tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post6959403415647220930..comments2023-05-24T08:06:43.882-04:00Comments on Romance Writer's Revenge: Judging A Book By Its CoverTerri Osburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-50140467681672644882011-05-09T20:57:30.000-04:002011-05-09T20:57:30.000-04:00I find historical covers a bit...repetitive, to be...I find historical covers a bit...repetitive, to be frank. The colors are gorgeous and the dresses are so pretty! And all those perfect backs!<br><br>It's the UF covers that kinda annoy me...the kick ass feminine lead, holding a 1)crossbow 2)gun 3)whip (though that's a bit more erotic romance) 4) a spear 5)a dagger 6)a samuri sword... You get the gist.<br><br>I like covers without people or with sketches, to be perfectly frank.<br><br>Saying that... I adore, passionately, my cover of <i>The Kraken's Mirror</i>. Just enough heroine to portray a pirate feel and love that she's wearing red nail polish and pearls/garnets, etc.2nd Chancehttp://www.maureenobetita.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-24181203907824548682011-05-10T00:13:37.000-04:002011-05-10T00:13:37.000-04:00Not very keen on the headless shot. I prefer the c...Not very keen on the headless shot. I prefer the cover to show tension of the hero and heroine.<br><br><a href="http://steamyfantasy.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow"> Chemical Fusion</a>Enid Wilsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-37593149041043164062011-05-10T00:48:34.000-04:002011-05-10T00:48:34.000-04:00Have to agree with most of what you say Bo'sun...Have to agree with most of what you say Bo'sun.<br><br>Nearly all the books I buy are electronic and recommended in reviews or blogs. I don't bother much with the covers for mainstream authors.<br><br>The new breed of self-pubbed authors on Amazon are different though!<br>I like to browse the top 100, especially the low priced (under £1) books and often the cover tempts me to click and learn more.<br><br>When you self-pub on Amazon you get to design your own cover and set your own price. For two examples which buck the trend for romantic suspense have a look at:<br><br>http://lexirevellian.blogspot.com/Quantumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-41217318401397188802011-05-10T04:11:07.000-04:002011-05-10T04:11:07.000-04:00Great blog, TerI also am tired of the unbuttoned d...Great blog, Ter<br><br>I also am tired of the unbuttoned dress sliding down a smooth, bare back, with a perfect ringlet of sunkissed, golden-blond hair trailing over one shoulder. God help me if there's also an adorable mole revealed as she seductively lets her dress slide down.<br><br>Uh yeah, I've never worn a 19th century ball gown, but I'm pretty sure that's not what normally happened when you unbuttoned them. <br><br>And don't get me started on the covers consisting only of a shirtless, tanned, set of abs.<br><br>Well, okay, that one doesn't bother me, because, let's face it, they find some HOT models. I feel like I *should* be all righteously riled-up about the covers with only male abs (and really, I do get tired of seeing them), but I'm too distracted to get really worked up :) Why don't the guys in my life look like that? lol<br><br>I definitely fantasize about what the cover of my book would look like. A dark, rainy night. One eerie street lamp. A crouching figure with a gun.... (geez, even the covers I fantasize about are cliched :) )Halnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-55794167199947452942011-05-10T04:29:19.000-04:002011-05-10T04:29:19.000-04:00Well, everyone is up and at it early this morning....Well, everyone is up and at it early this morning. Even me! LOL!<br><br>Chance - HOW could I forget you have the headless model? I should have used your cover. Doh! I do sense a theme there with the UF covers. LOL! And this isn't new with all the covers looking alike, but at least back in the day, the titles were slightly different. Thank goodness we're getting a little variation there now, even if the Historical titles don't sound Historical at all.Bosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-21374651542290982792011-05-10T04:30:46.000-04:002011-05-10T04:30:46.000-04:00Hey there, Enid, thanks for stopping by. Not a fan...Hey there, Enid, thanks for stopping by. Not a fan of the headless crop? I don't why that doesn't bother me. But I'm with you in that if they are going to put people on the cover, at least use both the H/H instead of just one.<br><br>However, I've never put a book down and refused to read it just because of the cover.Bosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-5664351878777788952011-05-10T04:34:57.000-04:002011-05-10T04:34:57.000-04:00Nice mix of covers over there, Q. A lot of writers...Nice mix of covers over there, Q. A lot of writers seem excited about the idea of designing their own covers, but if you want your book to be remotely taken seriously, you need a professional looking cover. Even moreso if you self-publish. Professional takes money and lots of work so this can be a case of careful what you wish for. :)Bosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-19334044398972151622011-05-10T04:41:13.000-04:002011-05-10T04:41:13.000-04:00Hal - I don't know why it bothers me so much, ...Hal - I don't know why it bothers me so much, it's not like many covers are ever historically accurate (the buttoned up men's shirt anyone?) but that dress falling off thing just drives me batty. I do appreciate the gorgeous colors, but either keep the dress on or take the dress off. Pretend you're not insulting our intelligence.