Poll about my book cover

[jonesthecurl]

Reposting this because "this is why I wanted to use photobucket" got few views...

I'm publishing a new edition of my novel. Very few changes, except taking out some typos, rephrasing a couple of things, and taking out all the between-paragraph spaces which I thought very cool to begin with. This has saved me about 50 pages, and when hundreds of thousands of copies sell, it'll save a few trees.
Meanwhile I decided that the cover with a drawing by yours truly was pretty naff, so I'm looking for opinion on a new front cover... (ignore the watermark, that'll disappear when I buy the image rights).
Here's three possible covers. which do you think is best?

Click image to enlarge.

[waauw]

The second looks like maleficent when she turns into a dragon in sleeping beauty, and the third looks like a martial arts logo. So, the first I guess.

[notyou2]

#2 is best, then #1

[Thorthoth]

Jones, all three covers are so simplistic. Is there a good reason for having the cover just be a logo?

[jonesthecurl]

Mm-hmm.

[Thorthoth]

Fine, I was trying to instill some self-reflection rather than just swinging the art director hammer, but if you're going to be stubborn, it must be...
Back. to. the. Drawing. Board. for you.

[jonesthecurl]

Fine, I was trying to instill some self-reflection rather than just swinging the art director hammer, but if you're going to be stubborn, it must be...
Back. to. the. Drawing. Board. for you.

You asked. I answered. Yes there is.

[Thorthoth]

Fine, I was trying to instill some self-reflection rather than just swinging the art director hammer, but if you're going to be stubborn, it must be...
Back. to. the. Drawing. Board. for you.

You asked. I answered. Yes there is.

Well, it's giving the book that cheap, self-published on-demand look.
Though I suppose in that case...

[KoolBak]

Wow.

Love the second one Jonesey.....

[Dukasaur]

I'd go with the first one, although I'd use a darker red. A flame texture, if possible.

[jonesthecurl]

Yeah, the colour would be more vivid on the actual book. And the image sharper (true of all the choices)

[MagnusGreeol]

- Love Dragons! Great luck on your book!

- I like the second one,

- Though I personally love black dragons, and if I were to make the cover it would be the #2 but black dragon with blackish cherry background smoke?

- GL, I want one either way! '')

-PS [EDIT] - Wouldn't hurt to make the title in gold leaf (fake gold of course but same look '') That would pop the title? ''o

[KoolBak]

And you HAVE to get whatever you choose tattooed on yo body....lol

[jonesthecurl]

And you HAVE to get whatever you choose tattooed on yo body....lol

Given the curlette's regret for her own tat ("No,Dad, I'll never change my mind" 2015... "I'm done with all that" 2017) - I think not. I've managed to get this far without one, I think I I can stay the course.

[jonesthecurl]

So I've listened to comments here and elsewhere (yes, including you, Thorpoint), and I've decided to go for something better, which is involving me in trying to master image manipulation - I'll show you the end result when I'm happy with it.

Meanwhile, for another reason, I've recorded me reading a whimsical passage from the middle of the book. Neither my computer speakers nor my ears are able to tell me whether this recording is as clear as I'd like. Anybody care to listen and comment?
https://soundcloud.com/user-236988079/t ... run-rodent

[DoomYoshi]

It is pretty scratchy, but still understandable.

[TA1LGUNN3R]

Second is best.

-TG

[Thorthoth]

Jones, make your book cover look like an old medieval grimoire (embossed leather-ette, gothic ornamentation and gilding, maybe tarnished clasps and dried blood stains).
That way, even if the book isn't any good, folks may still buy it as a Halloween or theater prop.

[Dukasaur]

My wife understood it clearly. I myself, had difficulty. It's almost too clear... the sounds of breathing and your lips popping at the end of words distract from the words themselves. I think that's why DJs put those big sponges over their microphones, to filter stuff like that.

[2dimes]

A trick for reducing those static noises Dukasaur mentioned when using a phone or tablet to record is to turn the mike opposite of yourself and speak louder. Also place it on a cloth like a t-shirt or towel if you lay it on a table to prevent funny echoes off that surface.

[Thorthoth]

Post-production, Jones, post-production.
I recommend the free program, Audacity.

[jonesthecurl]

A trick for reducing those static noises Dukasaur mentioned when using a phone or tablet to record is to turn the mike opposite of yourself and speak louder. Also place it on a cloth like a t-shirt or towel if you lay it on a table to prevent funny echoes off that surface.

Nice advice. Thanks.

[jonesthecurl]

Post-production, Jones, post-production.
I recommend the free program, Audacity.

I'll take a look. Basically, I couldn't find a working mike (although I know I used to have a good one when I ran quizzes two house moves ago), so I just tried to do it on my $10 phone.

[2dimes]

No worries. Post production is good if you can work the software or get it done for you but, the better the raw audio is the better the finished product will be, regardless of what you or anyone else does with it.

This is why there are guys making a living as studio musicians. If a band gets to the point of recording for Sony, if you can't play clean enough, they will just bring in someone who can.

In a studio or sound booth there will be proper acoustic foam to prevent reverb. Conversely a real good engineer will use certain old building specifically for their natural echoes. This is like oil painting, masters are rare.

As thort mentions you can get a better fake these days with fairly straight forward software. It probably won't hurt but I think you'd rather develop your voice talents. Let someone else do improved production later if you get to where some corporation requires a different level of production.

Like Dukasaur alludes to a great external mic with a fuzzy wind cover does wonders. Except I t's only going to be worth the cost if you are using good enough recording equipment to take advantage of the higher quality. At that point you are definately going to want improved post production.

At least that's what I heard.

[jonesthecurl]

I had a good friend back in NJ who makes a good living from voiceovers etc and he build a small soundproof studio in his house - but not until he'd made a fair amount out of it. You've all heard his voice somewhere - he does a lot of voiceovers for TV series trailers like Gotham, and voices a number of characters in various animations. He is also the announcer on some pyramid gameshow these days.

Meanwhile, I think I'll try to dig out some speakers better than the ones in the computer - I really can't determine the quality for myself. Actually, when Mrs thecurl returns from Ghana, she's got a headset which she uses when skyping people in various places. That might be better for both recording and listening.