Box Sets Dos and Don'ts

[LilyBLily]

I'm contemplating my first box set and have heard that 3D covers are the way to go but that some venues don't accept them. Without going to each venue and trying to upload a 3D cover, how do I find out which ones are okay with them and which aren't?

I don't do my own covers or formatting so technical details aren't what I'm looking for, just yes or no answers.

Any other tips are appreciated, such as whether turning the book box in one direction or the other if doing 3D makes any difference.

I assume I need a new ISBN for this. I'm only doing an ebook edition, not print.

[Jeff Tanyard]

Kobo doesn't like the white space surrounding the 3d images.  This article lays out what they prefer:

How to create a great box set

[Maggie Ann]

Apple doesn't accept 3D covers and last I heard, B&N might stop accepting them as well.

I've seen them done a lot of different ways, so I don't think there's a hard and fast rule.

You don't need an ISBN for ebooks.

[RPatton]

I prefer the flat genericish cover with the other covers in the bottom thirdish.


To me, and this is purely opinion, I think the 3-D look is sort of gimmickish. And a tad bit misleading. Before you jump in and tell me why I'm wrong, hear me out, and know that I know I am outlier. In print a box set means a little cardboard box with an individual copy of each book. That's what I thought I was getting when I bought my first box set, 5 individual ebooks sold in a single package. Finding one massive book was annoying. Now, I'm not saying the author intended to mislead me with the 3D cover, but it did. I don't think that's a problem now as it was then, but ever since I've had a visceral distaste for 3D covers.

[JRTomlin]

That is an interesting point. 3D covers are visually deceptive, even though it's not intentional. So many retailers don't like them that it isn't a bad idea to at least have a 2D one available.

[Max]

Amazon is the only one that really actually "likes" a 3-D as far as I know.

Bookbub won't feature a 3-D cover on box sets with books that are less than 150 pages. So, it's good to have that 2-D when you apply.

Also, if your designer is reasonable and it would look good, I'd ask for another 2-D that has the individual covers on the front. If it would look good. It's nice for the retailers that are 2-D to have that showing so the customer knows at a glance that it's a multi-volume offer. Also it's something I would put inside the volume, so that if they look inside the book on another retailer, they can see it's several books.

Just my thoughts. Other peoples' mileage might vary.

[guest215]

I like 3D covers. For someone who often reads series, I like knowing when I can get the whole shebang in one go and have it all ready to read. I think other readers who like to read a completed series also look for the 3D covers.


Ideally, you'd have a standard cover, and use it to create the 3D alternative. Then you have both.

[Post-Doctorate D]

. . . 5 individual ebooks sold in a single package.

It'd be nice if the sites would allow authors to do that.

It'd also save time if Amazon (and others) had a Build a Box Set feature.  You'd name the set, select the books from your Bookshelf to include and set the price.  Boom, done.

[LilyBLily]

Thanks for the replies. I'll ask the designer for a 2 D cover showing each cover of the trilogy. She usually delivers a 3 D cover at no extra expense but I've never quite known what to do with them.

I know ISBNs aren't necessary for ebooks, but I like to throw money away on things that make my books like "real" books.

[Bill Hiatt]

. . . 5 individual ebooks sold in a single package.

It'd be nice if the sites would allow authors to do that.

It'd also save time if Amazon (and others) had a Build a Box Set feature.  You'd name the set, select the books from your Bookshelf to include and set the price.  Boom, done.

I have wanted this for a long time.

[kdiem]

Thanks for the replies. I'll ask the designer for a 2 D cover showing each cover of the trilogy. She usually delivers a 3 D cover at no extra expense but I've never quite known what to do with them.

Personally, I use the 3D book covers in the Facebook "shop" section of my author page to differentiate the ebook and paperback versions... PB books look like books, and ebook are in a kindle.

Having said that, I notice I've neglected to put my third book paperback up there, so thanks for making me look!