The Daily Click ::. Forums ::. General Chat ::. Old Man's Tale Sacred Heart Advice
 

Post Reply  Post Oekaki 
 

Posted By Message

\/\/olf

Creative Genius

Registered
  06/08/2005
Points
  76

VIP Member
20th February, 2009 at 21:44:52 -

Ok, So I pretty much decided to sell my finished book on Lulu.com. Well, that is until I get a publisher or agent. I figure the sales might attract them if they are significant enough. I haven't made the book available to the public yet. First I want to make sure everything is in perfect order. So, first of all, here are three images of the coverart for the book. Keep in mind that:

1. It's a fairly dark book with some themes of horror. It hosts vampires as well as other supernatural entities.
2. It's set in medieval times.
3. Two brothers are the main characters.
4. Each cover is laid out like this: Back Flap - Back Cover - Spline - Front Cover - Front Flap


So tell me which of these coverarts work and which dont. Even if you think all of them are rubbish, feel free to say so. I need the advice. And why. Give critique. Thanks.

Image
This one depicts some of the major characters. My friend tells me that it gives the book a cartoony look and I should not go for that.

Image
So I changed the coverart based on my friend's advice and came up with this. Both the sword and the weird symbols are integral to the book's story.

Image
This is the same as above but in a darker shade, because the book itself is dark.

Also, if anyone wants to give me the downside of using 'Lulu till I get an agent or publisher', please feel welcome to. Also, any sales or marketing tips would be most appreciated.

Edited by \/\/olf

 
Image

www.OldMansTale.net
Sign the Petition! Go go Go!!

Dr. James MD

Addict

Registered
  08/12/2003
Points
  11941

First GOTW AwardSecond GOTW AwardThird GOTW AwardPicture Me This -Round 26- Winner!
20th February, 2009 at 22:25:53 -

If I'm being honest I'm not keen on any of those as covers. My fave is the middle one though because it's not too dark and I'm not keen on them portraits on the first cover. I think they're all a bit too cluttered though.

And btw you share the exact name with a chap from my old secondary school, don't know how common a name it is mind!

 
Image
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=j--8iXVv2_U
On the sixth day God created Manchester
"You gotta get that sand out your vaj!" x13
www.bossbaddie.com

OMC

What a goofball

Registered
  21/05/2007
Points
  3516

KlikCast Musician! Guy with a HatSomewhat CrazyARGH SignLikes TDCHas Donated, Thank You!Retired Admin
20th February, 2009 at 22:37:27 -

Nevermind.
 


Edited by OMC

 

  		
  		

\/\/olf

Creative Genius

Registered
  06/08/2005
Points
  76

VIP Member
20th February, 2009 at 22:49:52 -

@ James May - Thanks for being honest. All of them are cluttered or just the portrait? Should I go for a simple black theme? And I dont know. Shahan's fairly common nowadays.

@ Old Man Clayton - Haha, I didnt see what you said. You can leave your comment no matter how harsh it is. I dont mind.

 
Image

www.OldMansTale.net
Sign the Petition! Go go Go!!

OMC

What a goofball

Registered
  21/05/2007
Points
  3516

KlikCast Musician! Guy with a HatSomewhat CrazyARGH SignLikes TDCHas Donated, Thank You!Retired Admin
20th February, 2009 at 23:14:02 -

No, it wasn't anything harsh. I was going to ask if the small font was that hard-to-read olde english script as well but enlarged the photo and saw that it wasn't. Looks good! Though I'm not sure if the overly-complicated scroll look it what you want. Just make it less prominent and it will be better. Just a few wrinkles and tears and stuff. Over-the-top design usually doesn't go well on book covers.

Edited by OMC

 

  		
  		

aphant



Registered
  18/05/2008
Points
  1242
20th February, 2009 at 23:24:22 -

Does the text actually say anything? I can't tell because that's quite a busy font.

 

\/\/olf

Creative Genius

Registered
  06/08/2005
Points
  76

VIP Member
20th February, 2009 at 23:43:04 -

@ OldManClayton - Thanks. How about if I remove the sword from the 2nd one and just leave the weird symbols. Or if I leave the sword and remove the weird symbols. That would make it less cluttered and less complicated, right?

@ Adam Phant - It does. Click it and the image should enlarge.

 
Image

www.OldMansTale.net
Sign the Petition! Go go Go!!

