Book covers need to be attractive, so that people are drawn
to them in some way. It might be that a beautiful or intriguing image captures
their attention or that the colour chosen is one that appeals to them. Our
covers also need to be appropriate for the particular novel, giving some sense
or glimpse of what lies inside. And, of course, the title and other wording on
the cover has to interest potential customers enough to cause them to decide to
make that purchase.
In my opinion, covers also have to look as professional as
possible. Here in Australia at least, Christian novelists cannot afford to have
their books appear second rate in any way. There is already enough scepticism
out there in the secular world about Christians, without our producing work
that reinforces their opinion that we don’t know what we’re doing! Anyway, who
wants to produce something less than honouring to God? Surely God deserves our
best efforts? Besides, with such a wide variety of imported novels in our
Christian bookstores here, we have to ensure our own home-grown efforts will be
noticed and look as good as those overseas ones!
But it can be quite a journey, I’ve discovered, to decide
what aspect of my novel needs to be picked up on that cover and then to find
that photo that conveys the essence of the story or depicts the characters or setting
as I imagined them. With the two different publishers I have had in my writing career,
I have very much valued being able to suggest cover concepts and even particular
images. Yet I have also been glad that, in the end, my publishers were the ones
who had to search long and hard at times for that perfect image and make the
final decision about how much they were prepared to pay for that ideal cover!
In September, my sixth novel, The Inheritance, is due for release by Even Before Publishing.
Months ago, my publisher and I created a cover for it that depicted the story well,
yet was not totally successful. It looked a little dull and dated, and we felt
it might not appeal enough to its intended market. Yet it was needed for
inclusion in a catalogue, so we went ahead. But just recently, we had a second
attempt—and ended up with an entirely different result! The first time around,
we had focused on the specific setting of the novel, but this time we went for
a more modern image with only a general sense of place about it (see photo). I
am very happy with it—yet I’m aware it’s all such a matter of personal taste.
Some will love it and some will no doubt hate it, but we have done our best,
given the time and resources available.
And that’s all God expects, don’t you think?
Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives
in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and
Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well
as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and
lives through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of five
published novels and one non-fiction work, Soul Friend: the story of a shared
spiritual journey. Her sixth novel, The Inheritance, will be released in September.
Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and
three grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com or www.soulfriend.com.au.
