Great Book Covers

You're not meant to judge a book by it's cover, but it's a fact that many of us do when we're browsing for a good read. When I was trying to decide on a book cover for my romance novel, The Royal Sheikh, I looked at hundreds of others, some bad, some good and a few stunning.  Like others, I've been drawn to many books because of their great covers. Here are a few of my top picks:



I bought this book as an impulse buy at an airport just because of the cover.






A stunning cover!  Read my interview with the author, K. E. Saxon, in which I ask her about it.








A great cover, though I'm not sure how it fits with the book.  It looks more Japanese than Jane Austen.







A good example of a really effective, simple cover (and it's a brilliant book).






A beautiful, colourful cover.






A classic, dark cover for a classic, dark read.








A great cover designed by the author herself, the very talented Patti Roberts!







The list wouldn't be complete without some non-fiction and here's an excellent example!








Suggested book covers
























































































What are your favourite book covers?

Leave a comment below and I might show it here

79 comments:

  1. Wither by Lauren DeStefano has a gorgeous cover

    ReplyDelete

  2. You're right Emma. The 2nd novel, 'Seeds of Wither' is possibly even better. See Seeds of Wither

    ReplyDelete

  3. The cover designer for Marrying Missy is WHITNEY ARVIN. Anyone interested in her work, contact Bird Brain Publishing at birdbrainproductions@ymail.com

    ReplyDelete

  4. Thank you John for the contact information. Very helpful!

    ReplyDelete

  5. My latest release:
    http://www.amazon.com/Where-The-Heart-Is-ebook/dp/B006DCC68S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1322202014&sr=1-1

    ReplyDelete

  6. Hi Jeanette,

    I love hearts! Thank you for suggesting your book.

    ReplyDelete

  7. I love my cover for short story Hidden Intent, which you can find on my "available now" book page: http://www.annemcarpenter.com/p/available-books.html. Have also received many compliments on it, and it's on a "best of" list on GoodReads for its cover, in the top 10. Come see, come see! :-)

    ReplyDelete

  8. Hi Anne,

    I voted for your book cover on the Goodreads "best of" list, so I'll certainly show it here!

    ReplyDelete

  9. Okay...since you said you love hearts, I could not resist adding One Pink Line! Check her out:
    http://www.amazon.com/One-Pink-Line-Dina-Silver/dp/146377253X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324142775&sr=1-1

    ReplyDelete

  10. Hi Dina,

    Gorgeous book cover. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

    ReplyDelete

  11. I love being on a page with my all time fave - Pride & Prejudice :)

    ReplyDelete

  12. I'm going to be shameless and say the cover of Juniper Crescent by Tony Graff

    ReplyDelete

  13. Thanks, Tony. If we're doing shameless I'd like to say I'm pretty fond of this cover, Clips & Consequences: a memoir by Beth Myrle Rice.

    http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13060525-clips-consequences

    If lack of humility is frowned upon I apologize; but, it's still worth a peak :)

    ReplyDelete

  14. It's even more worthy of a PEEK! Note that the cover shown at Goodreads is slightly different/improved from what's shown at my website. www.purplestripepublishing.com is the only place to purchase the last of the First Edition. The cover at Goodreads is what is now being distributed by Ingram and being offered at Amazon and B&N.com

    Thanks for allowing shamelessness, Kathryn! :-) I'd not have posted twice if I'd paid attention to my spelling first time around!

    ReplyDelete

  15. Hi Tony and Beth,

    Nothing wrong with shameless! I love the painting on your book cover Beth. Who did it?

    ReplyDelete

  16. "Seeing Julia" (my novel) has a great book cover that people seem to really like/admire/enjoy.

    Here's the Goodreads link to it:
    http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11490624-seeing-julia

    ReplyDelete

  17. Hi Katherine,

    Your book cover is gorgeous. I've featured it on my facebook page, so I'll certainly feature it here!

    ReplyDelete

  18. Thank you so much for featuring Seeing Julia's cover here!

    Best,
    Katherine Owen

    ReplyDelete

  19. I love Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John H. (Hamish) Watson, the expressions on their faces are wonderful. See
    http://amzn.com/dp/B006ATXXTA

    ReplyDelete

  20. I'm somewhat partial to my own book cover seen here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006RZNR3Y

    It's hard to do science fiction!

