Nicola here, talking today about why books have different
covers depending on which country they are released in.
My latest book, The Lady and the Laird, has had the closest
to simultaneous release I’ve ever had (within 6 weeks) in the US, the UK and
Australia, and this has provided an interesting contrast in terms of the covers
chosen for the three different editions.
First up is the US version. I think it’s very pretty and I
absolutely love the colours, the subtle use of tartan and the landscape.
The UK cover sticks with an elegant style that has been used
by MIRA for my books
for the last few years. Again it’s very pretty. One reader
commented: “I love the romanticism and mystery of this cover. It says classy,
sensuous and intriguing.”
Last but very definitely not least is the Australian cover,
which I first heard about when it caused a stir on Goodreads! It’s hard to
believe but in my entire writing career I have never had a single cover
featuring a bare-chested man or even one with his shirt open so when I saw my
hunky, topless Scot I was pretty much overwhelmed!
Both the US and Australian covers say “Scottish historical”
but in a very different way from each other. The UK one simply says
“historical” I think. Interestingly when I asked readers to vote on which they
liked best, people didn’t divide up according to where they came from. There
were plenty of UK readers who loved the US cover, plenty of US and UK readers who
adored the topless Scot, and others who thought the UK cover was gorgeous. So choosing cover art by territory is not an exact science (as it were.)
Designing cover art is a fascinating business – how do you
make a book appealing to readers at the same time as capturing the spirit of
the story? What is even more fascinating is that putting different covers on
different editions of the same book is pretty common. Evidently publishers really do feel
that what appeals to readers in the US is different from what appeals in the
UK and vice versa and that German taste, for instance, will vary from Portuguese.
The story of what happened with the cover of the first Harry
Potter book is pretty well known. In the UK
it was called Harry Potter and the
Philosopher’s Stone. The cover is on the right. In the US it was called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and
the cover is on the left.
They not only changed the cover but also the title.
And in the UK there was also an “adult” version of the book for those people
who didn’t want to be seen reading a kid’s book! I don’t know if this happened
in the US as well.
A different but equally interesting contrast is provided by
Hilary Mantel’s historical novel Bring Up the Bodies, the sequel to Wolf Hall.
The US cover is on the left below and the UK one on the right. The US cover has an instantly recognisable image of Anne Boleyn on it whilst the UK one is intriguing if a little more obscure.
It’s interesting that the major reason given for varying the
covers of books depending on which country you are in is that the cultural
tastes of different countries vary hugely and so what will appeal in one
place won’t have the same
impact in another. Certain layouts and imagery may strike a chord with readers in different parts of the world, but as we’ve seen
this isn’t always as straightforward as it sounds.
What do you think about putting different covers on
different editions of the same book? Do you think it’s a good idea or should
books, like films, have a global identity?
When I lived in Europe, it was interesting to see the different titles and covers. I love your US and Aussie ones the best.
When I lived in Europe, it was interesting to see the different titles and covers. I love your US and Aussie ones the best.
When I lived in Europe, it was interesting to see the different titles and covers. I love your US and Aussie ones the best.
When I lived in Europe, it was interesting to see the different titles and covers. I love your US and Aussie ones the best.
When I lived in Europe, it was interesting to see the different titles and covers. I love your US and Aussie ones the best.
Global, please.
Global, please.
Global, please.
Global, please.
Global, please.
Very interesting post, Nicola. It’s so interesting how different countries perceive different covers . . . and love seeing the version that bring this home. (BTW, love your MIRA UK covers—that ethereal romantic image is something I’d like to see more of here in the U.S.
Very interesting post, Nicola. It’s so interesting how different countries perceive different covers . . . and love seeing the version that bring this home. (BTW, love your MIRA UK covers—that ethereal romantic image is something I’d like to see more of here in the U.S.
Very interesting post, Nicola. It’s so interesting how different countries perceive different covers . . . and love seeing the version that bring this home. (BTW, love your MIRA UK covers—that ethereal romantic image is something I’d like to see more of here in the U.S.
Very interesting post, Nicola. It’s so interesting how different countries perceive different covers . . . and love seeing the version that bring this home. (BTW, love your MIRA UK covers—that ethereal romantic image is something I’d like to see more of here in the U.S.
Very interesting post, Nicola. It’s so interesting how different countries perceive different covers . . . and love seeing the version that bring this home. (BTW, love your MIRA UK covers—that ethereal romantic image is something I’d like to see more of here in the U.S.
I’m for the US cover. The UK one is a pretty nothing. It gives me no idea about the book itself. Now for the Aussie one. I find it faintly insulting to guys. This model is just a bare chest – no face. Wouldn’t we ladies moan at a cover that showed a bare breasted female with no head? He could have had his face turned away from the picture, looking over his right shoulder, but I suppose I’m being too picky!!!
