Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

I got some favorable feedback when I was first considering these designs, but now I’m wondering if I could benefit from a change before I invest in the same theme for the next book. I’d especially appreciate hearing from:

People who have read my books. Do these covers fit what I’ve written? If not, are there images you think would fit better?

Mystery and paranormal fans: Do these covers make you expect a particular kind of story? Is it one you’d be curious to read? What are your reactions?

People with some marketing skills. Is this art reaching my audience? (Readers who like unconventional, character-driven mysteries without murders, and readers who enjoy the vampire-less kind of paranormal fiction.)

I have an aversion to faces on book covers. I think it looks like YA if there’s a face. Also, it forces the reader’s image of a character. Aside from faces, I’m open to all sorts of suggestions—including “keep the covers and work on the rest of your marketing,”

The covers are all in one place on the home page of http://amberfoxxmysteries.wordpress.com and on my Goodreads author page. On my web site it’s easier to see them all together with all the blurbs in one place.

Thank you so much, in advance. If all you do is read the blurbs and look at the covers and say what you think ... Thanks.

The first book looks great and should market well, but the other three covers look less professionally done and might be hurting you there. Perhaps if you had them done a bit closer to that first cover?

I agree with Amanda above. The first cover looks great, and very professional. The other three a little bit less so.

Hi Amber,

Like the others have said, the first cover looks crisper and more engaging than the ones that follow. I can't compare the covers to what is contained within the books, but as a fan of paranormal stories, none of the covers really grab me. I'd be mildly curious about the importance of the various gemstones, but I'm much more intrigued by the titles here than anything else. They have a ring to them that interests me. If the images matched more closely to what the titles are promising, I think it would empower the series as a whole.

Why do you think you might need to redo them? If your initial feedback at the beginning of the series was positive, what was the catalyst for this spring of doubt?

In addition to the first cover, I liked the Shaman's Blues cover with the turquoise because it says Southwest. I'm particularly interested in books that take place in the American Southwest. I think that anyone with the same interest in the Southwest would notice that.

I agree with everyone else. The first cover is lovely. The others don't match up.

Thomas wrote: "Why do you think you might need to redo them? If your initial feedback at the beginning of the series was positive, what was the catalyst for this spring of doubt?"

When The Calling was chosen as Indie Book of the Day last week, I got no boost in sales. The B.R.A.G. Medallion didn't boost Shaman's Blues.I began to wonder if readers judge award-winning books by their covers, even if someone has judged the contents favorably. Also, one review of Shaman's Blues actually mentioned not liking the cover--and this reviewer almost never mentions covers.

A lot of the covers makes me think of cozy mystery or romance. The Calling reminds me of a farm field, that maybe has precious gems buried underneath (someone wants to mine it?)

I have no idea what a tomato has to with outlaw women. In fact I would almost guess the last thing an outlaw woman would have in her hand is a tomato.

I have no paranormal vibe from any of them except maybe Shaman's Blues. Just my impression.

Thanks everyone. Very helpful.

The first one has a real tomato coming out at you while the others have shiny rocks coming out at you. That's basically me saying what everyone else already has, the first looks more professional and realistic. I like the hand holding something in each book though, that's fitting and good for a series.

Thanks, Justin. The same artist did all of them. We tried to come up with a brand for the series. I don't want to give up the first cover when I change the others, but the hands with crystals may have to go. When I look at my reviews, my readers are mostly people who like my books for the characters and plots and settings and relationships, and the paranormal aspect is secondary. And it doesn't look like the crystals were getting that aspect across anyway.