How important are fantasy book covers?

[MJH]

Hi everyone,

I’m very happy to say that I’ve just had my debut novel published and would love to swap thoughts and opinions on what makes a compelling read. With this in mind, what do you think attracts a potential reader? Would it be the front cover like mine below or is it more likely to be on the strength of the synopsis? Just how important is the cover art and what really determines our decision to invest the time to actually sit down and read a book? As a new author, I feel these questions are very important, so any insights you can give will be greatly appreciated.

[GodrictheGriffon]

Looks great! The wolf kind of hits you but that's ok because forests in the background really make up for because you can hardly see those and they kind of fade into the shadows and you're left feeling that you're not really sure if you really saw them or if they were just a trick of the light which is good for a fantasy novel! I'll have to read it. You should get Scellanis' opinion. She's our artist! She drew most of the avatars. I think that the cover and the title play an important part of choosing books. Equal to or more imprtant than the synopsis.
and welcome to BaO. You can ask me if you have questions but I'm not sure if I'll be able to answer all of them.

[DucksRMagical]

Welcome to BaO! Congrats on your book! I think the cover looks great! It really captures my attention and it looks like the book has an interesting plot.

[MJH]

Thanks for your replies and your kind and encouraging words.

Personally, although a strking cover will persuade me to pick up a book for a closer look, it's really the synopsis that makes the difference in terms of reading it or not. I hope it's ok but I thought I would post a link to a page I've set up with the synopsis and a short extract from the book. I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts on it. You can find it here: http://hometown.aol.co.uk/markjohnhockl ... ywork.html Feedback is incredibly important when the book has only just become available.

Thanks again

[Scellanis]

For me the cover is the first thing that attracts me to a new author I haven't read before...

Yours looks like a nice typical fantasy novel, I'd probably check the synopsis...

Sometimes though I buy completely on the strength of the cover out of the kids section cos they tend to give teenage fiction beautiful shiny glittery or holographic covers and sometimes even velvet....and then if its got a dragon on it it attracts me.

Synopsis is quite important too though if the cover isn't shiny or strokey.

[Cougie]

The trick is to advertise. Like what you just did now. Come on a poppular forum and boast about it. Otherwise I would have never heard about it.

[GodrictheGriffon]

Nt that this is the most popular forum cuz we've got about 30 members but some old ones like cougie are starting to return and we're gaining more because The Seventh is almost here!
I think that your book has a great plot! My dad's president of the library board, I'll have to tell him to order it!

[FawkesthePhoenix]

ooh! it's good! the cover atracts you with the merging of the pictures. the title has a ring to it, it's a title one would tend to remember, and on top of that, it got new realms, what sounds like a kidnapping, and animals! i MUST find a copy.

[MJH]

Thanks for your very encouraging words. I really appereciate it!

[MJH]

An author really should be able to spell appreciate!

[selene]

i agree with scellanis that a good cover will convince me to look at a book with an author i haven't read before
also a good title helps
but the synopsis is what makes my decision on wether or not i buy the the book

[youknowwho]

I think that both a good cover and a good synopsis are necessary, because without a good cover no one would pick up the book, and without a good synopsis people would put it right back on the shelf.

Normally I mostly read science fiction rather than fantasy, but your book sounds excellent, I'l have to read it.

[Simatra]

Your cover makes me ask questions, and so does your synopsis. that's a good thing! I love a book that just refuses to let me put it until a know more. It's looks like it may be a good start to a good writing career. I'll make sure to keep a lookout for your books in the future.

[MJH]

Your cover makes me ask questions, and so does your synopsis. that's a good thing! I love a book that just refuses to let me put it until a know more. It's looks like it may be a good start to a good writing career. I'll make sure to keep a lookout for your books in the future.

Hi Simatra!

Thank you for your very encouraging comments. Not everyone is so kind! I don't know if you had a chance to check out the link I posted before with an extract from my book. Look forward to hearing even more
in-depth comments some time in the future if you manage to read the entire story

[Scellanis]

Hehe, your book just got suggested for one of our book of the season features, lucky you....we have quite a few suggestions though and I'm still intending to do Eragon at some point so it may be a while before we all read yours.