FRENCH WORD-A-DAY

Bonjour,

Je préfère le numero 3.

Mounzer

Hi, Kristi,
Congratulations on your new book in the works! I'll be excited to read it. I definitely think the cover should be number 7, because both of the photos are very appealing and balanced, not too busy.
Most importantly, whichever cover you choose, I think it is imperative NOT to have it say 2024. This is because people are shallow, and in a few months when it is 2025, they may feel like it is yesterday's news to buy a book that states it is about 2024. Of course it is silly, but that is the reality of how people choose things to read. Once they have the book, it will be apparent that the year you are writing about was 2024, but you don't want to lose future sales to folks who may feel that the information or your experiences might be stale in 2025 or 2027. We know it will all be forever fresh and universal!

I like a few but as Anna said number 1 got my attention initially (in the small picture). Number 4 was a close second. Good luck/ bonne chance!

I prefer #1. Easy to read quickly. Also, I agree, don't include the number 2024. It will date your book. Think of Peter Mayle's book "A Year in Provence." We have no idea what year he is referring to, but it still sounds interesting.

Putting a book together is lots of work! (Speaking as a book editor, not a writer.) You have lots of fans, so it will no doubt do well. It's very wise of you to ask for a "reader" to help you correct errors. New eyes will see things you don't. I agree with others that you don't need (or want) the year on the cover. Your preface or introduction can make it clear what year the stories are about. Good luck!

I like the sharp contrast and readability of no 8, but would prefer the photo to take most of the space and shrink the illustration to be a thin border. No 3 is also eye-catching. No 6 is nice too.
As an author, some recommendations:
1. Many readers will be looking at a small image on a phone, so using a single photo is easier to see and understand.
2. The role of the cover is to instantly communicate what type of book it is. The image of the cobblestone street says "France" to the average foreigner. The water, although pretty, does not.

Hi Kristi,
As some of the people have stated, one fantastic photo is better than several. It will capture people’s interest. As to the subject matter, yes, cobble stones represent France as well as tiny streets, but the photo should pull you in. You have taken some really incredible photos, but I’m not seeing them here. What represents La Ciotat and the area? Also may I suggest a title that works with the photo and does not sit on top and obscures the image. I also agree with leaving the year off of the cover. You can put it on the title page or dedication page.
Of course, this is your book and it has to relate to you, say something about you and not us. So congratulations on your next book.
Peace, Kathleen

For me No 1 has it because it is restful, speaks of holiday with the blue water and the vigorous shady umbrella pine and is easy to read, suggesting light entertaining fodder for les vacances. But like the best fait maison food your offerings always come from home and offer real nourishment. Thankyou.

Hello, I was a Creative Director in Advertising with the big Int’l firms. I strongly recommend cover #1. It is bold, clean, timeless (but delete 2024). The year should be irrelevant, it should be something that you want to read in 10 or 15 years from now… And most of us do not want to be reading old books… We want to be reading current books. Also, in tests, visuals that depict holiday like scenes… Like the water and the boats, out pull the results of more conventional visuals.
A bank offering a loan showing a holiday style visual out pulls a DIY project, yet the money lent went to more practical use. Some of the cover designs are a bit ‘dated’’ in terms of typeface and design. Good luck!!!!

I am not an author or an editor, just a reader but...
I prefer no. 1 as it is very eye-catching.
Number 3 would be my second choice and all the others I find to be of old style fotos.
I agree with many other comments above and would definitely leave out the year 2024, it will outdate the book for selling purposes and detracts from the title of the book.
Hope this helps!

I voted for #3. I hesitated between #1, #3 or #5.
I agree with those readers asking to delete 2024.
Courage et bonne chance !!

There are no bad choices for the cover design, but I think #3 best conveys the variety of your story themes. I am confident there will be inspiration for everyone in your new book - because you write about so many different topics and always tie the stories back to a universal truth that transcends the "plot"!