comments 12
Along a Storied Trail is my favorite cover. One of my favorite stories too.
Author
So glad you enjoyed my packhorse librarian story, Robin. I enjoyed following around a book loving character even if it was through a bunch of snowy weather. 🙂
I agree with you that the cover for your audio version of Murder Comes by Mail could be more intriguing than the sample you included in this newsletter. I wonder what would happen if you put some catnip inside an envelope (stamped and addressed on outside), placed that envelope (and other letters, packages, etc. that would typically arrive in one’s mailbox) on a table; then invite your sister’s cat to investigate the mail. That might create a photo with more “action” in it — at least it would if the cat was our orange tabby, Rosey! He loves to sniff around and paw at envelopes and papers whenever I’m working at my desk.
Author
That’s a great idea, Roberta. And it might work on a sweeter cat, but my sister’s cat is a rascal. No telling what might happen if we tried it. LOL. He’s the kind of cat that waves his tail back and forth to entice you to try to rub him and then he attacks your hand. I’ve got another idea for the cover and I’ll see if I can get it to work. If so, I’ll share it. We’ll see. I might have to purchase a picture for the cover if I can’t get something to work out with one of my pictures. But thanks so much for the feedback. Unfortunately I agree that my first effort won’t work.
I love the covers on your books, but I think that Angel Sister is my favorite one too. I just love the way the little girl is looking up and how it really matches the story with the bond that happens between Lorena and Kate. I love this series and hope that you will someday give us another story with them all. 🙂
Author
That’s one of the best things about that cover, Hope. The little girl looks as if she has no doubt Kate is her angel sister. 🙂 I do hope to go back to Rosey Corner someday. I have a coule of ideas. One that features Lorena after she’s older and another a Christmas at Rosey Corner idea about Wes getting his new dog. Not sure I’ll ever get to write either one, but I do think about doing so. I loved my Rosey Corner characters.
I have to say I am partial to When the Meadow Blooms though I have thought each of your covers were wonderful and spoke to me (just not as much as the Meadow)!
Author
That meadow of flowers is beautiful, Pamela. Makes me think of the hayfields here on my farm. Glad the cover spoke to you. That’s what we hope for when we pick a new cover for a book.
All of your book covers are eye-catching, but my favorite is These Healing Hills. I love fall, hills and dogs, not necessarily in that order ;-), so the cover really reached out and grabbed me. It was one of my favorite stories, as well. Although, the Rosy Corner series still holds first place in my heart. I wouldn’t mind a revisit, Ann. (Hint, hint.) I’m looking forward to your new book, for sure.
Author
That is a fun cover, Judi. I was so happy when they decided to add Sarge, the dog, to the cover. I thought it gave the cover extra appeal. At least it did in my eyes. 🙂 The fall colors are nice too.
So many wonderful covers but my favorite is An Appalachian Summer. The colors pop off the cover, with the sun in the background, just so warm and inviting. I also prefer covers that do not show the faces of characters.
Author
My publishers’ art department loved those purple colors too, Dana. Definitely made a lovely cover for my story. I wasn’t sure Piper had a dress that color, but I just let her decide to pack a dress last minute. And a good thing I did. 🙂
I’ve heard some who don’t like the faces not showing, but I think they let the face not show often because that way the reader can see the character in their own unique way from the authors’ description of the character.