Readers buy book by not only what their front brain thinks of the sales copy and the cover, but more than that, readers (all of us) buy books because of subconscious clues.
Clues like: —Cover art not professional — Cover art not to genre or book title impossible to read — Book sales copy dull and passive and gives too much plot away. — Book interior so poorly formatted as to be impossible to read. There are others, but one major clue that helps readers trust that the book is done by a professional and it will be entertaining is the size of the author name on the cover.
Yes, size does matter.
Traditional publishing ground one simple concept into readers minds for 50 years.
The bigger the author name on the cover, the better the book will be.
That is where the term “big name author” came from.
A beginning writer with a first book would always have a small name on the book. Roberts, Cussler, Koontz names fill the top third of the book cover.
So suddenly here comes indie publishing and authors, full of fear, put their name down on the bottom of their books in small print. And then wonder why they get no sales.
Duh…
Your author name should fill from side to side over the top third of every book you write. You should be shouting that you are a big name author to your readers. (There are a few genre common things that tell readers of that genre you are a big name, but mostly it is size.)
So if you want more sales, believe your books are worth reading, then start acting like it and put your name on the top of your books in large form.
A book cover is one of the biggest marketing tools a book has—especially in libraries and bookstores. While many readers like to judge a book by its contents, we often consider reading a book if its cover catches our eye.
Now, what catches the eye of a reader is purely subjective; it depends largely on the aesthetic biases of the reader—whether that is illustrations, photographs, stark covers, busy covers, montages, heavily colored lettering, monotone typography, etc.
Despite this, you, as an author or book cover designer, can still attract your readers by using good art and/or striking colors on your book cover. In this article, we analyze six covers from critically acclaimed books and pinpoint what makes them so visually appealing.
Cover design by Jonathan Bust, Art direction by Evan Gaffney
Flowers are some of my favorite things to look at because they come in different colors and shapes (and scents, too, if you’re handling them in real life). So it’s no wonder the book cover of The Centre, caught my eye.
The dark background made the reds, oranges, yellows, and pinks of the bouquet pop and catch my eye (and the eyes of thousands of readers worldwide). But the longer you look at the cover, you start to notice weird and disturbing details that slowly take center stage: the skull-shaped planter, the carnivorous Venus flytraps, the spilled coffee, and the thorny vines circling the cabinet on which the bouquet stands.
Once you see these things, you know immediately that the contents of the book won’t be all roses and sunshine; there’ll be dark secrets lurking underneath all the beauty. And suddenly, you feel the urge to find out what those secrets are.
Lesson: Putting a bright image or object against a dark background is a great way to make your book cover visually alluring. If it aligns with your book’s contents, you can also add some semi-concealed elements that keep people’s attention and awaken their curiosity.
When I first saw this book cover, I was reminded of The Birth of Venus—a 15th-century painting by Italian artist, Sandro Botticelli, depicting the Roman goddess Venus arriving at the shore after her birth, standing on a giant scallop shell. The painting is stunning, much like this book cover depicting a woman emerging from a corpse flower growing in what looks like a body of iridescent blue water.
The book itself is a collection of short stories with interesting, yet varied, Hawaiian characters whose lives and emotions burst through the pages and find their way into the hearts of readers.
Lesson: While it might not be the case with this specific book cover, taking inspiration from popular paintings and cultural artwork to make your book cover art is a great way to make people go, “Oh wow—this reminds me of something I know!”
If you love fruits, this book cover will draw your attention like a magnet. It’ll do the same if you love interesting-looking art, too. The orange of the background blends well with the orange tones used to depict the contours of the woman’s body. The pears, however, interpose with this orange hue, allowing readers to separate the rich background from the center figure and the pomegranate that accentuates her curves.
If you think this book cover, coupled with the title, teases a tale about food, you’d be on the right track. The main characters of this book, Beatrice and Reiko, were born into a dystopian world governed by corporate greed where it’s taboo to enjoy food or have an appetite. This cover encapsulates the women’s fight against an oppressive system that glorifies undue fasting and thinness.
Lesson: While you want to make your book cover stand out from the stacks of books on the shelves, it’s okay to include familiar elements, even if those elements are food. You should, however, employ striking colors, adequate contrast, and a unique concept to make the cover art look interesting.
I started as an artist and I had a side job moving some heavy boxes for a publishing company. They had just gotten a Mac for their art department, the department that creates the book covers. I was kind of showing the art director a thing or two about how to use a Mac. And one day everyone went out to lunch and I jumped on the computer and designed a book jacket and slipped it in the pile to go to the review board in New York. They picked my jacket and when the art director got back to Boston, he wanted to know who designed it and I said, “Me.” He was like, “The box guy?”
