I intended to write a long book review tonight, but it’s been a crazy evening. I had to spend a considerable amount of time, both on the phone and by e-mail, discussing final tweaks on the book cover. The artist is a little like an author in that he doesn’t much cotton to criticism of his aesthetic vision. But apparently the editor and the publisher are going to lean on him a little tonight.
This is a new experience in publishing for me. Baen Books, which had many virtues, did not bother giving authors much input on covers (I did get some, but nobody ever sent me a .pdf and asked for my input as Nordskog is doing). I think this will turn out to be a pretty effective cover when all’s done, but it’s a sweat.
And I’ve still got to make a phone call and pay my bills tonight. Not to mention watching CSI and checking my Facebook page. I’ll see you tomorrow.
I suspect that the difference is related to experience. Jim Baen believed he knew how to sell fiction, and he had evidence to support it. Nordskog are new to the fiction field, so they’re more likely to ask for advice.
Also, they might be more humble. Religion is supposed to teach that.
I suspect the artist who doesn’t appreciate criticism or alteration of his work takes ownership in the work for himself. He doesn’t see his work as a service to others. I can understand an author taking such ownership, b/c he’s had to work so hard to get it into shape. People buy the story, not the cover or bits of editing or the book itself. Graphic artists like those who would work on cover art should see themselves as servants on the publishing team. He can argue for his ideas, but he must set aside his ownership as such for the sake of the team.
Sometimes that’s hard, of course. I saw an ad for graphic designers with hurtles labeled as parts of the design process. Several hurtles were cleared before the designer crashed into the one labeled, “Client’s wife doesn’t get it.” Is the client’s wife in the targeted market? If not, then it doesn’t matter much if she gets it.
Yeah, but people pick up a book because of the cover. It’s pretty important. They won’t know the story until they’ve bought and read. I mean, the cover ought not falsly advertise what’s inside, but it often does.
I have an idea this is the artist’s first book cover.
I was mistaken. It’s not.