Thursday, February 13, 2014

Soul Deep in Horses: Vote on a Cover!



Thursday February 13 2014

Help me choose a cover for my book - win a copy of my book!

It's time to choose a cover for my upcoming memoir, Soul Deep in Horses: Memoir of an Equestrian Vagabond, due to be published April 1. 

Most of you know I'm also a horse photographer, and one of my photos will be the cover shot. 

I have narrowed the choices down somewhat to those pictured above and below. I have my own reasons for preferring certain covers, but it's often hard for a photographer to step back and view their own work objectively or artistically.

Which photo do you readers prefer on the book cover, and why? Which one grabs you? Which one works best with the title? Which one makes you want to yank the book off a shelf (or off Amazon), and plunge headfirst into the stories?

Please leave comments below, or you can email me privately with your comments to souldeepinhorses@gmail.com.

Results of this survey and how the photos ranked will be posted after March 1. From the pool of people who chose the photo that ultimately ends up on the cover, I'll randomly select a winner, to whom I'll send an autographed copy of my book. (I've asked the featured horses not to campaign on their own behalf.)

And sign up for The Equestrian Vagabond Dispatch, the twice-monthly newsletter from The Equestrian Vagabond for exclusive publishing updates and general brouhahas (who doesn't like a good brouhaha?):
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Doobie:


Dusting I


Gold Dust


Harry


Stormy Herd


Stormy Water I


Stormy Water V

59 comments:

  1. I like the Gold Dust one. To me it looks a bit mystical and it sort of depicts the soul of a horse. Just my opinion, you'll be the ultimate judge of which picture speaks to you for your book.

    Good luck!

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  2. Gold Dust! I like the composition with a dreamy, golden hue and there's room for title and author without having text over the horse.

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  3. Gold Dust... with "soul deep into horses", it just fits... kinda looks like a ghost horse or soul horse or something... I liked Doobie a lot too, but Gold Dust would make me pull the book off the shelf with the book's title...

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  4. Nothing hit me like the very first one---Doobie although the second and third images are in close pursuit! Can't wait to read the book.....

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  5. Gold Dust for me. It seems to tie best with the title in being a bit mysterious and kind of depicts a "heavenly" = soul tone to me.

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  6. Doobie spoke to me as being symbolic of a horse-human journey.

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  7. Wow, tough decision, but I have to go with Gold Dust too. It's the one that just jumped out and fits the title perfectly. I really like the Stormy water pics as well.

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  8. Im in agreement with the others - it MUST be gold dust. :D

    The others are reality shots - "gold dust" has the feel of being in a different realm; where the souls of humans and horses meet...

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  9. Gold Dust for sure. You need an image this is simple, easily recognizable and will jump out at you. It also has great lighting.

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  10. Stormy Herd, it spoke to me. The horses flying toward you with the hills in the background, very beautiful and exciting.

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  11. I loved 2 of them - Gold Dust and Stormy V. My first choice is Stormy V - Can't wait to read the book - Mer Wied!

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  12. I like Stormy Water V but the lead rope is distracting. Photoshop? Otherwise, Gold Dust.

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  13. Stormy Herd. Great pic *with room to put the text! xr

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  14. Although I do like Gold Dust, I think I would yank Doobie off the shelf without hesitation. Practically every horseperson has looked down to that view and taken a huge sigh of contentment. Even non-riders can be taken along for the journey through that photo. I think it would be a wonderful pictorial introduction to your memoirs.

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  15. You all have some good input and perspectives - thanks!!

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  16. Gold Dust. I think it expresses horses in your soul. It's really ethereal.

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  17. Stormy Herd, and Stormy Water V

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  18. I like 'Stormy Herd'. It has lots of interest to make me want to open the book, and there is plenty of "neutral space" to place the title and cover text so it pops.

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  19. Stormy V as implies reflection, touching another soul, and even with the lead rope as it implies your connection. Can see why others like Gold Dust as well.

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  20. I'm torn between Gold Dust and Stormy Herd.

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  21. I love Gold Dust! It represents the "soul". Kind of "misty", coming into view. It makes me wonder what the story is....

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  22. Gold Dust, for entirely technical reasons - it'll look great with title/author on it :)

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  23. Gold Dust, then Stormy Herd. I love them all!!

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  24. I'm with most of the others in voting for Gold Dust. It captured my heart instantly.

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  25. Doobie, as the shadow goes with vagabond, but gold dust would be a powerful cover for the text and title. Was directed here by grey horse....great blog and beautiful photography.

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  26. You know I like the reflection ones, but in this case, I have to vote for Gold Dust !

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  27. Doobie - jumps right out at you. Just "photoshop" out whatever that top right white image may be. Plenty of room for your book title from center to right - don't cover the shadow.

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  28. I love harry because the horse is simple yet very strong

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  29. I'm getting so many great comments and perspectives from everybody - thank you! I'll announce the winning cover photo (and book winner) after March 1!

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  30. 1. stormy herd
    2. gold dust
    which one fits your story best?

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  31. All of your photos are beautiful and I particularly like Gold Dust. However, where is the title, subtitle, and your name? I would not make a decision without seeing the full picture. I cannot tell which parts of which pictures might be blocked or drowned out when everything is added. Were you planning on reducing the image under the main title?

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  32. Gold dust as it fits your title and adds a visual for the esoteric nature of the soul. More than anything, follow your instincts, the rest of us are just opinions and why is that so important?

