January 20th
2008
...and let me tell you, that's one hard nut to crack, it's driving me crazy. We are in the midst of developing my book's layout and it's anything but a piece of cake! Take a big bowl of your personal style and ideas, throw in a few cups of knowledge from the publishing pros and add a pinch of common sense... sounds simple enough? Yeah right. My head is spinning from all the brainstorming, nevertheless I'm very lucky to work with an incredibly knowledgeable and passionate team - last week one of them even dreamed about my final book cover! Is that a good sign?
We've been boiling down all swirling ideas for my book's cover to a shortlist of two, and I really hope that my favorite option doesn't prove to be just an elusive thought over the next weeks. It is much harder to decide about a book's dress than about your blog's - once it is released into the wide world, it's out. Done. You cannot adapt its look anymore and more often than not it will get judged by its cover. Could it be an impossible mission trying to make the cover a felicitous mix of your book's personality, coevally arousing the curiosity of people who have never heard of delicious:days, the blog?
In the heat of our round table discussions and debates (e.g. I don't necessarily see *my* face on the cover), it got me thinking what fellow cookbook enthusiasts and especially my blog readers like and dislike about cookbook covers...
According to me, a cover just has to tempt us, to be longing to open the book and see what's up inside. It just has to show a mouth-watering first taste of what is the content. A picture and a design able to make us guess that in the depths of the book, we won't be disappointed. The picture should reflect the soul of the book, so it is not enough to choose the most beautiful!
That's a tough one! I'm a bit over all the celebrity chefs smiling from their publications. Like you said, if the pictures makes me curious to open the book, the cover designer has done a good job. Can't wait for yours!
I'm a designer and it feels like I'm constantly judging books by their covers. I look for sophistication and balance in a cover (not just for cookbooks but any book). A beautiful photograph isn't enough, it has to be accompanied by equally beautiful typography. The elements have to work together, not overpower each other. It has to hint at the style of the contents.
I always find it easier to design the layouts than the cover too. Good luck!
I like cookbook covers to be simple, with little information: the title and a gorgeous picture (like yours always are)!
Hm, I like simple covers with luscious pictures.
I used to make a few book covers myself back in the days as a Typograf. I'm sure you thought of that already, but the cover has to work for subsequent books as well.
Enjoy this exciting time - I'm for sure going to buy a copy as soon as it's available in Switzerland.
Maybe stating the obvious: I want to see food on the cover, a photograph of a dish, to be precise, that stands for the sort of food the book is about.
(And you can borrow my new old Etagere for a picture any time.)
What an exciting project! Personnally, I like when the cover gives an idea of what we find inside and reflects the global atmosphere and the personnality of the author. I love colors ...and food pictures. Bon courage!
Hey Nicky - To me, the cover of a cookbook is the author's promise of what's inside. It sums up all the recipes in one (or more) picture. A favorite of mine is Alice Medrich's Pure Dessert. The only question should be "Which picture tells more about me and this book to the viewer?" And I am sure you'll do just great. I love your blog and I am sure I'll love your book even more. Best of luck!
It would be helpful if you would give us a short look into the upcoming book,just 1-2 pages. So we know more about the layout, style etc.
Good luck,
Martin
I don't necessarily think that a cookbook needs to show a sample recipe on the cover as long as it conveys the style and content of the book. A great example I think is Moro East. The patterned cover perfectly conjures up the cuisine inside without actually showing any food - very stylish!
Since you're not a big celebrity (yet!!) I think your picture will be less effective than one delicious picture of your food (and maybe in your hands, in your house, etc.
I also think the dish pictured should reflect the complexity of the contents - simple meals? Simple picture. Modern recipes? etc etc
I think the trend is to go toward a simple, stunning photo with little text. For example, David's The Perfect Scoop was one of my near-favorite covers. Beautiful colors, focus on the contents (gelato) and not a lot of distracting text.
You could use any of your photos and I would buy it as soon as it hits the shelves! Seriously!!!!!
Oh heck, I don't think you could go wrong with any of your photos they're so mouth watering page popping beautiful. Your photos are so scrumptious they're practically scratch and sniff stickers for the eyes!
With your incredible eye for design, I think you should trust your instincts and choose the photo that makes you the most happy. We'll love it, if you love it. After all, your blog is legendary how could your cookbook by anything less?
