group discussion

I can't find the string of posts about book covers, so I'm starting a new folder here. I believe it was Stella (I think??) who asked what people find appealing / unappealing about book cover design. I noticed a pet peve of mine today: photos of characters on the book cover that look nothing like the description by the author. The vamp/man in the book I'm currently reading is supposed to be half indian/half caucasian with gray or black eyes, depending on his mood, and cafe au lait skin. The photo on the cover is a white guy with bright blue eyes. I also noticed that the cover of LKH's Micah has a photo of a man with blond hair. If my memory is correct, Micah's hair is supposed to be dark brown. Is it really too much to ask the marketing folks to describe the characters to the cover artist? Surely they could pull a few descriptions from the text.

I feel a bit creeped-out by the covers with naked men on them. It's just so ... unsubtle, so in-your-face. And sometimes the photography is bad and the man doesn't look as sexy as he's meant to, and I just feel sorry for the guy.

Yep. It was me. Though bear in mind that some of the covers, like the Micah one, was drawn over, and digitally enhanced, if not completely painted and drawn. When that happens, its really the artist's idea of what they THINK is sexy.

I'm a cover artist myself, and while I strive for covers that will mesh on shelves, sometimes its not possible. Though to be honest I dont like the naked men covers, but traditionally, thats what sells the books, or so the publishers think.

I like women on my covers, and thats why pretty much all of the have chicks on them. Sometimes its right to have a guy on the cover, and sometimes its just gratuitous.

If you wanna see my cover art you can check it out:
http://stellaprice.deviantart....

and you can tell me what you think on my take on cover art. I would love to know if the covers i have done would entice readers to pick the books up, and if they would. I create as a READER that wants to see something stunning... it would be nice to see what you all have to say.

Related to Shannon's comment, while I might like the view of the half naked men on the covers, I certainly don't feel as comfortable reading those books in the doctor's waiting room or on my lunch hour. It's a bit embarrassing - I don't want my boss to walk by!

Stella,
My faves on your site: Veronica Grimm: Dont Fear, healing Hearts Cover wrap, One Reckless Night, though if I'm being completely honest, the naked bodies did catch my eye.

The covers can also differ in Various Countries. I really like the Dark Hunter covers that are sold in England, they have a guys face which is half hidden in a shadow.

Stella's covers; reckless night & Veronica Grimm-Don't fear the reaper, From the Shadows and Different are really cool. I also liked Fire in his eyes cover.

The Merry Gentry covers & the older Anita Blake ones are another fav.

Sometimes a cover can draw my eye, but like Anita I also hate when the cover misleads you and sometimes it will put me off the book or I have to cover it up.

Re: Anita's comment:

I only ever read romance books at home. I don't like the idea of people reading it over my shoulder on the subway; also, it's really weird reading a private, personal, sexy scene in such an incongruous setting. You need to be able to get really absorbed in these books, and reading them in public places is just impossible for me.

I prefer the covers with women on them. I really like the House of Night covers (YA vampire fiction by P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast) - Marked, Betrayed, Chosen. I think maybe that because women all have different ideas of what's attractive in a man, we don't want to have someone else's idea of it pushed onto us from the cover; it's better to use your imagination. But it doesn't matter so much what the woman looks like. As long as they match hair colour!

I'm not fond of covers with half naked people on them. I love to read romance, but it's kind of a guilty pleasure for me. I don't want everyone and their grandmother to know that I'm reading romance.... Plus, it's embarassing to walk up to the check out counter with this half naked dude on your book cover. I prefer something a bit more subtle.

Nice work Stella! I think my favorites were: The Black Sword, The Running Path, and The Black Rose. Those were especially cool to me. I also really liked: Enjoy the Afterverse, Don't Fear the Reaper, and Temperance and the Devil; they were quite cool. The Uninvited was super creepy looking, nicely done. Leading Her to Heaven had some nice shadowy over-lay, I liked that as well. I also thought Anonymous was elegant and sexy, but still subtle. Anyway, that's my two cents!

That reminds me of time when I borrowed some paranormal books from the library & the Assistant was an older lady and she was so shocked at some of the covers, her face went blood red. It made me feel really uncomfortable.

Um, what ever happened to: "Never judge a book by it's cover"? LMAO, sorry - couldn't help myself. Some covers do catch the eye, and one can only hope that the story is just as good. I've been disappointed before when going in that direction. Honestly, I haven't really read a book because the cover caught my eye - that hasn't happened to me yet. Most of the time, it's the title and the synopsis on the back that catch me. Although, I have to admit, I really like the covers for Kelley Armstrong's books. Stella, as soon as I have a minute to spare (probably when the kids are in bed, dishes done and the first of several loads of laundry is in the washer), I'll take a gander.

I think some of the covers have gotten out of hand...Some of them now have actual photos of two people in sexy positions. Now, how am I going to read that in public? It's like a man reading Playboy on the bus. I like covers that look painted and have men on them. But I also like the ones with the female leads, like the Kim Harrison books.

I think I've stopped making excuses as to why I read romance novels - if it weren't for romance, stores like Barnes & Noble would go out of business! I think they are very similar to the war books that men read. And we read them for the same reasons - escapism and enjoying a good story.

thats a good point. And just to let you guys know, Romance is the largest selling genre in the world today. Everyone wants to fall in love you know?

As for the Half naked covers, and the ones in compromising positions, that publisher *you know what it is* does it because its what sells those books apparently. I have two friends that are published with them, and they both have the more tasteful covers, but its really what the art department thinks is going to reflect the manuscript inside that decides the cover. If the imprint is all about some naughty hard core stuff, they are going to try to reflect that in the covers in a not so subtle way.

