What Is…
…unusual about this book cover:
Answer: The author’s name isn’t on the cover. The author is Aury Wallington. There’s an “About The Author” page at the end and her name shows up on an inside page, just not on the cover.
This is a tie-in novel to the tv show Heroes. Obvious, I know. Just thought I’d point it out in case anyone got lost. The idea is that someone other than Wallington created the tv show, but she’s writing the related novels. I get it. The thing I don’t get is why her name isn’t on the cover. Other tie-in authors get to have their names on the covers. Look at Lee Goldberg’s Monk books, Tod Goldberg’s Burn Notice books, Nancy Holder’s Buffy books, heck even Wallington’s OC books.
I’m sure this is some kind of the publisher insisted or the show’s creator insisted thing. Still, it’s just nice for authors to get all the credit they can. Seeing your name on a cover is one of those fabulous things. Of course, the hardcover of this book was a bestseller, so Wallington gets to celebrate that.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:38 am
The answer is simple: you have to have it contractually stipulated. Everything from the height and placement of your name can be put into the contract
August 21st, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Makes sense. Since the author had her name on other tie-in covers, clearly she (or her agent) knows how to negotiate that. So…why not on this one? Just makes me think the publisher made that issue a deal killer.
August 21st, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I don’t see a book cover??
August 21st, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Cindy - Are you getting a blank space between the colon at the end of the first sentence and the beginning of the “Answer” paragraph? You should see the cover for SAVING CHARLIE, a Heroes tie-in book. I can see it, but maybe it’s not showing up on your end for some reason.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:02 pm
You’re right, it does seem strange.
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 am
definitely not fair to the author
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Yes, it’s really strange, HelenKay. Why wouldn’t it show up for me? Very odd.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:53 am
I wonder if it has anything to do with the sales figures from her original novel, which was banned from at least Borders. (I read it — thought it was fun, and I liked the cover too!). Whether or not her name is on the cover, I’m so happy that Wallington is still publishing plenty.