Back in January, many of my Aussie writer friends joined together to produce an anthology of short stories and poetry, with the proceeds going to bushfire relief. I didn’t join in because I’m not very good at short stories, but I’ve wanted to do something ever since. And now there’s this damn virus…
Anyway, to do my bit, I’ve poured all three books of Innerscape into one omnibus, and I’m going to be offering the omnibus for a limited time – basically the 90 days Amazon requires in order to give readers 5 free days. After the 5 free days are done, the omnibus will revert to 0.99 cents. I wish I could offer the whole 90 days for free, but Amazon won’t let me.
So…I’ve done the formatting and the omnibus is ready to go, but I need to settle on a cover. These are the three I knocked up yesterday:
Version 1


I quite like this one as the white squares can be either shoji screens or the ‘catacombs’, both of which feature in the story. But…the image will only have meaning for those who have already read the whole story. I fear that it will do nothing for potential new readers.
Version 2


This is the one I prefer, aesthetically, plus it’s more consistent with the individual covers, but will the contrast between the ideal beach and the circuitry intrigue readers enough to give the story a go? No idea.
Version 3


Okay, this is the one I like the least, but it may well be the one that most closely fits the scifi/thriller genre of the story. As my Indies Unlimited buddy, Lynne Cantwell wrote in her post about covers:
‘My cover was terrible. Oh, itβs pretty enough. But Iβd been marketing the book as urban fantasy, and the cover screamed womenβs fiction. The image was all wrong. The font was all wrong. Even the title was all wrong. There was nothing there to entice a reader of urban fantasy to click through and buy my book.’
How to Match Your Cover to Your Genre : https://indiesunlimited.com/2020/03/10/how-to-match-your-cover-to-your-genre/
I know my covers are never going to match either genre exactly because the typical sci-fi cover has stars and space ships, while many thrillers include images of weapons. Still, I’d like the cover of the omnibus to convey something of the two genres, and the simple circuit board of version 3 may just be it.
I would really love your feedback on the three versions, or if none of them appeal, suggestions as to how I could make the look and feel of the cover better.
Thanks in advance,
Meeks
March 29th, 2020 at 9:04 pm
[…] in this post, I asked for your feedback on the cover for the new Innerscape Omnibus. To my huge surprise, almost […]
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March 24th, 2020 at 7:18 pm
#2 but it wouldn’t buy it as it doesn’t scream sci-fi which I love but says mush which I don’t although I like the image..I like sunnyshine and blue skies…#3 is ok maybe a black hole would say sci fi more..To be honest covers don’t sell me books I read the blurb and reviews to make my decision…Not a lot of help to you…Stay safe..
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March 24th, 2020 at 10:56 pm
-giggles- Actually you’ve been a big help. Mush? I can now state categorically that the cover will NOT be ver 2. Thanks, Carol. I love your honesty. π
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March 24th, 2020 at 11:24 pm
Always honest no other way is there? Stay safe and I hope you decide on the best cover xx
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March 25th, 2020 at 11:08 am
Thanks, Carol. You too!
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March 24th, 2020 at 9:55 am
Hey there! I vote for #2. Color is so important to grab people’s attention, and I love the juxtaposition between the harsh circuit and the scene in the square. π
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March 24th, 2020 at 10:26 am
-grin- Me too! But I have to say we’re outnumbered. I think you’re the only person who actually voted for ver. 2. I’ll provide an update of the results by the end of the week. Thanks for the feedback. π
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September 8th, 2020 at 9:01 am
Oops LOL
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September 8th, 2020 at 8:13 pm
-waves-
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March 24th, 2020 at 6:35 am
I haven’t read this so this is my analysis should I come across the cover art whilst browsing …
Definitely, definitely #1 π – the circuit-board imagery is perfect. π
The word ‘scape’ tacked onto the end of other words always denotes the act of observing something – seascape, landscape, etc … but yours is an ‘inner’ scape, therefore the image in #2 doesn’t work, and the center image in #3 looks shiny but doesn’t say anything to me .. so the 3D perspective ‘window’ in #1 suggests being able to ‘see’ into the inner landscape. π
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March 24th, 2020 at 10:30 am
Thanks Widds! So…you think #1 works because it suggests something ‘inner’ but is symbolic rather than actual? Hmm…I wonder if I could somehow combine 1 and 3. You’ve given me a lot to think about. This is actually incredibly exciting! Thank you. π
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March 24th, 2020 at 1:22 pm
π
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March 24th, 2020 at 3:22 am
#1 for the reason you mentioned about wondering what the white squares are, then #3, then #2 – though I like the contrast between the view and the circuit.
I’d go more by the book description, and don’t usually read thrillers, but you’ve got me curious, and I’ll get it when you have it out.
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March 24th, 2020 at 10:45 am
Hi Alicia! Thanks for the feedback. A real pattern is emerging and it’s nothing like what I was expecting! I’ll post an update on the results by the end of the week, but so far, only one person has actually voted for ver. 2. lol It’s the prettiest of the three but…it doesn’t do the job. Thanks so much for your feedback. Stay safe. π
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March 23rd, 2020 at 8:18 pm
Version 3 for me, Meeks π€β€οΈπ€
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March 23rd, 2020 at 7:35 pm
I like #1 best. It’s the most intriguing. I’m rubbish to ask about covers though, because unless they are hand-bound leather books, I’m not really looking! (I’m no longer a member, coz I’m no longer practising, but take a look… http://www.designerbookbinders.org.uk/exhib/booker/booker_2019/booker_2019.html)
The circuit board design would work so well as a tooled leather binding.
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March 23rd, 2020 at 4:31 pm
I love the middle cover with the blue. Beautiful.
