 | 19 May 10 |
One question writers constantly get asked is: “Who designs your covers?” Most people are surprised to find out authors really have very little input when it comes to cover designs. It’s all about marketing. Naturally, there are exceptions, and it varies from publisher to publisher, and to some extent they take sales into consideration, especially if the publisher is trying to brand you–like Samhain has done with the Lorelei James Rough Rider books, keeping them all sepia toned, sexy cowboy themed with a western background and distinctive scrolls. With the Julie Collins books from Medallion Press, they sent me the covers and said: “This is it.” Period. No room for negotiation. No changes. The only thing that changed on my first cover for BLOOD TIES was the inclusion of the Clive Cussler blurb on the top, which was pretty much a no brainer from the marketing department. I was absolutely floored when Simon and Schuster sent me the cover for NO MERCY, because it was perfect to the point I asked if the art department at S&S was out in South Dakota snapping pics on Mercy’s ranch. When they sent me the cover for MERCY KILL, again, I was thrilled because it keeps that landscape theme going, while keeping it fresh, while keeping it obvious that the book is a mystery.
I’ll admit I don’t have the same type of “eye” that artists who specialize in visual arts are blessed with. When I get a cover art form to fill out for a book, I can tell them what I don’t want a lot easier than than what I do want. I have more input on the Lorelei James Rough Rider books, working directly with the cover artist because he sets up photo shoots with models, specifically for my sexy western themed books, which provides the books with unique images and a unique look, rather than stock photos.
Truthfully, I’ve been pretty lucky, in that I don’t have a cover that I hate.
You know where this is going, don’t you?
Yes, it finally happened. I got a cover that I absolutely LOATHE. It is hideous. I look at it and think WTF was the art department thinking? And when I expressed my displeasure to my agent and my editor, and they went back to the drawing board to fix it…the “reworked” cover I received wasn’t a bit different besides darkening up the sky and adding stripes to the guy’s shirt.
My biggest beef with this cover? It looks like it could be an inspirational romance. And let me tell you something, my contemporary EROTIC westerns are anything but sweet hand holding books where the bedroom door gets shut at the moment of truth. I kick that sucker wide open. So for a reader who’s never read a Lorelei James book…if they would pick this one up, they would be shocked, because neither the cover, nor the jacket copy, gives any indication that this is an erotic romance with no holes barred type of sex scenes.
So let’s dish on covers. Have you ever picked up a book, that you felt was misleading as far as content? If so, what did you do about it?
I’ll throw in a prize–for some lucky random commenter–I’ll let you choose your favorite cover of any of my Lorelei James backlist and I’ll send you a signed copy of that book!
© 2010, Lori G. Armstrong. All rights reserved.
Lori G. Armstrong left the firearms industry in 2000. Her first mystery novel, BLOOD TIES, published in 2005, was nominated in 2006 for a Shamus Award for Best First Novel by the Private Eye Writers of America. The second book in the Julie Collins mystery series, HALLOWED GROUND, released Nov. 2006, was nominated for a 2007 Shamus Award for Best Paperback Original, a Daphne du Maurier Award and won the 2007 WILLA Cather Literary Award for Best Original Softcover Fiction. SHALLOW GRAVE, released in Nov. 2007, was nominated for a 2008 High Plains Book Award, a Daphne du Maurier Award and was a finalist for the 2008 WILLA Cather Literary Award. The fourth book, SNOW BLIND, released in Oct. 2008, won the 2009 Shamus Award, from the Private Eye Writers of America, for Best Paperback Original. Lori is a proud fourth generation South Dakotan and lives in Rapid City with her family.
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by LoreleiJames.com » Blog Archive » Chance to win a signed Lorelei James book! May 19th, 2010 at 8:13 amThe old botice ripper covers where the guy looks like he’s on steroids and the woman always looked like a Barbie Doll, regardless of the descriptions of character in the books.
by ladyacct May 20th, 2010 at 2:46 pm[...] Cover Me Blog Post at MSW [...]
by Lori Armstrong » Blog Archive » Contest at Murder She Writes May 19th, 2010 at 8:16 amI normally read jacket copy, blurbs, or know the author. Being on the “inside” now, I realize how little control the author has–my springtime Montana mountains look like the Swiss alps in winter. I had one draft (thank goodness) where the heroine looked like a belly dancer.
by Terry Odell May 19th, 2010 at 8:17 amTerry – a belly dancer? At least you got that much changed
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 9:12 amOh my gosh, I know just how you feel! As an author I hate when the publisher comes up with a cover that fails to reflect what’s in the book! My first three books for St Martins Press had great covers but they gave the impression of a trilogy and they were very much romance type covers while the spine indicated “Fiction” rather than romantic suspense. Talk about confusing and frustrating! I feel your pain!
by Debra Webb May 19th, 2010 at 8:18 amThanks, Debra. Did they shelve your St. Martins books in the fiction section, rather than the romance section?
