You’re right! It’s meant to be a tribute. 🙂 I suppose it isn’t for everyone. I’m polling people now to see if they agree with you all, though. If a lot of people express similar concerns, I’ll change the covers. Thanks for taking an interest in my book!
I’ve got no problem with the Metropolis homage; I think it’s the type treatment that sinks this cover. You’ve got:
1) Vertical type
2) An unfamiliar name in the title
3) A hard-to-read, ugly font
Any one of these would make the title harder to read; all three of them together renders it nigh-on impossible. (One of Nathan’s unwritten rules is “If your title is dominated by an unfamiliar word, at least make it easy to read.”)
And just to add to our pleasure it’s a serial novel! I took a look and all the others use exactly the same format. I guess when you hit on a winning formula you stick with it… At least the author will, when she finds one…
Michael Waller
11 years ago
Is the wearing a chin strap tied to two buildings?
I’ll go ahead and make the obvious point, that this is a lightly redrawn poster for the classic film “Metropolis.”
You’re right! It’s meant to be a tribute. 🙂 I suppose it isn’t for everyone. I’m polling people now to see if they agree with you all, though. If a lot of people express similar concerns, I’ll change the covers. Thanks for taking an interest in my book!
I’ve got no problem with the Metropolis homage; I think it’s the type treatment that sinks this cover. You’ve got:
1) Vertical type
2) An unfamiliar name in the title
3) A hard-to-read, ugly font
Any one of these would make the title harder to read; all three of them together renders it nigh-on impossible. (One of Nathan’s unwritten rules is “If your title is dominated by an unfamiliar word, at least make it easy to read.”)
I copied the font from the poster in question. You can see it here: http://sophia-martin.blogspot.com/2013/03/cover-of-part-one.html
I’m not arguing, though. I’m currently looking at how I can redesign the cover since others have agreed that the font is hard to read. Thanks again.
Wouldn’t it be great if the whole book was written in this top-to-bottom style instead of the boring and conventional left-to-right style.
And just to add to our pleasure it’s a serial novel! I took a look and all the others use exactly the same format. I guess when you hit on a winning formula you stick with it… At least the author will, when she finds one…
Is the wearing a chin strap tied to two buildings?
Nice cuboid hat she’s wearing – although I think she’s possibly strung that giant transparent ribbon a little too tightly under the neck…