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  33. I like Gold Dust. It's reflective and soulful, as well as beautiful. I went with my immediate gut reaction - which is what would be in play if I was browsing in a bookshop. Good luck with the book! You deserve huge success. Fran B, CA.

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  34. Stormy Water V resonates most with me when I think about your title Soul Deep in Horses: Memoir of an Equestrian Vagabond. The reason is that I see a horse metaphorically looking into its own soul which is represented by the reflection in the water. Good luck with your selection process!

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  35. Gold Dust. Here you have the shape to tell that the book is about horses, but it is not the shape of the soul that, for a short while, expresses itself through that vessel.

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  36. Doobie. It fits the title of the book better. It looks like a vagabond is riding and the shadow of the horse is mysterious like the soul.

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  37. I like Gold Dust, esp with your title. It's hard to choose. Their are other beautiful pictures and it was hard to pick. But I could see a human/horse connection with Gold Dust.

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  38. Doobie. It's the only one with 'wildness' in it - which goes with the book's title.

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  39. I like Gold Dust because of its ethereal nature - smacks of storytelling. Doobie is a great picture, but it takes too long to identify what is in the foreground. When trying to grab someone's attention, the purpose of the cover, you want the reaction to be immediate. Doobie would be great in an art gallery where visitors take their time to analyze, but for a book, I think you will lose too many prospects, who are skimming through hundreds of book titles.

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  40. I like Dusting1, GoldDust, and StormyHerd photos. However, these photos are not yet book covers. The text and design elements you add to them might completely change the look. Aside from that, I think which photo you choose should represent the feel of the book. Dusting1 brings to mind a very personal connection with that particular horse, perhaps you've been through some tough times together and come out closer. It's very much about the horse. GoldDust seems more about the sentimental, emotional aspect of being around horses and the entire lifestyle. StormyHerd seems to be as far-reaching in perspective as GoldDust, but maybe focusing a tad more on the intellectual rather than the purely emotional.

    Can you tell I'm a cover designer by trade? Beautiful photos, by the way.

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  41. I like Stormy Water V
    Beautiful photos. Allan Friesen

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  42. Stormy Herd was the one that grabbed me. For me definitely the winner from this compilation and I think the best one for the cover. I agree with Catherine Lapointe that the photo on itself is not yet the cover. But I think you will make more of that after you have chosen the best picture. :)
    Why I think that picture is the best? You talk about horses in your title. Then I would choose a picture with multiple horses. And I also think a piece of nature in combination with horses in action is better. The others miss that.
    I hope this help you choose. Good luck!

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  43. I like Gold Dust the best. It is the one I associate with the soul.
    All the pictures are beautiful!

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  44. Stormy Herd contains the two aspects that are important to an enticing cover: 1) the photo depicts the soul aspect of these wild and beautiful creatures and 2) it offers a lovely space for your fitting title in the sky and your name (in white) under their hooves. Your photography is breathtaking!

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  45. Stormy Herd is my fave, but they are all lovely. I can't see how you'll choose one!

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  46. It would depend on the books main point. Gold Dust portaits mystery and inner soul, Stormy Herd portriats wild, free and possible trouble. Personally Gold Dust would grab my attention.

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  47. Stormy Water V reminds me of a traveler thrusting for a drink. A drink of adventure. A drink of longing. A drink of belonging. Besides the reflection made me to a double-take. I'd pull this pictures off the book shelves.

    Stormy Water I is missing the reflection. It looks incomplete to me. Gold Dust doesn't do anything for me.

    Looking forward to seeing which you select.

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  48. Hi I came across your quest and myself am a very passionate horse lover mainly strongly associated with Arabian horse breeds spending most of my possible spare time riding and nurturing for them mainly by providing them with feeds before and after my trek in the deserts of Egypt around the Giza pyramids plateau. I think Arabian horses themselves are a magical unique breed that find very many special ways to express themselves the more they come to contact with humans. They seem very highly intuitive and emotionally demanding and when having received complete recognition and appreciation by the rider will always tend to express obedience and great companionship having said that I think Doobie somewhat what resembles this approach of horse and human and seems to really stand out between the collective photos when clusters together to me it captures the imagination of what you might think the horse feels towards it's companion and resembles the clear beauty and communication and strength of the animal clearly represented for others to see ponder and imagine what you can feel emotionally towards greater acceptance of animals horses in particular. I really hope Doobie adapts a new look on the cover of your book and would be disappointed if not as I do see it by far a greater expression of the many feseas found by animals and Doobie. Have a great day and good luck with your book :) R.H

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    1. RH, you just happened to pick the photo of a horse, Doobie, owned by my friend, that I rode near Dashur many years ago!

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  49. The Dusting or either of the Stormy Water images.

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  50. Stormy Herd.....It's just simply beautiful! :-)

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  51. Gold Dust! It looks angelic and looks like it could represent the word on your title soul :)

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  52. Gold dust. It fits the theme and has space for your title. The other pics are great but I am afraid you title and subtitle will get lost in the confusion.

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  53. My first novel launched this week. As a photographer myself I also did my cover. Here is an ideafor you...if you are a photoshop user, suspect you are. take the Gold dust photo and the Stormy Herd photo and layer them. Play with the transparency and scale. I think it would give you a dynamic result. I. combined two photos for my cover, check it out Out Of Mercy by G.J.Duemling....Remember how the cover is the first thing purchasers see, make it unique. jean.duemling@gmail.com. If you want to discuss this further.

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  54. Gold Dust is my first choice, the herd is my second.

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