Is it reasonable for a writer to request a good book cover from their publisher?

Question: Is it reasonable for a writer to request a good book cover from their publisher!?

once they accepted your book of course!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

They're in it to sell money, so trust them to do everything they can to come up with the perfect cover for you!. So many people will open a book based on that cover that it's one of the most important marketing tools they have, and they won't screw it up!.

It depends on the size of your publisher when it comes to whether or not you can make suggestions regarding the cover!. Usually it's completely out of your hands though!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Of course, the publishers hope that the cover they select will be marketable, as many people are sparked by a good cover, but to "request" a good cover would be laughable!.

There is the odd chance that you will be involved in the cover, but not necessarily!. Actually, even if your book is purchased by a publisher, yes you'll have to sell your first book or five outright for a one-time-only payment, the chances of your book actually going to print are slight!. If your book does make it to the improbable stage of being printed, the likelihood that many books will be printed will be slight and your position in book stores will be only slipped in according to alphabet in the racks and rows of the monster book retailers!. Anything like a display for a book is reserved for only the proven sellers!.

Good luck anyway, but I wouldn't get too worried about the cover just yet!.

Sorry if I seem cynical, but I know the industry!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If the publisher is reputable, they have quality people in the art/marketing departments!. To a large degree, you just have to trust that they know what they ar doing!.

If the only reason a book is failing to sell is because of the cover art, they will figure that out!. If you're a new author, that may be the end of it!. If you're well known or your book is really, really good, they may reissue with a new cover!.

If the cover art is very different from other books in your genre / market niche (especially if those books are by the same publisher), you may have a point!. Express your concerns but be willing to hear and respect their opinions!. However, if you are too difficult to work with, you could hurt your chances of getting anything else published by them!.

I am often turned off by the cover art in the genre I like, but then, I am not the typical reader in that niche and I know that!. Similarly, I may find the art work for my book to be unappealing for that reason, too (the only thing that really bugs me is when the artwork is in no way related to the character description given in the book)!.

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The publisher will create a good cover that they think is best to sell copies!. It's a given that they will do so!. I think if you just went ahead and made this request it would come across as insulting to the publisher!. That's like them offering you a book contract and then requesting that you write a good book!. All parties have to trust that the other will do their part in the book publishing process!.

Just concentrate on writing--that's your part!. Let the publisher do their part!. It's actually a relief to allow them to do that!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

That's not asking too much, Ms!. Jaime!.

However!.!.!.!.
I hope you didn't self-publish; those leeches will sponge profits from your book while you get saddled with thousands of dollars in debt!. No traditional publisher will touch a self-published book; I assure you, not even with latex gloves and an endorsement from the Pope himself!.

If you haven't given them your money yet, don't!. Get a literary agent instead!. Here's the benefits: It cost no money and you have the best opportunity to get published!. A literary agent just won't quit until your book is published!. You send query letters to agents specializing in your book's genre and who are accepting new clients and/or unsolicited submissions!.

A vast database of reputable agents is located at:
http://www!.aar-online!.orgWww@QuestionHome@Com