Judging A Book By Its Cover. Part 2 Title/Name placement.
When my son was designing my cover for “Chris’ Journey Turning Different Corners, Her Journey Begins”
I asked him, Should my name be on the top or the bottom of the cover? He told me only well known authors have their name at the top and new authors (Since people don’t know you) Have their name at the bottom (Sounds kinda degrading, doesn’t it?) and the title of the book at the top. Is there an unspoken, unwritten rule that only well known author’s can do this, that I don’t know about? Any book designers out there that can set us straight?
So I have gone through my e-books, in? on?…? my kindle once again and now have a total of 306 (Hey, I’ve added one since my last post!)
And here are the stats on name placement for the ones I have: Sorry I decided against doing the stats! But let’s just say the majority were; title at the top, author name at the bottom. 🙂
Title at the top/Name at the bottom
The Wrong Side of The Tracks http://www.amazon.com/The-Wrong-Side-Tracks-ebook/dp/B00538TQ40 (Ooh, this one’s FREE 9/27)
Puppet Parade http://www.amazon.com/Puppet-Parade-ebook/dp/B007W39RXY
The Prophecy http://www.amazon.com/Prophecy-Estilorian-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B006G53SZ2 And this one’s free also!
Enemy In Blue http://www.amazon.com/Enemy-Blue-A-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0058V1JEW
Borrowed Wings http://www.amazon.com/Borrowed-Wings-ebook/dp/B007CNAPYO
Author Name at the top/Title at the bottom
LOL http://www.amazon.com/LOL-ebook/dp/B007N714ZS
Verilege http://www.amazon.com/Verliege-ebook/dp/B007QOB0V6
The Black Witch http://www.amazon.com/The-Black-Witch-Curse-ebook/dp/B0051PYOIS
Castles Made Of Sand http://www.amazon.com/Castles-Made-of-Sand-ebook/dp/B008J9X4N4
Black Beast http://www.amazon.com/Black-Beast-MacAulay-Volume-ebook/dp/B0050JC43C
I have to admit they are all beautiful covers. So which do you prefer, Name at the top or the bottom?
- Posted in: Book Covers ♦ Uncategorized
- Tagged: authors, beautiful, books, bottom, design.author, links, name, titles, top
karensdifferentcorners 
Hey K, I think your son has the right idea just wrong explanation. Well know authors have name at the top because people will buy the name no matter what the book is about. Not fair, but perk of being well know. New authors, need a title people can identify with to get people to read the book. I vote for name at the bottom.
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Hey Sydney
That makes sense. I’ve seen a lot of great covers with the name at the top and the bottom. I think overall it just depends on the cover detail and the author’s preference. 🙂
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To be honest, I never notice which is on top. I think the overall look of the cover is what matters.
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Hi Brinda
I didn’t think about it with my first two covers.
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Thank you for the mention, Karen! Personally, I like then name to be at the bottom. I never thought of it from the angle you presented. I just thought it looked better that way, haha.
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Hi Zen. No problem. These are all books I have in my kindle, now if I can just find time to read them all 🙂
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Hi Karen I’d hate to think there were different rules for established and new authors. I’ve even seen covers with the author’s name vertical. That’s the only layout I don’t like. Anything else goes as far as I’m concerned. I think I’ll hire a cover designer for my upcoming first novel and let him/her decide where to position my name!
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Hi Richard
I think it basically has to do with the layout and what looks good. So when can we expect your novel? And hopefully I’ll have some links in the next few weeks for cover designers, so if you haven’t found one yet…
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Put your name wherever you want, Karen. It’s the quality of writing that counts and you have quality!
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Hi Dannie
You’re to sweet. Even after I scared you, you still like me. 🙂 Hugs for a great day!
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Hi Karen! What an interesting post. I’m having a new release soon and when designing the cover I never gave much thought to where my name should be.
I think for big name authors such as Stephen King (etc.), it doesn’t really matter where their name is. People are going to buy the book just because of the author. Perk of being famous, I guess.
For me personally, the cover design is what catches my attention first and foremost. I don’t care where the author’s name is.
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Hi Casey
When is your new release coming out? I’m going to do part 3 here on Monday and then I’m going to ask 20 other writers/authors to share their covers and how they decided on the cover they have. I’ll split the post up into 4 posts with 5 covers each and post throughout the week. So check back!
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It’s coming out Oct 17.
I’ll definitely check back!
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Actually that will work out great for you, you’ll get a mini promo and if you had someone design your cover they’ll get a plug too!
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Hi Karen,
I was told the same thing your son said when I published my first novel. I’m getting ready to release my second novel in December and that conversation with my old publisher about where to place my name rang in my head the whole time I was working on this cover. Needless to say, I’m not well known, so my name its on the bottom.
Minnie
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Hi Minnie
Was it your publisher that told you that? My name is at the bottom on the three books I have out and I’ll be revealing my next 2 covers in the next couple of weeks and once again my name will be at the bottom. Hmm, maybe I could change the one, just to get people’s attention… 😉
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I have nominated you for several Blogger Awards on http://emilyguido.com/2012/09/29/httpwp-mep2gagv-1ck/ Thanks and lots of hugs, Emily
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Good morning Emily! I will stop by your blog! And thank you! Make sure you stop back by on Monday. Would love to give one of your books a mini promo. I’ll have the details in Monday’s post.
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Uh oh! It looks like Emily may have nominated you for some of the same awards I have. Oops. Please come see! http://wp.me/p27ipo-Ah There is one that was not from sweet Emily:)
I like the authors name at the bottom. The first thing besides the cover art I look for is the title.
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