First look at the Dreamland Book 3 cover…
Hey guys…
I had to get this ready for IDW to solicit it for January.
I haven’t changed the text in the back…but thought this spoke well of the last 4 chapters.
What do you guys think? Does it need more?
Does showing Nastajia and Alexander “Almost Kissing” ruin anything? Or would that make you want to buy it?
Thoughts?
Click to enlarge…
Its an alright cover… not too fond of it though.
It doesn’t ruin, and it does hook, BUT… it might make some parents who haven’t vetted the series yet a bit leery. Also, this would be the second Nastajia cover, and there still hasn’t been a Paddinton or a Kiwi.
If you can, I’d try a shot with Alexander in the forground, and the Pirate ship in the background, possibly being attacked by Nick is that isn’t to active. Or possibly one of the fight shots between Alex and the Pirate Captain.
I think Lord Bounty may have a point. The front cover is eye-catching for those who know the story and the characters, but less so for people who may be new to the Dreamland Chronicles. Something based on the scene where Nastajia, Paddington and Felicity arrive just in time at the pirate ship to help Alex & Kiwi with the pirate captain might be better.
It also looks like we’re not going to see this until January? Ah well…..
I think I agree with the previous commenters. You might have better luck getting someone who doesn’t know the story with a picture of more of the characters. Keep up the great work.
Thanks guys…
Considering what the previous covers looked like…I didn’t want to deviate too much by adding action or too many characters on the cover.
For the record…Book one= Nastajia and Alex on cover, Paddington and Kiwi on back.
Book two=Nick and Alex on cover, Felicity on back.
I’m not making excuses…ha ha. Just saying I’m trying to make all covers kind of have a theme.
Oh…and while I’m making “excuses” 🙂
I kind of like the idea of them “almost kissing” on the cover and think it’ll attract new readers.
By the way. They’re putting Dreamland in the teen section (near harry potter and such). So that’s why I think that.
Now…with all of that said. I may go and change it if I can come up with something else.
I really appreciate the advice and that’s exactly why I love you all.
I like the back cover, a lot. And the almost-kissing is a good thing to do, I think – you’re right that it might catch someone’s eye. Kiwi and Paddy can get their covers when the book doesn’t have the issue with Alex and Staj kissing.
Some have implied a group shot to be a good idea – I’d save that for the last volume. Maybe have them all waving goodbye or something; blur the fourth wall for the last cover. The kindof “see-you-soon” type of thing. Since you’re a fan of “dragon ball”, you might just know what I’m talking about. In fact, maybe something a little like this? http://www.daizex.com/multimedia/images/db_manga_ending/kanzenban/kanzenban_34-p232.jpg
I think an “almost kissing” cover could, well… lead people to believe the comic is something it isn’t.
I’d advise against it, I think.
Hmm… just throwing this out there…
Maybe Alex and Joey (maybe the other kids, too) on the front, with Daniel and Nicole on the back? You haven’t done a real-life themed cover yet…
Possible compromise would be to make the kiss the back-cover image. How does that grab people?
how about the pirate scene for the back cover and leave the front cover as is? the cover you’re showing us here is purely awesome design, but i agree that the pirate action scene will sell more books.
scott, saw some settings on back pages of this guy’s website and thought you’d enjoy the art as well:
http://jackcooke.blogspot.com/
I think it’s a fine cover…it rather catches the eye. I personally have no problem with it, but I don’t know what draws in other people. *shrug* ^///^
I know that I really like the mainly black background with the picture in front–it kinda reminds me of the graphic novel Tellos. 😉
Hmm. It just occurred to me that Scott reports the major part of the audience of TDC is girls. I suspect he might do better to get their opinions about the cover than from the largely male demographic that seems to be commenting here.
Considering that, maybe a better cover would be Alex standing next to/being embraced by Nastajia while she’s steering the pirate ship, possibly with that spectacular moon in the sky above them.
I think the cover you have designed is precisely what you want.
Reasons:
1> Text on the back cover identifies it as being an “All Ages” series. (Anyone who has a parent deciding if it will be an appropriate purchase will no doubt read the back as well as flip thru the inside before making their decision.)
2> It’s being sold in the teen sections. (Even PG movies have alot more than kissing these days, and those are rated for pre-teens.)
3> Your target audience for Book 3 are those who have followed the story from Book 1, thru Book 2. (This makes the ‘almost kissing’ a definate hook.)
4> Your primary following is female. (Most girls like some adventure along with their fantasy romance. Not some romance along with their fantasy adventure. Of course TDC has the perfect balance of the two IMHO.)
As for me, I will continue to support TDC with my purchases no matter what your cover looks like Scott. 🙂
=^..^=
[PS: Thanks for the link to Danielle’s web comic! (GWS) ;D]
Actually the picture of them almost kissing is what made me hunt down the comic in the first place.
