Sunday, June 12, 2011

Those pesky book cover stickers...

Publishers seem to be a little obsessed with putting pesky little stickers on books in an effort to boost sales. There have been many examples discussed in the blogosphere, with the unanimous opinion we all hate them. There have been Jo Nesbo books covered in 'the next Steig Larssen.' Well actually publishers, that is not correct, Jo Nesbo is still Jo Nesbo, no amount of stickers will cause him to have an identity crisis. It seems every new crime fiction novel has a sticker on it somewhere exalting it as the next ......................... (insert biggest selling name you can think of, even if inappropriate)

Anyway, I thought I'd take a new approach to the sticker method of increasing book sales, something a lot more truthful...



Do you think it will help?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Vanda - Oh, that is wonderful!! I'd queue up for the book just based on the sticker! I have to think of something like that...

Kiwicraig said...

I have no issue with some stickers, eg where they announce that the author has won or been shortlisted/finalist for an award (and the publisher has decided to use a sticker on books that have already been printed).

But I get what you mean, and agree, re: the marketing-style 'the next...' etc...

Uriah Robinson said...

Brilliant and I admire your honesty. ;o)

Anonymous said...

Great steaker Vanda.

Maxine Clarke said...

Very funny! It would definitely make me buy the book ;-)

The other day I was at a blog which had in the sidebar "I need the money, support this blog" - as it is a blog I have liked for a long time (but never noticed this) I clicked and it actually did go through to a pay pal window -- asking for support to pay for the blog hosting service. How weird is that?

Vanda Symon said...

When in doubt, go for the sympathy vote (-:

Maxine, that is a bit odd having a paypal button on your blog! I wonder if it works?

Anonymous said...

Vanda
I contacted you a years or two ago when your first book was published and have read your subsequent ones and enjoyed them. Some stickers are okay,I always take note of any added by the book retailers. 'A good read.' 'Recommended by our staff.' etc. Don't know about this one though - might hint of some unnecessary desperation.
Jeff Taylor Hamilton

Marie said...

Worst is when the sticker covers some fancy parcelling of the book - gilt, or that shiny gloss surfacing some covers have - which tears off no matter how carefully you try to remove the sticker. Rrr.

One question, pretty off-topic: I was foolish enough to buy (only) your first book as a flying read out of NZ, and now I'm stuck in Copenhagen, and will soon be in the UK, with no apparent access to the rest of your Sam Shephard books. Do you have any idea where I could order or pick them up around here, or do I have to wait until next January when I'm back in Dunedin to find out what happens next?

Vanda Symon said...

Hi Marie,

There are a few online retailers who have overseas mail rates advertised. You could try Fishpond - http://www.fishpond.co.nz/

January is a long was away (-: