Categories: Arts, Books

Hello? Hello? Random House, are you there?

The Editor-in-Chief of Maclean’s was a bit ‘obsessive’ about the cover of his first book

by Kenneth Whyte on Monday, November 24, 2008 9:00am - 11 Comments

I noticed amid all of my activity that I was losing the attention of the people at Random House. My editor had been sympathetic and accommodating early on, but past a certain point responses to my emails slowed until eventually I was informed by her assistant that my editor’s email was malfunctioning and that it might be weeks before it was working again.

When the last batch of alternative covers produced by my personal designers failed to elicit a warm response from Random House, and when a last anecdote I’d hoped to add to my manuscript was refused because it was late (in part because of my preoccupation with the cover), I went on strike. I quit answering emails from my editor’s production staff and announced that I was no longer in a mood to promote the book upon publication.

A few days went by.

My agent called: “Are you an idiot?”

My daughter picked up my favourite of the alternative covers I’d commissioned: “Is this the atrocity?”

My assistant said, “I bet they hate you at Random House, but I guess you’re used to that.”

Eventually my editor sent me a curt email saying that we were due at the press and that she was unilaterally approving the version of the cover produced by her art department. I think she mentioned that she liked it, and that everyone else in her offices liked it. She didn’t invite a response.

Foiled, chastened, I returned to my endnotes and resolved from that point forward to do with professionalism and good cheer everything asked of me by my editor, and I’m proud to say that some days I did.

Eventually the printed book landed on my desk. From time to time, people would come into my office and notice it. An embarrassing number of them have told me that they like the cover.

(Certain details of this story have been altered to protect the reputation of the author.)

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Tags: Ken Whyte, macleans, Random House, The Uncrowned King: The Sensational Rise of William Ran

http://outerwearforbooks.typepad.com Christopher Tobias

It is understandable that authors wish to take control of their covers. However, many authors lack the visual skill necessary to concept a good cover. Authors should focus on writing great books, and trust the publisher to package it. (And in turn publishers should entrust their art directors with the cover design and treat them as professionals.)

Thanks for the insight and good luck with what sounds like a fascinating book.
http://blog.bookcoverarchive.com/2008/11/the-uncrowned-king/ Ben Pieratt

Ken, sorry to hear you had a frustrating experience.
I think we designers need to be reminded every so often that what we’re working on embodies a huge emotional investment on the part of the author, and that we constantly need to be putting out our best work to do efforts justice.
http://outerwearforbooks.typepad.com Christopher Tobias

Ben, I couldn’t agree with you more. That is the flip side. We as designers have our agenda and the authors have theirs (which in the end should trump ours). I just wonder how much of the author’s wishes and ideas actually make it through the filter to us. I wasn’t trying to imply that designer knows best, rather give us what we need to know and turn us loose. A good designer has the author’s interests at heart. We want books to sell.
http://www.macleansreview.wordpress.com Karen Krisfalusi

Just as a matter of curiosity, how well did your July magazine cover score?
http://www.macleansreview.wordpress.com Karen Krisfalusi

Readers understand that the cover is not the artwork of the author unless it is expressly stated. Therefore, whether designed by the author or another, the cover is an artistic representation of the book’s meaning by one of more of it’s first readers. Understandable that many authors may be thrilled, confused or dissappointed by the feedback that the cover represents and how that feedback will play into perpetuity. Kindof like this online journalism which through an open comment policy cannot live in that nebulous area of reader receptiveness where a piece can sit in the mind uninterrupted for a time. I must say I like the old days of print publishing better. I love this cover for it’s art made from a font that endured until the san serif one I’m using now took over. And I love this one too for the same reason. I might have been enticed to read the Uncrowned King by artwork that showed triumph over print.
http://www.marcvunkannon.com Marc Vun Kannon

When my first book was published, the lady handling the whole thing – literally; not even her partner in the enterprise knew about until the end – asked me what ideas I had about the cover art, and I told her. She declined to use any of my ideas. In fact, she didn’t even show me the cover or offer to change it. When the mess she’d made – the editing, as well as the back cover blurb – finally reached my publisher she was outraged. Unfortunately, it was too late and we’ve been stuck with the damned thing ever since. There are some people who like it, but it’s not good. Nor is that editor/cover artist still there.

The second novel was a much happier production. I made suggestions, she made some prototypes and sent them to me, we went back and forth about three times, the last on the font of the lettering.
Kaplan

Diva much?
Pingback: The End of the period. That’s where the debate begins. « MACLEAN’S for DUMMIES
Audrée Lapierre

“I can bring a designer to heel with the arch of an eyebrow.” Is that something to be proud of? Those designers are professionals who studied design, yet you seem to think you know better. Would you question the work of your lawyer, plumber, doctor the same way?

I always wondered why the covers of Mcleans were so horribly ugly and now I know why: the boss thinks he is a better designer. Please let the designers do their job. It would be arrogant not to. Design is a stressful job, that does not pay well, but the worst of it all is to have someone who is not a designer telling you how to do your job.

I would love to see an illustration, or clever photography on the cover, instead of the usual image bank picture with the huge alarmist title with photoshop drop shadows. That would make the magazine look more professional.
Jack Mitchell

FWIW, I think this is a great cover.
Nicole

I’d be the same way. liking the cover of your book is important. People shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover but they certainly buy books because of them. We pick up the ones that we think look interesting (or at lest i do). I’m sorry to say that i wasn’t too fond of yours. Better luck next time?