I'm with Shannon and Anita about not reading the books outside of home. It's not always just the cover either that makes me blush when at the checkout at Border's. Some of the titles are almost too suggestive or so corny that I'm embarrassed to be buying them! Even though I LOVE the paranormal genre, I feel weird when other's catch a glimpse at the covers or titles. I hate that I feel that way and I certainly won't stop reading them, but I do appreciate the more subtle covers.

Stella it's not just the publishers, but the booksellers too (and I'm talking the likes of Borders here) that are saying the sexier covers sell better.

That said, I don't like covers that don't match though I understand sometimes a cover artists does their best *smile*

I have no problem checking out a sexy book cover (of course I HAVE sexy covers so I'm a little biased *ggg*) that said, I'll take them anywhere except the orthodontists. Then again, I usually sit in the car and read anyway because the office is complete chaos and I have an aversion to cartoons, too many kids and people who talk loudly on their cell phones in public (get a room).

>>I think I've stopped making excuses as to why I read romance novels - if it weren't for romance, stores like Barnes & Noble would go out of business!


What Stella said...and I agree w/you Karen. I'm not going to make excuses or be embarrassed over what I read. Having to justify myself (regardless of whether it's about reading or writing or heck, how I keep my house) tends to make me irritable. At least I'm reading. And raising readers (at least one of two anyway! LOL).

I read them anywhere and everywhere. I really don't care what other people think about the books I read. If they want to comment, I grin and bare it - obviously they haven't read a book of the genre I like. If they did and still give negative comments, hey! everyone has their opinion. But in reading what I like where I like, I managed to find people in this city who like the same as me - lol, and I thought I was the only one in this city! Timmins has about 51,000 residents and I only know of two people who like to read what I like to read. Would never have met Sherri otherwise.

I could also care less about reading these types of books in public. I read them on the train, bus, where ever! Though I cannot display them at my house in a book case because, well the boyfriend is just plain strange about that...

:)

To Stella!

Love your cover work! Just took a few moments out of my stressful work day to check out your gallery. I have to tell you that the Tease Publishing Dark Tarot covers are beyond beautiful!! My favorite outside of those has to be the Frost and Flame Cover!!!

I guess I am going to have to read some of your work now :)

I have a secret...I use 'fake' hardbacks to cover up embarrassing cover art (i.e. sweaty, hairless chests, overly passionate embraces, etc). I get them from hardbacker.com and they are great! Of course, I am also one of those anal people who like to keep paperbacks in pristine condition and the fake hardbacks help with that neurosis.

I don't like overly sexual scenes on the cover of a book. For instance, I used to really like the cover art on Linnea Sinclair's books. They had a sci-fi look about them that was appealing to me. Usually a representation of scene in the book when the female character being a bad ass (which is totally awesome and I eagerly read to find that scene and then reference back to the cover art over and over). Recently, the cover art was redone on all of her books. Now they are a translucent drawing of a make-out session with a little space ship near the bottom. It doesn't really do anything for me. Of course, that won't stop me from buying her books (because they are awesome), but I will certainly use my 'fake' hardback.

However, I do understand that sexual covers probably sell well. So, you do what you have to do, I guess.

Jessie:

Oh thank you SO much! Frost and Flame just came out in print and Im SOOO excited about it. the Tarot cards will be in print little by little, and the decks will be out for next years Con season...

S

Hit a Christian bookstore in your area and grab a few common sizes of bible covers. They come in a wide variety of materials and descriptions, they protect books very well, they fit paperbacks and hardbacks, and no one will *ever* guess what you're reading.

My local SF/F bookstore carries them, actually, ordered from a Christian distributor. I have four in different sizes and always use them on the bus, both to protect the book and to protect my reputation :-)

When Harry Potter 7 was coming out a popular website whose readers make humorous photoshop images made a series of book covers to print out so you didn't have to be known to be reading HP on the bus. They were hilarious; most had obvious references to the characters and pretended to be super-macho books about shark boxing or the benefits of penis reduction surgery. Great fun.

Thanks for the hardbacker.com mention! I need to order a passel of covers from them!

I do see covers that don't fit the book or characters or scenery. But then if it's NYC I heard they use same cover, just change it somewhat, to attract a reader due to genre. I have an author friend who writes the Art Hardin series (mystery/detective)who was upset as the cover of his third book was exactly one used on another detective novel author's one book, just colored in red.
And I have a cover for an eBook, Wedded Magic, that the wizard on it does not match the wizard in the story at all. My hero is not old at all.
Pamela K. Kinney, aka Sapphire Phelan

Speaking of awful covers - I hate the new covers for Mary Janice Davidson's Undead series. I love these books, but would never pick them up based on the new design. The old design perfectly conveyed the light and funny nature of this series.

Erin - I TOTALLY agree with you! What the *#$@ was she thinking?! The original covers did show that it was a series that was funny and not to be taken to seriously, which is exactly why I like them so much. This new cover is a big turn off. Glad to see I'm not alone!

They've changed the covers for the Undead series? I haven't seen the new one. I've seen the cover for Undead and Uneasy, which I thought was the new book, and it looks much the same.

Seth mentioned using a bible cover to hide your book - frankly I'd be more embarrassed doing that than leaving the cover open to all eyes.

Speaking of muscular men - as we were earlier - I just have to link you all up with one of the more hilarious and dreadful covers out there, for Fabio's first book, Pirate. Yes wrote and starred on the front cover! Isn't it a treat?