CAN YOU JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER?
Can you judge a book by its cover? How much does it influence what you buy in the bookstore? Are you drawn to, or turned off by the image on the front of a book? Will a cover you like make you pick up a book you might have passed up otherwise? Or will you pass a title without a peek inside if the cover turns you off?
The publishing world has wrestled these questions with for as long as there have been books to sell. Yes, what’s on the pages is most important (or at least we like to think so). And after a while we develop favorites whose names and newest titles we seek out. But what makes you pick up a book from a writer you don’t know the first time?
As some of you know, Tryin’ to Sleep in the Bed You Made has been our biggest selling, and best-remembered book. It was published in hardcover in 1997 and had a bright indigo and pink cover with illustrations of Pat and Gayle, the two main characters. From the beginning many readers told us that the cover made them pick it up—that it called to you. By 1998, Tryin’ was released as a mass market paper back (the small one) and that edition had two covers. One pink with indigo writing, the other was the opposite-- indigo with the title in pink script, with the same illustration. In 2002, Tryin’ came out as a trade paperback and that cover was yet another incarnation of the original—except this time it was a vibrant orange. In between those versions, our British publisher came up
with a totally different cover interpretation for their audience.
The publishing world has wrestled these questions with for as long as there have been books to sell. Yes, what’s on the pages is most important (or at least we like to think so). And after a while we develop favorites whose names and newest titles we seek out. But what makes you pick up a book from a writer you don’t know the first time?
As some of you know, Tryin’ to Sleep in the Bed You Made has been our biggest selling, and best-remembered book. It was published in hardcover in 1997 and had a bright indigo and pink cover with illustrations of Pat and Gayle, the two main characters. From the beginning many readers told us that the cover made them pick it up—that it called to you. By 1998, Tryin’ was released as a mass market paper back (the small one) and that edition had two covers. One pink with indigo writing, the other was the opposite-- indigo with the title in pink script, with the same illustration. In 2002, Tryin’ came out as a trade paperback and that cover was yet another incarnation of the original—except this time it was a vibrant orange. In between those versions, our British publisher came up
with a totally different cover interpretation for their audience.
And now—with Gotta Keep on Tryin’, the sequel to Tryin’ to Sleep in the Bed You Made, due out in January, our former publisher is preparing to re-release Tryin’ —with ta da!!!! A brand new cover!!!!! (And that extra chapter that doesn’t exist in the hardcover or the mass market paperback—one about Marcus.)
Very different--Whaddaya think?
Labels: books, friendship, novel, women, writers
6 Comments:
Not read the book yet probably cos i have not seen it yet over here. Lovely cover (the new one). If I walk into a bookstore, to an extent I judge the book by its cover and then by what's written at the back. The new cover is eye catching
Hi guys!!! Ok I know for me personally I like an interesting cover. I has to make me want to read it. I am 25 years old and I have been an avid reader since kindergarten so I think I know a thing or two :). I like the newer version of Tryin, but I like the older version better. The pink cover is the one I own. I think publishers are starting to use real people on the covers and that's great. But I like the older versions with the painted faces better. They have a unique feel to them. Just my 2 cents....: )
I love the new cover!
Being a book collector and as sad as it may seem, I am guilty of judging a book by its cover. If the cover is appealing, I'm usually drawn in. If not, it usually stays on the shelf unless it's a particular read that I've been looking for.
So far---and this is completely unscientific--based on the response here, on MySpace and in our email, folks seem to like the new look!
Thanks so much for your feedback!
V&D
I Love the new cover! It's very contemporary. I try very hard Not to judge a book by its cover. I try to judge it by the flaps. If the synopsis pulls me in then most likely I will but it. Looking forward to the sequel.
I love the new cover, altho I rarely judge a book by one. Frankly, I'm a first pager. If the first page and really the first paragraph doesn't interest me....I don't think too much about going further. And font makes a difference too. That being said. New edition. New cover. Cool.
Post a Comment
<< Home