Horror & Suspense Book Cover Exploration: Guest Post at Teri Polen’s Blog

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

November 2, 2024

Just released from author, Teri Polen
Just released from author, Teri Polen

On Friday, fellow author and host of Bad Moon Rising, Teri Polen let me do a guest post. My main thought behind the post was to thank her for hosting 31 days of author-interviews every October for nine straight years.  I actually created the post a month ago and we’ve been holding it back. 

However, on Oct. 31st Teri published a new novel!  So, I’m sharing a revised version of the entire post here, so that I can also shine a spotlight on her new book — The Power of Three.  Deliciously creepy book cover, don’t you think?  It would go in my writeup below about “Heads”.

In the guest post, Teri also shares her thanks to everyone who took part in or supported Bad Moon Rising.

Anyhow, her October book festival got me “ponderating” about book covers for horror, thriller, and suspense stories.  So, get yourself a cup of coffee, tea, or witch’s brew, and let’s chat.

Covers with the Color Red

How long has red been associated with danger, alarms, or rage?  There are so many well-known examples that I won’t even start.  Whenever I see red as the dominant color on a book cover, I expect something intense.

The Gemini Connection by Teri Polen

(The Gemini Connection purchase link)

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Gerald’s Game by Stephen King 

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Sometimes just having stand-out red text does the job:

A Voice in the Silence by D. L. Finn

(A Voice in the Silence purchase link)

 

Covers with Heads

When I was a kid, sitting in the living room floor in front of the TV, watching old Alfred Hitchcock movies, I realized that the things that scared me the most were not what happened on screen. Rather it was what the story caused me to anticipate.  When I see a head on a book cover, I expect to be scared in a deeper way.  Not just any head will do.  This requires a “head” image (not a portrait) that evokes what goes on inside it.  Statues and masks bring out a similar response.

Escaping Psychiatry (series) by Olga Núñez Miret

(Escaping Psychiatry purchase link)

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The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

 

Covers with Stairways

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” Martin Luther King Jr.

It’s one of my favorite quotes, but the advice is by no means easy to follow. Anticipation of the unknown can leave me breathless.  It can be worrying, or even terrifying.  That’s why covers with staircases are such grabbers — you can’t see where those steps are going.  Those images reach much farther into our minds than the surface.  I have to say that, even years later, Teri’s cover for “Sarah” is one of the creepiest book covers I’ve ever seen.  Every time I look at it, I feel the urge to look over my shoulder for the next hour.

Sarah by Teri Polen

(Sarah purchase link)

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The Map Room a short story by S. R. Mallery

(The Map Room purchase link)

Creepy Landscape Covers

Don’t forget the power of a creepy setting.  (I apologize for a touch of shameless self-promotion.)  Some landscapes are just eerier than others… dead trees, graveyards, abandoned towns.  This is one of my own covers.  If you see a picture of a swamp, do you really expect something good to happen?

A Peril in the Bayou by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

(A Peril in the Bayou purchase link)

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What kind of book cover makes you want to pick up a suspense, thriller, or horror story?  Is there an element of nature that makes you shrink when you see a photo?  I started to ask if there was a body-part that makes you cringe when you see an image of it, but this is a family show, so I won’t ask that question!  Thanks for taking time to “ponderate” with me.  I hope you’ll leave a fun and friendly comment about what attracts you in a book cover.  Hugs.

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Copyright © 2024 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved.

45 thoughts on “Horror & Suspense Book Cover Exploration: Guest Post at Teri Polen’s Blog”

  2. I know book covers are like YouTube thumbnails, the one that looks exciting often get more eyeballs. Sarah by Teri Polen kinda got my attention, I guess you know why. I love horror movies, but horror books are not my thing. I read 3 to 4 books including a Stephen King novel, but they failed to impress me. So, I switched to books by Jeffrey Deaver, Dan Brown and even Minette Walters. I love books that keep me on the edge. I can enjoy a slow-burn movie, but not a slow-burn novel. Also, I’ve never picked a book based on book covers. I read the short premise or outline behind the book and if that intrigues me, I rent it. Do you buy novels or rent it? I used to rent many of the novels I’ve read. So, back in 1999-2000 when I used to be in college, my college was in the Arts district so there were plenty of street-side book-sellers. I would pay them Rs. 100, rent the novel. There was no time limit so I can take my sweet time to finish the book. During that time, a dollar was 45 Indian Rupees so that would mean I would pay USD 2.20 for a book. When I would return that novel, I would get back Rs. 80 (USD 1.78), or I can pay Rs. 20 and replace it with another novel. Basically, I was reading one novel for USD 0.44 in those days. Only certain hard cover books would cost more based on their market availability and demand. For ‘Jinnah of Pakistan by Stanley Wolpert’ I paid a whopping Rs. 2000 bucks which is probably 20 times my regular rent rate. Plus, there was a condition to return the book in three days. Since I was a regular customer the bookshop owner gave it to me or else he wasn’t willing. I got back Rs. 1800 on returning the book, but it was worth the money and time.

