The importance of a great book cover

A sneak peek at the cover of Bali's forthcoming book, Fire City

As Booktrust writer-in-residence I haven't yet touched on the subject of book covers so for this post, I've decided to do just that. For me, covers are vitally important and require a good deal of thought. My latest novel, Fire City (out in September) has, in my opinion, an awesome cover and it got me thinking about other wonderful covers I've seen, and why they work. I meet so many of you who are either engaged by, or put off, a book simply because of the design on the front. This post is also a nod to the often-overlooked designers and illustrators whose work mostly goes unnoticed. What I mean is that people see their artwork on the books but very rarely know or care who the artists themselves are. That is a crying shame, I reckon.

In 2002, as one of the judges on the Guardian's Teenage prize, I remember a book called Thursday's Child by Sonya Hartnett. It's a simple yet wonderful story of 1930s Depression-era Australia, and it went on to win the award. However, it was not my choice for winner, simply because I thought the cover illustration would deter people from reading it. It was drab and old-fashioned in my opinion and had I not been judging the book, would have put me off it completely. I'm smiling as I recall the great Kevin Crossley-Holland, a co-judge, raising his eyebrows at my remarks.

The thing is, for a year afterwards, I asked pupils in every school I visited if they'd read the book, and found only one. Whenever I showed them the cover, their reactions were negative. Such a shame, as the story itself is memorable and superbly written, and deserved a wider audience. But it's a perfect example of why covers are so, so important. They can make or break a book.

Yet very few of us, as authors, have much say in our covers. Yes we give suggestions and if we really don't like something, then we can say so. But putting a cover together, in my own experience, is a complicated thing. From the editor to the publicist, to sales and marketing, many people at my publisher, other than the illustrator, consider how well the cover for my latest book will be received and who it is aimed at. It really is a team effort. I'm quite particular too (which might also translate as picky and obstinate) when it comes to designs. I like simple, bold covers that grab the attention. Sometimes this is apt for a book, but I have learned through experience that it's not always the case. Of the many covers I've had in my career, I'd say that eighty per cent have been the right ones. The others, including two that I really don't like, just don't work for me. I reckon that's not too bad as a success rate though.

Obviously reactions to, and opinions about, book covers are personal. What appeals to me may not appeal to you. Despite that, I'm going to list just five of my favourite covers from the last decade or so, and tell you why I think they're great. And where you disagree, fight back with a suggestion of your own in the comments below!

The Cabinet of Curiosities by Paul Dowswell is a book I 'borrowed' from a School Libraries' Association (SLA) conference a few years back. The cover for the hardback edition shows a blue-tinted glass bottle. Inside is a skull and crossbones, and the liquid dripping from the bottle spells out the author's name. At risk of sounding like some deranged magpie, I found the shiny nature of the cover highly appealing too. Sections have been embossed to so that it has texture as well as great styling. And the story is fantastic.

A book that I talk about often next - Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman. What a simple but stunning cover! Black block at the top, with a white nought, and white block below, complete with black cross. It might not seem too sophisticated to some, but that is precisely why I think it's brilliant. Eye-catching and uncluttered, it's perfect for the novel.

Another one that caught my eye immediately is The Dead House by Anne Cassidy. Another simple cover, with only three colours on the cover - black, white and red - it shows a house sitting in darkness, with lights shining through five windows and one, ominously open, front door. Excellent - and led me into a damn fine story too.

Henry Tumour by Anthony McGowan is another book with a cover that I adore. Again, the first time I saw it, I thought it was superb. Then, after reading the novel, I saw just how apt it was. Need a cover for a book about a boy with a tumour in his head, that's funny and moving at the same time? Okay, well how about a cartoon image of the top of a boy's head? Shall we throw in an ugly, snaggle-toothed and hairy tumour too? We will! The images just work and they draw the eye in too. I love it.

The final book on this list is Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X Stork and it's the hardback cover that I adore. This is another book I spotted at an SLA conference, Well, I say spotted, but I actually went out of my way to chat up the person promoting it, simply because I wanted a copy. All because of the cover. The artwork is all about bright colours (oranges and yellows) and has a distinct Wild West/Mexican vibe to it. The lettering is jaunty and a little crazy and sitting on the 'H' of 'Death' is a green parrot. Beneath the title are two teenage boys, silhouetted against the background, sitting next to a grave. It's a fantastic introduction to a great story, and one that I think is a little underrated. It's great.

I could go on and on about covers that I love but you get my point. They are incredibly important and worth considering on their own merit. Yet, one thing I've learned as a reader is that sometimes you've also got to look beyond an off-putting cover, and give the writing a go. That's what I did with Thursday's Child and I was rewarded with a superbly written novel that still lingers in my mind today. Be interesting to hear what you think.