PUBLISHERS: Cover Credit?

[Erik Mona]

In the past week, I've purchased or been sent several products from several different publishers (thanks, guys!). As far as I can tell, the following publishers do not give their freelancers or in-house authors front cover credit:

Bastion Press
Thunderhead Games
Auran
Avalanche
Mystic Eye
Fantasy Flight Games

I know representatives from these companies regularly read these message boards, and I'm curious if they could explain why they've decided not to put author names on the front cover of their products. Certainly, some of these are "team" books written by several designers. In all of the cases mentioned above, however, the products in question are "by" one or two designers.

Do publishers who do not give cover credit believe that the author's name is not a significant factor in a consumer's decision to give a product a try? Is it simply something they haven't considered?

I'm genuinely curious.

Thanks,

Erik

 

[Morrus]

Maybe they've got silly names?

 

[d20Dwarf]

Hey Erik,

Does this mean I'll be getting cover credit in June's Polyhedron?

 

[Psion]

Maybe they've got silly names?

Well, I can think of one of FFG's authors (a small green one ) that you would be right for re: his nom de plume.

 

[enrious]

Erik, I was wondering the same thing myself.

I would add AEG and Mongoose to the list as well.

 

[Mystic Eye]

Hi Erik,

Interesting point. For us, it is mainly for two reasons you do not see author names on the cover.
First, there are usually several writers on our source book projects and to list them all on the cover would be a major detractor, however, they are always listed on the first page.

Second, if there are only a couple of folks on a project, especially when it come to the Hunt setting specifically, it is usually myself or my partner in crime, Andrew Thompson. For some reason we just don't feel right giving ourselves a cover credit like that.

That being said, our parnter project of Wild Spell craft going into print was written by one guy, Ryan Nock. If you check out the print version cover of this book at our site you will note his name is on it. Something we will always do if the book is by a single primary author.

I have toyed with putting all the authors on the back cover but have not done it yet.

So, that is why you have not seen that done on our books up through Wild Spellcraft.

 

[Nathal]

Credit on Cover

As a freelancer I can say that name credit on the cover is more important to me than the money. As a co-author or a single author, I feel the name recognition is worth its weight in gold. If the book is by several authors then I can understand not listing them all on the front cover.

It takes a lot of effort and time to write a RPG supplement, a true labor of love. The publisher should honor the writer with a proper credit on the cover...after all, do most freelancers really do this for the money? I think not.

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

I would add AEG and Mongoose to the list as well.

I dunno. Maybe I'm just THAT cool, but my name is on the front cover of the Stormhaven book from Mongoose.

I think in a lot of cases, it depends on the line. For example, if the series follows form, my name won't be on the front cover of the Quintessential Monk. That's alright with me, as the design of the Quintessential books are supposed to be sparse and all happy-faux-leathery.


Patrick Y.

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

Re: Credit on Cover

As a freelancer I can say that name credit on the cover is more important to me than the money.

As a fellow freelancer, I will gladly allow you to put your name on the front cover of all my books, just so long as you agree to send me all your money.

Patrick Y.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Re: Credit on Cover

As a freelancer I can say that name credit on the cover is more important to me than the money...after all, do most freelancers really do this for the money?

Can you imagine an illustrator doing this? No? Well, that's why illustrators continue to get paid more for their time than writers.

How about a novelist? You think Steven King would sell his talent for peanuts?

RPG writers sure can be some real whores with their talent.

Not to get all RyanD on you or anything, but a writer who would do such a thing is essentially a "scab" sucking down the pay scale for other writers.


Wulf