If someone asks you to name some popular young adult fiction writers today, you’d probably mention authors like John Green, Cassandra Clare, J.K. Rowling, and maybe even Louisa May Alcott. But back in the day, S.E. Hinton, author of The Outsiders, was—and still is, in my opinion—one of the best YA fiction authors around, known for her novels set in Oklahoma, where she was born.
Hinton attended Will Rogers High School and graduated in 1966. While still a student, she wrote her first (and most popular) book, The Outsiders, which was published in 1967. The coming-of-age novel revolves around the Greasers, a group of working-class boys, and their rivalry with the wealthier Socs (Socials). The protagonist, Ponyboy Curtis, is a Greaser who struggles with societal expectations and class conflicts.
Because this novel explores evergreen themes of friendship, loyalty, identity, and the impact of social class on individuals, especially teens, it has become a classic among readers who are reminded of the prejudicial systems that existed in their own schools and neighborhoods. In 1983, the novel was adapted into a movie starring Tom Cruise, Ralph Macchio, and Patric Swayze.
It’s been nearly six decades since The Outsiders was first published, and there have been many reprints and book cover designs since then. In this article, we’ll cover the various The Outsiders book covers that have been released.
The Outsider’s Paperback Covers
The paperback covers for The Outsiders are some of my favorite covers because they all depict the central theme of the novel: youth. The first three follow a similar concept: bright and dull orange hues, the landscape of a small town, and young (school)boys taking center stage. While you might not guess that the story is set in a school, you’ll know almost instantly that the plot revolves around teenagers or young adults trying to navigate life in their town.
The colors of the first three covers themselves are striking to the eye—especially the first one that depicts a rising sun shining over the town and exposing the contours on the faces of the people illustrated atop it. In contrast, the bottom-left cover shows only the silhouettes of young people, which can trigger curiosity and a closer look from readers who happen upon the book cover for the first time.
Unlike the first three covers, the bottom-right cover is in greyscale and only features a muted image of a young man seemingly looking at the floor. While there’s only a single person on the cover—rather than many people, as in the other three covers—you’re still able to decipher the theme of “youth” that S. E. Hinton based her work upon.
After reading the many interesting comments to yesterday’s posts about covers, PG is anxious to see more.
Let’s see your ideas of great covers. And terrible covers.
You can break them down by genre or just point out good covers of whatever type that you think are really good. Ditto for terrible covers.
Please share your opinions on what makes a cover good or bad. You can choose your reasons – stops you immediately when you see it online or anywhere else . . . . is great for the book’s genre . . . . is absolutely beautiful and reflects excellent taste by the person who selected/created/commissioned the cover, is absolutely disgusting, misleading to readers, is an unfair knock-off of someone else’s work, etc., etc., etc.
If you want to include a copy of the cover in your comment, go for it. You can also provide a link to the book on the author’s website, Amazon, or wherever else will allow visitors to TPV to see it. PG may try to drop some cover images into the comment or include them in a post.
PG hadn’t thought about book cover design providers for indies. He suspects a great many indie authors use a friend or acquaintance who has the requisite graphic design tools and talents.
The folks at MIBL.Art reached out to PG to ask about a guest post (he doesn’t do those). However, PG checked out the company’s website and found some interesting information.
From MIBL Art:
How Miblart Redesigns Your Book Cover
Research We analyse your current book cover, your genre, target audience, and plot.
Suggestions Come up with suggestions on how to improve your book cover to make it fit your genre and evoke the right emotions
First draft Provide you with the first draft.
Improvements Polish and improve your book cover (we offer an unlimited number of revisions)
Payment You pay only when you love the final result.
Undoubtedly, PG’s lack of attention to cover design services for indies is evidence of yet another of his many shortcomings. He’ll keep his eyes open for interesting items on this topic in the future.
He invites visitors to TPV to share their own solutions/experiences/opinions regarding cover design in the comments.
PG requests that cover design professionals or their representatives not spam the comments with sales pitches.
PG would be happy to receive information from cover design experts via the Contact PG link at the top of the blog. Feel free to send PG studies, links or information you believe might be of interest to visitors to The Passive Voice. If he sees something beyond pricing information he believes will be of interest to visitors to TPV, he’ll put it in a post.
When designing your book cover, it’s important to be aware of the current typography trends, among other things. Typography is one of the key elements of a great book cover, and the cover determines whether or not your book can attract readers in the first place.
