Happy July: Free Books! Cover Competition!

[sarahtales]

So six of my friends and I were discussing US and UK covers one day, and we compared and constrasted and generally came to very few conclusions about the difference between US and UK covers. We were focusing on young adult covers, as we're all young adult authors, and I thought it might be interesting to share some of our waffling here. Possibly

Comments

[maeritrae]

This morning, my copy of The Forest of Hands and Teeth got posted. I'm looking forward to it! :D

[artemisfowl2nd]

When I bring a new hardcover book home, about the first thing I do is strip it of its jacket and put that somewhere safe. So in my mind's eye, your cover isn't a guy looking moody, it's half a sword on a bit of path. Therefore I was confused when we got to your covers in the list!

Speaking of Demon's Lexicon, I just wanted to mention that I quite like it. I've abandoned the books I was already in the middle of in order to start on it (terrible habit, I know), and it's sucked me in like a sucky thing. Great job!

[sarahtales]

Well I do have a deep love for my secret cover, but it would be cruel to show mine off when other people don't have one. *hugs secret cover to chest*

Very pleased you're enjoying!

[artemisfowl2nd]

It is a very nice secret cover! Unfortunately, if you show it off too much, it won't be a secret anymore. Mass hysteria will flood the streets. People will raid bookstores just to tear jackets from their books to reveal the secret covers. Then they won't be able to pay for the damage and that would be very sad for the bookstore owners.

[slythwolf]

I want to tell you, when I went to Barnes & Noble to purchase your book I had brought a friend along (to help me find it and also to drive in the city--I hate driving in the city), and when we found it, I was like, "LOOK LOOK IT HAS A SECRET COVER SEE ISN'T THAT AWESOME?!"

[ladyofsalzburg]

That's fascinating! I never knew that some books had covers which were completely different! Well, I knew they changed them but some of those are just... yes. I also love the foil covered books and can be amused by the shiny bits :)

I am however severely disappointed that they do not show the UK book covers on that voting link, aside from the fact that it doesn't open until tomorrow, when the UK covers are easily better.

[sarahtales]

Ah - ah - ah! What did I say, don't say it to me! Someone fetch the brandy...

[blamebrampton]

I agree with most of this. The only thing I would add is that when both UK and US covers feature people, whether photographed or illustrated, the US ones are almost always less 'real' person looking. Whether more made up (er, with make-up), or more PhotoShopped, or with a touch of the anime about them, American cover people look less like people one would ever meet. There is probably a town in Iowa where everyone looks like that.

[heatherbird]

I think it's actually in California.

[catherinehaines]

Here in New Zealand we seem to get odd mixes of UK and US covers. I don't know whether Australia is similar or leans more strongly towards one or the other, so someone else will have to comment on that respect

[sarahtales]

Why do people have to tell me about their preferences? *cries and clutches brandy and her US cover* Tell the competition, it upsets me!

Very interesting to know about the mix, though: I knew that the Mortal Instruments series sold with their US cover in Australia and NZ, and that my book sold with its UK cover, but little else.

Random House Germany, where Carrie and I both are, gives good cover. *uses German icon*

[rj_anderson]

*hands you the smelling salts, having already sampled them prodigiously*

[sarahtales]

Our children's faces!