Mmmm… Baguette of Lies…. can I have mine with extra mayo, please? 😉
Take Cover
9 years ago
The reflections work just fine. That’s exactly what I was doing when I looked at this cover.
Catie
9 years ago
This would be an ok cover if it didn’t look so plastic and fake. And if I see another drop shadow on a font, I’m going to scream.
Tanja Kobasic
9 years ago
Wow, Nathan, you’re still doing your thing, shaming artists and their work. I get it; not every cover shines and not every writer/author can afford the best cover designers, but it’s pretty cruel to publicly insult a person simply to make yourself feel important and get sales. It’s even sadder that there are others like you who actually add their shitty comments, taking pleasure out of this.
I’m not smug. Or all that moral. Look, there is NO denying that these cover are lousy. A crappy cover is just as bad as when a writer fails to hire an editor. As much as I’d like to bash these writers, I can’t bring myself to do so. It almost feels like a conflict of interest. Still, because of badly written books, poor interior designs, (covers too) self-published writers have to work that much harder in order to prove themselves. You are talented, Nathan—that much is true. But you can be a bit harsh. Why not contact the writers privately?
It’s not like indie authors have no venues for critiques and second opinions. That’s the kind of thing that a self-aware author should look for BEFORE publication. After it’s published — once the author declares to the world that his/her book is worth PAYING MONEY to experience — then the time for constructive criticism is past.
You’ll also note that the sister site to this one, CoverCritics.com, exists entirely to provide helpful pre-publication critiques. Like I said, there are resources available all over the place for authors who want them. The problem is that most DON’T. Just on this site, of the authors who’ve found their covers here and responded, it’s about a 1-to-3 ratio of “you’re right, my cover isn’t very good” to “UR TEH GAY IN YOUR MOMS BASEMENT.” (I’m only exaggerating very slightly, mostly in regards to grammar. Accusations of living with parents, of never having done anything good and thus needing to bash others to make ourselves feel good, and of certain non-majority sexual orientations are all to be found in the comments on this site.)
Your explanation is reasonable. I suppose it’s frustrating on your end, seeing such shoddy artwork. It’s equally frustrating when a cover or book-trailer can literally spoil what may have been a great book. Here’s my thing; what if your posts, (e.g. Bouquet of Lies), dissuaded potential readers from purchasing this author’s book? Then again, it goes back to the author’s inattention. It’s such a circle. Someone once said that your first book is like having your first child: you’ll make a lot of mistakes, but at least learn from them. I certainly did.
Are there really readers who would otherwise have bought the book, bad cover and all, except for the fact that (after bringing the book to their attention in the first place) I pointed out that the cover was bad?
I knew you’d say that. I wouldn’t. But there are others out there that may be intrigued, but hesitant. Your opinion could very well be the deciding factor. On another note; I’ve enjoyed our discussion.
![cover[1]](https://lousybookcovers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/cover117.jpg)
Those aren’t glasses, they are little TVs showing the Men’s room mirror.
I really wish the title was what I originally misread it as: “Mystery, Murder, and Love laced within a Baguette of Lies.”
I can be a very lazy reader.
Baguette of Lies…I might read something like that for the title alone. 🙂
Mmmm… Baguette of Lies…. can I have mine with extra mayo, please? 😉
The reflections work just fine. That’s exactly what I was doing when I looked at this cover.
This would be an ok cover if it didn’t look so plastic and fake. And if I see another drop shadow on a font, I’m going to scream.
Wow, Nathan, you’re still doing your thing, shaming artists and their work. I get it; not every cover shines and not every writer/author can afford the best cover designers, but it’s pretty cruel to publicly insult a person simply to make yourself feel important and get sales. It’s even sadder that there are others like you who actually add their shitty comments, taking pleasure out of this.
And it’s even sadder that you’re still whining TEH INTERNET IS TEH MEAN!!1!
Who the hell is whining?
Oh, I’m sorry. “Bringing to bear your smug moral authority.” Is that better?
I’m not smug. Or all that moral. Look, there is NO denying that these cover are lousy. A crappy cover is just as bad as when a writer fails to hire an editor. As much as I’d like to bash these writers, I can’t bring myself to do so. It almost feels like a conflict of interest. Still, because of badly written books, poor interior designs, (covers too) self-published writers have to work that much harder in order to prove themselves. You are talented, Nathan—that much is true. But you can be a bit harsh. Why not contact the writers privately?
Here’s why not:
It’s not like indie authors have no venues for critiques and second opinions. That’s the kind of thing that a self-aware author should look for BEFORE publication. After it’s published — once the author declares to the world that his/her book is worth PAYING MONEY to experience — then the time for constructive criticism is past.
You’ll also note that the sister site to this one, CoverCritics.com, exists entirely to provide helpful pre-publication critiques. Like I said, there are resources available all over the place for authors who want them. The problem is that most DON’T. Just on this site, of the authors who’ve found their covers here and responded, it’s about a 1-to-3 ratio of “you’re right, my cover isn’t very good” to “UR TEH GAY IN YOUR MOMS BASEMENT.” (I’m only exaggerating very slightly, mostly in regards to grammar. Accusations of living with parents, of never having done anything good and thus needing to bash others to make ourselves feel good, and of certain non-majority sexual orientations are all to be found in the comments on this site.)
Your explanation is reasonable. I suppose it’s frustrating on your end, seeing such shoddy artwork. It’s equally frustrating when a cover or book-trailer can literally spoil what may have been a great book. Here’s my thing; what if your posts, (e.g. Bouquet of Lies), dissuaded potential readers from purchasing this author’s book? Then again, it goes back to the author’s inattention. It’s such a circle. Someone once said that your first book is like having your first child: you’ll make a lot of mistakes, but at least learn from them. I certainly did.
Are there really readers who would otherwise have bought the book, bad cover and all, except for the fact that (after bringing the book to their attention in the first place) I pointed out that the cover was bad?
I knew you’d say that. I wouldn’t. But there are others out there that may be intrigued, but hesitant. Your opinion could very well be the deciding factor. On another note; I’ve enjoyed our discussion.
Authors don’t need the best cover designers, just competent ones. Those guys (and gals) are affordable. Don’t know where to find them? Start here.
That is true. Great site, by the way.
Thanks!