Nov 25 2008
Sharing the love for endpapers
Endpapers are a big topic today. If you don’t know what endpapers are, they’re exactly what they sound like–usually a thicker stock paper that appears usually in hardcover books at the front and back. Often they’re very simple, a solid color or pattern. Sometimes, though, designers get really creative to make them match the cover design or interior design.
Today I was reviewing a football book designed by a packager that has a very simple but gorgeous cover design and a more intricate interior design. Then I saw the endpapers and they were an ugly beige-taupe color with no design at all. After speaking with our publisher here about his lackluster response to the endpapers, I requested a more interesting look–even if it only made them look more textured and less bland.
I don’t feel that endpapers are a big deal. I think plain is fine. But when you have the time and the means, which we do in this case, to make a statement, why not? Obviously, you don’t want to overdo it and make the endpapers look more interesting than the rest of the book! But you do want a consistent design that draws the reader in on every page you possibly can.
Alison Morris has a children’s booksellers blog (called Shelftalker) on the Publishers Weekly site and she discussed endpapers today too. Of course, with children’s books, the endpaper design makes a much bigger statement and can have a much bigger effect. It may even be more worth the time and effort to design them as they are more likely to be noticed by a child who is actively taking in all the information than a typical adult reader of a football book who is much more eager to get to the real meat of the book. She includes some examples of nice-looking endpapers. Now, I defer to her taste when it comes to endpapers in children’s books, because I certainly can’t imagine a book I publish that I’d want endpapers like the ones she shows off. However, she does include a link to another site that has some truly stunning images. Here are a few of my favorites:
Garth Williams - Fairies by David G. Klein
The Wonderland of Knowledge by Nancy Stahl
Misty of Chincoteague by Heidi Shmidt
House of Pomegranates by Heidi Shmidt
Susan’s Neighbors by Lou Brooks
Last one… clearly NOT for a children’s book:
Dutch Treat Club 1940 by Stephen Kroninger
There are many more to drool over here.
very cool!
I have no self control when it comes to the endpapers. Happy Thanksgiving. Felix.
I’m with Felix. Really.
Wow! You have the power to go to the publisher and tell him what you think and he will listen to you? I would be too nervous to speak my mind. You must have a very powerful position where you work. I am so jealous. What did you tell him exactly? Did you have to tell the designer to redesign the endpapers? Did it cost the company more money or did they not care? What other power do you have? I always thought that the publisher decided everything and everyone else had to do what he says but it seems like you have such an interesting job! Please comment back.
Hi Allisin,
Excellent question. My publisher was the first to complain about the plain design of the endpapers, so I approached him to discuss options. This particular book is a buy-in from a packager. That means they create the design, edit the book, and all the packaging bits. This book actually needed more editing than they provided so I ended up proofreading it as well. Because we are the publisher of the book and they are merely a proprietor, what we say goes. We pay them a fee to complete the work on their end. I really don’t have a powerful position, but I do think I have earned enough respect to approach the publisher about this sort of issue. It’s also a medium-size house, so we’re very familiar with each other. So yes, I had to ask the packager to redesign the endpapers. They provided 2 new examples, which were both better and we selected one of those. It didn’t cost more money because they are paid a lump sum early on. To be honest, most times the publisher doesn’t have time to look at all books in this much detail, so it is up to the project editor (or project manager) and managing editor to decide what the best course of action is. Of course if the publisher doesn’t like what we decide, then we adjust. I hope I answered some of your questions! But feel free to ask more or email me.
Jess