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.

Are you still taking opinions?

1. Your book sounds very interesting and something I would consider reading. I can imagine that it might have taken you quite a bit of research to write it.

1. The new font placement is much better and I'm happy now that it doesn't cover so much of the tree. I did like the different font effects from your first version, ie the different looking text boxes. It made it look interesting and somehow more factual.

1. I don't like the colour effect of your latest version. It makes it look like a thriller. Many thrillers on amazon have this colouring. I think black and white was perfect for something based on real people.

1. The 'with the' can barely be seen which is a bit frustrating. I know they are not the key words but comversations dead doesnt sound good. Maybe a slightly thicker font?

Thanks for all the feedback - I’ve felt like one of this shit contestants on The Apprentice trying to design a poster, while a graphic designer weeps. 😂

Well I've never designed any book covers so I think you're doing fine. It's easy to comment on someone else's work. And I've never written a book either. I'll look out for yours when it comes out.

You're never going to please everyone! Good luck with it

I would think it was a horror/dark genre but set in bygone eras/possibly gothic style

Horror short stories?

Or a factual investigation into seances and spiritualism?

I've read a book with the same title about a young girl (or maybe boy?) who can talk to the dead - she lives near a graveyard after her parents die. The cover (if i remember rightly) was a church and graveyard.

Instead of
"From across the centuries the Carriden Cemetery residents tell their life stories."

It should be
"The residents of Carriden Cemetery tell their life stories from across the centuries."

Just flows better.

There is a B movie look about this. I also wouldn't be happy with the letters. It looks a bit like a ransom note!

Neil Gaiman, The Graveyard Book. I love that book

A lot of people seem to be getting the wrong impression from the title, have you thought about changing it slightly? Maybe something like "conversations between the dead" which implies fiction more than the original.

I like the second one much better if you can make the ‘with the’ readable. The first one the very amateur text combined with the title made it sound possibly a non fiction book by someone who thought they were a spiritualist ie a pile of bollocks, so the explanation helped.
i suspect a publisher would be right to insist on a different title though! Somethibg with a bit more grab - the baker and prostitute side by side they lay? Ie a title that refers to an interesting story inside? That’s common for that type of book