Book Cover, Like a Poem

Book cover, like a poem, like an Ukrainian Easter Egg

     In each case above, every detail is important. In an Easter Egg, colour is important. The photo of the cover doesn't show that the top of the image is a lighter shade of black than the bottom.

     Black suggests mystery, a place where danger may lurk. Jill's black hair and jacket suit her. To her husband, Joseph, many times Jill's odd behaviour is a mystery to him. The dark background represents people from Jill's childhood that Jill would like to forget about, hide from. Memories of her parents and a friend who hoped for a romantic relationship continue to haunt and frighten her.

     The red suitcases have multiple meanings. Red frequently connotes danger. For Jill, the two defence mechanisms she uses to manage her fears from her past are dangerous. The two suitcases on either side of her face act like a horse's blinkers giving her tunnel vision, giving her a narrow perspective or understanding of events that face her. As a result she makes choices that are frequently not in her best interest. One regrettable decision was running away from her grandmother, one of the few people that she knew who was trying to help her. Suitcases or baggage, suggests travel or in Jill's case running away. She runs from challenges she fears or she can't control.

     Roses are often thought of as a symbol of love. Because of her father's heavy drinking, Jill's home life suggests manipulation, not love, is the way to live. As a result Jill hungers for love, but doesn't recognize it. In the image below she sees love, the rose, but she isn't holding it.

     The rose also symbolizes Josey, her grandmother. Because roses were an important landscaping element in Josey's home, the sight of roses often reminds Jill of her grandmother. A rose is both beautiful and prickly. Josey was beautiful in that she was loving, intelligent, wealthy and women capable of doing what seemed to be impossible. At times Josey's human side rubbed some people the wrong way. The throne like pain that she caused strained relationships.

     The rose and suitcases are only a few of the symbols in Baggage burdens.

     The title, Baggage burdens.  is to be printed in white at the top. The author's name, Ken Saik,  will be in white at the bottom.  It is hoped that the sharp colours, red, black and white, will catch a browser's eye. The title will develop an inquiring response. Hopefully the opening, the first few paragraphs, will result in a sale. One has to have dreams.

It's been said, "a picture is worth a thousand words." How about a book cover? Is it as important as the title or more important? What do you think?