“Oh man, there’s another giant mosquito on our window.”
“Squished it!”
“Ya think we should wash the glass? After killing all those bugs, we can barely see the tiger outside.”
“Nah, leave it dirty. That way the tigers can’t watch us while we’re watching the TV and eatin’ our Cheetos. I hear that them tigers hate the Cheetos cheetah, so best to keep the windows blurry.”
“Yeah, if we can’t really see the tiger, then it can’t see us. Pass the munchies.”
red
9 years ago
I think that’s the clearest photo of Nessie I’ve ever seen.
“Maybe if you read the book you will understand the cover.”
News flash, chief: If I gotta read the book to appreciate the cover, YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG.
Arthur Moore
9 years ago
I wasn’t a chief sorry to disappoint. Didn’t know there was such a thing as book cover critics. Do you guys even read books? This book could have a blank cover and still sell because of its contents.
AJ
Imagine how much better this book could be selling with a better cover, or heck, even a blank one.
It has very decent amazon reviews and a loyal following. If you enjoyed this book, and think the author is worthy of defending, why not try and help make it more of a success?
This cover is bad, if you can’t see that, no one can help you. It has a blurry photo, a random bullet wound, and honestly a pretty racist looking font.
Why not help them and make it better? Why not give them $50 so they can hire a designer to make them something nice.
I made this book a quick cover. It is a 10 minute job, but personally I think it suits the book better.
Feel free to disagree if you wish.
If you are the author, you may have it. It was made with a free to use photo. If you are not the author, let me know and I will send it to the email listed on their amazon page.
I don’t even require credit. Just have it. If you use it though, tell me and I will put it up as a blog post and link your book.
Not only does everyone here read, but many of us are in the industry in one form or another. Waff is an author. Nathan and some of the others design covers, both professionally and some as hobbyists. I own an eBook-making company that produces books for everybody from authors you’ve never heard of to Pulitzer-winners, and thousands (literally) in-between.
I tell you honestly, no matter how near and dear that image is to your or your friend’s heart, it’s hurting the sales of that book. It’s pretty bad. And nobody will read that story, if they have to overcome the cover first. If your cover is an obstacle, no one will ever see the book. Don’t damage it by hanging on to an image that looks like you don’t care. Include the image somewhere else–in frontmatter, or in the book with a caption. Don’t use it for the cover.
Lastly, remember that 99.99% of all possible readers will solely see that cover 1″ wide and 1.5″ tall, as a thumbnail–at BEST. Nobody–probably not even those who click through–will EVER see the “Actual Photo taken…” text. It’s nearly impossible to see, even full-size, never mind in thumbnail size. Whether or not anyone here could have snapped that shot (FYI: I served, not long after this image was taken) is irrelevant. What matters is: will someone see it, be grabbed by it, click through to see what the book is about? THAT is what matters.
A bleeding heart until someone actually helps you I see…
Naaman Brown
9 years ago
A book cover is supposed to sell a book to people who have not read it. It’s an advertisement. An illustration belongs inside a book near the text describing it.
![cover[1]](https://lousybookcovers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/cover170.jpg)
“Oh man, there’s another giant mosquito on our window.”
“Squished it!”
“Ya think we should wash the glass? After killing all those bugs, we can barely see the tiger outside.”
“Nah, leave it dirty. That way the tigers can’t watch us while we’re watching the TV and eatin’ our Cheetos. I hear that them tigers hate the Cheetos cheetah, so best to keep the windows blurry.”
“Yeah, if we can’t really see the tiger, then it can’t see us. Pass the munchies.”
I think that’s the clearest photo of Nessie I’ve ever seen.
{sigh}. May The Font Be With You–but not THIS one!
Chinese Takeout? Really? Of all the Asian-influenced fonts he could have used and he used Chinese Takeout?
Maybe if you read the book you will understand the cover.
This man is a war hero, trying to tell his story and you want to criticize the cover.
The picture on the front cover is a authentic photo from a US soldier in 1967.
Would you have been able to snap that shot?
Read the book, then criticize.
Arthur J. Moore Jr.
US Navy Veteran.
“Maybe if you read the book you will understand the cover.”
News flash, chief: If I gotta read the book to appreciate the cover, YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG.
I wasn’t a chief sorry to disappoint. Didn’t know there was such a thing as book cover critics. Do you guys even read books? This book could have a blank cover and still sell because of its contents.
AJ
Imagine how much better this book could be selling with a better cover, or heck, even a blank one.
It has very decent amazon reviews and a loyal following. If you enjoyed this book, and think the author is worthy of defending, why not try and help make it more of a success?
This cover is bad, if you can’t see that, no one can help you. It has a blurry photo, a random bullet wound, and honestly a pretty racist looking font.
Why not help them and make it better? Why not give them $50 so they can hire a designer to make them something nice.
I guess no one can help me. You hurt my feelings.
Help you? Are you the author? I assumed you were a loyal fan.
Are you Charles A. MacDonald?
Now someone has helped you. Pay it forward.
I made this book a quick cover. It is a 10 minute job, but personally I think it suits the book better.
Feel free to disagree if you wish.
If you are the author, you may have it. It was made with a free to use photo. If you are not the author, let me know and I will send it to the email listed on their amazon page.
I don’t even require credit. Just have it. If you use it though, tell me and I will put it up as a blog post and link your book.
Have a good day!
NO!
You are doing it wrong – If we start actually helping people we’ll run out of material.
Sorry, you’re right – that will never happen.
But it sets a bad precedent!
“This book could have a blank cover and still sell”
This isn’t quite completely blank, but . . .
http://i.imgur.com/L0O20kX.png
Again! We are here to be mean and ornery. Stop helping!
(I kid.)
Mr. Moore:
I strongly urge you to read this article: http://www.creativindie.com/5-common-book-cover-design-myths-most-indie-authors-believe/ and THEN read this one: http://www.creativindie.com/8-cover-design-secrets-publishers-use-to-manipulate-readers-into-buying-books/ .
Not only does everyone here read, but many of us are in the industry in one form or another. Waff is an author. Nathan and some of the others design covers, both professionally and some as hobbyists. I own an eBook-making company that produces books for everybody from authors you’ve never heard of to Pulitzer-winners, and thousands (literally) in-between.
I tell you honestly, no matter how near and dear that image is to your or your friend’s heart, it’s hurting the sales of that book. It’s pretty bad. And nobody will read that story, if they have to overcome the cover first. If your cover is an obstacle, no one will ever see the book. Don’t damage it by hanging on to an image that looks like you don’t care. Include the image somewhere else–in frontmatter, or in the book with a caption. Don’t use it for the cover.
Lastly, remember that 99.99% of all possible readers will solely see that cover 1″ wide and 1.5″ tall, as a thumbnail–at BEST. Nobody–probably not even those who click through–will EVER see the “Actual Photo taken…” text. It’s nearly impossible to see, even full-size, never mind in thumbnail size. Whether or not anyone here could have snapped that shot (FYI: I served, not long after this image was taken) is irrelevant. What matters is: will someone see it, be grabbed by it, click through to see what the book is about? THAT is what matters.
Offered FWIW.
A bleeding heart until someone actually helps you I see…
A book cover is supposed to sell a book to people who have not read it. It’s an advertisement. An illustration belongs inside a book near the text describing it.