Book cover controversies have been burning up the Internet lately. A quick recap:
On her blog, Justine Larbalestier wrote what I thought was a remarkably even-handed assessment of what happened with the US cover of her novel. In Justine’s words, the protagonist is “black with nappy hair which she wears natural and short.” Which is why she and many subsequent readers were surprised to see this cover:
(The image has since been taken down)
Larbalestier relates the anecdotal experiences of other authors who have since been in touch with her, and touches on the fact that the cover choice could relate to the pernicious stereotype that “black” books don’t sell. I don’t necessarily agree with all of her conclusions, but it’s an interesting post.
Meanwhile, over in the UK, the Internet has been calling shenanigans on the cover of Simon Kernick’s novel DEADLINE. After glancing at the cover you may be surprised to know it’s not actually by Dan Brown.
And finally, the artist of that bull statue on Wall Street is suing Random House for using the image on the cover of the book A COLOSSAL FAILURE OF COMMON SENSE, which is about the Lehman Bros. debacle.
What does all this cover business mean to the authors? A whole lot. What can they do about it? Not a whole lot.
In the US especially, author approval over the cover is kind of like a 100 year old bottle of Bordeaux wine that is only bestowed upon the truly rarefied authors among us who measure their book sales in the gajillions. Everyone else has to live with the cover the publisher comes up with. No approval. Publishers decide on what goes on the cover, sometimes with input from the major chains. And sometimes but not always with the author’s input.
When it comes to covers they don’t like, authors do have one solid tool at their disposal: the Agent Freakout, a time-honored tradition whereby an agent raises hell about the proposed cover, often (but not always) effecting the necessary change. (The Agent Freakout is reason #1,782,572,081 why you should have an agent, btw).
Otherwise? An author has to trust that the publisher will see the light or just breathe and remember that a bad cover is very unlikely to destroy your career.
But honestly, while these cover horror stories are memorable they’re also somewhat rare. For the most part the art department comes up with an extremely good cover, and some authors luck out with a truly spectacular one.
So yes: you don’t have control over your cover. But don’t worry. It all turns out fine.
Usually.
Natasha Solomons says
Jennifer's book looks great. Stunning cover. I can't wait to buy a copy to show appreciation for your blog! (And because the book sounds awesome…)
T. Anne says
Ahh to have cover issues…. how I long for that day.
sue laybourn says
A friend of mine wrote a series of three books set in England during the Civil War and Restoration. The cover for the third book (US Edition) had a Victorian wedding scene 0_O. Bizarre.
Stephanie Faris says
Wow. That Dan Brown cover is certainly bold. I would think Dan Brown might have a little something to say about that…
I find myself very disappointed when I am reading a book and part of the way through realize the picture on the cover looks nothing like what is described in the book. I was reading a book recently with a heroine who had short, spiky dark hair but guess what was on the cover? A woman with long, flowing blond hair. It always makes me wonder what happened.
Keri Stevens says
This is the first I've heard of the Agent Freakout. Very cool.
Captcha is "reatorns"–which is what the cover mock-up looks like once it's sent back to publisher after an Agent Freakout, I guess.
RW says
I've heard that author's rarely have control or veto power, but I've always wondered if the publisher is open to suggestion in advance anyway. Every once in awhile I'll see an art photo and think, "That comes close to having the vibe of my book," and I'll imagine the lucky day when a publisher is prepping my manuscript that I can say, You should check out this photographer's work. Are they just going to think that's annoying.
Ink says
Kudos to everyone on the cover of Chabon's Kavalier and Clay – love the way everyone thought ahead and left lots of room for the Pulitzer Prize sticker.
Kristin Tubb says
I agree – "bold" is certainly one way to describe that Dan Brown(ish) cover. Hmmph.
I lucked out with regards to covers – I love-love-love the one designed for my mg novel. And – bonus – I actually got to meet the model on my cover at one of my signings! She lives a mere three hours from me. Very surreal, to look up and see her standing in line after seeing her on the cover every day for nearly a year prior…
Love book covers! Also check out http://www.jacketwhys.wordpress.com. Great blog, exclusively discussing book jackets.
Nathan Bransford says
RW-
In most cases the publisher will want to let the cover designer just do their thing. If the author then has input they'll usually hear them out and possibly make changes, but this is what the art department is there for. They know the comp titles, they do this for a living, etc. etc.
