Ask An Editor: Kathy Pories on Book Jackets
Today we share our third installment in our Ask An Algonquin Editor series. Senior editor Kathy Pories knows that while many readers would never admit it, we often judge a book by its cover. She answers the question, “Why is a paperback jacket often different from its hardcover version?” Kathy shares the thoughts that go into selecting artwork for a book jacket, as well as the opportunity to give a book a “second chance” with a paperback release.
Do you have a question for one of our Algonquin editors? Have you ever wished for an insight into the publishing world? Leave your question in the comments below!
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What is the difference between a “paperback” book and a “trade paperback? book?
For some reason, my computer blocked this article.
I think I can comment, anyhow, on how this is true for me. I may not be able to tell if I’m going to LIKE a book by its cover. But I CAN know that I WILL NOT like some books by their covers.
If I see a book cover with a drawing of a woman in long, flowing skirts or a book cover with a bare-chested man or any other book cover that looks like it’s a romance book or a YA book, I steer clear. I also skip books with cover drawings of vampires.
Of course people judge books by their covers. If we didn’t, publishers wouldn’t pay graphics people to do them. The cover of a book makes me pick it up over something else. I also judge a book by the author’s picture. I am less likely to read a book if the picture is obviously out of date or the one they always use.
Ask an Editor is a wonderful set of tapes… I’m sorry
that you stopped at only 3…Yes..No…Cover art…
Aren’t there other stories that you editors could tell?
Or perhaps you did not get enough feedback from this set?
Anyway….Well Done ( make this part of any writing conferences
you attend)..
Peter B.