Mystery Novel - Covers

batesy · Jul 7, 2009

Hi All,

I posted this over on another thread but don't know if that was the correct place.

Anyways ... can anyone help me out with some covers I have? I'm extremely conflicted and can't decide which way to go.

I would love to know:

A. Which of the below covers you like (version 1 or 2), and
B. Are you Male or Female

http://diemenscollective.com/diemens_cover1.jpg

http://diemenscollective.com/diemens_cover2.jpg

Many Thanks
Chris

RJK · Jul 7, 2009

Can't help you - I got a page with no graphics.

Reluctant Artist · Jul 7, 2009

I'm female, and I prefer version 1 because it seems more spooky and you can actually make out more of the guy's back.

TabithaTodd · Jul 7, 2009

I agree with RA however if you were to tone down the red in the other one and remove the opacity of the male on the cover a touch (ie: less of it but don't take away all of it) the red\black cover draws the eye much more than the blue one.

I'm a graphics designer, female and I do cover art as well.

batesy · Jul 7, 2009

Thanks guys,

I've been getting a pretty even split with opinions from family and friends with these two covers (I can't claim the artwork - it's freelanced by an ex-HarperCollins designer).

@RJK: Might have been my earlier upload. Not sure.

@RA: Lots of people are saying what you said - spooky, ominous, dramatic.

@Tabitha: Maybe you're right about the opacity on the figure. And, yes, there is a lot of red. The response from friends and family has suggested this cover is more 'urgent', thriller-like, raw, in the action ... rather than the aftermath.

The split has been 'even' with male and female too, which has been interesting. I thought men would naturally go for the 'fire' image - that's not been the case, however.

Hopefully I'll get some more responses on here during the day. It's been interesting to survey friend's reactions, even better to hear the thoughts of people I don't know personally.

heyjude · Jul 8, 2009

I liked the blue, but the red evoked a more powerful image. I'd be more excited to read it with the red cover.

I'm female.

alleycat · Jul 8, 2009

Version 1.

I'm a manly man! See my muscles. See my six-pack. Okay, okay, the six-pack is actually Miller beer.

smcc360 · Jul 8, 2009

I, a male, like version two.

My girlfriend also prefers the second one.

Bufty · Jul 8, 2009

If there's a fire somewhere in the story - version 2. Male.

And ...the pursuit for power and profit... doesn't read right to me.

Shouldn't it be ... the pursuit of...

I presume you have your reasons for not wishing to go the conventional publishing route and I wish you well with it. :hooray:

Chase · Jul 8, 2009

A: Blue. Images appear clearer, more eye-catching.

B: Red-green colorblind male.

Shara · Jul 8, 2009

I'm female and also prefer Version 1.

Depends what kind of impression you want to create with your cover.

The blue cover looks spookier and more ethereal, which is more like the kind of book I would pick up.

The red cover suggests more violence and thriller. Somehow more masculine.

Shara

Noah Body · Jul 8, 2009

I like version one, but I've been told I'm a girlie man.

Repartee · Jul 8, 2009

I liked version 2 slightly better than version 1. Version 2 caught my eye, and while version 1 was undoubtedly creepy, it wasn't quite as appealing.
Of course, red is one of my favorite colors, lol.

Female

brainstorm77 · Jul 8, 2009

1 female

batesy · Jul 8, 2009

Thanks for this everyone.

However, I'm not sure if it has made my choice any easier!

@Bufty: Thanks for the spot. I'm going to claim 'Rough proof' as my excuse

- there's also a spelling error in the main title (designer can take the blame for that one). Book is about six months away from production. I'm self-publishing because I have my own niche market through a small national travel magazine that I used to own. I have gone the traditional route in most areas though: ex-Random-House editor, offset print, using some media contacts for PR. Unfortunately, I'm distributing it myself. I've had terrible experiences with distributors in the past and I don't have the desire to repeat them.

Am I going to make a million bucks? Nope. I think I can make about 60 grand gross. My wife won't be giving up her day job

@Shara: The problem is just getting people to pick it up. I was going to include the back cover copy in this original post but that's superfluous, I guess. The back cover copy is useless if everyone walks by the book ('Everyone' I say - Ha...!! Because self-published novels are always placed face-out in the bestseller section of Borders ... Yeah, right!).

Once again, thanks everyone. It's been very informative.

Cheers
Chris

MarkEsq · Jul 8, 2009

2 & male

FOTSGreg · Jul 8, 2009

Version 2 is far more eye-catching and active than Version 1 in my opinion and that's good if your audience is male (like me). It's a well-known fact that men are far more visually-oriented than women are.

sheadakota · Jul 8, 2009

Version 2 is far more eye cathing- female

Kathleen42 · Jul 8, 2009

Version 2 - female.
I would, however, tone down the hand prints a little bit. Right now they look a little like jazz hands.

heyjude · Jul 9, 2009

Kathleen42 said:
I would, however, tone down the hand prints a little bit. Right now they look a little like jazz hands.

+1 (Even though I don't know what jazz hands are.)

RJK · Jul 9, 2009

I finally got a look at the covers. I agree with the majority. The second cover. My eyes were drawn to the hand prints, and the man is a little too transparent. - male

cwfgal · Jul 9, 2009

I like the blue cover better (I think it was #1). female

Beth

Kathleen42 · Jul 9, 2009

heyjude said:
+1 (Even though I don't know what jazz hands are.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_hands

JamieB · Jul 9, 2009

1 female

lilpixie · Jul 9, 2009

FEMALE!

I like the first one, but i can see why the second is more catching. Indeed if the book is dark and includes fire, go with the second. If it's more spooky and eerie, go with the first.

Mystery Novel - Covers

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