The Importance of Book Covers

I do wish the days of coloured hardbacks would return and get rid of the silly paperback covers which have to be so brilliant to get anyone to buy your book. I didn’t need an image on a cover to read a good book. I read the blurb/synopsis at the library or bookstore and …well read the book.

Now it’s all graphic design and it has to be a certain type for each book to be a winner and get sales. I hate this and I’ll tell you why.  I personally don’t want to see naked male chests on my book covers. It’s not me. The reader should be reading the story because of the enticing synopsis on the back.  

A lovely person gave me the link to Amazons top 100 books for a certain genre…it also linked into the top 100 FREE Books and since I was experimenting, I decided to do with five of the FREE books to see what I thought.  I downloaded on the cover alone. Then read the synopsis…and then the story. OMG!!

Why would an author pay out hundreds for the perfect book cover and not an editor or interior book designer? All five stories had issues. One was all over the place with first-person mixed with third person, etc. Another had what looked like huge chunks left out or not written in the first place, a third one was a bear shifter story, it was cool, fun and funny and by the time I got to the end I realised the Main Character had not shifted once in the story. Sex scenes in another were much to be desired.

Now to my own books. My book covers aren’t great, they are ok and I do update and change them as well, especially if I have the money to spare. However, I do try and get the editing sorted and the interior design…I’m pedantic about interiors. It has to be as perfect as I can get it and it’s my day time job to do this. I love formatting.

As for the stories. Well most people I know who have read them, usually say ‘I want more’ or ‘When’s the next book out’ or even ‘You’re going to continue…’  I’m good with dialogue and I try to not be too boring with the background. 

What I’m really asking is, would you prefer to buy a book with a fab cover and a wonky story or…read the synopsis and get a good story with a not so good cover?