My husband, Matt, got home last night after work, in full story telling mode (as he usually is) with a tale about some poor author's book. And after listening I want to track down the publishing house and commit random acts of violence. Or at least ask some questions...
Get this.
Yesterday Matt got a phone call from a guy he knows who owns a printing press. Matt runs his own exhibit design company and usually deals with trade show and exhibit industry people. But this guy, let's call him Rob, wanted to know if Matt could design the front cover for a book that they have been asked to print. Matt was a bit surprised, as that isn't the kind of work he usually does, and wanted to know why the printing press was responsible for book cover design anyway. Isn't that like asking the printers to just finish off the story if they wouldn't mind because the writer didn't have time to type the ending?
Matt's understanding (and mine as well) was that publishing houses handle the cover design for their books. We naively thought they had whole departments devoted to art work and would NEVER lump something as important as a front cover on the little printing press at the end of the process. But Rob assured Matt that this sort of thing has happened before. Apparently books come through from publishing houses without the art work for the front cover ALL THE TIME! These publishing houses were happy to leave front cover design up to 'whatever the printer thought was best.'
SERIOUSLY???
I thought this was a tale of 'self-publishing gone wrong.' And I made a flippant comment about things that can happen if you go through small vanity publishers. I imagined some 'in-it-for-the-money-only' self publishing facility taking an author's work and throwing it at the printers without caring about the front cover.
BUT, and here's the scary part that freaked me out, apparently this is not a tale of self-publishing gone wrong. Rob's printing press is asked to print books by traditional publishing houses!
REALLY?
I just don't get that. How does this work in the publisher's favour? Print up a book with what ever the hell cover and expect it to sell??? Okay, the printing press is asked to send a mock up of the design to the author for approval, but how many author's have a clue about graphic design?
I hope this is NOT how we usually produce books Down Under.
I hope this is NOT how we usually produce books Down Under.
Matt asked who usually does the art work for the book covers, being that this is the first time his company has been asked to do one. And Rob, bless his heart, said that him and his secretary usually put something together.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?
I am sorry. Maybe I just don't know anything about the publishing industry. Maybe authors are expected to have greater input in their cover design here in Australia. But doesn't this sound just a bit...... wrong?
I am sorry. Maybe I just don't know anything about the publishing industry. Maybe authors are expected to have greater input in their cover design here in Australia. But doesn't this sound just a bit...... wrong?
I know we shouldn't judge a books by its cover, but honestly, a decent bit of art work on front at least honors the work behind the cardboard wrap. Some unsuspecting author out there quite possibly spent a couple of years pouring over their work, to finally have it sold to a publishing house and then get it printed with.... what? A cover designed by secretary and a printing press owner?
I am astounded.
Maybe I need an education. Maybe someone out there has some actual experience with this and can shed some light.
I am hopeful that this is the exception to the rule and the work of some shoddy publishing company and NOT the norm. Surely the printing press shouldn't have to ferret around for an artist/graphic designer to produce the book covers?
Matt sent his artwork through to the author tonight. I happen to think it's brilliant, but I could be biased. I know this is not the printing company's fault, but surely no author wants some secretary or printing press owner to have a hack at their book cover!
I don't know... just makes me want to go put my boxing gloves on.
What do you think? Has anyone else ever heard of this sort of thing going on in the world of publishing?
I must say though, it would explain a few of the front covers I have seen recently...
Not Matt's of course!
My husband's married to a writer so he asked to read about the book before completing the art work... and I think the end product is awesome. But MAN... SERIOUSLY???Not Matt's of course!
Oh and here's a shameless plug for my man. You can check out what he usually does when he's not designing book covers for random authors :)
Here's his website. www.zaeya.com/
