Thanks so much for writing this. I've just started reading Sonny and Tess with my daughter and I completely agree with what you've said - I'm gladdened already and it's very nice to to have Music Camp compared alongside it. The reason my book covers aren't funny-coded varies for each one. For Music Camp I decided I'd rather people be pleasantly surprised that it's amusing in places than disappointed it's not as funny as they'd been led to believe by the cover font! Trying to exceed expectations by kicking the bar down lower is a Tangey family trait (I shouldn't admit to that as it undermines my strategy)
Naturally I love this amusing explanation, and your covers are grabbing in all other respects. Cover-coding the "funny" in a novel that is also serious is a tricky business.
Thanks so much for writing this. I've just started reading Sonny and Tess with my daughter and I completely agree with what you've said - I'm gladdened already and it's very nice to to have Music Camp compared alongside it. The reason my book covers aren't funny-coded varies for each one. For Music Camp I decided I'd rather people be pleasantly surprised that it's amusing in places than disappointed it's not as funny as they'd been led to believe by the cover font! Trying to exceed expectations by kicking the bar down lower is a Tangey family trait (I shouldn't admit to that as it undermines my strategy)
Naturally I love this amusing explanation, and your covers are grabbing in all other respects. Cover-coding the "funny" in a novel that is also serious is a tricky business.