For the last week I have been on the hunt for cover illustrators that were willing or exclusively work with indies. We got three call-backs. One artist charged 5 thousand per cover. Oh yes, you heard right. Five thousand. While I am assuming their work is incredible (it should be for the price right?) I don’t know any indie that would spend that.
The next call-back said they worked with indies, but only used stock images because:
“Self-published authors are more interested in ego than quality.”
The third person responded via email and told me they would only work with indies if they have:
“A set promotional tour in order to give me exposure for my work. From sold books I ask the author to give me 25% to cover time spent on design.”
I found this an interesting comment, so I emailed back and asked how long the author would have to fork over 25% of what they make for each book. Answer: Three years.
My question to you indie authors…Is this normal? Is this common practice? Who do you get to design your covers?
With buyers being so visual, how do guarantee that people will pick up your book long enough to look inside? Or are covers not that important anymore?
—-Update:
As I follow a lot of indies on twitter and FB, The topic of book covers has come up again. One more person contact me to look at his cover designs. For the sake of pride, I won’t publish their name. Let’s just say the work was shoddy at best.
I have asked several people what they think of book covers nowadays. Answers range from “They don’t matter at all” to “It’s our first impression to the book, it better grab my attention!”.
So if the only option an indie has for covers is overpriced work or what seems like a cat playing with a computer mouse, what are you to do?
I am putting a call out there again for some of the best cover artists that work with independent authors. I know you are out there! The best one of you gets a feature story and interview!
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May 4th, 2010 at 11:20 am
I am unashamed to admit that I am swayed by covers. Not only do I look at it first (it’s the first thing a reader sees), I take my books everywhere and don’t want to be seen reading something that looks amateur.
I think it reflects poorly on the author and book if the cover isn’t professional…
May 4th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Very good point I hadn’t thought of…
Not only is there the chance people will pass it up, but those that buy it, will they be ashamed to be seen reading it?
May 4th, 2010 at 11:25 am
I’m lucky in that I am a graphic designer and photographer as well as a writer, so I do my own cover designs. The responses you got are disheartening. 5 grand is way too much for an indie author to think about, considering it’s unlikely that book will make back even 1/5th of that money. The dismissive attitude towards indies as egotists first is insulting, and three years worth of 25% royalties? 25% of diddly is diddly.
I’d be glad to work with indie authors on cover design for a fraction of the money these guys are talking about, though I’d have to be selective since my work isn’t for everyone. The book’s cover is definitely important. On book shelves, it’s the first thing you see. In online shops, a shoddy, amateurish cover is sure to turn off a reading public used to thinking of indie authors as unwashed cranks living in the mountains and delivering their insane manifestos on toilet paper.
May 4th, 2010 at 11:35 am
I agree Gary –
I think 5 thousand is a ridiculous number and dismissing indies as “the unwashed cranks” is pathetic as well.
We all want to put our best out there. Hopefully we will get some cover artists to respond so we can show there ARE people out there that are professional and not out for money.