I’m for the US cover. The UK one is a pretty nothing. It gives me no idea about the book itself. Now for the Aussie one. I find it faintly insulting to guys. This model is just a bare chest – no face. Wouldn’t we ladies moan at a cover that showed a bare breasted female with no head? He could have had his face turned away from the picture, looking over his right shoulder, but I suppose I’m being too picky!!!
I’m for the US cover. The UK one is a pretty nothing. It gives me no idea about the book itself. Now for the Aussie one. I find it faintly insulting to guys. This model is just a bare chest – no face. Wouldn’t we ladies moan at a cover that showed a bare breasted female with no head? He could have had his face turned away from the picture, looking over his right shoulder, but I suppose I’m being too picky!!!
I’m for the US cover. The UK one is a pretty nothing. It gives me no idea about the book itself. Now for the Aussie one. I find it faintly insulting to guys. This model is just a bare chest – no face. Wouldn’t we ladies moan at a cover that showed a bare breasted female with no head? He could have had his face turned away from the picture, looking over his right shoulder, but I suppose I’m being too picky!!!
I’m for the US cover. The UK one is a pretty nothing. It gives me no idea about the book itself. Now for the Aussie one. I find it faintly insulting to guys. This model is just a bare chest – no face. Wouldn’t we ladies moan at a cover that showed a bare breasted female with no head? He could have had his face turned away from the picture, looking over his right shoulder, but I suppose I’m being too picky!!!
I hate different covers for different countries but especially different covers for different editions. What is worse, though, is changing the title of a book either in different countries or different editions. The difference between philosopher’s stone and sorcercer’s stone is bad enough, but often the change is drasticlly different. This is esoecially bad in the online world where one can’t always see and handle the book before purchase. I have bought copis of books I alrady had because the publisher changed the cover and, sometimes the name on reissue.
Even the National Trust has given books different names in the US and UK.
I do not like barechested males– nor females on covers, for that matter.
I hate different covers for different countries but especially different covers for different editions. What is worse, though, is changing the title of a book either in different countries or different editions. The difference between philosopher’s stone and sorcercer’s stone is bad enough, but often the change is drasticlly different. This is esoecially bad in the online world where one can’t always see and handle the book before purchase. I have bought copis of books I alrady had because the publisher changed the cover and, sometimes the name on reissue.
Even the National Trust has given books different names in the US and UK.
I do not like barechested males– nor females on covers, for that matter.
I hate different covers for different countries but especially different covers for different editions. What is worse, though, is changing the title of a book either in different countries or different editions. The difference between philosopher’s stone and sorcercer’s stone is bad enough, but often the change is drasticlly different. This is esoecially bad in the online world where one can’t always see and handle the book before purchase. I have bought copis of books I alrady had because the publisher changed the cover and, sometimes the name on reissue.
Even the National Trust has given books different names in the US and UK.
I do not like barechested males– nor females on covers, for that matter.
I hate different covers for different countries but especially different covers for different editions. What is worse, though, is changing the title of a book either in different countries or different editions. The difference between philosopher’s stone and sorcercer’s stone is bad enough, but often the change is drasticlly different. This is esoecially bad in the online world where one can’t always see and handle the book before purchase. I have bought copis of books I alrady had because the publisher changed the cover and, sometimes the name on reissue.
Even the National Trust has given books different names in the US and UK.
I do not like barechested males– nor females on covers, for that matter.
I hate different covers for different countries but especially different covers for different editions. What is worse, though, is changing the title of a book either in different countries or different editions. The difference between philosopher’s stone and sorcercer’s stone is bad enough, but often the change is drasticlly different. This is esoecially bad in the online world where one can’t always see and handle the book before purchase. I have bought copis of books I alrady had because the publisher changed the cover and, sometimes the name on reissue.
Even the National Trust has given books different names in the US and UK.
I do not like barechested males– nor females on covers, for that matter.
I don’t know if covers should be universal, but I do want them to have some connection with the contents and not just be generic. In this case, I greatly prefer your US cover. The UK one is pretty but it looks more like cutesy chick-lit to me, and the Australian one looks like dozens of other Scottish historicals. (What’s with those Scots anyway? Are they all impervious to the cold?)
I don’t know if covers should be universal, but I do want them to have some connection with the contents and not just be generic. In this case, I greatly prefer your US cover. The UK one is pretty but it looks more like cutesy chick-lit to me, and the Australian one looks like dozens of other Scottish historicals. (What’s with those Scots anyway? Are they all impervious to the cold?)
