Would you like to judge my book by its cover?

[NewAuthorInTraining]

I’m not quite ready to self publish on kindle, but I’m almost there.

I’ve designed my front cover (though obscured my name for now). It has been created in black and white as that’s how most kindles present the books, and I think it’s kind of atmospheric.

Would the cover tempt you to buy it? What would you think the genre was? Any other feedback?

Thanks in advance.

I've had a quick go to show how I would picture it, in no way a graphic designer and probably a load "wrong" with it but just an alternative example.

if you go onto Amazon and look up your genre take a look at bestselling books there and see how they compare to yours. Also turn it into a thumbnail and see if it still jumps out. Black in white in particular can be tricky! Best of luck op!

I was going to say exactly that!

I prefer the tree to the later one. I still don’t like the ‘DEAD’ shouting out at me

As it stands, there is no clue to the premise of the book

Yes there is - I got pretty damn close straight away, and I reckon a lot of family and social historians would have guessed much the same as I did.

That's actually difficult to look at, there's nowhere for the eyes to rest.

comma after “from across the centuries” to separate the main and subordinate clause

@NewAuthorInTraining PM me when it comes out, I'll read it. 🙂

I think the letters should be more swirly.

Thank you so much

Have you posted on here before about this op?

I seem to vaguely remember someone posting about making up stories about people based on their headstones or something.

I like the picture in the op, I'd read it, but then I read a lot of crime thrillers.

Is it a book on seances and planchettes and mediums? I’d give it a very wide berth.

Fair enough, it was more that I thought the text might be easier to read that way. Being on a potentially black and white photo it's hard to then choose black or white text to make sure it all stands out.

I think I shared my idea well over a year ago on an inspiring author thread

Is this a name change fail? Ah I see not. Never mind ignore me!

It’s certainly not me!

If it's the one I read back then, I wanted to read the book then.

No sorry, didn't mean to confuse anyone! I had a few minutes spare and a photo collage app so thought I'd take a shot, sorry if it caused any offence OP!

No problem, I just think some posters thought you were me

I like them both OP. Need the fonts fine tuning but I find most of the Kindle book covers really samey like they use the same template for example Lisa Jewell's books - so dull

I would be more drawn to your cover.

Ps when you do your thumbnail, or even hold your phone away from you, make sure you can read any writing. I have a number of books out and nobody can read my favourite tag line on Amazon because it doesn’t fit properly so the cover designer had to make it smaller!!

Yes, it looks very atmospheric in black and white. It looks a bit eerie actually so based on the image I'd say it might either be a murder mystery or a thriller / horror. However, the title doesn't sound like a thriller or horror book though maybe a murder mystery. The title sounds non fictional. Maybe something historic (but then the image won't fit) or maybe about something paranormal. If it is a murder mystery then it's kind of perfect I think.

On first glance it looks really good actually though when I look at it again I think it would be better if the text didn't hide half the tree. The tree is in the foreground (more than any other object) so I wouldn't hide it behind the text.

Now the new title explains what it’s about I’d definitely be more likely to buy it - I’m not into crime/Gothic horror/that type of thing but I love non fiction when it has a human story.

I think I’d still play about with the font or maybe get a graphic designer as pp’s have suggested, but it sounds fascinating - I’d also be interested in knowing when it’s available. Well done for writing a book, you must be dead (geddit?!) proud of yourself 😊

😂 thank you

I think you need to highlight 'conversations' more than 'DEAD'. It sort of looks odd to have DEAD!!!! such a key focus - it's in danger of looking like a cheap horror when that's clearly not what it's about.