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Cover Stories

One of the most exciting moments for me, as an author, is that first glimpse of a new cover. All the hope, the dreams and the hours of hard work brought together and epitomised in a single image. I loved the cover of my first published novel, Turning the Tide, so much that I framed it and put it on my study wall. I have to admit, though, the the girl on the cover, cast away on a pile of rocks, looks nothing like the Harry Watling of my imagination. My heroine, Harry, is a fierce, angry, scared woman with a chip on both shoulders who’s prepared to take on the world to save the business her father started and wouldn’t be seen dead in anything except a pair of oily dungarees. When Turning the Tide went to Norway, Harry transformed again; her hair’s grown, so have her legs, and she’s wearing a teeny-tiny pair of shorts my Harry would never have had in her wardrobe.


Eloise Blake, the heroine of my novella, Only True in Fairy Tales, is a reclusive woman who’s been badly hurt and certainly isn’t waiting for Prince Charming. I like to think she might clobber him with the magic wand she’s clutching on the cover. In Large Print, Eloise is sporting a ‘cold’ shoulder’ and some red lippy but that downwards gaze suggests she might be smiling at Gracie, her rescue greyhound, so she’s in a good place, even if it’s not one I foresaw for her.

Every successful book needs a great cover, one that fits the genre and conforms to reader expectations… so, of course, when I was choosing a cover for my running book, Running Kind, I ignored conventional wisdom and - proving how little I knew about covers - decided to do something different, something original, and publish it with a very plain cover. Whilst my friends and family have cheerfully bought my book - thank you - I began to realise that because my cover didn’t fit the genre or conform to reader expectations, my book wasn’t reaching my target market. And, actually, it’s not just about sales - though of course I would like to sell gazillions of copies - but it’s also about spreading the word and encouraging more people to believe they can become the running kind because this message matters to me!

I turned, for advice, to multi-talented author, Rhoda Baxter who knows a thing or two about cover design and came up with a great new cover which tells readers at a glance that this is a book about running! I’m really happy with the new design and hope it will appeal to would-be or returning runners. Thank you, Rhoda and good luck, little book!


And finally...
Home Thoughts has been suspended during an especially busy period, but I plan to return to regular posts. Next up will be one in my occasional series of guest posts. I’m pleased to say that novelist, journalist and teacher of creative writing, Margaret James, will be here to talk about her work and her latest novel, The Final Reckoning.
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Comments

Clare Chase said…
I love the new cover for Running Kind, Chris - it really stands out, and also seems to reflect the book's uplifting nature!
14 August 2019 at 13:22
Chris Stovell said…
Ah, that's a lovely comment to find here, Clare, thank you! I feel I've done my best for my book now so l hope the cover resonates with new readers - time will tell! Cxx
14 August 2019 at 14:11
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