Now how would Indie Annie do this? 

Dear Judging My Books,

Ahem. Greetings, anxious author! I’m stepping in for our beloved Indie Annie, who’s mysteriously vanished on what she called a “research expedition”—though between us, I suspect she’s recuperating in a hotel spa in Harrogate, Yorkshire, like her favorite mystery writer, Agatha Christie. Who else could’ve inspired the clue left in last month’s letter? 

“On that note, sometimes one has to move on. It’s something I have been pondering for some time—how to make my excuses politely and exit leaving no crumbs.” 

Very mysterious and just like our Indie Annie. Always an enigma.

Although I am a mere indie author and not a seasoned columnist like Annie, I will do my best to answer your question.

About your cover conundrum—let’s slice this cake differently, shall we?

I think Indie Annie would tell you to view book covers like restaurant menus. Their primary job isn’t to document every ingredient in the dish; it’s to make customers hungry enough to order. Your cover isn’t an illustrated summary; it’s a visual appetizer designed to entice readers to the main course.

Must your hero’s eyes be exactly the shade of storm-tossed sea at twilight as described on page 17? Not necessarily. Should your heroine’s cascading auburn tresses be perfectly represented? Only if they’re central to the plot.

From a thorough search of all the best advice I could find on the subject, including past issues of this illustrious magazine, here’s my practical menu of considerations.

The Entrée (Core Elements)

  • Genre recognition is non-negotiable. Your thriller must look thrilling, your romance swoony, your fantasy magical. This is your restaurant’s signature dish.
  • Emotional tone must align with the story. A lighthearted comedy shouldn’t have a cover that looks like it’s announcing the apocalypse.
  • Professional execution is essential. A sloppily plated dish gets sent back to the kitchen.

The Side Dishes (Important but Flexible)

  • Your characters’ physical attributes can be approximated unless they’re plot critical. If your protagonist’s unusual eye color is just a description, flexibility is fine. If it’s the reason they’re being hunted by supernatural forces, that’s another story.
  • Settings can be suggestive rather than photorealistic. A hint of mountains often serves better than a geological survey.
  • Symbols and themes are often more powerful than literal representations. A single red rose can speak volumes about a romance without showing the exact gazebo where the proposal happens.
  • Hint at the plot, but don’t give the game away. If the dagger appears in the first ten thousand words, it could go on the cover, but if the dagger appears as the missing clue just before the villain is exposed, perhaps think twice about putting it on the front.

The Garnish (Nice but Optional)

  • Minor plot points don’t need cover representation. That dramatic scene with the runaway horse? Probably not cover material unless it’s central to the story.
  • Secondary characters rarely need to appear on the cover.
  • Specific time periods should be suggested but don’t require documentary precision.

Let me serve up some concrete examples:

  1. If you’ve written a steamy romance where the hero’s scars are central to his character arc, showing him scar-free on the cover is misleading advertising.
  2. If your fantasy novel features a protagonist with unique purple hair that’s significant to the plot, that hair color matters on the cover.
  3. If your mystery features a historic lighthouse that’s central to the murder, but your cover shows a Victorian mansion instead, that’s problematic.

But:

  1. If your heroine’s freckles are mentioned twice in passing, a freckle-free cover model isn’t a crisis.
  2. If your hero drives a specific model of car that has no bearing on the plot, don’t worry if the cover shows a different vehicle.
  3. If your story takes place in Paris but the cover shows only a generic European cityscape, that’s generally fine.

The master chef’s secret? Talk to your cover designer. Give them the essential ingredients: the genre, tone, key visual elements, and target audience. Let them create a dish that will make readers’ mouths water.

Remember, your cover is making a promise to readers. Ensure it’s a promise your book can keep, but don’t fret if the garnish in the photo doesn’t match the one on the plate.

If you’re still uncertain, try this test: Show your cover to a stranger for five seconds, then ask them what genre they think it represents and what mood it evokes. If their answers align with your book’s essence, you’re on the right track.

And for heaven’s sake, test your cover as a thumbnail. If it looks like an indecipherable blob at Amazon search size, even the most accurate cover in the world won’t sell your masterpiece.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to check whether Indie Annie left any further clues about her whereabouts. There’s a mysterious receipt for “spy equipment” in her desk drawer that I find most intriguing …

Happy writing,

(Not) Indie Annie 

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