JaxPop says
Anyone not checking out Jenn Hubbard's blog every day is truly missing out. She's talented, helpful & ..ready for this … an extremely nice person. I can't wait to read her book.
Natalie says
THE SECRET YEAR sounds like it'll make me cry a lot, but it also sounds seriously fantastic.
While most of the time I think covers aren't too big of an issue, it can be frustrating to a reader when they're misled (like that LIAR cover). When I picked up WINGS, the title and cover gave off a certain impression—one that was not met in the book.
As a reader, it really frustrated me because I had to "get over" my expectations from the cover to really enjoy the book.
Deaf Indian Muslim Anarchist! says
I'm gonna be so bloody PISSED OFF if some publisher decides to put a white chick on the front cover of my novel! It's total bullshit that we can't have the final say for the front cover.
Kat Harris says
Uh, yeah. I'd like Stephen King's name in large print on the cover of my book when it comes out.
We'll just put my byline in itty bitty letters underneath.
Nothing against Dan Brown, but if I were Simon Kernick, I'd be a little insulted.
Bane of Anubis says
The Dan Brown thing's not too bad — a bit of smoke and mirrors, but not Enron level like the Liar cover (of course, playing DA, the pubs could probably say the cover reflects the title).
M. Gray says
How about the latest cover blunder with Brenda Novak's book, The Perfect Couple? You couldn't even make out her name, the font type was so dark.
Poor Novak. She seems to have taken that one in stride, though.
Cadence says
I know you have posted about it before, but I just have to reiterate how amazing the cover for COLUMBINE is.
Probably almost as amazing as the Agent Freakout. Are there workshops for that?
Ken Wheaton says
Excellent post. I can send this around to people asking me how much say-so I had in my first book's cover. Answer: None. Still, I was thrilled with the way it turned out.
Anonymous says
The UK loves bait and switch covers. Quick, look at this cover and tell me who wrote Wings.
https://cityofbooks.blogspot.com/2009/03/news-wings-and-forest-teeth-uk-covers.html
The First Carol says
Pssst…I think the book is named DEADLINE (not Decline) either way delete this comment once read. I swore I'd never correct anyone online again…
Tricia J. O'Brien says
Agent Freakout! Oh, how I'd love to be a fly on the wall for that.
Love the cover for The Secret Year, and it sounds like a heartbreaker. I bet it sells well.
I am amazed that publishers let less-than-good covers go through because it will impact sales. Everybody sees the cover first and may reach for it based solely on that. After all the work to get it that far, why slack off at the end?
Nathan Bransford says
first carol-
Thanks! Fixed.
Matilda McCloud says
One of the covers of my undersea books came out really badly–so much so that my co-author and I had a major Co-Author Freakout, supported by an Agent Freakout. This mistake was a printers' error. The dolphins on the cover looked as if they were swimming in some dark cave. The result of all our freaking out? The book (which has already been printed) was reprinted right away with a beautiful new photo on the cover. The key to success? Only freak out when it's really important and be calm and reasonable 98% of the rest of the time–then people will listen to you when you have a real problem.
If I was the author of Liar I would have had Major Freakout. I'm sorry–that's just plain wrong, no matter how you look at it.
Dara says
That first cover…just wow. I'd be irritated about it. She may be slightly correct on the stereotype thing, but perhaps companies should try and break that (if it does exist).
Nathan Bransford says
Definitely agree with Matilda. Any and all Freaking Out should be as a last resort only.
Rick Daley says
If I saw the Dan Brown cover I might pick it up out of curiosity (which is probably what they are hoping for) but I would never buy it. If they tried to dupe me with the cover, I'm going to assume that the rest of the book is also a farce. Plus I think that's an unfair deception point.
(Get it? Deception Point is a Dan Brown novel. Me so funny.)
Suzanne says
I believe cover art is incredibly important to sales as it is the first thing that will get me to pickup a book and at least read the back cover. Once it's in my hands, it's up to the author to sell me on the purchase.
I'm surprised that authors have so little say in their cover art. Perhaps publishers have the perspective 'just leave this to the professionals'.
Emilie says
Look – I'd let a publisher put a naked baboon's but on the cover of my book – just so long as they would agree to publish it.
Genella deGrey says
A misleading cover is like false advertising, IMHO.