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    1. That’s an interesting question, Sharukh. I’ve never heard of renting books. (That doesn’t mean there isn’t such a program/service here. Or that there isn’t one in some part of the USA where I haven’t lived… We rent or lease just about anything else.) Of course, we have libraries, where books are loaned. A few “brick and mortar” bookstores are around in most cities, where books are purchased. And online sellers, like Amazon and Barnes & Noble for purchasing. Then there are a few subscription services Kindle Unlimited (here’s a link to how that works for readers: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/devices/what-is-kindle-unlimited ), and Audible for audio books (one of my 2 “entertainment” luxuries is my Audible subscription. The other is streaming BritBox.) Thanks for joining the conversation. Hugs.

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          1. They give you choice. You can either buy them or rent them. However, certain books (I don’t know how they make a choice) are not for rent. If you are looking for a certain book by certain author, you can tell them and they will fetch it for you, if available. They have this huge network of roadside book-sellers so they call each other to help you get the book you’re looking for. While these book-sellers might seem like guys from the countryside, but they can really surprise you with the kind of knowledge they have about what author wrote which book.

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    1. I very much think so. There are certain authors, whose work I know so well, and have trust in, that I would read their books if the cover was a blank white sheet with simple text stating “New from” (their name). Otherwise, I want the cover to at minimum show me the mood of the book. Thanks for commenting, Daniel. Hugs.

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  8. Book covers are definitely an art form. Teri’s latest is rather horrifying – which means it grabs you. Love your review of covers and although I am not a fan of horror, I might have to dip my toes into Teri’s book.

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  9. The cover for “The Power of Three” is definitely creepy! I don’t read horror so nothing would tempt me. I do often pick books off the library shelf because of either the title or the cover, so it definitely has an influence. If I already know and like the author, though, it doesn’t matter. (K)

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    1. I’m the same way about authors I already know and love, Kerfe. I understand about horror, that’s why most of the book covers I used were actually more like suspense than real horror. These days I have to be extremely careful with any genre because I have so many C-PTSD triggers… It seems like anything might trigger me. Admittedly, this gave me a unique way to promote Teri’s book in return for nine years of the Bad Moon Rising event where she has always generously hosted me, even though it’s something of a stretch for any of my stories to be included in “horror.” Thanks for your feedback. Hugs.

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  10. Teagan, this is a fab post.

    I love the way you’ve looked at covers, and how they make you feel. Book covers are art, after all.

    You know, it’s said “You Can’t Judge a Book by its Cover”.

    That saying may have met its match here today.

    As far as your question goes… perhaps a torn gown on a body. I haven’t seen the cover, yet.

    Still, I did come up with the saying “You can’t judge a book by its cover, unless there’s a gown on it”. So, a decisively torn white gown, with red blood and a dark background sounds scary.

    Thanks Teagan! Hugs!

    PS – CONGRATULATIONS to Teri on her new release!

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    1. Hi, Resa. I’m sorry it took me so long to respond. Haha! I like your revision of that old saying. Your gown cover idea started a story spinning in my head. I had to slam on the breaks. LOL. Many thanks for joining the conversation. Hugs winging back to you.

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    1. You are so kind — thank you, Rebecca. In that series, I’ve tried to make each book (story, cover, and the illustrations inside) well… “the same but different.” The characters are the same. They’re all paranormal, and have a similar tone. But the settings are different, and while in the same genre/sub-genre, there’s something (hard to describe) just different about each story. Thanks for your feedback. Hugs.

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  13. This was a fascinating read! I just love discussions of book covers. In answer to your question about suspense, thriller, or horror novels, I tend toward domestic thrillers. Usually a certain kind of face or house on the cover will draw me in. Sorry to be so vague!

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    1. Hi, Liz. It’s the “vague” part of our reactions that makes it interesting. Subtle differences let covers begin the story. I think your comment is good feedback. I probably should have included houses as a topic, but… there were just too many to choose from. Thanks for joining the conversation. Hugs.

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  15. These are all great covers, and your analysis of their affect is spot on, Teagan. I don’t read much horror, so I’m not sure what attracts me. Truth be told, I read mostly nonfiction, Even in that category, there are some covers that draw me in. Dark Tide, the story about the great molasses flood in Boston (1919) has an eerie cover. I also have a very old book, Red for Danger, about railroad accidents in the early days of the industry. It has a black cover with a B&W image of a locomotive on the cover, but the title is deep red. Thanks for an interesting post.

    PS, your comment about watching Alfred Hitchcock while sitting on the floor brought back memories of watching that show and The Twilight Zone. I hope you have a great weekend.

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  16. You’re right, I do tend to judge the tone of a book by it’s cover, that’s why the right choice by the author is so important.
    Glad to see Teri out with a new book.

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  17. Wow! Great news on Teri’s new book, and I agree, the cover is fantastically creepy! (And I love horror, so I’m off to check it out). Your post is great, and I can’t thank you enough for including the cover of one of the books in my Escaping Psychiatry series. Ernesto Valdés is a great artist. And I love all the rest of the covers. Very appropriate to the time of the year. Your covers always have a special touch, Teagan. Congratulations to Teri, thanks again, Teagan, and have a lovely weekend!

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