An Easy Target

What goes into the making of book covers? As a long-time wanna-be author, I've spent many night lying awake pondering the question. (I wrote a novel in junior high, and I wanted it to make me famous, so I went through a phase of obsession with this topic...) Covers tell us a lot about the stories between them, and a team of professionals designs each one very carefully.

Stephanie Meyer's publishers, for example, probably sat down and discussed which disembodied part to feature on Twilight's front cover. Seeing it, readers immediately know to expect a breathless teen romance (and some edgy bits, from the obvious apple symbolism). The title font, which looks like really irregular, spooky candles (right?), tells us that there are supernatural elements to the story... And the back background echoes the apple of temptation symbolism, making young readers feel grown-up and pleasantly rebellious.

"What about a blue/green/gold eye with long lashes?"
"No, too obvious. How 'bout... Arms?"
Original image here.

It probably wasn't fair to start with such an easy target, but the point is that covers give tons of information about their stories. Next time I'll look at something less obvious... The idea applies to more than cliched vampire romances.