tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post1015334733613559287..comments2024-03-27T11:18:53.456-07:00Comments on Temple of the Seven Golden Camels: On Book Covers and What Makes Them "Lousy"mark kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953166248647413142noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-7727117786404666322013-04-03T19:24:11.040-07:002013-04-03T19:24:11.040-07:00This was a fantastic post! A few months ago I spen...This was a fantastic post! A few months ago I spent a ton of time looking at different covers trying to decide what direction to go with, and I'll definitely keep this post in mind when I have to do the next one. The dark and light and contrast in particular are things I hadn't thought much about before. I really love the simplicity of some covers, and the ones that focus purely on typography. It's amazing some of the things you can make with simple fonts.<br /><br />Also, just as a side note, someone tried to talk me into hiring them to make one of those "random objects photoshopped together" covers, (I said no, of course) but I worry about how many of those covers writers spent a lot of money on. So I appreciate you emphasizing that using the covers wasn't for mocking, it was for learning from their mistakes.Ginahttp://xisney.net/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-4411169373996354712013-03-21T21:42:50.170-07:002013-03-21T21:42:50.170-07:00In general I agree, but a lot of the book covers o...In general I agree, but a lot of the book covers one sees these days are not just simple, they're completely generic and forgettable. I can't tell you what was on the cover of the last three books I read. As they were all mysteries, I'm guessing looming trees, a silhouette in an alley and maybe some windows at night, all squelched through a photoshop filter. But I love pulling out my fantasy books to look at Josh Kirby's chaotic Discworld covers or the detailed and ethereal covers by Kinuko Craft or James Jean's beautiful covers for Fables.JCWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11871824435341765594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-63620874697096734962013-03-06T22:55:40.507-08:002013-03-06T22:55:40.507-08:00Now, I just finished editing my fiction in the fir...Now, I just finished editing my fiction in the first place. I have three nonfiction books published today. Their advice and translation coverage make this book a success from the start. I learned a lot of useful information here. Thank you.CS-Cart Developmenthttp://www.hitechito.com/technology/open-source-technologies/cs-cart-development.phpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-40108761777014730262013-02-20T00:50:49.595-08:002013-02-20T00:50:49.595-08:00Thank you very much for sharing nice post. It is v...Thank you very much for sharing nice post. It is very useful to authors.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.hiredotnetdeveloperindia.com/hire-dot-net-developer.php" rel="nofollow">Hire .Net Developer of India</a>Rebecca Marshalhttp://www.hiredotnetdeveloperindia.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-10154144549609748142013-02-02T10:44:55.110-08:002013-02-02T10:44:55.110-08:00Jonah - thanks! Glad you liked the post. I'll ...Jonah - thanks! Glad you liked the post. I'll check out your cover!<br /><br />Steve - thanks for the links! I'll check them out.<br /><br />Christian - I don't know...I guess it's counter-intuitive to keep it simple. Seems the same with drawing.<br /><br />Luca - well put!<br /><br />Lucy - thanks for the comment!<br /><br />Rebecca - great, I'm glad it helped!<br /><br />candy - great, glad you enjoyed it!<br /><br />David - I don't know, really - even the story artists I know don't post much storyboard art. Chris Sanders (link on my sidebar) recently posted some Croods storyboards. Check out the Bill Peet link for some classic examples of story type drawings. Hope that helps!<br /><br />Anya - yes, good point.<br /><br />Alice - that's great!<br /><br />Myrna - that's great, good luck!<br /><br />Lev - true, but I still think a simple, conservative design denotes sophistication, and that's a big part of what readers look for in a book written for adults.<br /><br />Adrijus - glad you enjoyed it!mark kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11953166248647413142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-13945829975905914662013-02-01T05:38:52.017-08:002013-02-01T05:38:52.017-08:00Pretty good post! Good advice. Useful to authors w...Pretty good post! Good advice. Useful to authors who do their own covers too. I'd add that cropping is also a problem sometimes with bad cuts. <br /><br />Good post, keep them coming if you have more, authors will appreciate it.Adrijus G.http://www.rockingbookcovers.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-35221240729851125592013-01-31T09:09:41.630-08:002013-01-31T09:09:41.630-08:00You're forgetting that with big names like Gri...You're forgetting that with big names like Grisham, their books are pre-sold. Covers don't matter, the names do. Hence those simple covers by best-selling authors above.Lev Raphaelhttp://www.levraphael.