If I owned a publishing house, I would make bloody sure the details were seen to such as short brown hair vs. long red, blue eyes vs. green or the absolute worst— a contemp cover on a historical and vise versa.
The picture on the cover is just as important as spelling the names of the characters correctly in the back of the book blurb.
G.
Jumps down from her soap box*
Anna says
I just shared the end of this post with my sixteen-year-old daughter; we both agreed this will be the big teen movie in, say maybe, 2012…
Or perhaps not only for teens… I want to read Jennifer Hubbard's book!
Teen daughter returned to her own thing, then had to ask… Where did I get this info? I had to smile; only the agent blog I read daily. Nathan, thanks for raising my status, if only for today.
Jenn says
LOL…"The Agent Freakout".
Is that trademarked? 😉
Yat-Yee says
The Agent Freakout: to be filed away in toolbox.
Thermocline says
I get the point that this is what the Art Department does, but it seems like it might help to hear from the author before creating a cover. Call it Being Open To Inspiration rather than Post-Design Approval if that makes everyone feel better about guarding their turf.
Marsha Sigman says
Emilie: I love this-
'I'd let a publisher put a naked baboon's but on the cover of my book – just so long as they would agree to publish it.'
You could title it 'Zoo Tails'.
I am in complete agreement but I would freak on the name thing. After working so hard to get to that step, you better be able to tell I am the author.
Allison Brennan says
I tend to freak out about covers. I've been happy with most of my covers, but there were a few I really didn't like. I don't have cover approval, but they usually ask my opinion. Once they made changes that I wanted and the cover turned out fantastic, and they agreed that it worked better than the original. Once they didn't make changes that I wanted. I still cringe when I look at the cover. And then sometimes they get it right the first time and I'm stunned speechless, like with my first supernatural thriller that comes out next year.
They want books to sell–they want to make money. They put the best package they can together, taking into account genre, placement, format, target audience, marketing, sales, who your editor is, who your agent is, who you are, where you are on the list with your publisher, what other authors are coming out that month who are bigger than you (i.e. what cover treatments they have), and the discretion of the art director. Was he having a bad day? Then there's different visions for the book, different ideas of what is selling (or what WILL be selling 6 months from now) and the buyers (i.e. major accounts like walmart, target, BN, borders buyers who often have sway over cover treatments.) It's amazing that they get it right as often as they do. And it's amazing that when we all THINK it's the best cover on the planet, sometimes the book tanks. Or one month suddenly every cover is blue and the one that's red sells like hotcakes.
Mary says
An edition of Wuthering Heights was recently released in the UK with a cover that looks just like part of the Twilight Saga. Next to which it is conveniently positioned in a major supermarket, labelled “New”.
It’s sure to sell. But I imagine quite a few readers will feel mislead and be somewhat surprised by the story.
Margaret Yang says
Wow, you and I have completely opposite tastes as to what is a "stunning" cover. The ones you linked to aren't to my taste at all.
Funny old world, isn't it?
A Paperback Writer says
Secret Year looks great! 🙂
And the whole cover wars thing just makes me think that authors are going to rebel over this sometime soon….
sex scenes at starbucks says
I'm totally offended by that DAN BROWN in monstrous font on someone else's book. Especially cuz I don't love Dan Brown. His name is not a huge selling point for me personally. I also suspect it's that way more to reinstate Dan Brown into the mindset of the marketplace than to sell that book. (Pretty sure he has a book coming out soon?) But hell, maybe the author won't care, especially if it sells a ton of books.
Don't even get me started on LIAR (which I've heard is brilliant).
I'm all for marketing and sales. But at some point marketing crosses lines and sullies the art its trying to sell.
Ello says
I think the psychology of book covers is very interesting because I am a big "buy a book because of the cover" type person. It is also why I have quite a few books that I've bought and never finished because the book had nothing to do with the vibe that the cover gave. Case in point would be that Liar cover. I like reading books with an unreliable narrator. I think Ishiguro is one of the best authors for that type of narration. But I don't expect the publisher to lie to me about the character in the book. It would really irk me and destroy my desire to read the book. I don't know why they didn't keep the Australian cover – which was just the shadowy words of Liar – I found that much more effective and to the point of the book.