<br><br>And what kills is, I don't even think there are many scenes where dresses just fall off. LOL! So it's not like they're portraying the story!<br><br>Yeah, can't say as I mind the man-candy. Though you have to wonder a) are all RS set in really hot locations? and b) would any self-respecting man of action race into a showdown with the bad guy with nipples blaring??<br><br>Your cover idea sounds great. And a character in the scene somewhere I could live with. Much better than the character filling the entire scene.Bosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-74667059952267843852011-05-10T04:49:47.000-04:002011-05-10T04:49:47.000-04:00In honesty, I find all these covers equally appeal...In honesty, I find all these covers equally appealing. Pretty dresses with sparkly scrolled letters, headless folks, naked man chest. It's all fine and the marketing works. But that's my problem, I think. It all blurs into one big happy marketing vat of obscurity. I don't remember what the covers of most books look like because they all look the same.<br><br>There are always the exceptions. The cover of Julia Quinn's upcoming novel, Just Like Heaven, is gorgeous, historical feeling, but without the wardrobe malfunctioning, back-sporting heroine.Marneenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-38735243767883733472011-05-10T04:56:26.000-04:002011-05-10T04:56:26.000-04:00I noticed that one, Marn. Yes, that's a nice d...I noticed that one, Marn. Yes, that's a nice direction. I think it was Candace Hern *googles* who had some beautiful covers for her Merry Widows. Very Renaissance painting inspired that resembled the portraits one would expect to see of a 19th century Miss. I do wish those would have caught on better.<br><br>I can remember covers a little more than titles. The titles are totally interchangable anymore, but at least you can remember you're looking for the vibrant yellow cover or whatever. Saw a cover for a friend (yet unreleased to the public) and it's pure white. Absolutly gorgeous.Bosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-59005437755744203532011-05-10T05:30:53.000-04:002011-05-10T05:30:53.000-04:00I guess I see the covers as being like the query l...I guess I see the covers as being like the query letter -- something to intrigue you to take a closer look at the story. :) I think it's intended to be symbolic (half-dressed = smexy times ahead), not an exact representation of the story or even the characters, and I don't know that it's meant to be (even if we as readers think so.) I also can't imagine how difficult it must be to keep coming up with a variation of poses to accomplish that "psst, look at me!" goal. And then there's the artistic limitations (chest hair usually looks like dirt, so that's why it's excluded, etc.)<br><br>The only thing that makes me smile is how all the dresses seem to be made of SATIN, which wasn't the case in Regency times at least. But I think it's one of those things that works artistically because it shows texture and it would be too flat otherwise.Donnanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-25479158772556093912011-05-10T05:33:26.000-04:002011-05-10T05:33:26.000-04:00For me, I always want the cover to reflect the boo...For me, I always want the cover to reflect the book. I think you can do that and still be eye-catching. And I do not mean to belittle how hard it must be to come up with a good cover, but I see the irony in the demand my book be different enough to stand out from the rest but then they make it *look* like all the rest. :)Bosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-87640957869063753432011-05-10T05:34:51.000-04:002011-05-10T05:34:51.000-04:00I love covers--and yes, the right cover will make ...I love covers--and yes, the right cover will make me pick up a book or send me running. I prefer headless men. Or the half-head men, where you see their lips and their splendid chest and nothing else. <br><br>I also like women's backs on covers, usually with a man's hand placed possessively on her lower back or hip. <br><br>I ignore--or mostly ignore--historicals with women falling out of their clothes and they're never wearing underwear. It bothers me more when the men's shirts are split down the middle, when we all know they weren't. But on the whole I ignore it. It bothers me much more of the historical inaccuracy within the covers than anything the artist did.<br><br>If I were mocking up my own cover, I don't think I'd put Adam and Eve on the cover. I think I'd have one of those covers where you saw props from the book. Like the Counselor's Handbook for Marriage Bootcamp and a beach/paradise area, and things that look like a resort. Or if I did put them on the cover, I'd put them back to back to each other, arms crossed, shooting pouty looks at the camera.Hellionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-33073210636491954492011-05-10T05:39:27.000-04:002011-05-10T05:39:27.000-04:00I can't ever think of a time I've not boug...I can't ever think of a time I've not bought/read a book because of the cover. I will admit, and I might be crucified for this, if I'm looking at ebooks and especially self-pubbed books, I judge the covers more harshly. Thankfully, ebook covers have made tremendous progress.