I was poking around Amazon this morning (I'm not one of those paranoid authors who checks her Amazon stats constantly--just a couple times a week), and wondered if they'd posted the cover for the large-print edition yet.Oh yes.
And, oh, is it BAD.
What is that? It has to be the absolute WORST skull and crossbones I have ever seen. I mean, it looks like I might have drawn it! (And I have no artistic skills, believe me.)
Someone must have put all of 30 seconds of thought into this cover.
Now, compare it to the BEAUTIFUL cover that was done by the fabulous Teresa Fasolino for the paperback edition of the book.No contest, eh?
It's a good thing that large-print editions aren't generally bought by the cover art. As it is, large-print editions don't sell terribly well, but looking at this cover, I'd say my poor LP version of Bookplace Special is doomed.
What do you think?
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UPDATE: There's more to the story. Check out my blog post of 3/5/10 on The Cozy Chicks Blog.
Oh I have to agree that is truly hideous...lol
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, I don't like the cover.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think the skull and crossbones have a certain je ne sais quoi, although I agree they do look a little out of place. The photograph is beautiful, though.
ReplyDeleteAnd can I just say how envious I am that you're moving into large print and I'm not? I guess that's what happens when you're a NYT bestselling author, right?
I agree....ugly cover!
ReplyDeleteI must say the skull and crossbones does leave something to be desired--if that was done better, the cover would be just fine in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteWow. I wonder why they didn't use a real skull and just set it next to the books? The rest of the cover is very classy, though.
ReplyDeleteI had one LP edition of Pushing Up Daisies and the cover was aggressively ugly. I sent it to a reader. She was very grateful.
Yikes! I'll have to drop a line to the publisher and let them know that I wouldn't have picked this book up because of the cover and I love this series. I wouldn't have thought it was the same book. Foolish people.
ReplyDeleteoh lordy that's bad
ReplyDeleteI was laughing when I read your link post to come over and check it out but I have to say that I agree 100%. WTH were they thinking?
ReplyDeleteThis cover makes it look like an evil plotted/pirate book or something?
Well ... uh, ... the photo is pretty nifty, but the skull and crossed bones ... oh, my. Sorry, but when I looked at the larger picture, I realized there's an italic blurb of "Includes Recipes" just above the skull & crossed bones. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for the recipes, is it? Maybe it's just my weird take on things, but that struck me sideways & I just had to laugh when I saw it!
ReplyDeleteA VERY mixed cover -- gotta wonder if the individual who picked it was schizophrenic. It certainly isn't the worst cover I've ever seen, but it sure ranks right down there. And it is SOOOO not one-one hundredth as good as Teresa's beautiful cover. I don't think the LP version is doomed -- after all, if I need the LP version, I may not be able to see just how bad the cover actually is! ;-)
I agree with you- the other cover is MUCH better!
ReplyDeleteThis is an artistic travesty. The book is so excellent and the cover just might put older persons off it. Also the recipe blurb doesn't tie in with crooked skull teeth...
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry.
The picture isn't that bad, although I'm not sure it exactly screams cozy to me, but that skull, did the illustrator ask their small child to help out?
ReplyDeleteAuthors usually get very little say over cover art. We get them forwarded to us at the last minute with the note, "I hope you love this cover as much as we do." Not.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a first year design student who discovered the cool reflection feature in Photoshop designed it. Maybe they had a contest amongst art schools on who could design the "best" cover.
ReplyDeleteGood thing big readers like us don't "judge the book by it's cover". If that were true, I probably would never had read some of my favorites! LOL. (I love your books, so no worries there)
ReplyDeleteJan, the story continues--with a happy ending! I hope you'll check out the Cozy Chicks blog today: www.cozychicksblog.com
ReplyDelete