I also am a moody reader. The vibe of the book cover should match the mood I'm in. They went from an edgy cover to more of a chicklit cover. It's beautiful, but just not in keeping with the book. It's a lie – which when all is said and done actually does sort of fit for a book titled Liar. Hmmmm – maybe I understand their logic now? Still don't like it.
Marla Warren says
If you are an author, is there a limit to the number of Agent Freakouts you get in your career? It's probably not a good idea to use them up frivolously.
Mary says
I have just learned (perhaps later than everyone else on the planet) that Wuthering Heights has been repackaged to fit the Twilight look because it is “Bella and Edward’s favourite book.” While it is also being pushed as “a prequel to Twilight”… Which seems a marketing stretch too far.
nkrell says
Nathan, I like the positive way you ended this post.
Book covers are kind of like the Oscars, I guess. Sometimes, when you see what people wear on the red carpet, you think "They have ALL of that money and THAT is what they decide to wear?"
abc says
I love that cover for The Secret Year. It is very intriguing. And I also like it because it doesn't try to be Twilight. Love the Columbine cover, too. Just read that. Amazing! The Dan Brown thing makes me laugh. And cringe. I feel horrible for the Liar cover. And I feel horrible for all the YA novel writers with book covers that try to look like Twilight. Do I say this too much?
Looking forward to reading Jennifer's book. Juicy!
Keren David says
This whole debate has just made me appreciate all the more my wonderful publishers who have involved me at every stage of the cover design process. As a first time author I had no idea that this was such a rare honour. There are advantages to being published by a relatively small publisher.
My editor said – it's crazy to expect an author to sell something she doesn't like the look of. I love the cover they've come up with – and I'm still bugging them about the small details.
Other Lisa says
I'd read about the "Liar" cover. Seems to me that this situation called for an Agent Freakout, if ever one did. It's one thing to have some details wrong or for the cover to not be perfect, but to have one that falsely represents the book crosses the line, IMO. Especially with everyone so worried about declining readership, why would you want to p.o. a huge segment of potential readers?
The Dan Brown thing reminds me of a Monty Python sketch or something. Sheesh.
Very much looking forward to Jennifer Hubbard's book next year! And yeah, that is a great cover!
hannah says
Oh God, I cannot stop staring at Jennifer's cover. Beautiful.
Tamara Dever says
As a book designer I believe it's unthinkable to use an image on the cover that does not properly reflect the character in the story. We design for mainly small and independent publishers and have won many national awards. It takes little effort to ask the author to fill out a questionnaire describing the main characters and settings (among other details). Most book designers don't have the luxury of reading the entire book before creating its cover/interior. We should all rely on information from the author as well as publishers and distributors to create a unique, eye-catching, relevant, and saleable book. It's our job. Each author deserves to share their thoughts and ideas, but most aren't designers, so can't envision the grand possibilities. That's why this needs to be a partnership. We trust their passion for their story and they trust our expertise to make it shine!
Amy Cochran says
Wow. Nathan, in your fAQ post "Ten Commandments for the Happy Writer" under "2. Maintain your integrity." I think you need to add a subsection; a. When to freak out on a publishing company.
The cover for Liar isn't so bad. Actually I find it ironic and a bit funny. Deadline is somthing else completely. Its deceptive and just wrong. This is a perfect reason for an author or agent freak out.
The average person going into a bookstore doesn't understand the many facets of the literary world. These people have many misconceptions including; the author has control over all book decisions from begining to end.
If a guy sells cars for a living picks up this book and begins to read it he's going to be disgusted. Problem is he's not going to be digusted with the publishing company but the author; afterall it's the author's name on the cover. Even if the publishing company fixes the problem, the damage to the author's integrity is already done.
People talk and word of mouth can either raise you up or destroy you.
storyqueen says
Makes me want to get an agent just so I can someday experience somebody Freaking OUT on my behalf!!
Ahhh, the secret weapon……
Shelley
CindaChima says
Wow, I think STEPHENIE MEYER is going to love my next book in very large type.
I write for teens, and they totally judge a book by its cover. There was a huge argument at my publishing house over whether they could put roses in the corner of the cover (too girlie) even though the centerpiece was a gigormous sword.
Covers are TOTALLY important, and I've been very lucky with mine.
I have experienced the agent freakout, and it is awesome when you're not on the receiving end.
I know photos of people on covers are appealing, but they almost never match my personal concept of what characters look like. It's especially annoying if they come out with a photo cover after I've read the book.