Cover Quotes
Both MaryJanice Davidson and Christina Dodd have given me cover quotes - Thank you!! I am so grateful to both of these amazing authors. Now, the consumer side of me and the author side of me view this differently. As an author, I love it. But the book buyer in me generally is not swayed by cover quotes. Having said that, let me tell you about the three instances lately where quotes did pique my interest and made me look at the book more closely.
The first was The Brass Bed by Jennifer Stevenson. The cover quote is from Vicki Lewis Thompson and goes like this: “More fun than pillow fighting naked.” I think it caught my attention because it’s funny. I did two workshops/booksignings with Vicki last year. She’s funny. Her writing is funny. So, seeing her say that something someone else wrote is funny resonated with me.
The second was The Harrowing by Alexanrda Sokoloff. I saw a quote by Ira Levin (author of Rosemary’s Baby and Stepford Wives) on Sokoloff’s promo material at RT. I thought the Levin quote was a cover quote. Having bought the book, it actually has a quote by author Michael Palmer, which is also impressive. The Levin quote is on Sokoloff’s website. It goes like this, “The Harrowing is a real page-turner. Alexandra Sokoloff raises a fine crop of goosebumps and shivers. A first novel of unusual promise.” That quote caught my eye. I saw Ira Levin’s name and wanted to know more. Note: Alexandra stopped by and filled us in on how she got the Ira Levin quote. Check out the comments - it’s a cool story.
The third was in an ad in the July edition of Romantic Times. Let me preface this by saying I am not a big historical romance reader. I have read Lisa Kleypas. When I saw a quote by her for an author, I took notice. The quote - not a cover quote, but an ad quote - was for Michelle Marcos’ Gentlemen Behaving Badly. The Kleypas quote goes like this, “When I want a great historical romance, I’ll reach for anything by Michelle Marcos.” No offense to Marcos, but I had never heard of her. Thanks to the Kleypas quote, I’ve checked out Marcos online and looked up the book on Amazon.
The bottom line for me is that, depending on who gives the quote and the impact that person has on me, the quote might entice me to go check out the book. It’s not a ringing endorsement, but I now see that quotes can mean something to me as a buyer.
June 10th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Now qoutes, are a totally different thing. I notice them of course, but they never sway me to by a book. It’s always what I’ve read online or heard about a book from someone I know and sometimes that doesn’t come out so good either. The reason? Not every person that writes the same genre has the same way of telling a story, wording a story, or re-arranging one. (this is a good thing). Some authors are so good about background story that half the time I never realize that my story has been interrupted, other times they take me so far back that I forgot whats going on in the one I’m supposed to be reading. Some authors write and never explain how a person turned out the way they are. I remember one book I read that talked about the scars all overa heroines back, but I never found out how they came to be. So, some people never think about how the story reads but I want a decent flow.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I don’t mind cover quotes. In fact, I like them. I can’t say that they induce me to buy a book, but, as an author, if I have a choice between (1) a big name in my genre giving me a cover quote or (2) getting a book trailer made, I’d take (1) every time.
I think my fav ever cover quote was on a Stephanie Bond novel, I can’t remember which one. The quote raved about the book, then was signed, “Stephanie’s Mom.”
June 10th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
If I see a quote from one of my favorite authors it catches my eye but I don’t put much stock in it. I pay more attention to the blurb and reviews. I do think quotes are more useful when they say something specific rather than “I loved this book.”
That was funny about the Stephanie Bond quote.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
I read the quotes after I have finished the book. I don’t want to get an idea about what will happen in the book before I have a chance to read it. I like total suspense.
June 11th, 2008 at 3:53 am
I’ve read the quotes, and I’ve enjoyed them, but they don’t entice me one way or the other. I think it’s cool though.
June 11th, 2008 at 4:14 am
Thanks for the mention, HelenKay! When my editor asked me to contact authors for cover quotes for my first book, Ira Levin was the first person on my list - I’ve read everything he ever wrote, including the plays and screenplays, and he brilliantly writes the kind of smart supernatural suspense that I aspire to - ideas and themes that get under your skin and stay with you for a lifetime.
He was the first author who read THE HARROWING and contacted me back, and when I read his letter I screamed so loud my boyfriend ran in from the garden thinking I was being murdered.
I swear, that was the moment I realized I really was an author - not getting my agent, not getting my book deal - but the moment that I understood that authors who had given ME such pleasure with their books could now read and be thrilled by MY book.
I was privileged to have a correspondence with Mr. Levin before he died, and I will always be grateful to him for his support and encouragement as well as the amazing legacy of stories he’s left us.
(PS - the Michael Palmer quote is for THE PRICE, my second book.)
June 11th, 2008 at 7:44 am
If I’m contemplating buying a book by an author I haven’t read and there’s a cover quote by an author I do read and love, that will definitely sway me to buy the book. I could be wrong, but I don’t think authors hand out quotes like they’re candy so it means something when I see them.
Alexandra, that was a great story!
June 11th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Scarlet - I didn’t think the quotes swayed me, but with these three books they did. It’s interesting what works in terms of promo.
Cindy - I saw the Stephanie Bond quote. Thought it was hilarious. Fits with Stephanie’s writing style, which is funny.
Cynthya - I think you’re right about the content of the quote. These worked for me because they were more than the basic type of cover quote.
Gladys - Interesting. Is that true of cover quotes too? See, since I’m such a big cover freak, I notice those right away.
Stacy - I think it’s cool too. I know publishers and sales folks like ‘em, so they must work on someone.
Alexandra - Thanks for stopping by! Your promo material really worked for me. I saw the Levin quote and it stuck with me. The story on how you got it is fabulous. It says a lot about your writing. And the Michael Palmer quote is nothing to sneeze at either.
Now, I will admit that I somehow managed to pick up THE PRICE thinking it was picking up THE HARROWING. Didn’t even realize until you commented here. Yeah, I’m a moron. I’ve now fixed that mistake and ordered THE HARROWING as well. I’m very excited to read them both.
Robin - You just made a bunch of book sales folks happy. That is exactly what they want to hear about cover quotes - that they work.