    ReplyDelete

  21. I had a lot of fun designing my cover for Notes to Self:

    http://www.amazon.com/Notes-Young-Adult-Novel-ebook/dp/B006AY9UGK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325389253&sr=1-1

    ReplyDelete

  22. My very first book cover. It wasn't the horrible process that I imagined it would be. Photoshop is hard, but it was fun to do on my own.

    http://amzn.com/B006R0RSQG

    ReplyDelete

  23. My latest work. Simple, yet eye catching, I hope:
    http://www.amazon.com/Working-Heat-II-ebook/dp/B006H9YCJI/

    ReplyDelete

  24. I was quite pleased with my latest cover.
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Awake-ebook/dp/B006QCLYE2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325426580&sr=1-1

    ReplyDelete

  25. Phillip, you are right! The look on their faces is priceless!

    David, I love the Chinese writing down the side of your cover. I hope it shows up here.

    Laura and Nikki, well done on designing your covers! For me is was a horrible process that I finally gave up on in the end! (See my post http://katheryn-lane.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-book-cover.html)

    Happy New Year everyone!

    ReplyDelete

  26. Donovan, nice clear cover.

    Rachel, I like the font you used for your title, 'Falling Awake' - very effective.

    ReplyDelete

  27. Hi Katherine

    Mortuus Virgo is a mystery novel with a hint of historical fiction and a touch of unrequited love. Hope you like the cover http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mortuus-Virgo-Dead-Virgins-ebook/dp/B005ETBXLC/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_3

    ReplyDelete

  28. Hi Kevin,

    'The Dead Virgins' - great title for a book! Would you like to do a guest post on this blog about it? email me at Katherynlane1@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete

  29. I love the covers I have from the artists who have done mine. My favorites are:
    Shades of Night: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005R1PD9K and
    When Darkness Falls:
    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006KRYMM4

    ReplyDelete

  30. Katheryn, I love your cover. The end result is great. The shadowed couple speaks tons of emotions. It may not have been a fun process but it was worth it. http://katheryn-lane.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-book-cover.html

    ReplyDelete

  31. @ Laura, I LOVE IT!! http://amzn.com/B006AY9UGK (included the short version of Notes to Self)

    ReplyDelete

  32. Hi Nikki,

    Thank you very much! I'm so glad you like it! If you are interested in contemporary sweet romance and would like a copy for review, email me at Katherynlane1@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete

  33. R. G. - Very nice covers! Who are the artists?

    ReplyDelete

  34. I'd like to think my cover is pretty good.

    http://www.amazon.com/Ice-Cats-ebook/dp/B006P7XKRW/

    ReplyDelete

  35. http://amazon.com/dp/B005H8PS6Q
    http://amazon.com/dp/B006M61EAQ
    http://amazon.com/dp/B006PL19Y4

    It doesn't look like the non-fiction crowd is properly represented here. :-) I'm a friend of the author's, and I've always been impressed that he does his own covers. Been trying to talk him into offer his design services to others.

    Marie

    ReplyDelete

  36. Thanks so much for this opportunity, Katheryn, love the cover of your book!

    I love the cover of my novel because it reflects my passion for the subject and I adore old musical instruments. My novel is about a violin looted by the Nazis and the quest to get it back and the cover pic is of a del Gesu violin, similar to one the novel is centered around. I designed the cover myself.

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Keeper-ebook/dp/B005KXB9NO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315175358&sr=1-1

    Cheers
    Julie

    ReplyDelete

  37. Bill, thanks for the suggestion - nice title.

    Marie, thank you for some great non-fiction books. I've picked my favourite of the 3 you mentioned.

    Julie, thank you very much for the compliment. Your book sounds fascinating - a great idea for a story!

    ReplyDelete

  38. Thanks very much in return! Please feel free to have a look at it and if you want to interview me etc. I'm more than happy, there is a really interesting story behind the book, a genuine missing 1742 del Gesu violin.
    Cheers
    Julie

    ReplyDelete

  39. Julie, could you email me at Katherynlane1@hotmail.com?

    ReplyDelete

  41. @Katheryn, For Shades of Night it was Razzle Dazzle Designs, for When Darkness Falls, it is Tamra Westbury :)

    ReplyDelete

  42. For the genre of humor, I was very satisfied with the cover of my book.

    http://www.amazon.com/dp/1456352423

    ReplyDelete

  43. For a political novel set in the Blair years, I was very happy with my cover ...

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Virtual-Assassin-ebook/dp/B005OC33H6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1318233902&sr=1-1

    thanks!

