Just to check, Wolflover: you’re not connected to the author by any chance, are you?
Wolflover
8 years ago
I am the author. Comment is free, or it should be! I did not design the cover, however. I agree that the Kindle cover is inferior and I am planning to change it.
red
8 years ago
On the print cover, the thing I have the most trouble with is that the hair style and facial features of the little girl remind me of those of a woman in her sixties or seventies who has been a lifelong chain smoker. That gives me mixed messages about the target audience of the book. The perspective is a little off, and the windows might be made more regular so they look more architectural, but otherwise I think the cover is in character.
My condolences on the e-book cover, though, and I’m glad you are doing something about it.
Wolflover
8 years ago
I’m glad you think the cover is in character. Of course, not everyone can be beautiful, not even little girls.
True…but when peddling fantasy, all little girls certainly want to fantasize about being beautiful. This then, is why you don’t see a lot of ugly heroines or unattractive heroes.
Wolflover
8 years ago
I don’t agree with red’s comments about her appearance. She isn’t beautiful, but I don’t think she is ugly either. I may be peddling fantasy, but I am not peddling the beauty stereotype, and in the story her appearance is irrelevant.
I don’t believe I said anything about ugliness or beautiness. What I did say was that the little girl reminds me of much older woman because of her hair style and facial features. The mixed messages suggest something along the line of a romantic liaison between a cougar and a large wolf, which, for someone doing shopping for grandkids, might translate into “no sale.”
Wolflover
8 years ago
This is an interesting reaction that I have not had from other people. Does anyone else on here think that 13th-century Flora, aged eight or nine, looks like a “cougar”?
Jim D.
8 years ago
I think she looks like a small adult, not a child–not even close.
Wolflover – I just want to say that it is refreshing to encounter an author on this site that is curious about other peoples’ reactions and open to some criticism.
It shows me you want to be a better author. I applaud that.
Wolflover
8 years ago
Well, thank you. Incidentally, whose blog is this? Is it a cover-designer’s, by any chance?
I have put Nathan’s site into my bookmarks for possible future reference. However, I think that the title “Lousy Book Covers” is a bit harsh for indie writers who are doing their best. I’ve glanced at some other covers slammed here as being “lousy” and some of the comments saying, for example, that a cover “sucks” are simply not helpful.
![71qNMNchHbL[1]](https://lousybookcovers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/71qNMNchHbL1.jpg)
![cover[1]](https://lousybookcovers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/cover139.jpg)
While it isn’t great, I’ll take the print version over the ebook.
Ditto, but only if it’s a children’s book. The ebook version makes it look like a poorly-written paranormal romance.
Well, upon checking the Amazon page, it appears to be a children’s book. Print version it is!
I’ll generally take the bad drawing over the boring cut-and-paste photo cover, because at least someone spent time on it, even if it ended very badly.
It is a children’s book, and I think the print cover is delightful.
That’s a very big wolf on the print version. Or else a very small girl. One or t’other.
A small girl – see the story.
Just to check, Wolflover: you’re not connected to the author by any chance, are you?
I am the author. Comment is free, or it should be! I did not design the cover, however. I agree that the Kindle cover is inferior and I am planning to change it.
On the print cover, the thing I have the most trouble with is that the hair style and facial features of the little girl remind me of those of a woman in her sixties or seventies who has been a lifelong chain smoker. That gives me mixed messages about the target audience of the book. The perspective is a little off, and the windows might be made more regular so they look more architectural, but otherwise I think the cover is in character.
My condolences on the e-book cover, though, and I’m glad you are doing something about it.
I’m glad you think the cover is in character. Of course, not everyone can be beautiful, not even little girls.
True…but when peddling fantasy, all little girls certainly want to fantasize about being beautiful. This then, is why you don’t see a lot of ugly heroines or unattractive heroes.
I don’t agree with red’s comments about her appearance. She isn’t beautiful, but I don’t think she is ugly either. I may be peddling fantasy, but I am not peddling the beauty stereotype, and in the story her appearance is irrelevant.
I don’t believe I said anything about ugliness or beautiness. What I did say was that the little girl reminds me of much older woman because of her hair style and facial features. The mixed messages suggest something along the line of a romantic liaison between a cougar and a large wolf, which, for someone doing shopping for grandkids, might translate into “no sale.”
This is an interesting reaction that I have not had from other people. Does anyone else on here think that 13th-century Flora, aged eight or nine, looks like a “cougar”?
I think she looks like a small adult, not a child–not even close.
OK. Very small. Anyone else?
Yes. Her facial features appear more small adult than child.
I am going to do a straw poll on this. I have replaced the original Kindle cover by this one.
Wolflover – I just want to say that it is refreshing to encounter an author on this site that is curious about other peoples’ reactions and open to some criticism.
It shows me you want to be a better author. I applaud that.
Well, thank you. Incidentally, whose blog is this? Is it a cover-designer’s, by any chance?
It’s mine, and yes, I do some cover design on the side.
Yes, and Nathan gives away a lot of free advice to authors and other cover designers and people contemplating self-publishing.
You should check out Nathan’s constructive criticism site: CoverCritics.com.
I have put Nathan’s site into my bookmarks for possible future reference. However, I think that the title “Lousy Book Covers” is a bit harsh for indie writers who are doing their best. I’ve glanced at some other covers slammed here as being “lousy” and some of the comments saying, for example, that a cover “sucks” are simply not helpful.
It isn’t really a site to be helpful on to be honest. It is really more of a place to crack jokes.
If someone asks nicely for help, we certainly will help though. We are pretty good like that.
There is also http://www.covercritics.com where it is required that we be helpful. 🙂
Thanks!