Vote the Cover Results

Many thanks to all who responded and voted for the cover polls on the right-hand sidebar.Winning covers by votes cast are shown above and match the selected covers chosen by the publisher and authors.

Michael Murphy’s covers of Goodbye Emily have received over 100 votes, with readers choosing the tie dye cover # 2 59% to 41%. Northcott Maye’s The Killdeer has recently been added to the polls, and has drawn 35 votes, of which 74% have voted in favor of cover 2.

“Cover 2 for The Killdeer,” says publisher John Koehler, “Came as result of feedback from the sales team at Ingram Publishers Services. They asked if we could give it a military flavor since it covers the War of 1812, and add a British element to include the Canadian aspect. Clearly better, as the votes show. Goodbye Emily was a tougher call. Michael (author Michael Murphy) and I loved the flower peace symbol, but ultimately felt the tie dye would telegraph the Woodstock generation aspect of this story more clearly and was more upbeat.”

The polls were started several months ago by publisher John Koehler to see if readers would respond and potentially help make a decision about a cover where two good solutions were available. The response was better than expected and Koehler Books has continued to use the polls.

“We really didn’t know how folks would respond,” says Koehler. “It was kind of a lark, an experiment. So we were surprised when the votes were so strong and opinions so forceful. One of the first covers I posted were of my murder mystery, The Case of the Russian Maids. I was worried that women would find the head shot of the red-haired woman too creepy. So I offered a softer, prettier alternative. Wow was I wrong! Women were overwhelmingly in favor of the creepier version. So these polls give us a little social demographic data as well as opinion.”

Both contests will continue as a way for readers to have a part in the publishing process, and to promote the books in question.