I would make the “moment” between Alex and Nastasjia earlier. That is to say…. right now, you’re giving away too much. Maybe play more off of the growing relationship between them — don’t cut so close to the actual kiss. Maybe have them standing further apart from one another, but hands beginning to reach towards each other’s? I feel like you’re basically “giving it away” here on this cover — the reader knows what to expect inside. Go back about five minutes in that moment of A and N’s lives – I think it will be more intriguing/suspenseful if you have more of a “hint” towards the kiss and less of the “close enough to kiss.” Hope this makes sense.
I think the almost kissing may not give it away as much as it would seem. At this point, people are used to TV promos, movie trailers, comic book covers, candy wrappers, etc. hyping things up to get them to buy them. This often means showing things that give false impressions about what the content is going to be. So for most people, seeing a cover with Alex and Nastajia almost kissing will pique their interest, but they won’t be sure if that actually happens or if it’s marketing hype. I would also like to point out that there were at least one or two previous “almost kisses” between the two of them that were interrupted by Alex waking up.
The one potential drawback to the almost kissing cover would be parent reaction. I’m not really sure what to expect there. I think it would be worth figuring out how important the parent factor will be to your buyers and getting opinions from some parents.
It’s not the scene that’s bugging me, it’s the pose, actually. Both characters’ faces are quite a bit obscured, which distances me from the scene. I’d have to already know who the characters are to have any kind of emotional reaction to the scene. If I didn’t know them, though, not being able to clearly see eyes and expression kind of creates emotional distance, which is the opposite reaction you want someone to have.
You know, I’d actually reverse it, have the Dwarf King on the front, and have Nastajia and Alex on the back. And zoom in on the King of the front cover too, so it’s just his head and shoulders. But then I just really like the design you did for that guy so I’m pretty biased. 😛
I watch romantic movies and I know that the handsome guy will end the movie with the cute girl. This does not mess up the surprise. The question is how things will happen until they stay together.
So the cover with the almost kiss makes me want to read the book.
IMO holding hands rather than almost kissing with that smile popping up in scene might fit book better.
I’m with A.C. …the reverse of the current cover would look quite nice.
Paddington and Kiwi nearly kissing? I rather like the proposed cover though I can sympathise with those who want more action. But I’d go with the present one.
i dont think it would ruin anything, but perhaps a more intense moment would actually be your panel right after they have kissed and broken apart, with their foreheads together it sort of looks like it could be the moment before, but looks a bit less driven? if that makes any sense…
fyi, the second comment by David was a different David from the first David to comment on this thread. I hate it when that happens. Maybe I should just comment on these types of things as David 01 from now on.
I personally think that the on the cover they’re too close to kissing. If they were a little farther apart it would be more suspenseful. Are they, or not? As for the parent factor I know more would be against it, unless they have read the rest of it with their teens. Knowing teenagers, half would be interested, and the other half would think there was more going on then there is. Some of that half would be even more interested when they think they’re is more going on then there really is, but that would most likely be guys, and they rarely go into a book store, even for comics. I also agree with A.C. switch the covers around and it wouldn’t be so bad. It would be better though if the dward had more detail, was closer so he’d be easier to see.
Keep the kissing cover. It’s certainly caught my eye and I’ve read the series up to the current pages. There is a lot to be said for romance in a story (even for boys, yes) and unfamiliar potential readers will see an elf and a human male on the verge of a tender moment. I think it will go over well. Keep it!
AHHH!! The cover pic almost ruins something, but MOSTLY makes me want to buy it. You will draw in all the romance freaks with that one, seeing as the majority of comics wait FOREVER for the main couple to kiss (which is my favorite thing about THIS story). Love it!
The kissing-cover would make me far less likely to buy it if I wasn’t already acquainted with the series, because it sort of makes the series look to be primarily or solely a romance (especially with the vagueness of the facial features, almost like they’re stock characters).
This might turn off people who would otherwise enjoy TDC, but who upon seeing the cover figure it’s a soap opera in a fantasy setting (like those ’50s comics with titles like “Young Romance” or “First Love”, only with pointy ears).
I like it. Maybe back the kiss up a frame or two so it isn’t so obvious from some of the comments above, but I’d like it just the way it is.
Everyone likes a good smooch.
Eh, if I saw that it would make me think “sappy romance stuff” and I would move along — I’m a married woman, but I guess I’ve always gone more for action movies than romance, myself.
Una domanda: se qualcuno attacca al muro di una strada trafficata del centro un manifesto con una mia foto mentre vengo picchiato, e se io denuncio la cosa al Comune (o forse al proprietario dello stabile?), e se questi non lo rimuovesse entro 24 ore, subirebbe da 6 a 1 anno di carcere per &qdfq;uifoamazione&tuot;?Non che mi abbiano picchiato, ma cosi', tanto per sapere…