Outskirts Press is holding a book cover contest. They’re featuring 6 book covers and you can go vote on the one you think is best. And the winner will get a Book Teaser from Outskirts Press to help promote the book “on popular video sharing sites such as YouTube, mySpace and MetaCafe.”
The six books are ones chosen by and published through Outskirts Press, which calls the books “self published.” Personally, it’s difficult to believe a company that charges to publish your book is really a “self-publishing leader.”
If you want to vote on the books, the good news, according to the press release, is that “Voting takes only seconds and is completely free.”
5 years ago
Isn't that really kind of them- to keep the contest entirely free?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good marketing thing for them! People love looking at covers...
ReplyDeleteGood marketing idea. Been wondering if self-publishing won't become the new thing given the volatility in the market. Perhaps they will be an industry leader someday?
ReplyDeleteI voted for the apple-cover. Seams like many others have done the same.
ReplyDeleteI think the coolest book cover I have seen this year is the Rock Paper Tiger by Lisa Brackmann. The book was good to >:)
Cold As Heaven
I'm sure their authors appreciate their promotion efforts!
ReplyDeleteInteresting concept. Guess that gives them an idea of what readers are looking for.
ReplyDeleteMason
Thoughts in Progress
I agree Cold As Heaven, Rock Paper Tiger was a cool cover.
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those who looks at covers. After the title, it's probably the first thing I notice.
Don't know how many visitors the contest is bringing in, but it's another way to try to promote the authors.
I liked the apple cover. If I'm debating over two books and can only have one, the cover plays a big part in my decision.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy cool cover art so I'll go take a look.
ReplyDeleteI can do that. I don't like when people ask me to vote for their book when I never read it. But dust covers ...sure.
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
Covers do influence me, I admit.
ReplyDeleteBook covers are important. It's a good publicity stunt for their authors, but charging them to publish isn't self-publishing, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI love looking at covers! But oh... charging to publish? Sounds a bit off.
ReplyDeleteI looked but wasn't overly impressed. Self published or not, I think authors need to keep abreast with what type of covers are on popular books and design theirs accordingly. Nothing screams self published like a tacky photoshop cover, imo.
ReplyDeleteI like a good cover. Kathi Oram Peterson's, The Stone Traveler has a great cover.
ReplyDeleteI will take a look at those you mention, Helen.
I wonder if what they're really after is to see what people aesthetically like... fun though. A good cover really makes a difference.
ReplyDeleteGood point Sia. And covers DO affect buyers.
ReplyDeleteThanks Glynis. I'll check that one out.
That's an interesting angle, Hart. Maybe so.
Covers are so important!! :)
ReplyDelete