Choosing the right typeface helps your book cover catch a reader’s eye and give them an idea of what it’s about. In 2023, book cover typography trends range from bold and modern to classic and elegant. Understanding these trends is important for any author who wants their book to get noticed.
In this article, we analyzed the covers of the most popular books of the year and made a list of the most current trends for you to explore:
Bold Serif Fonts
Minimalist Typography
Sans-Serif Fonts with Clean Lines
Prominent Typography over Busy Backgrounds
Hand-Drawn Letters and Illustrations
Retro Elements and Nostalgia
No Text Hierarchy
Final Thoughts
Bold Serif Fonts
Bold serif fonts are a strong trend in book cover design for 2023. Serifs are the little strokes or “feet” at the ends of letters. Serif fonts on book covers often aim to present a serious or authoritative image. They’re perfect for genres like history, biographies, or any subject where the author wants to establish trust with the reader.
The Wager by David Grann uses a weighty serif font, matching its intense themes, while Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor’s textured serif hints at a complex, layered story. Both covers use bold serif fonts to command attention and promise engaging content.
If you’re considering a serif font for your book cover, think about what the style of the letters says about your book. Is it formal? Traditional? Choose a font that matches the message you want to convey. The right font not only draws readers in but also tells them what kind of book they’re picking up.
Minimalist Typography
Minimalist typography is about keeping things simple and clean. This style uses basic fonts without extra details and usually has a lot of white space on the cover. It’s great for making a book look modern and easy to read. This trend works well for many kinds of books, from novels to non-fiction, because it appeals to a wide range of readers.
For instance, Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond and Yellowface by R.F. Kuang are good examples of this trend. Their covers have straightforward fonts and lots of space, which draws attention to the book titles and authors.
PG admits to playing with fonts and using them in a variety ways on some of his non-TPV projects, but he can’t get as intellectual as the author of the OP does about font selection.
He liked all of the covers discussed in the OP (there are a lot more interesting examples at the OP), but he doesn’t look at the covers and think, “That’s modern and clean. It fits perfectly with the contents of the book.”
In PG’s modern and clean opinion, the job of the cover is to catch the eye of the potential purchaser, to stop them scrolling through Amazon or, less likely, walking down the aisle of a bookstore.
He admits that some visual styles might not work with certain types of books.
For example,
doesn’t suggest a Civil War History to PG.
Nor does
communicate the the contents of the book talks about the Uniform Commercial Code. (That said, in a law school bookstore – physical or online – a lawbook cover like the above would certainly stand out.)
Picture this: a bookstore with shelves lined with books, each vying for attention. What makes one stand out from the rest? The initial magnetism that draws a reader in is undoubtedly the book cover. It’s the handshake, the introduction, the first date with a story yet untold. A book’s cover is its emissary, conveying the essence of its narrative in a single visual breath.
Imagine investing months, if not years, in crafting the perfect story, only to have it veiled in a lackluster cover. The unfortunate reality is that readers do judge a book by its cover, and that initial judgment can dictate whether they embark on the journey within or continue their search elsewhere.
Design: The Silent Narrator
A well-designed book cover serves as a silent narrator, offering a glimpse into the world of characters and landscapes that lie within the pages. It sets the tone, hints at the genre, and sparks curiosity. In essence, it’s the gateway to the story’s soul.
Consider the choice of color—a subtle dance that evokes emotions and sets the mood. Typography becomes the voice, conveying the narrative’s tempo and style. Imagery, carefully selected, whispers promises of adventure, love, mystery, or whatever the tale may hold.
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When seeking the perfect designer, the portfolio becomes a window into their artistry. A great portfolio showcases versatility, creativity, and an ability to adapt to diverse genres. It’s a visual journey through their past collaborations, revealing the depth of their understanding and their capacity to breathe life into a variety of narratives.
Authors are urged to scrutinize a designer’s portfolio with a discerning eye. Look for covers that resonate with your genre, but also examine their ability to infuse fresh perspectives into each project. An exceptional designer can capture the essence of a thriller as deftly as they can evoke the whimsy of a romance.
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The magic happens when authors and designers embark on a collaborative journey, each contributing their expertise to create a masterpiece. It’s a partnership where communication flows seamlessly, ideas dance in harmony, and the shared goal is to birth a cover that not only attracts but resonates with the intended audience.
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The beauty of literary alchemy lies in the synergy between words and visuals. A compelling book cover is not a mere accessory but a profound expression of the narrative it guards. It captures attention, stirs emotions, and becomes an ambassador for the story within.