    ReplyDelete

  44. I like the cover of my COVERT DREAMS quite a lot.
    Mike
    http://www.amazon.com/Covert-Dreams-ebook/dp/B005WO860K/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2

    ReplyDelete

  45. Hi Katheryn - Thank you for this imaginative promotion! My wife Lisle is a fine digital artist (www.mermaidsprings.com)and I think she did a great job with the cover for the Kindle edition of my "Cultivators Handbook of Natural Tobacco" http://www.amazon.com/Cultivators-Handbook-Natural-Tobacco-ebook/dp/B003GSM2YK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325610343&sr=1-1

    ReplyDelete

  46. R.G., thank you for the designers' names.

    David, I like the bear's face in the background.

    Simon, the red strip across Blair's eyes is very effective.

    Michael, the merge of the two pictures on your cover is cleverly done.

    Bill, thank you! I love the old-fashioned look of your cover. Your wife did a great job!

    ReplyDelete

  47. Hi Katheryn!

    I've been through a dozen different covers for "Little Women - Young Moon" (all my designs), and think I have finally hit on the one that works. Let's just call the others "collectible variants."

    I'd really like your feedback. Be sure to click on "Look Inside" on the Amazon page to see a larger version embedded in the sample, or visit the Web site for a giant-sized view.

    Thanks!

    H.S.

    http://amzn.to/oFoDPj
    http://littlewomen.me

    ReplyDelete

  48. My work in progress has a fantastic cover.

    http://hollowpoint-aserializednovel.blogspot.com/

    A. C. Ellis
    http://amzn.to/t4yI6H

    ReplyDelete

  49. I really was attracted to this book cover, although I'm really not fond of old-style poetry:

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/B006R9Z7YM/ref=sib_dp_kd#reader-link

    ReplyDelete

  50. Hi, Katheryn.

    This is my cover for my novella, The Scarlet Bastards

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Scarlet-Bastards-ebook/dp/B00644WMQG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325618039&sr=8-1#_

    Thanks, Sean MacUisdin

    ReplyDelete

  51. I use a picture of my own eyeball for my collection of short stories 'Psychic Skin Volume 1':
    http://www.amazon.com/Psychic-Skin-Volume-1-ebook/dp/B0060OR2PQ/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

    I think the typography needs a little work, but I guess that's something I can spend some more time on for Volume 2.

    I found a great Creative Commons image for my collection of essays 'Worthless Ruminations':
    http://www.amazon.com/Worthless-Ruminations-ebook/dp/B006IEBORK/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2

    It seems oddly appropriate, if not a bit strange. :)

    ReplyDelete

  52. H. S. St. Ours - I LOVE, really LOVE, your book cover. It is exactly the type of cover that would make me want to pick up a book and read more!

    ReplyDelete

  53. A. C. Ellis, let me know when your new book comes out and then I'll show your smoking gun!

    Sean, camels across the desert - a topic close to my heart!

    Benjamin, I like your ruminating camel (is it a camel?)

    ReplyDelete

  54. I just published my first novel this year, Night Falls. For the cover I turned to my sister, Christianna Cannon, who really enjoyed creating custom letters for the cover. I may have rushed her in order to meet a deadline for publishing, but for my upcoming novels she will probably revise the way my name's displayed too. Basically, I challenged her to create the cover for a vampire novel that isn't pure sappy romance or aimed at teenagers, so there isn't anyone shirtless on the cover :D

    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006S7VWOW/

    ReplyDelete

  55. Thanks for the kind words, Katheryn! And thanks for posting all these great covers. It's really inspiring for those of us who insist on the DIY model!

    H.S.

    ReplyDelete

  56. I have gotten nice comments on my covers. They are a nice change from the 'normal,' I think.
    http://www.sensates.com/Books.htm

    ReplyDelete

  57. Fun blog post!!

    Here's my first novel's cover-- Bumped to Berlin.

    http://www.amazon.com/Bumped-to-Berlin-ebook/dp/B006J96BKY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325773079&sr=1-1

    ReplyDelete

  58. Jamie, your sister did a really good job with the letters!

    H. H., very pretty covers. I've published my favourite of the two, though I like them both.

    Savannah, you have a good, clean look to your cover.

