Hi Scribes. I was only going to talk about my book cover after it was complete, but I came to a point where I'm just not sure.
My book cover is a brick wall with two large windows and between them, stands a skull sculpture with a plaque. On the right side of the skull plaque, a man is leaning against a wall. Now... here's my question... It occurred to me to place a sword leaning against the wall next to him. But in the book, the character isn't a swordsman. I mean, he knows how to use it, but isn't known for his sword skills. I should mention the front cover will cut off just past the skull plaque and the left window is actually on the back cover.
Basically... here are my options:
I know this sounds like a petty detail and it IS. But still... I want to understand more about cover art and how best to accomplish my goals before I put too much more work into this. I really don't want to screw it up. I probably will anyways because I really don't know what I'm doing.
So... if you picked up a book and on the cover, there was a guy standing between two windows, next to a skull plaque... would it be more intriguing with a sword or would it already appear interesting?
My book cover is a brick wall with two large windows and between them, stands a skull sculpture with a plaque. On the right side of the skull plaque, a man is leaning against a wall. Now... here's my question... It occurred to me to place a sword leaning against the wall next to him. But in the book, the character isn't a swordsman. I mean, he knows how to use it, but isn't known for his sword skills. I should mention the front cover will cut off just past the skull plaque and the left window is actually on the back cover.
Basically... here are my options:
- Put the sword in because it might intrigue certain people and give a little more of a clue what the book is about (he's wearing a 1570's Italian doublet, so the sword would match that time period). And not worry that the character only uses a sword a few times.
- Leave the sword out of the picture but create it on another piece, thereby allowing it to be digitally added later if need be (still not worrying whether it's really applicable to the character).
- Forget the sword entirely and rely on the other elements to intrigue the reader (basically don't mislead the reader into thinking the MC is a swordsman).
I know this sounds like a petty detail and it IS. But still... I want to understand more about cover art and how best to accomplish my goals before I put too much more work into this. I really don't want to screw it up. I probably will anyways because I really don't know what I'm doing.
So... if you picked up a book and on the cover, there was a guy standing between two windows, next to a skull plaque... would it be more intriguing with a sword or would it already appear interesting?
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