I don’t know if covers should be universal, but I do want them to have some connection with the contents and not just be generic. In this case, I greatly prefer your US cover. The UK one is pretty but it looks more like cutesy chick-lit to me, and the Australian one looks like dozens of other Scottish historicals. (What’s with those Scots anyway? Are they all impervious to the cold?)
I don’t know if covers should be universal, but I do want them to have some connection with the contents and not just be generic. In this case, I greatly prefer your US cover. The UK one is pretty but it looks more like cutesy chick-lit to me, and the Australian one looks like dozens of other Scottish historicals. (What’s with those Scots anyway? Are they all impervious to the cold?)
I don’t know if covers should be universal, but I do want them to have some connection with the contents and not just be generic. In this case, I greatly prefer your US cover. The UK one is pretty but it looks more like cutesy chick-lit to me, and the Australian one looks like dozens of other Scottish historicals. (What’s with those Scots anyway? Are they all impervious to the cold?)
I enjoyed your post about the different covers Nicola. What an interesting marketing tool. As you can see from the posts, everyone has individual ideas of what looks best. I vote for the US or UK versions.
I enjoyed your post about the different covers Nicola. What an interesting marketing tool. As you can see from the posts, everyone has individual ideas of what looks best. I vote for the US or UK versions.
I enjoyed your post about the different covers Nicola. What an interesting marketing tool. As you can see from the posts, everyone has individual ideas of what looks best. I vote for the US or UK versions.
I enjoyed your post about the different covers Nicola. What an interesting marketing tool. As you can see from the posts, everyone has individual ideas of what looks best. I vote for the US or UK versions.
I enjoyed your post about the different covers Nicola. What an interesting marketing tool. As you can see from the posts, everyone has individual ideas of what looks best. I vote for the US or UK versions.
I think that the Australian cover is lovely, and we can use our own imagination as to how his face looks.
However, I do think that all book covers should be global. When I was home in England for a visit a few years ago, I was looking for copies of my favorite books. But, being unaware back then, that different countries used different covers, I was unable to find my favorite books.
I think that the Australian cover is lovely, and we can use our own imagination as to how his face looks.
However, I do think that all book covers should be global. When I was home in England for a visit a few years ago, I was looking for copies of my favorite books. But, being unaware back then, that different countries used different covers, I was unable to find my favorite books.
I think that the Australian cover is lovely, and we can use our own imagination as to how his face looks.
However, I do think that all book covers should be global. When I was home in England for a visit a few years ago, I was looking for copies of my favorite books. But, being unaware back then, that different countries used different covers, I was unable to find my favorite books.
I think that the Australian cover is lovely, and we can use our own imagination as to how his face looks.
However, I do think that all book covers should be global. When I was home in England for a visit a few years ago, I was looking for copies of my favorite books. But, being unaware back then, that different countries used different covers, I was unable to find my favorite books.
I think that the Australian cover is lovely, and we can use our own imagination as to how his face looks.
However, I do think that all book covers should be global. When I was home in England for a visit a few years ago, I was looking for copies of my favorite books. But, being unaware back then, that different countries used different covers, I was unable to find my favorite books.
Definitely global. It seems that that would be more cost effective for the publisher as well.
In this case, I prefer the U. S. cover as, like others have said, it lets the reader know what the book is about.
And I don’t know if it is regional, or, as I suspect, merely my age, but I am over the bare-chested (and shaved at that!), metro-sexual males on romance covers. I received an eagerly awaited release last week with above described male, very muscular and with dark hair. The H within was described as slender and lithe with fair hair! I found the cover so embarrassing that I re-ordered the book on Kindle so that I wouldn’t be seen reading what anyone would assume to be “trash”!
Definitely global. It seems that that would be more cost effective for the publisher as well.
In this case, I prefer the U. S. cover as, like others have said, it lets the reader know what the book is about.
And I don’t know if it is regional, or, as I suspect, merely my age, but I am over the bare-chested (and shaved at that!), metro-sexual males on romance covers. I received an eagerly awaited release last week with above described male, very muscular and with dark hair. The H within was described as slender and lithe with fair hair! I found the cover so embarrassing that I re-ordered the book on Kindle so that I wouldn’t be seen reading what anyone would assume to be “trash”!
Definitely global. It seems that that would be more cost effective for the publisher as well.
In this case, I prefer the U. S. cover as, like others have said, it lets the reader know what the book is about.
And I don’t know if it is regional, or, as I suspect, merely my age, but I am over the bare-chested (and shaved at that!), metro-sexual males on romance covers. I received an eagerly awaited release last week with above described male, very muscular and with dark hair. The H within was described as slender and lithe with fair hair! I found the cover so embarrassing that I re-ordered the book on Kindle so that I wouldn’t be seen reading what anyone would assume to be “trash”!