Eye-pleasing colours, captivating photos, and not too busy.
It has to be tempting, the food has to be something everyone would like and (yes I say this being a photographer) the picture should look good and not pixelated. ,)
For me a perfect book cover is a simple, luscious and bright-coloured picture that gives a little hint about what the reader will find inside the book.
One that I really adore:
http://www.comidacom.fi/pictures/parastasokerista.jpg
I am sure you will find the right one that fits your book perfectly!
Pure, simple, just like your blog. With atmosphere. You did a great job designing the blog, I'm sure you will make the right choices for your book.
No picture of yourself (but maybe a small one on the back or inside cover?), a representative picture of a recipe in the book that sums it all up, no market/dining room/ produce etc. "situation", not too busy, only one picture, beautiful typo integrated into the picture. the picture not just a portion of the whole coverspace but covering it completely - I am sure there is a name for this last thing!. And, just a side issue: The book should stay open in the page where I open it, without making me put something heavy on top....
Honestly, look at this blog as your test run for a cover -- you've perfected it already...the fresh light colors and beautiful photography...it looks fun but not busy, just simple and fresh
- Jessie -
To answer your question the long way around: I stumbled across this blog recently by coincidence - and became addicted to it, last but not least also due to the truly magnificent photos and layout. In fact, I was already thinking about asking you to write an entry about food photography since you seem to be experts about it.
Which cover to pick for a cookbook? As a customer, I would also opt for a cover with a dish rather than the author on it. As pointed out before, I entirely agree with the earlier comments suggesting that you do a superb job with the layout of this blog - Optically, it's a true eyecatcher so why not adapt it to your book? Plus, you could sort of establish your layout like a "brand" - People who know your blog will recognize it, and those who don't: Why should an eyecatcher work only on the internet and not on "real-life" book shelfs?!
I trust your creativity and expertise and wish you the best luck!
~ H.S. ~
Long time reader, first time commenter. Follow your instincts and everything will fall into place!! You have set a measure of quality and style for foodblogs, you will do the same for cookbooks. Elegant typo, uncluttered layout with no frills and a lot of gorgeous photos, that's what I expect.
i think a controlled amount of beautifully set type in a carefully chosen typeface could take your cookbook cover into a whole new category of yummy. i think especially since we're now so used to seeing attractively styled food photography, i would want to see some attention turned to the other elements of the cover.
Hi! a picture of a table (or short of just one place) inviting to sit asnd taste. The colours, the decoration if any, the entire mood could reflect of whats to come...
ein grosses foto mit frischen farben und und die Farben herum sollten sich im foto wiederfinden.. bei kochbüchern speziell können farben grossflächig eingesetzt werden. ich persönlich finde es schöner, wenn der Text nicht in schwarzer schrift daherkommt, da weiss oder eine andere helle farbe mehr leichtigkeit und spass vermittelt.
Obviously a delicious looking dish! And appealing colors.
Sooo exciting! I can't wait to see it/purchase it!!
I prefer to see something of the cooking process, maybe some pots and pans or a nicely-laid-out mise en place.
I also love to see the author pictured on the cover. I don't care if you're not a celebrity chef; I think it makes the cookbook feel more honest, down-to-earth, and familiar when the chef is pictured. Like you're over at their house and they're about to tell you their secrets to successful cooking.
I think a good picture (you have many) with nice font with good title. Also the background colour of the cover is important too! I believe, the most important thing is that the title of the book should reflect on the picture :)
One of my favorite covers has a witty arrangement of only two raw ingredients on the cover. It is almost too simple except that the colors they chose are outrageous and wonderful and the design is totally elegant. It's a bold and gorgeous book that I bought as soon as I saw it.
Hi!
I'm commenting for the first time but I read your blog regulary since I discovered it. That's why I thought, maybe I can give my opinion...;)
It might be a good Idea to have you on the cover, maybe not your face if you don't feel comfortable with it, but your hands making some nice dish. Or some people sitting at your table with you in the back feeling happy :-). Seeing people on the cover of a food book makes me feel more intimate with the content.
I wish you a lot of fun, a book is a hell of a project ;)
Your blog devotees will buy your book in droves - you won't need to worry about attracting the great unwashed. So go with your gut instinct - you'll get it right.
