One would think these principles of cover design to be universal, and yet I’m staring at a couple Japanese novels on my desk, and can’t help but wonder if the standards of design are a little bit different (read: awesome) there. Japanese bestsellers, especially foreign titles, are often printed as bunko, which are similar in form and function to mass market paperbacks in the West. They do tend to be a bit shorter and slimmer than Western paperbacks however, and are usually only about two hundred pages long. Because of this length restriction, many Western bestsellers are often split up into multiple volumes. These criteria mean that cover designers have less space to work on per book, but potentially more books available. You might also notice an almost universal trend of more numerous and larger typographic elements on Japanese covers. As my team has been working on a YA cover, I’m specifically interested in that market. As a teaching example of YA cover design differences between Japan and America, one need look no further than America’s favorite dystopian series about ritual teen murder and bird-themed rebellion: The Hunger Games.
Twilight
If They’re Broke, Please Fix Them
By Camille WattsBefore you read any further, I have a confession to make: I’m not a very good feminist. I have been known to stay in the car until my boyfriend comes around and opens the door for me. The kitchen is my domain. Cleaning is a source of pleasure for me. You would think that would […]
Summer Reading List Part Three: Books You Should Not Be Reading This Summer
By Rebekah HuntIn view of the spectacular success of my first two summer reading list blogs (we’re talking Facebook likes in the upper threes, people), I feel I would be remiss in not cramming one more in before the back to school sales end and the leaves start to change. You people seem to love when I […]
What the Heck is New-Adult Fiction?
By Ooligan Pressby Rebekah Hunt If you’re getting old like me, you’re probably feeling more and more confused by what all the young people are up to these days. Now, that’s a joke, and I know I’m not anywhere near getting old, but sometimes I happen across a whole new cultural phenomenon that makes me feel like […]
Speaking in Genrealities
By Ooligan PressBy Drew Lazzara At least as long as I’ve been paying attention to these sorts of things (so probably much, much longer), there has been an ongoing critical dialogue about the blurring distinctions between literary and genre fiction. You should absolutely read and listen to an excellent sampling of the discussion from the likes of […]