Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Thoughts/comments please

This is the publisher's preferred cover of the book that my colleague, Nancy Cushing, and I have been working on for the past few years. It will be published in October by UNSW Press. The publishers are now at the stage of finalising the book's front cover and this is the version that they are most happy with. I'd be keen to get feedback from you if you like it or don't like it and why. You can either post a comment directly to this post or email it to me kevin.markwell@scu.edu.au Need to have comments by early next week.

7 comments:

Louise said...

WOW. Exciting times. I like the cover. I think it's eyecatching. Not that I'm a great expert on what covers should look like on reptile farmer biographies. Are you happy with it?

Mutterings from Maryville said...

um I don't really like the font for 'Snake Bitten' - to me it's too Wild West looking, and I also don't like the S made into a snake, I think it's overdone.
But the publishers will have the final decision based on what they think will help move the book off the shelf in the bookshop.
So you had a wonderful holiday? But are you crook, now?

Dr. Mieke said...

Okay.... Here are thoughts from a flu-sodden Mieke…
Look, to be honest, although there’s no frame of reference, my gut feeling is that I’m not a hugely enamoured of the photo or the layout. Mainly, I agree with your feeling about the wild-west font: a bit too cowboy-moviesque. A bit dramatic maybe? Too American?
I think Eric looks a bit grumpy… and some might think (not knowing otherwise) that he’s trying to feed the snake a shot of tequila. Then again, that might sufficiently stimulate a potential reader to explore more closely. Having said that, I could warm to the photo.
I asked John, “What does a book cover need to convey?” His response is: “It needs to make a potential reader want to pick the book up … but also it needs to make the author(s) feel as if the book adedquately and accurately represents what’s going on inside the cover”.
I think that’s a good point. Do Nancy and you feel it accurately represents what’s going on inside the cover?
Not sure that helps ...but I hope so.

micha said...

haha, you said exactly what I thought: The font is horrible! The rest is pretty cool. Having said that, the most important thing is: It's done - CONGRATULATIONS, Kevin!

Mutterings from Maryville said...

Thanks, Micha, much appreciated. Yes, unfortunately I don't think the font is going to be changed as it is used for chapter titles within the book. I received the page proofs on Friday and so tomorrow I am staying at home and proofing it. I hope I can get it done in about 8-10 hours.
Congratulations on your recent book publishing as well! And I'm still keen to work on the wildlife interp book with you as well if you are still interested.

Mutterings from Maryville said...

and thanks for your considered comments, too, Mieke...yes it's absolutely all about what the marketing people think will encourage potential buyers to pick the book up and read it...it's just I don't agree with their assumption that the font style is going to do that. Disempowered as an author? who said that? :-)

micha said...

absolutely! I am currently working (just started) on a co-written tourism intro textbook. It is great fun, but shocking how slow progress is after sitting all day at the PC... But yes, the book we planned is still on, and we should think about it in the near future. YAY!