As a long-time reader of your blog I guess it's about time to give at least a little bit back for all the time and effort you put in your project (thanks from all of us again!), so here you go.
(My assumption is that your book is supposed make a book for this blog. Should this not be the case don't bother to read on...)
While turning a blog into a book is in itself a very innovative project from a publishers perspective, I would still follow some old publishing/marketing rules:
With delicous:days you built a strong (online within the foodie target group) brand, so when it comes to a book, this should be the main brand not you personally. As of that a photo from you would be counterproductive. You have a very distinguishable typographic and photographic style that is rich of colour without being colorful, favours close-ups over scenic shots and so on. This is what I would expect from the brand perspective to be the cover of your book, even if it is a beautiful ingredient close-up and not a finished dish (the beet root from your gallery would be such an example). Needless to say, print is different to online graphics, so you need to adapt.
I think it is a great project that i hope will make some buzz in the industry (i'm sure it will), so: all the best to you (and your publisher).
Hi,
Did you already find a name for the book, you can link the cover with the title. Other wise a clear simple picture (close up) will do great things. It should be clean, not messy a mean. Donot put yourself on the cover, privacy is the most luxurous thing we have in life and you definitely want to go out without being recognized.
Good luck, love your food
That would definitely be a hard one to come up with. I would agree to not put "your" picture on the front but rather a picture of a dish from the book...maybe one you feel that really sums up the style of food you have in the book, but overall one that is stunning in it's simplicity and mouth watering enough to want to immediately buy the book and go home and make it. For appeal to all your readers maybe the lay out could in some way resemble the header on your blog? Something not extremely obvious that it is a blog but rather something recognizable for all your faithful readers. Good luck!
Wow...and holy cow! Are you sorry you asked yet? hee! hee! I think the general consensus so far is that we all LOVE your style, and trust that you will choose something just right for your book. But to toss in my two cents worth- I'd go with either one or three (triptic) food picture (s). But let us see your smiling face on the inside flap, you're too cute not to publish!
a picture is worth a thousand words, Something that is tempting to the palette, and senuous to the eye. And drawn together with compelling type, that pulls you to the inner pages.
Wipe-clean! And stays open when laid down open. I'll pick up a cookbook with a stylish cover, but if it gets soaked in oil or has to be weighted down while I'm using it, I won't come back to it much.
Delicitous food photographed with beautiful lighting. I think I probably prefer seeing the food at some stage of preparation rather than the finished dish, but that's a minor quibble. (It says - read me, and I'll help you do this! rather than - read me, and be impressed and intimidated by all my author can do!) Generally I find author pictures on the front cover to be a turn-off - I want a cookbook to be about food, not about them!
I love the photography on your blog, and I think anything along similar lines would be a fantastic draw. Can't wait to see what you come up with!
I hate cookbooks with no picture on cover. They are the last I take in hand if at all.
Hello there,
Thanks for the review of the Silver Spoon! This has been most useful.
Would you know of the following French Cookbooks: La Bonne Cuisine de Madame Saint Ange and French Cooking by A.Pellaprat? Both are supposed to be excellent references like the Silver Spoon and both date back 50 odd years.
I am looking for a good classic French cookbook and am considering these two options. However perhaps you may be able to recommend something else and better?
Looking forward to hearing from you and exploring your website further.
Thank you!
Simple and nice color contrast cover always attract my attention(like the pictures you always posted ), then I will flip inside the book and check out for more pictures along with the recipe, I can't visualize the recipe without pictures, and pictures is like a talking piece that tell me, yes this is one good book to have. Love in first sight!
Opps! I like to say that I also like to see beautiful coloured illustrations enhanced the book.
Hey Nicky,
I love cookbook covers that have a gorgeous picture of a delectable dish with garnish and place setting-beautiful dishes, etc. But what really intrigues me about what you are doing is the continuity of delicious days-and the joy of peeking into your world. I am with Stephanie-a trio of pictures set in your world across seasons i.e. days. I also agree any of your photography is gorgeous and whatever you choose will be on our shelf.
Enjoy the ride!
John and Amy Kunstle
Well, I guess it should be bright, colourful and ... yummy? You know, the one that tells you "buy me, i'm delecious, let's cook together!" I like the cover that celebrates life in it's fullest, and to me that's what food is all about: color, freshness of the ingridients, simplicity of the layout... But come on, your blog looks so lovely, you know what to do!
