tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post3009471167077505733..comments2024-02-12T15:15:51.364+02:00Comments on The Five Year Project: Crystal Collier on What Makes a Cover AwesomeMisha Gerrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-8765332688105141972014-07-22T23:52:02.951+02:002014-07-22T23:52:02.951+02:00Good advice, Crystal. Personally, I like to see a ...Good advice, Crystal. Personally, I like to see a person or face on a cover. Makes me feel some kind of connection. J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-49548485552880836282014-07-18T19:23:36.106+02:002014-07-18T19:23:36.106+02:00I agree with the list, though I think the human el...I agree with the list, though I think the human element isn't quite as important to me. But I do judge books by their covers! :)Loni Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126958230703180761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-1237566915003660422014-07-17T16:24:51.620+02:002014-07-17T16:24:51.620+02:00Brilliant blog post, and spot on about book covers...Brilliant blog post, and spot on about book covers. Thanks for sharing!<br /><br /><a href="http://elliegarratt.blogspot.co.uk" rel="nofollow">Ellie Garratt</a>Ellie Garratthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731071128348213067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-35621581693125762912014-07-16T15:44:39.493+02:002014-07-16T15:44:39.493+02:00I second your list. And for me, the emotion the co...I second your list. And for me, the emotion the cover elicits is important, too. Great post!<br /><br />Hi, Misha. *waves*Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08516493326566981116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-9417793250543599272014-07-15T19:06:21.348+02:002014-07-15T19:06:21.348+02:00Hello! Great post and covers. I agree about the hu...Hello! Great post and covers. I agree about the human touch. Beautiful artwork on a cover is a huge attraction for me, but a clever illusion and font can be interesting too. So much for not judging a book by it's cover.Vashtiqvega43https://www.blogger.com/profile/16857598955829160578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-37104368763161177652014-07-15T13:38:21.304+02:002014-07-15T13:38:21.304+02:00That is a great cover. CONGRATS to Crystal!
That is a great cover. CONGRATS to Crystal!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-28199285757933936072014-07-15T08:16:57.135+02:002014-07-15T08:16:57.135+02:00I think you're right in your analysis of what ...I think you're right in your analysis of what makes a great cover - although there are always exceptions to any rules. Eg 'The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared' is a great title!Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-79643748121098217062014-07-15T06:13:34.157+02:002014-07-15T06:13:34.157+02:00Love these covers, and yes, a one-line tagline is ...Love these covers, and yes, a one-line tagline is very effective as a marketing tool.Catherine Stinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08131569196977321229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-61412599862041923112014-07-15T03:27:54.255+02:002014-07-15T03:27:54.255+02:00Both of those covers are INCREDIBLE. Not to mentio...Both of those covers are INCREDIBLE. Not to mention how awesome of a story Moonless is. I can't wait for Soulless, seriously!!KChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03924028116296474975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-39290729372153630842014-07-15T03:17:52.451+02:002014-07-15T03:17:52.451+02:00There is so much to making the cover and story com...There is so much to making the cover and story come together. That's a whole other art form. cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-27496865291386759332014-07-15T02:09:54.461+02:002014-07-15T02:09:54.461+02:00The colors usually draw me in; if there are too ma...The colors usually draw me in; if there are too many then it makes the cover look too "busy". The title draws me in too; I've bought more than one book just because the title looked interesting. Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-30623415018866750152014-07-15T00:55:27.170+02:002014-07-15T00:55:27.170+02:00Great post! I agree with you about all the element...Great post! I agree with you about all the elements. I like using people on the cover too. I'm most drawn to covers with a person or people on it.Christine Rainshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08263694662585963900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-62065366524405637372014-07-14T21:05:23.030+02:002014-07-14T21:05:23.030+02:00*waves* Hi, Nicole! Glad you liked the sword. *waves* Hi, Nicole! Glad you liked the sword. Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-17847997893427793872014-07-14T21:04:53.119+02:002014-07-14T21:04:53.119+02:00Terry, completely agreed. There are definitely som...Terry, completely agreed. There are definitely some great cover concepts that translate poorly to different sizes. I took a whole evening long workshop on the most important aspects of covers, and we make a thorough examination of covers, converting them to black and white to see how well they translated to newsprint, and shrinking or blowing them up. Very important aspects.<br />Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-50333571412657132572014-07-14T21:02:49.836+02:002014-07-14T21:02:49.836+02:00*blushing* You're too nice, Kristin.*blushing* You're too nice, Kristin.Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-14301642473234066062014-07-14T21:01:14.469+02:002014-07-14T21:01:14.469+02:00Aw, thanks, Robin. Aw, thanks, Robin. Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-51040219359803033002014-07-14T20:43:21.176+02:002014-07-14T20:43:21.176+02:00Yeah, I've seen plenty of "symbol" b...Yeah, I've seen plenty of "symbol" books that caught my attention, but there's definitely a psychological reaction to the human element. Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-55059423174078174162014-07-14T20:30:29.517+02:002014-07-14T20:30:29.517+02:00Non-fiction is definitely it's own thing, eh?Non-fiction is definitely it's own thing, eh?Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-23838734124157819532014-07-14T20:25:42.914+02:002014-07-14T20:25:42.914+02:00Agreed. It's definitely different depending on...Agreed. It's definitely different depending on the genre. Still, I like the human element to make it more personal. Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-2511788717358078542014-07-14T20:25:16.068+02:002014-07-14T20:25:16.068+02:00Yeah the sword definitely pulled me in. :) Nice re...Yeah the sword definitely pulled me in. :) Nice recap of cover elements and a great intro to Crystal!Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10680066584646789184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-33289994171607620532014-07-14T18:19:37.923+02:002014-07-14T18:19:37.923+02:00I think an important aspect is for it to attract a...I think an important aspect is for it to attract a potential reader is that the cover works both as a full size and a thumbnail. It can be a difficult balance to achieve. Color, titlework and cover art working in both sizes can be tricky.Terry W. Ervin IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13561009802388207515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-71062429991898789772014-07-14T17:35:53.431+02:002014-07-14T17:35:53.431+02:00Cover art does make a difference. As a reader, I a...Cover art does make a difference. As a reader, I am drawn to beautiful books, especially if I've never heard anything about the book in question. I LOVE Crystal's cover art! She and her designer did a great job putting it together. And you're right, it does scream professionalism AND class!! :)Kristin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15119967346326579747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-12676226823438255292014-07-14T17:03:33.719+02:002014-07-14T17:03:33.719+02:00I never thought much about cover art until I start...I never thought much about cover art until I started writing and reading the blogs of writers. Since then, I have seen some amazing covers that really make me want to read the story. On the flip side, I have seen some less than stellar covers that make me think that they should have rethought it. AND, I find myself less drawn to the book. So, yes, we are visual people and the cover is important.<br /><br />I think the Soulless cover is gorgeous. The Moonless cover is really nice and I liked it well enough, but the Soulless cover is a knock out winner. Well done!!!Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14932408372240147454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-88664492170379857042014-07-14T16:32:12.183+02:002014-07-14T16:32:12.183+02:00Cover art is big, and I completely agree with the ...Cover art is big, and I completely agree with the making it look professional. I agree with Alex, words aren't enough, but sometimes a person isn't necessary (see military Sci Fi, for instance). Renahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02767762370997304308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-47489912043402065952014-07-14T16:23:36.779+02:002014-07-14T16:23:36.779+02:00Beautiful and professional artwork, and yes—human ...Beautiful and professional artwork, and yes—human touch—totally gets my attention. I agree it should hint at genre and age group. Great insights AND covers! ;)SK Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04601373778228160390noreply@blogger.com