The Author Guy Blog by Larry B. Gildersleeve

March 1 2024

Hello out there,

Welcome back. This week’s contribution speaks to something I learned early-on in my author journey and was reinforced by something I read last week in a magazine. 

In preparing my first book for publication about ten years ago, my research revealed the two most important things reader’s consider when selecting a book from an author previously unknown to them are the title and the cover. Modesty aside, I think all four of my titles are interesting, perhaps even compelling: Dancing Alone Without Music, Follow Your Dreams, The Girl on the Bench and Blue by You.

When I changed indie publishers a few years ago, I didn’t have the rights to, or couldn’t find the original artwork for, the first three books. Admittedly, I was in a hurry to make the change, so I worked with a graphics person to designed similar covers for all three. Because of the parchment background, I’ve labeled them The Parchment Series. But I am especially proud of the cover we designed for my fourth book, the award-winning Blue by You.

As I prepare to release my fifth novel later this year, I believe the title For the Love of Charley Chaplain will be a word-play attention-getter as was Blue by You. I have several ideas in mind for the cover, and it’s importance was brought home again to me last week when I read that the actor Julia Roberts places 80% or more of her book selection decision-making on the cover.

One final note on the subject. You may have noticed, as have I, that once an author becomes famous, his or her name becomes more prominent on the book’s cover than the title. It is to that I aspire.

Until next week … Vaya con Dios

Larry B. Gildersleeve