    ReplyDelete

  59. The cover for "The Wood & Copper Inn" is one of my own 3D compositions. I used 3D figures, foliage, and textures to develop it. It didn't exactly have the "feel" that I was looking for, but I really liked how it rendered. I decided to use it for this title.

    http://www.amazon.com/Copper-other-Stories-Supernatural-ebook/dp/B005Y72U0C/ref=pd_rhf_ee_p_t_1

    ReplyDelete

  60. Muskrat3D, great 3D effect! Looks good.

    ReplyDelete

  61. Thanks, Katheryn,

    Upcoming cover for my novella, Fremantle Freya.

    http://seanmacuisdin.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/fremantle-freya-base-cover1.jpg

    thanks

    ReplyDelete

  62. Hi Sean, you have a beautiful picture for your cover for Fremantle Freya. Let me know when it's published and I'll post it.

    ReplyDelete

  64. What great selections! I found out the power of the cover when I had a professional designer redo a couple of my covers. Now they reflect the professionalism of the contents, which is something I think a lot of indies underestimate.

    My designer was JT Lindroos; I can't say enough good things about him.

    Check out The Amazon Club, a lively book about an animal rights club for young people:
    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005NWF9SI

    He also did the covers for What if the Hokey Pokey Really Is What It's All About (whose design reminds me of the cover you bought on impulse at the airport) and When I Am Singing to You (which has a distinctive multicultural feel).

    I used to be textbook editor and can say unequivocally that one of the most fun parts of that job was deciding on the covers (they were for lit anthologies and Shakespeare plays, so had to be artsy).

    ReplyDelete

  65. Rebecca, your designer has done a lovley job of your book covers. I've posted the cover for The Ahimsa Club (the one you gave a link for), but I think they all look good!

    ReplyDelete

  66. Hope you like mine. It is located here: http://www.intellexiproductions.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Final-Cover-2.jpg

    and the Amazon link is http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006TM08SM

    ReplyDelete

  67. Supernatural Thesis, thank you for your suggestion. Interesting cover and topic!

    ReplyDelete

  68. Here are four I designed. Three of them belong to a series and share a theme, with differing moods imparted by each cover. The fourth draws from an element within the story:

    Winter Fade: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006XAFKII

    Firefly Kiss: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006XG0UDC

    Snowflake Promise: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006XAFLCS

    Glowstar: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006XAFME0

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Your books have a great unified look. I especially like the statue on the cover of Winter Fade.

      Delete

  69. The cover designed here is simple, eye catching and mysterious. Funny what a little bit of typography can get you with this simple and super clean book cover:

    http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Edenian-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B006X1UQX6

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. The cover for Pride is a fantastic example of how a simple cover can be really effective!

      Delete

  70. Katheryn,

    Thank you for displaying The Ahimsa Club in such good company. I'm going to send your kind words on to the designer.

    If you're a book-lover, a good cover is hard to resist and a bad one an opportunity squandered.

    All the best! Rebecca

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Rebecca, that is so true. I like your phrase 'a bad one an opportunity squandered'. Can I quote you on that?

      Delete

  71. Hi Katheryn,

    Here is the cover of Crystal Shade as you requested;
    http://www.crystalshadeangeni.com/promo/CSAngeniVol1CoverSample.jpg

    The book is available at;
    http://www.createspace.com/3753679 (Paperback Edition)
    http://www.amazon.com/dp/9630826879 (Paperback Edition)
    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00660MU8I (Digital Edition)
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00660MU8I (Digital Edition)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Great book cover and it looks especially good next to 'Pride' and 'Winter Fade' below it

      Delete

  72. Hi Katheryn,

    Thank you very much for displaying my cover amongst all these great authors!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. You're welcome Paul. It's a great cover (and great book!)

      Delete

  73. Hi Katheryn,

    Great post and some very nice designed covers. I have my first ebook out very shortly and would love you view on my cover,

    http://thewrongplaceatthewrongtime.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/huge-thank-you.html

    This is the link and look forward to your comment, positive or negative, all comments are useful.

    Many thanks and also following your blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi David,

      Your cover for Wrong Place, Wrong Time looks great! Let me know when you publish it and I'll show it here.

      Katheryn :)

      Delete

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)