The cover art for The Gilded Hour is done, and I’m really pleased with it. I asked my editor when I could post it here, and she gave me a choice.
I can post it as soon as it gets through all the approval stages (in about three weeks), or if I want, I can do a cover reveal.
It’s true that I haven’t been reading a lot of weblogs over the last year or so, trying to stay focused on writing and dealing with family issues, so I shouldn’t be surprised about new trends creeping into the way authors promote their books on the internet. But this did surprise me. I’ve read what I could find about doing a cover reveal, and I’m still not clear beyond the fact that it involves asking other writers and weblogs to participate, some how. This goes against my nature, but I could possibly do it, if the results warrant it.
So here’s the question: do you pay attention to cover reveals? Are they interesting and worthwhile, or strained and silly?
Examples where you liked a book reveal would be welcome. Also, if you have no idea what I’m talking about, that would be interesting information. New online marketing techniques evolve, and many fail. It would be good to know where this one stands.
You've stumbled across my official website and landed on the front page of my weblog.
The only cover reveal I remember was a Sarah Addison Allen one. It was mildly interesting because of my interest in art, but it also felt like a tease and a gimmick. Getting the actual book is the good part, not the waiting.
…I guess what I’m trying to say is that you sharing it feels more authentic to me, and emphasizing the wait for the book makes me impatient. Looking forward to reading other readers’ opinions.
It’s good to know how you felt about a similar situation. I’m wondering now if book reveals are fairly rare; some people won’t have any experience with the phenomenon at all. I have an almost preternatural fear of gimics. Gimcrickery?
I don’t know what a reveal is. If it takes away from your time writing, don’t do it. If it’s not comfortable for you to ask other writers to help out, don’t do it. It would give me the willies to ask someone to help promote something for my benefit.
I had never heard of a cover reveal till I read this post…guess I’m not really up with the kids anymore!
I have not heard of a cover reveal either, but am thrilled to see anything and everything for your books. The Gilded Age map tickled me, so I’m sure a cover would make me equally happy.
I’m not positive I know what you mean about a cover reveal. I would have assumed you meant showing the cover on your blog, or somewhere like Facebook, not that it would be showing up on other people’s blogs and pages. I’ve seen authors do blog tours around a new book, where they are interviewed by different bloggers, in hopes of widening their audience, and they may have contests to give away copies of the book, but not just for the cover.
That said, I kind of like seeing the cover for a book I’m anticipating; it makes it seem more real.
I have never heard of a cover book reveal… I don’t see how seeing a book cover ahead of time could ever influence my decision to buy it, but maybe I’m not the right person to ask. Whenever I’m looking for something new to read, I go on Amazon or sites about “if you liked ____, you’ll like___”. However, seeing a book cover from an author I already know, that can be fun and exciting, but I would have bought the book either way. Sorry, not being much help!
I think a cover reveal would build up the anticipation for the book release. I know “you can’t judge a book by its cover”,but I love an engaging,beautiful book cover. I would enjoy seeing the book cover art.
I absolutely look at covers and I know from work (librarian here) that most people study the covers before choosing a book.