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March 23rd, 2020 at 3:23 pm
I like #1 the most and #3 the least. #1 looks like there’s a place behind those screens, but #3 strikes me as flat. #2 is pretty, but as someone else said, the real-world scene is distracting. If you could make the image inside the square in #3 in shades of blue instead of white and grey, it might provide some depth and mystery.
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March 23rd, 2020 at 11:08 pm
I think the grey square is kind of reminiscent of a computer chip. At least in my mind. π€
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March 23rd, 2020 at 11:35 pm
You got it. π
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March 24th, 2020 at 9:58 am
That does make sense.
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March 23rd, 2020 at 11:34 pm
The grey square is the computer chip at the heart of the circuit board. It’s very nerdy. π
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March 24th, 2020 at 10:00 am
I suppose chips don’t come in blue… π
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March 24th, 2020 at 10:24 am
The printed circuit boards are often green, but the chip itself is more of a charcoal. Before I release the final version of 3 I’ll make the ‘chip’ look more realistic, but I’ll keep the silvery colour just for contrast.
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March 23rd, 2020 at 1:40 pm
Either 1 or 3 for me too. I was distracted by the beach scene, which seemed to jar.
I have decided to spend some of this time enjoying reading digitally, so it’s my chance to read Vokhtah βΊοΈ
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March 23rd, 2020 at 12:23 pm
Version 3
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March 23rd, 2020 at 1:10 pm
Thank you!
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March 23rd, 2020 at 11:18 am
Cover 1 is my favorite, but they are all eye catchers!
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March 23rd, 2020 at 1:11 pm
Thanks, Bette. π
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March 23rd, 2020 at 9:40 am
I like three best, then one.
This is internal sci-fi, not intergalactic sf, so the board is closer than stars. I like the idea of catacombs made to look sf with circuitry, etc. …
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March 23rd, 2020 at 1:12 pm
Thanks, Cage!
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March 23rd, 2020 at 9:39 am
Love them all, but V. 3 is probably most sci-fi-ly (not that I read a lot of sci-fi). It’s lovely that you’re offering them for free π
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March 23rd, 2020 at 1:13 pm
Thanks, DV. Sometimes it’s hard to see designs from the outside. Really appreciate the feedback. π
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March 23rd, 2020 at 8:48 am
I like version #1 the best, then #3, then #2. π
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March 23rd, 2020 at 1:17 pm
Thanks, Berthold! This is so mind blowing. I’m really glad I decided to get some feedback!
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March 23rd, 2020 at 8:45 am
I agree that version 3 is the best for the genre. Then version 1, if you so much dislike version 3. In Version 2, the colour photo made me focus on it and, hence, lost the feeling of a scifi book.
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March 23rd, 2020 at 1:20 pm
Ooooh…. My god, I never ever thought of that. I was really just looking at 2 as a graphic composition – dark, stark bright, stark bright, a bit of colour to balance it out. But it’s not a painting…Thank you. I literally felt the gears in my head changing direction.
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March 23rd, 2020 at 10:55 pm
Yeap! It is, indeed, a beautiful composition. No arguments there. πππ
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March 23rd, 2020 at 11:40 pm
-hugs-
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March 23rd, 2020 at 8:45 am
I can’t decide. I like #2 more but think maybe #3 is the best package leaving plenty of mystery.
Hugs
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March 23rd, 2020 at 1:22 pm
Thanks, David. I still like 2 better as an image as well, but Yorgos was absolutely right when he said the colour image sucks the attention away from the scifi elements. These are things I literally would not have thought about on my own.-hugs-
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March 23rd, 2020 at 8:44 am
#1
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March 23rd, 2020 at 8:42 am
I like all of them, but it’s between 2 and 3 for me. I like 3 because there’s an element of mystery – that circuit board points to… what? It’s interesting, and the most sci-fi of the 3, so yes, I think that would get my vote.
Also, as an aside, maybe “complete” would be a better word than “omnibus”? Then, browsing readers might think that something which had been missing is now there and it’s worth a closer look. Just a thought π
*hugs*
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March 23rd, 2020 at 1:25 pm
Thanks Chris. Sadly I’ve already put the word Omnibus in the ISBN registration so it’ll have to stay, but I take your point. Funny, I’m seeing so many different perspectives from these comments. Quite mind boggling, actually. I love it. π
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March 23rd, 2020 at 11:15 pm
Yeap, yeap! Chris’ point about the word is indeed a clever one. Wouldn’t have thought it, either, though. We tend to see our creations with our own eyes, and it’s so very interesting when other people see the same thin in a different way… very educative, too π€
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March 23rd, 2020 at 11:31 pm
Isn’t it just?!? I’ve been astounded by how blinkered my thinking has been. This community is brilliant. π
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March 24th, 2020 at 12:17 am
Oh, yes, it is!!!
And you are not more blinkered than any of us would be. In fact, you are brilliant yourself. Proof? You’ve gathered all these good people around you πππ
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March 24th, 2020 at 10:50 am
Thank you, and yes, I’m reminded again of how lucky I am to have become part of such a warm, caring, /clever/ community!
The odd thing is that I think it was our shared interests that brought us together. Many are writers, but not all. Some are artists in various mediums. But the one thing my online family all have is heart.
And so do you, Yorgos KC. -hugs-
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March 25th, 2020 at 5:02 am
ππππ
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