Definitely some gorgeous macro shot and nice typography. The two that stand out in your right hand column of books are the big butter and the asian flavors for that reason. But then I also love Tessa Kiros's books which are more ornate and have a really homely feel.
I like simple with one gorgeouos shot on the front (see, that there is enough to drive you crazy . . . how would you ever choose from all the fabulous photographs you have?). I love how you said you were boiling down all the 'swirling ideas' you've had. It's precisely that feeling I named my blog after (Swirling Notions) . . .
Can't wait to see the final cover!
wow thats Awesome!
Ich muss zugeben, dass ich auch zuerst auf das Titelbild gucke ehe ich ein Kochbuch in die Hand nehme. Ein Kochbuch mit schönen Food-Fotos (wie z.B. bei Donna Hay) hat glaube ich generell eine bessere Chance entdeckt zu werden. Ich würde vorallem darauf achten das es klare, helle Farben hat; es muss den Betrachter anlachen! Personenfotos sind zwar hinten im Kochbuch ganz spannend habe für mich auf dem Titel aber nix zu suchen. Ein Foto auf dem Einband hilft Erwartungen zu wecken...
Ich bin wirklich gespannt wofür Du Dich entscheidest!
Eigentlich wurde ja schon alles geschrieben, wobei die Zeit der Köpfe auf dem Cover hoffentlich auch bald wieder vorbei ist. Warte gespannt auf Dein Buch.
I cannot tell you how much your input on this is appreciated! Thank you all so much for taking the time and writing up your thoughts about cookbook covers in general and my book in particular. I'm having a hard time thinking of any other project that has ever been so close to my heart, therefore it's especially wonderful to see, that we are on the right track. Of course I will keep you posted with updates :)
I looked back through your photo gallery for inspiration, and I'm beginning to see how difficult a choice this must be for you. I love the color combinations in the shots of the fruit tart and the parfait with the sliced grapes, but your book won't just be about desserts. I love the little caprese tarts, too, but that implies Italian.
I think when I think of the general feeling of your blog and what I've learned of you, delicious:days is more than just food. It's a lovely life. So I vote for a photo that's more than just a lovely dish, but also a lovely, celebratory setting, too.
one that looks like there is simple to understand + easily organizes contents with organic food for the whole family
this wnt help at all im just jotting down waht came into my head when i read you post, i have been reading your blog since forever and have loved every joyous leap and every sotry behind each recipe and post,the way you set things out and go about cooking is amazing,and it brings mre than just making a recipe and writing it down,your post bring it alive and come across in such a warming fashion.this i know will not be able to all be out down in one front cover,thus i feel for you and your up and coming decision. i actually loved the photo you put with this post, i wanted to have a book behind it to look inside at 'the suprise' lol,i like many others love seeing a scrummy recipe on the front bt not one that will send fear into me,yet it has to have the added vava voom. there i told you this would be no help at all!!basically your book will be fab and i know you'll come to te right choice because you have come across tricky recipes and soured through them successfully with your passion so this will, im sure be no different, good luck and cnt wait to see it.sorry for this novel of a comment!!
Hi there,
You may want to check out other cookbooks that have won design awards. Here is a link that might be useful but you will have to search the titles on Amazon to find cover images:
http://www.finalist.cookbookfair.com/html/31_-b_cookbook_cover.html
My vote is for an author photo on back inside cover flap. Using a food stylist and a great photographer who can light the scene well makes a huge difference in visual appeal. One food focal point in better than numerous food items in my opinion. Peter Reinhert's The Bread Baker's Apprentice is a good shot using a person and a food item...(note the photo is not the author) and also noteworthy is his latest Whole Grain Breads book. I would google IACP and other orgs cookbooks of the year to collect ideas.
Can't wait to see the final product!
Happy cooking,
anne
Definitely a tasty looking picture (as yours always are!)... I prefer cookbooks that have a picture indicative of what types of recipes I might find within. Your picture alongside the food might be nice, but not necessary if you are uncomfortable with that. I like cookbooks that seem welcoming to the reader, and don't try to *act* like it is too gourmet for the average cook (I wouldn't consider myself to be an advanced cook, although I enjoy cooking, so I won't pick up a cookbook with a cover that implies that I might not be able to use the recipes successfully)