Help me choose, please! :-)

[Bethers]

I'm thinking Bronc is 6 or 7 now.

I Googled boy farmer. When results came up I clicked on images and the image I posted was partway down the page.

The original of the image you used doesn't convey a farm or ranch boy to me, either. And still looks like a girl to me.

Good luck. And I hope you know I'm just doing what you've asked. I wish you success with this.

[Cudedog]

I'm thinking Bronc is 6 or 7 now.

I Googled boy farmer. When results came up I clicked on images and the image I posted was partway down the page.

The original of the image you used doesn't convey a farm or ranch boy to me, either. And still looks like a girl to me.

Good luck. And I hope you know I'm just doing what you've asked. I wish you success with this.

Yep! Your help and comments are very much appreciated! Truly!

Thank you.

Anne

[JudyJB]

I hope you don't mind our constructive comments. It is fun to imagine what we would put on a cover and lets us use our creativity, even if we can't get as far as writing a whole book!

And I think a photo of a real child would be a good idea, but it needs to be a realistic kid, not cleaned up for a photo. In other words, maybe a kid who has been riding a horse all day and wearing old clothing with hair not combed, etc.

[snowball]

you asked right? I think Beth really said it well... just something about the kid didn't like and not even the hair have a red headed daughter and granddaughter perhaps the red is too in the face and the face just looks too perfect perhaps I am not sure what the problem is but just is...
be careful and don't clutter the cover it would be really easy to do
sheila

[MandysMom]

When you ask about hue and saturation, I go glaze eyed! I've long forgotten that stuff because I haven't done any photo work in probably a decade. I go by how it hits me. I order lots of Amazon books, often from recommendations on one of a few emails I get a week for free or cheap. I can tell you that often its that first glance at a title that either has me look further or delete the email. I like what Beth said.
Velda

[Cudedog]

Well, the results are in!

Thanks to everyone who put in their comments, very helpful and all comments have provided much food for thought.

I think I will need to just stick with Shutterstock for now for my image needs, because it is a U. S. company, and also because of the pricing, non-royalty structure, and their model release requirements. I don't want to use a photo from somewhere and have someone come after me later saying that I "stole" their photo and potentially get into some kind of legal hassle. Is this likely? Probably not. But it is possible.

I have now spent about three hours or so on Shutterstock searching for a new image for the boy. I have to admit that the comments that the current boy image looked "unisex" had me really stumped for a while (I even thought at first that "unisex" referred to the fact that both individuals on my cover are male!). I even did a Google search on the word to be sure I was understanding correctly.

I'm not sure - correct me if I am wrong - but I think (maybe) that what was meant was "androgynous", rather than "unisex".

Special thanks to Barbi and Beth who both took the time to search for photos on their own and also took the time to send them to me. It is very much appreciated, and helps me to better understand what you both have in mind.

If either of you - or anyone else - would like to jump into the searching fray on Shutterstock please do so! Searching on Shutterstock is free, and I could certainly use the help! If anyone comes up with a photo that I end up using, would be happy to give credit to the "finder" on the dedications page of the book. While you are at it, feel free to search for cowboy photos as well, same deal!

Special thanks also to the majority (most everyone, actually!) that commented on the color differences between the boy and the rider. This is VERY important information for me to know, that I did not realize before.

Well, off to the races. This searching thing is probably going to take a while, I'm looking forward to seeing your suggested photos (no need to post them here, just PM me with links) and to any further comments!

Looks like writing a book takes a village! Or a really good forum.

Thanks again.

Anne

[Cudedog]

When you ask about hue and saturation, I go glaze eyed! I've long forgotten that stuff because I haven't done any photo work in probably a decade. I go by how it hits me. I order lots of Amazon books, often from recommendations on one of a few emails I get a week for free or cheap. I can tell you that often its that first glance at a title that either has me look further or delete the email. I like what Beth said.
Velda

A quick question, Velda. Is it the "first glance at the title" or maybe "first glance at the book cover image" or is it a "first glance" blend of both?

Thanks!

Anne

[MandysMom]

Picture catches my eye, or it doesn't . Sometimes it's title, but mostly photo then what write up summary says.

[BarbaraRose]

Just my take on book covers...

There was a book that came out a few years ago that was a self-help inspirational book that sounded really good. However the cover showed the author on it sanding with her arms crossed, a pissed off look on her face and messed up hair. That cover really didn't reflect the subject of the book at all. I did get the book but I had to remove the jacket in order to read it because it bothered me so much seeing a bitchy looking woman on the cover.

The cover of a book is what really compels me to open it and see what it is about. There is a book I got at the library about Joshua Tree National Park. The book was awesome with lots of interesting info and stories and color photos and maps, but the cover was very nondescript and very little color. It didn't reflect the colorful and interesting book inside. I am glad I took the chance since it was a library book. I would now pay to have my own copy of it for future reference. I got another library book about Joshua Tree that had a nice colorful cover but the book was boring and just had black and white photos inside which lost my interest and I never finished it. Covers are very important to convey the contents of a book and attract the right readers.

