Now that the designer has sent me the finished cover for Paper Lanterns, I can reveal which was the one that most people preferred. (If you’re new to this site, you might like to scroll down to the previous posts for information about the results of my Book Cover Design Challenge.)

As I’ve said in the post below, my own favourite was number seven. I loved the sea and the boats with the hills in the background (incidentally this part was based on one of my own photos from my recent visit to Lamma island, and a scene in Paper Lanterns takes place on this this beach.)
I liked the subtle way that the view of an English wood merged with the sea shore, while the tunnel through the trees on the bottom left gave the almost surreal impression that if you followed it, you might emerge on the hills on other side of the bay. (This was also based on one of my photos of a place that features in the novel.)

And here is a selection of what 23 other people said in support of my favourite:
- “ It is cleaner and crisper than the others but still conveys the Hong Kong angle and the green of mystery.”
-“I find number 7 interesting. If this book moves from Far East to England , (or vice versa), intends to take me down a tree-lined past, put me on a junk in some hidden bay -then the cover has got me fantasising. I shall read it anyway.”
-“cover seven is best for these reasons: a)Absence of sea shore in upper part gives greater sense of openness, freedom, mystery ,etc Also less cluttered (b) horizontal divide more pleasing (c) slight fuzzyness of transition also pleasing as paradoxically allows more distinction to be made between scenes (d) Nice vivid green colour in lower picture pleasing as gives refreshing feel of early summer”
-“ I think the colours work well and portray a bit more of the dark/light side of the book that you mention.”
-“I like cover 7 best, because it’s the most simple one – the text looks great and I do like the overall layout. “

BUT I COULDN’T IGNORE THE 84 PEOPLE WHO WANTED NUMBER 3 TO BE THE COVER FOR PAPER LANTERNS because:

-”I feel it stands out the most, very atmostpheric and sophisticated and covers most of the criteria you had stipulated.”
-“I think it’s probably because there is a tie up between the title and the picture that I don’t have to think about too much. In my experience, the average browser doesn’t have time to stand in a bookshop mulling over covers. They’ll go for the obvious. And no 3 is striking”
“I should go for number 3: honest, mood-evoking, promise of emotions not suspected…I’ll be looking forward to reading the book!”
-“I feel very strongly that no 3 is the best. I think it’s the clearest, most striking and it’s also quite reminiscent of Kate Morton’s covers (top half) and looking like a bestseller won’t do you any harm!”
-“…the one which to me is absolutely outstanding is cover number 3 - it is the only cover with lanterns on it; as there are 3 lanterns and your main characters are drawn from 3 generations, so there is symbolism in the imagery. Also the 3 generations of women in your story are central to the novel, and the 3 lanterns are central to the cover. For me, it far outshone the rest…”
-“….The lanterns allude to the title , but are not too much the red/gold/fringed chinese-restaurant-cliche type, which avoids your worry that the cover might suggest a more native-chinese theme. And the line they draw across the page reflects the separation of the 2 locales in a clearer way than the soft-focus divisions of the others.”
-“The lanterns are obvious… but …we view them from indoors. This suggests that we look past them to what is offered beyond the frame. I also like the trees better in number 3. You get a suggestion of ‘darkness to light’ and they look more quintessentially English than some of the others. You also get the contrast of the light and heat of the Orient with the more temperate summer weather in the other picture. This suggests different sorts of emotional intensity and experience…”

A big THANK YOU to everyone who took part in this challenge.
Although I still like number seven as a picture in its own right, I now feel that the one chosen by the majority is the best one for my book. But I was thrilled when the designer sent me the full cover version.
When you see the back cover you’ll understand why!

If you haven’t yet read about the Bookcrossers taking the winning numbers out of my hat, click here, or scroll down to read the previous post. (If you haven’t been aware of my Book Cover Design Challenge, you can find it in the Category on the right: COVER DESIGN for Paper Lanterns)

Before I’d set out on our publishing venture, Novel Press (click here for more info on this) I’d never paid much attention to the covers of books – I’d just assumed that I followed the general wisdom: ‘never judge a book by its cover’. Now I’ve learned otherwise. And lots of what I’ve learned about the importance of a book’s cover has come from the comments made by the one hundred and fifty (plus or minus) entrants.

As I’ve said below, there was one clear winner of all the seven on display, and this was the one that originally I’d liked least of all, and which has generated some of the most interesting comments.

In the time honoured manner of awards ceremonies, I’ll start at the bottom of the list of the chosen covers.

Cover Number 6 was selected by 3 people:
“ …it has a hint of mystery in the blurred woodland image, hinting at possible hidden past events, yet with the much clearer focus on the tunnel leading to light. We think it portrays an optimistic clear path ahead out of troubled times. The designer’s done a good job on all of them. I’m sure any would attract interest.”.

“I felt the 2 scenes contrasted yet merged better in that one.”

Cover Number 1 was selected by 8 people:
“I love the balance and the way it draws the eye, especially to the bottom left corner. This cover also feels more balanced with the book title just a little lower than in most of the other cover. Though cover 6 uses the same images, it doesn’t draw the eye in quite the same way.”

Cover Number 2 was selected by 10 people:
“I like the “strength” transmitted from the pushing of the central tree as if the light was the breaking of a new day/episode/a change in someone’s life.”

“Apart from the upper HK water vista - which does have beauty, peace and a sense of cover energy, it is the highest strength of the light intensity of sun beams through the trees in the lower half. A lit , wooded scene conveys both intrigue, an air of menace and loss but also, from the light intensity a real level of hope, peace and optimistic energy for the unknown ahead.”

Cover Number 5 was selected by 12 people:
“… number 5 like the perfume - I liked the layers of water and trees, possibly reflecting the complexity/combining of characters/cultures. I liked the sunshine/optimism of the trees too.”

“I think that this cover offers the best balance between both images and the forest scene looks far more magical than the garden scenes.”

“ it has a deeper sense of mystery in the image of the woods than the others (apart from number 2 which is slightly more cluttered”

Cover Number 4 was in 3rd place, selected by 21 people:
“4 avoids the ‘where are the lanterns?’ question but more importantly it hits the darker hints button best, matching the cover quote. The others seem too light to me.”