I vote the3rd...!

Hi Sherrie,

I have voted and chosen number 1 as both 2 and 3 remind me of other photos on other covers.

Number 1 has the ruggedness of Iceland and is an unusual shot.

What book programme are you using?

Steve

Mark the book is written with riders in mind, but I hoped that it was well rounded enough that anyone who wanted to read about a trip through Iceland would like it. But it is written from the viewpoint that the best way to see the country is by motorcycle. :-P

Steve the cover was created with Inkscape, but not by me. I would throw the laptop out the window before I was able to create anything. My patience and skills do not extend to visual creativity. :-P

I think I will end up going with number one in the end. I think it will mean that riders are more likely to find it and want to read it, and anyone who is not a rider will buy it knowing what to expect. A book is judged by its cover!

Photo 1 is probably a good choice for your target audience which would include a higher proportion of men than women I imagine. Y chromosome would be drawn to a tale of danger and challenging adventure more than a tale of romance and adventure that is depicted in photo 2.

Not that there's anything wrong with romance and adventure.

Kindest regards,
John Downs

When will the book be in the shops (or amazon) ?

Are you planning to sell the book in print or as an e-book?

While No 1 is a great picture, on the shelf it might look dull. Too grey.
No 2 or even 3 catches the eye a bit more.
But then again that might not matter if your target market is already converted adventure riders.

I think cover #1 is too rugged and while it may appeal to the more hardcore, will not attract the more casual reader.

Cover #3 is too 'Long Way Round', or as someone said 'too generic', though it does have the scenery.

That leaves cover #2, but though I feel it is the best, I don't think it is a very strong picture and would look for something else if possible. Maybe mask out the bikes at the right hand side of the tent as these are a distraction to the picture and if playing in Photoshop would take the bike in the left hand side and bring it into the foreground nearer the tents. After all it is about biking.

Grey Beard

Thanks Everyone
 

I am now going to bed (its almost 12 am in Thailand) and I am going to sleep on it, but it looks like number one will be my cover! Voting on the unleash blog put it at number one at 42%, and it seems to be the one that brings the biggest reaction. I may (MAY) do 2 covers, the 1st one for the e book version and the second one for the print. I really like the 2nd one myself, but at the same time I do want the book to be read! My editor likes the 1st one as well (and she has read the book in its entirety and does not ride) so that is weighing heavy with me. But I am with Grey Beard, I am a little afraid the 1st one will scare away those who are not hardcore. And the book is not a hardcore tale, even if some of the riding was.

Lets see how it goes! I plan on doing the e book first, releasing it by the end of this month, if I get angry letters about how the cover left readers disappointed with the contents I will publish the print with the other cover and pull the 1st version and replace it with cover number 2. The joys of self publishing an e book! There is some flexibility even after publication!

Do you have any action/bike shots available that have colour? That are punchy?

I agree with realmc26. I think the picture #1 is too dull and grey. Have a look at front covers of books in similar genres (on Amazon for example): How many have a colourful cover, how many various shades of grey? I believe close to 100% will have a colourful cover.

People buy a book because they want to read the words, but they will only take it off the shelf if it catches their eye. If nobody takes it off the shelf...

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Chris

Don't want to confuse the issue more but I really like the photo at the top of your blog.

The rocky road is the one that promises the most excitement and adventure. If you had this picture with some association with stormy weather, or torrent of water, then it would match the title better.

The other two give me the impression of a nice bike trip with perhaps some inclement weather. The third one is a good picture but has been done many times before.

Just saw lonely planet named Iceland as the top destination for 2012. Good timing for you!

IMHO only, if you are committed to number 1 I think you need to reformat it if you hope to appeal to a wider market other than those already interested in adventure motorcycling.

If I am buying a book for myself and especially for somebody else, perhaps as a gift, how the cover looks is a huge factor.
The way it is formatted now its not an eye catcher. It is a great photo but as is the cover is drab.
Surely you could frame it somehow with some sort of colour which catches the eye and draws attention towards the picture.
As is, for the browser in a book shop it may be easy to miss it in a grey blur as they scan the shelves.

Whatever you decide I hope it goes well. (i'll probably get the e-book anyhow:wink3:)

#1 is the only one that would make me pick the book up off the shelf.

Good luck Sara

Thanks everyone! I am going to go with number 1 and have it worked on a little more. But before the time was invested I wanted an idea on which one should be worked on!
Chris: The blog header is from Argentina! I love it too, but it was before I was a rider, that bike is Patrick's old one.

And realmMC (as well as everyone else) you dont need to buy the book as I plan to send a pm to all of you with a free download of the e book version as a thank you. But you need to wait 2 weeks. :-P

Awesome! Thanks.