[monik7]

I liked Barbie’s description of how the current boy looks like he “photobombed” the cowboy. I think that’s true in addition to the colors being so opposite the cowboy photo. I wonder how long people actually look at the cover long enough to analyze it with regard to what it says about the story. I know I don’t spend much time. I think if you can find a good photo of the farm boy that blends in with the cowboy photo rather than looking so opposite it would be a lot better and all that’s needed. It will tell enough for the reader, in the short time that they look at the cover, to want to find out more.
Sandi

[Cudedog]

Ok. BIG THANKS to everyone who has participated in this thread.

I have spent a lot of time thinking over all of the comments here, thinking about ways to do if differently, and also searching for new photos. I have very much taken to heart the majority of the comments that said that the boy image clashes with the cowboy image in my current book cover. I really didn't see this before, but can see it now - so this has been extremely helpful to me.

I haven't really been able to find a photo of the boy that conveys the feeling that I am looking for, so have decided to "think outside the box" and leave the boy out, and just use a picture of a cowboy.

Leaving out the boy image has implications, both good and not so good. I am trying out Amazon advertising, whereby one enters an "auction" by placing a "bid" for ad placement. The chances of winning a bid and having a placement (meaning a view of my ad is presented when my search terms are searched) is constantly changing. Currently I am running two ads. This is the wording (the Kindle ad uses the maximum number of words allowed).

Kindle ad: Lonely Tad's family is desperate for a well. A stranger rides in, offering help. Can a well get dug before the water runs out? Will Tad find a friend?

Regular book ad: A lonely boy needs a friend. A dried-up ranch needs a well. A mysterious stranger rides in. . . Christmas is coming.

Following the click, the following page has more info about the book - I'll not type it all out here, if you want to see what it is -http://www.amzn.com/B07PLLJZHQ.

Currently, I am getting more clicks on the Kindle ad than I am on the regular book ad. Why? Who knows.

The way these ads work, is that if someone "clicks" on your ad, you pay a fee of, say $.45 per click (This might sound like a lot - and it is - but I am only getting about 3 - 4 clicks per day (some days none) so I am still within my budget). So I need to let the reader know, by the wording of the ad, that this is a children's book, and not an adult book. Because you don't want someone to click on your ad (and you then pay for the click) thinking it is an adult book, only to find out it is a children's book. If it is an adult book they are looking for, I pay for a click for which I am not going to make a sale.

Is this clear as mud?

Anyway, after spending literally hours searching for images that I can purchase and use - legally - here are three (and am still looking for more) that I am considering.

PLEASE VOTE YOUR CHOICE!


New Jones 1


New Jones 2


New Jones 3

If you like, please also check the previous image choices http://womenrv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17858 earlier on this thread - and let me know, of all of them, which one you like the best. Not which one you think is the best photo, or the best layout, or has the best text (font and color of text can be easily changed) - but rather the image that might make you curious enough to click on an ad to check out a book further.

Thanks everyone! Really really appreciate the help, and looking forward to finding out what everyone thinks.

Finally, if you have not read the book - but think you might like to - please PM me.

Anne

[snowball]

I still like the 2nd picture and I still think you will have less faulty clicks if the cover indicates a child's book... so how about clearing out the trees a bit... place a kid in the background waving kinda a Shaneish scene (Shane Movie) or look for a picture where the rider is looking back I don't know but think the kid needs to be on it somewhere
sheila

[BarbaraRose]

I think the 2nd and 3rd new jones cover, the cowboy doesn't fit the description of the cowboy in the book. I like the 1st new jones because he looks "mysterious". Having said that, I still like the original cover without having the boy on it.

[Cudedog]

I think the 2nd and 3rd new jones cover, the cowboy doesn't fit the description of the cowboy in the book. I like the 1st new jones because he looks "mysterious". Having said that, I still like the original cover without having the boy on it.

Barbie, THANK YOU for all the time and energy you have spent on this. Have spent several hours looking at probably a few thousand cowboy photos on the web (!) - and I think you are 100% correct - the original image, without the boy, best fits the description of the cowboy in my story.

Dang it! I was really in love with those sepia-toned cowboy photos - at least for a while, anyway!!

Here is my latest thinking. I have about 3 seconds (probably less!) to grab someone's attention enough for them to stop and consider my book, as they are rapidly scrolling through (literally) hundreds of thumbnail-sized book covers on Amazon, looking for a book that might strike their fancy.

With the holiday season coming up fast, my thought is that I need to have a photo of a "snow cowboy" (which suggests winter, and thus suggests Christmas time) in order to even grab the briefest look - my current photo doesn't do that (even without the boy).

So. Here is a photo of the same model, on the same horse - only this time riding through snow. I tried several different "boy" photos, in several different ways, and none of them seemed to work. So, probably, the boy is out.



What do you think of this one? Would appreciate your input, Barbie, and sincerely appreciate anyone else's input as well.

This has all been a really good learning curve for me, and I hope I am on the right track (finally!).

Thanks again!

Anne

[Bethers]

I've not said anything because I hate to say anything negative, but none of these covers looks like or would lean towards being a children's book. Most of the cowboy pictures seem to be leaning towards romance novels. This last one is the best but still there is nothing about the image or title to let me know this book is for the younger generation. Maybe consider a sub-title that would make this point?