Sunday 30 October 2011

The Australian cover for Skin Deep

It's interesting to see the difference. The Australian editor at Egmont felt this was better suited to their market than the UK cover.
On the question of how much say the writer gets over the covers with large publishing houses, the answer is very little. However, I view it like going to the hairdresser. I pay my stylist, Alan, to know exactly what he's doing and what will work with my hair so I tell him the approximate length I want it to be and then I leave him to get on with choosing the style because he's the expert, not me.
I'm happy with both of these covers, but it was fascinating to see how differently they turned out.

5 comments:

  1. Hmmmm, as a book cover designer I know the markets are very different - (as are the UK and the US markets to each other.) Although the cover works well as a design, I don't think it shows the poignancy and beauty of a young relationship like the UK cover does. But - hey - if it sells gazillions it's all good :)

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  2. It is interesting, isn't it. I actually love this cover - visually I love it more than the other one but I see what Bernie means about whether it represents content quite as effectively.

    But... the stylist/colourist analogy is spot on. These people know their stuff and books ARE judged by their covers (why else have one?), so going with the flow has to be the right policy.

    Do they also alter cover blurb for different markets? I mean presumably they would, if they saw it as necessary - and for entirely different cultures it probably is - but for English speaking cultures are we much the same in what lures us textually?

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  3. I like the OZ cover better, Laura. That's something which would catch my eye -- I would like to know what the story is about. Whereas the UK cover automatically says: love story. I don't know the book, didn't look at the blurb, it's just my immediate reaction to it.

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  4. I actually love the Aussie cover more! It's fun.

    Didn't know you had a blog. So thrilled for you. xoxox

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  5. Same !!!
    I´m loving Skinf deep and I´m going to buy By any other name too :)

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