Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Make me an offer I can't refuse

So I'm actually watching The Godfather. After Roger Rabbit getting dipped, I decided for some action. And, like Lord of the Rings, I never really got into the Godfather series. One would think if I could stay awake and enjoy Lawrence of Arabia, I could do the same with The Godfather but when I was younger, I'd fall asleep. I knew it was out there, I knew it was good, but I'd only seen bits and pieces of it.

So far, it's decent. No Untouchables yet, but decent.

Moving on, we have two interesting articles from Publisher's Weekly. The first covers covers. As in book covers. Something I'm utterly fascinated with and, honestly, biased about. If a cover is good, I'll buy your book. If a cover is bad, I won't even pick it up. Simple as that.

The second answers some queries about query letters. Quite an interesting insight into how a slush pile is dealt with and how query letters may become passe.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

"If a cover is good, I'll buy your book. If a cover is bad, I won't even pick it up. Simple as that."

it's all about the art. you like what you like and dont like the rest. right? kind of like the rest of the world. the problem is you can never please everyone. artists dont try to please everyone. i suppose authors and publishers want the cover to please almost everyone.

Mom

1979 semi-finalist said...

I with you on your feelings about covers...it's one of three things that I look for when picking out a book these days (the others are reading the first line and the title)...it has lead me to a lot of amazing books that I don't know how I would have found otherwise...and to very few bad books (if any).

Is it a bad sign that I envision my future book as just a red (darkish/brightish) cover with the title centered like it has been typed on the page...no illustrations or fancy-ness. Perhaps its for the best that they usually don't let authors (especially first timers) decide these things. That said, I think I have excellent taste and instincts (who doesn't think this about themselves!?) and want what I want and will probably cry like a little baby if I don't get it...

John Zeleznik said...

I can't believe you'd never seen The Godfather!!!!

I'd count it among my top 3. I watch it every time it's on...no matter what!

Neil Richard said...

John - I think my college roommate ruined it for me. He loved it and made me sit down to watch it. And I fell asleep. I guess it was just too much for me to pay attention to at the time. Ever since I've always avoided it because I knew it was long.