<br><br>I'm in the "litter the cover with props" camp as well. I remember books with a locket and a music box. Or a bouquet of flowers and a picture frame. I like those covers that hint at the story and are pretty. Didn't Crusie's fans because Cherries because of the cherry on the shoe on the BET ME cover?Bosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-7042959333885451742011-05-10T05:57:06.000-04:002011-05-10T05:57:06.000-04:00It's a fine line to walk, I think. You want s...It's a fine line to walk, I think. You want something that readers are going to recognize as part of the genre for fear that they'd skim over it in the bookstore. But you want to stand out too. <br><br>I'm glad I don't have to design covers.Marneenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-34868350231850029362011-05-10T06:05:02.000-04:002011-05-10T06:05:02.000-04:00A fine line, indeed, Marn. You'd almost be tem...A fine line, indeed, Marn. You'd almost be tempted to think covers will grow less important in the digital format, but it's more likely the opposite. When readers are trolling through a website, your cover HAS to stand out and make them stop. Smaller image, digital, 2 dimensional. Well, they're always 2 dimensional but you know what I mean. It's going to be tougher than ever to catch the eye of the reader who isn't specifically looking for you.Bosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-57400072460005273872011-05-10T06:07:03.000-04:002011-05-10T06:07:03.000-04:00I have to give a shout out to Kimberly Killion who...I have to give a shout out to Kimberly Killion who is doing amazing things with Hot Damn Designs. Her covers are gorgeous and professional and I'd venture to say better than some coming out of NY these days.<br><br>And I just saw that you can win breakfast in bed with a cover model at RWA11. Check it out!<br><br>http://www.hotdamndesigns.com/raffle.aspBosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-51614770992707987952011-05-10T06:37:38.000-04:002011-05-10T06:37:38.000-04:00Kimberly's designs are awesome. I remember see...Kimberly's designs are awesome. I remember seeing some of the covers of some of the books she's designed for and thinking they looked better than NY's glossy covers. <br><br>But then Kimberly designed her website and it's cooler than 90% of the author websites out there. *LOL*Hellionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-70314073449214472722011-05-10T06:57:23.000-04:002011-05-10T06:57:23.000-04:00*drool* My all time favorite book cover is Pamela ...*drool* My all time favorite book cover is Pamela Clare's Hard Evidence cover. Shower. Water. Passion. <br><br>Hot.Sinhttp://mywritingdiary.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-91220158454290912032011-05-10T07:00:28.001-04:002011-05-10T07:00:28.001-04:00I almost used the new cover for BREAKING POINT as ...I almost used the new cover for BREAKING POINT as the man-candy cover. LOL! There is something about those low slung jeans. *sigh*Bosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-74062556071107655942011-05-10T07:00:28.000-04:002011-05-10T07:00:28.000-04:00I actually miss my old laptop that had my design p...I actually miss my old laptop that had my design programs. I miss just working with images and creating something fun. And fonts. I have an obsessive love for fonts. But it's time consuming and if I want to write (and let's face it, I have to work) I have to give it up. For now.Sinhttp://mywritingdiary.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-77920041754527139052011-05-10T07:02:04.000-04:002011-05-10T07:02:04.000-04:00*dreamy look* Ooh, hell yeah. Anything low slung o...*dreamy look* Ooh, hell yeah. Anything low slung over those hips is nice. Straight out of the shower, well fitted but low slung sweatpants and a towel in hand... that will spike my temperature 100 degrees in a second and my brain will have a meltdown.Sinhttp://mywritingdiary.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-36059197773581907622011-05-10T07:17:04.001-04:002011-05-10T07:17:04.001-04:00Kiddo has found this new toy online where she doct...Kiddo has found this new toy online where she doctors up pictures and makes collages for all her friends' Facebook accounts. She can spend hours on that thing but I have no idea what it's called. I know it's free.<br><br>I wouldn't resist taking a webdesign/graphics class in the future. Being able to maintain a real website and make it look good is another bonus in this author game.Bosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-7427957945556984162011-05-10T07:17:04.000-04:002011-05-10T07:17:04.000-04:00Geez, Sin, you're making my mouth water. LOL!Geez, Sin, you're making my mouth water. LOL!Bosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-20859384155571694322011-05-10T08:20:17.000-04:002011-05-10T08:20:17.000-04:00And today is Hal's birthday. Happy birthday Ha...And today is Hal's birthday. Happy birthday Hal!! I hope it's a fantastical day filled with lots of half naked guys fulfilling your heart's desire.Sinhttp://mywritingdiary.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com