I am often astounded by some of the beautiful images on many of the book covers of the novels that I read. I do not have an artistic bone in my body when it comes to drawing or painting. My stick-men and women have not progressed much beyond the level my 4 year old currently exhibits!

We have all heard the old adage, ‘never judge a book by its cover,’ and although I try not to fall into this trap, even in this increasingly digital age, book covers still catch my eye. Their images stay with me alongside the pictures painted by the words of the author. To me a good book cover can not only be an item of great beauty, but it, alongside the title, represents the start of a journey the author is taking me on, even before I have read the first word of the novel.

I’d be very interested in what others think of book covers. Has their role has diminished in the era of e- publishing or do you think that book covers are more important than ever to help readers choose from what can be a bewildering mass of new publications? Also how has the increase in e-books impacted on the artistic community who produce them?

I’d also like to learn more about the processes involved in commissioning, selecting and producing a book cover and how authors, artists and publishers work together to do so. What brief is given to the artist and what other factors provide inspiration? I may try to use these thoughts to create a future post in collaboration with a book cover artist, publisher and author if I can track some suitable volunteers down!