Definitely global. It seems that that would be more cost effective for the publisher as well.
In this case, I prefer the U. S. cover as, like others have said, it lets the reader know what the book is about.
And I don’t know if it is regional, or, as I suspect, merely my age, but I am over the bare-chested (and shaved at that!), metro-sexual males on romance covers. I received an eagerly awaited release last week with above described male, very muscular and with dark hair. The H within was described as slender and lithe with fair hair! I found the cover so embarrassing that I re-ordered the book on Kindle so that I wouldn’t be seen reading what anyone would assume to be “trash”!
Definitely global. It seems that that would be more cost effective for the publisher as well.
In this case, I prefer the U. S. cover as, like others have said, it lets the reader know what the book is about.
And I don’t know if it is regional, or, as I suspect, merely my age, but I am over the bare-chested (and shaved at that!), metro-sexual males on romance covers. I received an eagerly awaited release last week with above described male, very muscular and with dark hair. The H within was described as slender and lithe with fair hair! I found the cover so embarrassing that I re-ordered the book on Kindle so that I wouldn’t be seen reading what anyone would assume to be “trash”!
I like the UK cover best in every instance shown, but that’s pretty normal for me. Luckily, I think all three of your covers will sell. *grin*
I like the UK cover best in every instance shown, but that’s pretty normal for me. Luckily, I think all three of your covers will sell. *grin*
I like the UK cover best in every instance shown, but that’s pretty normal for me. Luckily, I think all three of your covers will sell. *grin*
I like the UK cover best in every instance shown, but that’s pretty normal for me. Luckily, I think all three of your covers will sell. *grin*
I like the UK cover best in every instance shown, but that’s pretty normal for me. Luckily, I think all three of your covers will sell. *grin*
The US cover because it gives more idea of the story.The English one is too similar to some of Nicola’s other books and therefore could be missed .Why do they have to have different covers surely it is more cost effective to have only one ? As for bare chested scotsmen as Donna said I think I would be driven to the old brown paper cover if I was reading away from home !! (Not having a kindle to resort to)
The US cover because it gives more idea of the story.The English one is too similar to some of Nicola’s other books and therefore could be missed .Why do they have to have different covers surely it is more cost effective to have only one ? As for bare chested scotsmen as Donna said I think I would be driven to the old brown paper cover if I was reading away from home !! (Not having a kindle to resort to)
The US cover because it gives more idea of the story.The English one is too similar to some of Nicola’s other books and therefore could be missed .Why do they have to have different covers surely it is more cost effective to have only one ? As for bare chested scotsmen as Donna said I think I would be driven to the old brown paper cover if I was reading away from home !! (Not having a kindle to resort to)
The US cover because it gives more idea of the story.The English one is too similar to some of Nicola’s other books and therefore could be missed .Why do they have to have different covers surely it is more cost effective to have only one ? As for bare chested scotsmen as Donna said I think I would be driven to the old brown paper cover if I was reading away from home !! (Not having a kindle to resort to)
The US cover because it gives more idea of the story.The English one is too similar to some of Nicola’s other books and therefore could be missed .Why do they have to have different covers surely it is more cost effective to have only one ? As for bare chested scotsmen as Donna said I think I would be driven to the old brown paper cover if I was reading away from home !! (Not having a kindle to resort to)
Thank you for all the comments! What an interesting selection of views. I’ve just got back from a wonderful holiday in Scotland very reminiscent of some of the scenery on those covers. It was even warm enough at times for a chap to strip off his top if he wanted – although the midges would have got him!
Thank you for all the comments! What an interesting selection of views. I’ve just got back from a wonderful holiday in Scotland very reminiscent of some of the scenery on those covers. It was even warm enough at times for a chap to strip off his top if he wanted – although the midges would have got him!
Thank you for all the comments! What an interesting selection of views. I’ve just got back from a wonderful holiday in Scotland very reminiscent of some of the scenery on those covers. It was even warm enough at times for a chap to strip off his top if he wanted – although the midges would have got him!
Thank you for all the comments! What an interesting selection of views. I’ve just got back from a wonderful holiday in Scotland very reminiscent of some of the scenery on those covers. It was even warm enough at times for a chap to strip off his top if he wanted – although the midges would have got him!
Thank you for all the comments! What an interesting selection of views. I’ve just got back from a wonderful holiday in Scotland very reminiscent of some of the scenery on those covers. It was even warm enough at times for a chap to strip off his top if he wanted – although the midges would have got him!