OMC

What a goofball

Registered
  21/05/2007
Points
  3516

KlikCast Musician! Guy with a HatSomewhat CrazyARGH SignLikes TDCHas Donated, Thank You!Retired Admin
20th February, 2009 at 23:50:59 -

It would look better if you picked one, yes... but I was also talking about the crumbling scroll look-- it's good but the texture is a little too detailed and the color varies quite a bit. I'm no expert, but if it's at all possible to simplify the pattern, I'd try it.

 

  		
  		

aphant



Registered
  18/05/2008
Points
  1242
21st February, 2009 at 00:50:12 -


Originally Posted by \/\/olf
@ Adam Phant - It does. Click it and the image should enlarge.



Duh. It's hard to read even when it's enlarged. If it weren't for the title of this thread, I'd think the book is titled, "Olo Ltlan'(some sort of squiggly o) Tale: (Capitalized squiggly O)acceo beact." It isn't a clear font. This is not something that can be immediately read. You need to use a better font. Preferably, something that doesn't make the S's look like distorted O's and the R's distinctly different from the C's.

The teaser text on the back is too strong, appearance-wise. The text itself reads like the start of a bad summary that breaks off into something to try and tease the teacher. You shouldn't give away your characters right away, so you should definitely cut out the 3rd and 4th paragraphs. Cut out every direct mention of their father getting murdered and any names that aren't the main characters'. Honestly, if you cut out everything below the 2nd paragraph and removed "the mysterious murder of their father" then it would sound much better. The 1st paragraph needs a rewrite regardless; Supposition makes for a very cheesy tease.

The panel that describes yourself reads like an auto-biography. No one cares about your life story, they only care about your writing credentials. You can cut out the entire first paragraph of it and it would read much better.

 

W3R3W00F

Drum and Bass Fueled Psycho

Registered
  08/11/2008
Points
  370

VIP MemberCardboard BoxThe Cake is a Lie
21st February, 2009 at 03:17:50 -

The text isn't that heard to read, dude. In fact, I can read it no prob. Get contacts. And what do you have against his autobiography being said?

I honestly don't think it's bad Wolf. Looks just fine.

 
n/a

\/\/olf

Creative Genius

Registered
  06/08/2005
Points
  76

VIP Member
21st February, 2009 at 07:24:24 -

Thanks, WereWoof. Your support is most appreciated. So I took Adam Phant's advice as well as everyone else's. I came up with these. I did try to simplify the background but it did not look very good. I'll post the image of that too if you guys want. But anyway, here are the results. I did ask a bunch of people if they could tell what was written (olde English Text) and all of them could understand so that won't be changing.

Both the sword & symbols.
Image

Alternate
Image


Just the sword.
Image

Alternate
Image


Just the Symbol.
Image

Alternate
Image


So, what do you guys think? Better, worse? Comments?

 
Image

www.OldMansTale.net
Sign the Petition! Go go Go!!

OMC

What a goofball

Registered
  21/05/2007
Points
  3516

KlikCast Musician! Guy with a HatSomewhat CrazyARGH SignLikes TDCHas Donated, Thank You!Retired Admin
21st February, 2009 at 13:53:35 -

Well, the "simplified" didn't turn out so simplified. I'd say just keep the original brown paper look. (second to last, I think it was) I do like the one with only the symbols and not the sword better. Much less crowded.

The summary seems to be a lot better, but the reference to the Sacred Heart at the end was out of nowhere. You might as well leave it out because we already know as much about it from the title of the book.

 

  		
  		

\/\/olf

Creative Genius

Registered
  06/08/2005
Points
  76

VIP Member
24th February, 2009 at 10:08:38 -

Awesome guys. Thanks a lot for your advice, helped quite a bit

 
Image

www.OldMansTale.net
Sign the Petition! Go go Go!!

Matthew Wiese

The Fencer

Registered
  01/02/2009
Points
  149

VIP Member360 Owner
24th February, 2009 at 14:33:45 -

I really like the cover with just the symbol, and in its regular form, no alternate. IT looks mysterious, the sword, and the picture of people look silly in my opinion.

 
n/a

\/\/olf

Creative Genius

Registered
  06/08/2005
Points
  76

VIP Member
25th February, 2009 at 04:24:18 -

@ Matthew Wiese - Thanks. Most people are of the same opinion so thats good

however, it turns out that one of my relatives knows a few publishers. I'm gonna try them first and then, if nothing works out, self publish it as planned. But still, thanks for the all the help

 
Image

www.OldMansTale.net
Sign the Petition! Go go Go!!
   

Post Reply



 



Advertisement

Worth A Click