Change cover?

[Carol_Zanetti]

I published my memoir Legacy of Guilt here on Lulu a few years ago, but I never properly marketed it - my own fault, long story. Therefore only a few copies have ever been sold. But since then I have realized how much I dislike my book's cover and want to change it. Has anyone done this? Suggestions? Is it a good idea or not? I'm thinkning about it now because I want to make the book available as an ebook. I'd love it if someone would check out my cover art and give me some feedback. Don't worry, I won't be offended if you are brutally honest. I'm still not sure what I was thinking when I picked the color, although the photo isn't bad, just not right. Thanks everyone!

[Ken Anderson]

It always helps to post a link so that folks can see what you are talking about. You can change the cover at any time but perhaps making an EPUB offers the impetus. Just remember the cover or marketing image for an EPUB is always quite small so it's only a small proportion of the marketing effort.

[Carol_Zanetti]

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/legacy-of-guilt/1869218

Oops, sorry!

[waypublishing]

Hello Carol,
I had a look at your cover and from first impressions I'd have to say it looked like a POD type cover -( solid colour with single photo and then title and name.)

Initially when I read the title I thought it was going to be the memoirs of a woman that's cheated her way through several husbands or something so I had to take a quick look inside to see what the book was about. By doing so my initial feeling was one of being lost or overwhelmed by life a little... Maybe a cover image that reflects that somehow?

The photo, though memorable, does not lead me to think its the book for me though.

The way I go about things is to write a list of 'who' my ideal reader is. I picture them in my mind in every perfect detail, I know where they shop, what kind of house they live in, what car they drive etc.... every detail I can.

Then I set to work on a cover or image that would immediately grab them. For me, we all judge books by their covers so it is important. (as are first impressions).

I feel that a cover needs to be enough to GRAB the potential reader. It needs to stand out and speak directly to them. And it MUST compel them to want to flip the book over and read the blurb.

The blurb is where you then sell the book.

So, 5 second ATTENTION GRABBER of a cover design so you get an extra 20 seconds of someone to read the blurb... the blurb should pull the reader through and convince them to buy it.

lastly, the price seemed a little steep for me but I don't know your market at all.

Good luck and well done on actually completing your book!

Joel

[kevinlomas]

I have no idea what a POD cover is, because it's just a method of printing one off items. Anyway ...

There's no Preview of the cover, so one can only go off the small image. To be honest, it looks OKish. Period photo etc., but perhaps lighten the background to match the photo colour?

Although, the photo does not really match the description. Read it again and see if the photo reflects that. They do not even look Asian!

Get the picture? (You cannot use that though!)

[Carol_Zanetti]

Thanks, Joel and Kevin, for your excellent suggestions and comments. You're both so right. Not sure what I was thinking, but I wish I would have put a lot more thought into it. Kevin's comments just prove what Joel said, because the photo does not match the story until you actually read the book, and even then it's not very clear. To be honest, I think by that point I was so exhausted from editing and formatting that I did not give the cover and blurb the attention they should have required. Thanks, Joel, for pointing that out. I hope someone reads this thread before they make the same mistakes.

Will definitely give these comments a lot of thought. I am seriously considering taking the whole thing down, completely redoing the cover (and yes doing a whole new ISBN if I have to) and making a few other editorial and cosmetic changes.

Thanks for replying. It's appreciated. 

[kevinlomas]

Oh many people do make the same mistakes, then ask for advice, and then get very nasty about it! People also put books up for review, already published, that are riddled with real glaring problems, and they get even nastier if it's pointed out! What you have done is to actually ASK if people think you have done the right thing. Well done!
No need to take it down. For now it is OK. We are just very pedantic! Sort a new cover out and when you have, then recreate the Project.

[ellabella]

I'm having the same problem- but just can't seem to find out how to change the front cover...It's probably really obvious but can anyone help? thanks

[ellabella]

I should also say, my cover is a one-piece image

[Peter May]

Create youR new cover

Revise your book

Upload the new cover

If the book is in distribution you may need a new ISBN - ceratinly if you change the title or contents but I am nor sure aboutthe cover image, so you need to check.