Hodder creates a quartet of jackets fit for a thriller King

14.04.10 | Ellie Broughton in The Bookseller

Readers will be able to choose from four different covers of the paperback version of Stephen King’s latest novel, Under The Dome, with the readers’ favourite becoming the chosen cover for future editions.

Kelly Edgson-Wright, director of digital marketing and product development at Hodder & Stoughton, said the book’s publicity would appeal to fans of TV series such as “Heroes” and “Lost”.

She said: “We wanted to do something really different, change perceptions and broaden the readership.”

Under the Dome tells the story of 13 characters from a small town in Maine. A mysterious force - the dome - comes down over the town, shutting people out and in. Society crumbles inside and it’s up to a handful of people inside to find out why they have been trapped. The title will be published by Hodder & Stoughton on 8th July priced £7.99.

Each of the four covers features a character from the book, looking into the distance. The covers were produced by design company Unreal, which has worked with Hodder before. The publisher has been talking to retailers ahead of the paperback release and wants readers to be able to choose any of the four cover designs from shops. The cover image that sells the most will grace the front of the reprints.
More at The Bookseller