Book Covers and What They Mean

I've been hammering away a new book. It's not complete yet, but that's ok. The important part, the book cover, is already complete. I use the same artist for all of my book covers because I've found someone that I can work with. I trust my artist and that's not something that comes easily.

If you've ever written a book, you know it can be a deeply personal thing, and sharing that creative output is difficult. Finding the cover for your work can be quick and easy, as simple as choosing a generic design or free piece of artwork. But what if you want something special? Something that reflects not only your writing, but your style? What if you want something unique? Well, for that you are going to need someone with actual talent.

I always see posts fly by on Twitter, offering various services such as custom covers, designs on demand, and other kind of cookie-cutter rubber stamps. I would urge everyone to take some time, get to know the artist, and see if they get what you are trying to convey. I don't begrudge people who print up 500 cover ideas and then just sell them off as people find one that sort of fits their book. But that reminds me of those bodice-ripper covers you used to see on certain romance novels in the 80's or 90's. They were fairly generic, just some guy and some girl in similar kind of clothes in some romantic setting like a mountain or in front of a fire, whatever.

My point is those were mass-produced. There are several great, iconic covers that could have been paintings on their own. That is what I think a book cover should be, it should be art, in and of itself. Your cover should feature something that people would want to look at, even if it wasn't associated with your writing at all. Why would you want to work with anyone who didn't value their craft as much as you value yours?

Again, I am in no way belittling the people who churn out cover after cover. It's a rough job and someone has to do it. Generic book covers are a huge market now with digital publishing and ebooks. There's nothing wrong with doing something you like for a living, and I wish you well. I just feel strongly that book covers should be a connection between two artists.


Just my two cents.

What do you think?