Contrary to the popular axiom, many in the book community do judge books by their covers. Book covers are the first, and often most lasting impression of a book.
Beyond simply conveying the title and author, a well-designed book cover captures the essence of the story, establishes the book’s genre, and entices potential readers. This makes it a powerful tool for branding and marketing, influencing readers’ perceptions and sparking interest on bookstore shelves and/or online platforms.
However, authors and designers alike have taken book covers a step further. Instead of using a simple image of a book cover, they now use book mockups — a realistic representation of how a cover design will appear in various formats, including paperback, hardcover, and digital versions.
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What Are Book Mockups?
A book mockup is a visual representation of your book’s cover and spine design, presented in a realistic manner. It’s used to give your target audience an idea of what the final printed or digital book will look like in a three-dimensional context.
Book mockups give you (an author, publisher, or designer) the opportunity to assess the design’s aesthetics and make any necessary adjustments. They also allow you to showcase and promote your book cover before the actual printing or publication. They invoke excitement among potential readers, reminding them to keep an eye out for your publication date so they can buy your book.
1. Social Media Teasers
With billions of users worldwide, social media platforms are a great channel to promote your book. However, it can be hard to stand out among all the other content posted by authors who are also trying to market their books.
Book mockups can help you grab (and keep) the attention of potential readers, building anticipation and generating interest in your book. To use them effectively, share high-quality and visually appealing mockups of your book cover and spine on Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter). Include captivating captions, quotes, or snippets from the book to give more context and encourage audience engagement.
2. Website and Blog Graphics
If you own a website or blog, you can incorporate your book mockups into the homepage, banners, sidebars, or dedicated sections — preferably with a short summary of what the book is about. This will draw your site visitors’ attention and entice them to explore further.
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5. Book Launch Announcements
During your book launch, you can use your book mockup to create stunning visuals for your announcement on your website, social media profiles, and other relevant platforms. Use the book mockup as the central visual element, accompanied by details about the launch event, promotions, or other special offers.
Sharing the news with an attractive representation of your book cover helps build excitement and encourages potential readers to attend the launch and buy your book.
6. Author Interviews and Features
When participating in interviews or features you can provide journalists, bloggers, and influencers with high-quality mockups of your book to accompany videos, posts, or articles. This ensures a cohesive and recognizable visual representation of your book across various media outlets.
When it comes to lists of the most iconic book covers of all time, I am not always impressed with what titles turn up again and again. And I’m ready to take the heat for leaving some of your faves off this list. Here’s my first question for others compiling these lists. Are the covers of books like To Kill a Mockingbird or The Catcher in the Rye really that iconic? Or are they stuck in your mind because you’ve seen them a million times thanks to their status as school curriculum standards? Let’s not peak in high school, folks.
Moreover, why do we seem to celebrate only the covers for books considered literary masterpieces of the 20th century, with a focus on midcentury design? Certainly there are iconic book covers from that era, and you’ll see some below. But there’s more to lionize in the history of design than this singular period and genre. I want to take a wider view.
I’m also not afraid to assert that some of the most iconic book covers have just come out. Because if we don’t believe that at least some of the best things ever to be made are being made right now, be they book covers, movies, music, or literature, then what is the point of making anything? I’d rather take a brave stance here and be proven wrong in the future than go with the same old choices everyone makes. Believe me, there are still plenty of safe choices on this list. So without any further ado, and in no particular order, the most iconic book covers of all time.
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How recognizable is this cover design by S. Neil Fujita, with illustration by John Kashiwabara? So iconic that you can buy any number of T-shirts that spoof its design. To name a few, you can acquire a shirt to claim you are: The Rodfather (with a fisherman casting instead of marionette strings), The Dogfather (bones as marionette sticks), The Gabagool (for the fans of cured meats), or The Godmother (it’s pink).
Talk about iconic! Milton Charles designed the paperback, whose silver foil-embossed cover has a die-cut hole representing the house’s attic. When the cover is opened, a full page painting called a stepback reveals the creepy family, illustrated by Gillian Hills. It’s lurid and voyeuristic in the best possible way. The rest of the Dollanganger series received a similarly iconic treatment. If you come across an old copy that has the cutout and the stepback — later printings don’t have the hole in the cover — you’re a lucky duck.
You know a book cover is iconic when it can be ported from book to movie franchise to theme park rides with ease. This cover by renowned designer Chip Kidd is a quintessential example of this.
