The Book Cover That Freaked Out My Wife
That is the book cover to my first short-novel, called The Devil's Alarm Clock. I conceived and wrote it during the last ROW 80 in 2011. I'm currently editing it and planning to release it in March 2012.
I created the cover myself. I think most authors should get a cover designer, but I know a bit about image tools and I enjoy it. For me, it's just another form of story-telling. And fundamentally that's what I am - a story teller.
And I come from a long line of story tellers (my Dad is a great one, as was his father and my maternal grand-father who was friends with Walt Disney - though that was when he was just "Walt").
Writing books is just one way to convey stories.
I hope I actually launch before then, but I know my work schedule and I want to give myself some breathing room. Plus I'm in process of publishing my other short stories to have additional books by the time I launch.
If you are thinking the title is missing - you are correct. By design. I want the image to be striking as possible (admit it - you've bought a book simply because you wanted a copy of the cover :)). Plus the title will be visible in the online book stores - no real need to put it on the cover itself.
You will also notice the logo in the lower right-hand side - that's the logo to my "publisher" - Pilgrim Screams. I made the decision that site (it's another old blog, which is why it's currently a Blogger site, I'll move it to a traditional website) is where I'll keep my store and book marketing stuff. While this blog will remain where I blog about my writing progress and thoughts on writing.
If you are a fan of horror - I hope you like the image/cover. If people are interested, I'll write a post on how I created it.
The Rest of the ROW 80 Update
The focus right now is to do all of the extra stuff around the book. Some of it is one-time work that needs to be done for the bigger picture - getting the Pilgrim Screams site setup, the mailing list created and logo. Other is book specific - cover and editing.
And with work schedule being a 12 hour day, I'm doing all of this within a 90 minute window starting about about 5:30 in the morning. I tried getting up at 4:30 but I couldn't sustain that but I've adapted well to waking at 5 and I get into my office around 5:30. I could probably be in sooner - but I like to think about what I want to do, catch the early weather (Texas weather can change in a hurry and by change I mean from sunny to dangerous) and watch a bit of Mike & MIke in the Morning on ESPN.
Anyway - I am making steady, consistent progress.
I hope my other ROWers are making progress on their goals - whatever they maybe.
That's a fabulous cover. Remind me to get rid of my old digital clock. I'll stick to my phone alarm, thank you. Wait, no. Then that evil thing in the clock might start calling me. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis cover is creepy and wonderfully creative. Great job, Mark
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting cover! What is the emblem in the lower right corner? I can't make it out, but am always interested in little quirky items like that one.
ReplyDeleteVery nice cover! I actually think it would work great as a "wrap around" cover for a print book (although I don't think Createspace lets you do that -- not sure).
ReplyDeleteI have to admit though, that I am one of those that doesn't like book covers that don't look like book covers. The reason is pretty simple -- as a long-time user of Amazon, I am used to having multiple categories pop up in any search results, and I automatically skim over things that don't look like book covers.
Your image, especially at thumbnail size, looks enough like an ad for an alarm clock that I would skim right past it and never look close.
Ali - Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteNadja - the icon in the lower right, is my logo. I realize, I need to brighten it back up. In raw mode it was very bright and now I see it's darkened too much.
ReplyDeleteDaring Novelist - thanks for the comment. I see the point about it looking like an ad in thumbnail.
ReplyDeleteTime to go have some fun with fonts and text!
Suzanne -thank you for the comment.
ReplyDeleteI use my phone as well.
But I do find myself wondering if my old clock is out to get me...
Whoa, what commitment. I don't know why the cover freaked out your wife... I love it! And yes, it tells quite a story that just draws me in!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking so forward to hearing your editing (and publishing) progress.
Here is my ROW80 update, if you are interested!
Hi Julie - thanks for the comment. I'm glad my intention of using the cover to convey the story to get you to read seems to be working :).
DeleteI don't know how freaked out she really was - but it did make for a great headline :).
That is one spooky looking clock! Now I'm curious about the story! It sounds like something I would like to read.
ReplyDeleteI noticed what The Daring Novelist said about it not looking like a book cover. I think one of the reasons is because the size isn't right. By that, I mean the ratio. The width should generally be about 2/3 what the height is. Like 600x900 pixels. That would make it look more like a book cover. I tend to pass over covers that don't look like covers, too. That's just my two cents...for what it's worth. :) But you HAVE to keep that clock with it's scary eyes!
Lauralynnelliott - Thank you for the comment. Thank you for pointing out about the ratios.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the red eyes. It was the hardest thing to pull off.
And I hadn't counted on the fact that people might pass over covers that don't look like covers. So I think the next pass will be with a title on the cover.