Someone once said that the design of the book cover is the single most
important ingredient in the whole publishing endeavour. Never mind that it was a
designer, there is much truth in the statement. The design of the cover of a
book can make it jump off the shelves at the prospective buyer or fade into the
shadows of the remainder bin. However, having said that, the cover must be
appropriate to the book's contents and appeal to its target audience, as well as
to the author. Too often the author is set on one design, marketing on another,
the publisher on yet another, and the editor on something else. How many
production meetings have degenerated into squabbles and spats over the cover
design? With the consistent, constant, consultative, and integrated teamwork
approach to book production, such things are less likely to take place.