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-32753801507270572792013-01-31T08:18:33.716-08:002013-01-31T08:18:33.716-08:00I have just completed and now editing my first fic...I have just completed and now editing my first fiction book. I have 3 published non-fiction books now. Your cover hints and suggestions will make this book a success from the start. I learned a lot of useful info here. Thank you.Myrna Lou Goldbaumhttp://www.myrnaloupalmistry.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-32801153045546503072013-01-31T05:55:24.228-08:002013-01-31T05:55:24.228-08:00This was so helpful. While I was reading it, the i...This was so helpful. While I was reading it, the idea for my cover came into my head. Simple with only two colors. Thank you.Alice Plouchard Stelzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07384486729930457218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-21941820163799933962013-01-28T09:16:35.082-08:002013-01-28T09:16:35.082-08:00Thanks for bringing up fantasy book covers, since ...Thanks for bringing up fantasy book covers, since I was about to get all sad for a second ;-). I generally use fantasy scenes on covers as a cue as to whether I want to read the book or not, and the gender of the character (since I'm in the mood for female main characters right now), and the type of magical/supernatural stuff that is shown. All of this means that I will pass by a book that has too boring of a cover ;-). It still has to be darn pretty though! This means that fantasy indie books might have it harder than other genres since it costs money to get a professional illustration done, whereas it's not as difficult to pull off a simple and dramatic "just text" cover.<br /><br />-<a href="http://www.onstarshipsanddragonwings.com" rel="nofollow">Anya @ On Starships and Dragonwings</a>Anya @ On Starships and Dragonwingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11966260114472122150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-38609565055401627832013-01-26T12:17:47.474-08:002013-01-26T12:17:47.474-08:00Hi Mark,
I'm looking for blogs on storyboard...Hi Mark, <br /><br />I'm looking for blogs on storyboarding. I'm new to the game and want some tips and tricks like I get from your site. It doesn't look like Story Bored gets much action. Can you give me some names of some people you know who do storyboards? I thought about clicking the links to the side, but figured you could just tell me much quicker. Thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16459256492389300615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-26833429436159493982013-01-21T02:20:37.780-08:002013-01-21T02:20:37.780-08:00Thanks so much for explaining this so clearly. I&#...Thanks so much for explaining this so clearly. I'm off to tweet!Roz Morris aka @Roz_Morris . Blog: Nail Your Novelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088813423467048081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-55317929509529741002013-01-20T11:52:47.913-08:002013-01-20T11:52:47.913-08:00Thank you for a very insightful and as always deta...Thank you for a very insightful and as always detailed post! I have alot of trouble with covers and poster design, this is really helpful :)Rebecca Burgesshttp://www.rebeccaburgess.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-3677056242351524972013-01-19T17:43:09.106-08:002013-01-19T17:43:09.106-08:00Great post! thanks!Great post! thanks!Lucy Makuchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13081266226664679361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-37240120227572160542013-01-18T15:32:12.720-08:002013-01-18T15:32:12.720-08:00Maybe it's just me, but I seem to notice this ...<br />Maybe it's just me, but I seem to notice this trend in complicated covers more in superhero comics, whereas indie comics tend to feature very minimalistic or direct designs. Much like scifi/fantasy books, comics engage the senses, so it makes sense that they would (and to some degree should) represent their high visual standard from the get-go. Much like everything else in comics, balancing this visual dynamism with a simple consumer-friendly aesthetic is a tricky proposition. Luca Careynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-1460215873436745042013-01-18T01:09:56.768-08:002013-01-18T01:09:56.768-08:00What is it with people using a ton of color?What is it with people using a ton of color?Christian Kawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00583273131504443585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-54691950580430995732013-01-17T23:46:37.472-08:002013-01-17T23:46:37.472-08:00Love the blog, love the post, and I'm excited ...Love the blog, love the post, and I'm excited to see your analysis of comic covers. Can I suggest some reference? Ryan Ottley: http://wya.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=288#/d1h0mzv<br />Cory Walker: http://www.pfspublishing.com/.a/6a0133f2f53db3970b0148c7db164d970c-320wi<br /><br />They're two of my favorites in comics for different reasons.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02153995703618648905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23438334.post-20297617461072119312013-01-17T22:20:54.641-08:002013-01-17T22:20:54.641-08:00Awesome post. It seems like less is more when it c...Awesome post. It seems like less is more when it comes to book covers.<br /><br />I did a book cover project last semester at school, I chose Animal Farm: http://imgur.com/qIPdP<br /><br />Jonah Sidhomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16944348629411387452noreply@blogger.com