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 9:12 amI think it’s funny (and sometimes annoying) when the people on the cover look NOTHING like the characters in the book. I’m thinking of a bestselling romantic suspense in which it’s a shadowy silhouette of a woman with long, light-colored hair, but the heroine has short dark hair. It has always bugged me. Also, I find it amusing when the cover shows people in slinky evening gowns or guys with their neckties loosened… then you read the book and every scene is set on a ranch and the hero is constantly wearing jeans and his leather jacket.
I guess it all boils down to what images sell.
by Laura Griffin May 19th, 2010 at 8:44 amLaura, I’m having that problem, the guy on the cover is a cowboy, which fits, and his shirt is unbuttoned, which I’m okay with, but he looks like he’s…praying. And the background is identical to what you see on inspirational romance covers…
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 9:14 amThe cover jacket I hated the most was the one for Mary Balogh’s Slightly Dangerous. I didn’t want a cover jacket with a dark blue foil and some fancy embossed scrollwork and quizzing glass. I wanted to see what the mysterious, ice-cold, imperturable, sexy head of the family looked like! I wanted a base I could begin wiht and add upon as I went along. It was, for me, very sad.
However, as I had been anticipating this final book in the Bedwyn series, I read it anyway. In addition, the blurb was spot on, and the story was amazing, as expected. I also shed a couple of tears, which almost never happens.
by Insane Hussein May 19th, 2010 at 8:51 amBut you still bought the book and loved it because you knew you’d get a good story.
I don’t have the fan base that Mary B does, and if someone is looking for a book like Robyn Carr or Debbie Macomber, they’re going to be very angry that the cover and the jacket copy misled them.
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 9:16 amI like the cover for cowgirl up and ride best because AJ looks so sweet and innocent in the background. I think the story just fits the cover so well… Plus it’s my favorite
by Nicole S. May 19th, 2010 at 8:54 amNicole – the cover for Cowgirl Up is my favorite too in the series because it so looks like Cord and AJ and managed to capture their personalities too!
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 9:16 amI can think of 2 books where the covers were just “wrong.” Both were shifters stories. One was about a Tiger and they put a Cougar on the cover. The other was about a wolf and they put a grizzly bear on the cover. LOL! I was thinking “did anyone in the art dept actually READ the book or at least skim it?” LOL!
by Connie T May 19th, 2010 at 8:57 amAnd Connie, I wonder if the author complained and was told “too bad, so sad you’re stuck with it”
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 9:17 amI usually don’t judge a book by it’s cover, other than by looking at the author’s name. I tend to buy the authors I know and branch out to new authors slowly.
I remember the first time I saw a romance novel that was not a “bodice buster” cover. It was Jayne Castle’s Amaryllis, and on the cover was wait for it…an Amaryllis. I was thrilled, first because marketing got it right and the book stood out from all the other covers, and second because it was so different and refreshing. I guess over the years I have begun to think of the covers as their own entity that rarely have anything to do with the actual storyline. A few times you run across one like the Rough Riders where the cover really does match up with the stories, but most the time it seems like two random people on the cover in some sort of art scene. LOL Sometimes the hair color doesn’t even match the characters, which is sad really.
However, I agree with you, an erotic – or romantica book – should not have a cover that looks like an inspirational. That’s just opening up a can of worms that NO ONE needs. The genre already gets enough flack, does it really need more?
by Valerie Cozart May 19th, 2010 at 8:57 amExactly, Valerie! I don’t want to make readers mad who aren’t expecting the graphicness of the erotic part of the books.
On my Samhain books? We’re allowed to write a warning about sexual content, so honestly no one is surprised
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 9:19 amOh, Lori, I can sympathize. More than you can possibly know.
Covers should reflect content. But that is not the number one concern in publishing. Selling books is. Tell them why that cover will not sell books–all business.
by Allison Brennan May 19th, 2010 at 9:06 amThanks for the commiseration Allison, you’ve had some great covers.
And I loved having your quote on the back of No Mercy
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 9:20 amI’ve often chosen books based on the covers and usually that turns out pretty well in the end. Yet, there was one instance where I picked up a historical romance book at the library bc of it’s beautiful blue cover and it turned out to be the dullest – incoherent book I’ve ever read in my life. I was actually ashamed when I returned it that the librarian would actually think I’d read that nonsense. I love historical romances but when they’re bad they’re very bad. Half of what I love about historicals is the covers bc they sweep me away into a different time – help me get into the mindset of the story.
by Kali May 19th, 2010 at 9:10 amKali, I don’t read much historical romances, but I’ve heard grumbles from historical authors that they have even a harder time getting things changed on their covers that they don’t like.
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 9:28 amI don’t normally choose to read a book because of it’s cover. I start with the author, then the blurb. However, I do like, when reading a book that the cover does represent the characters like CUAR, RRR & AJU. With No Mercy it didn’t need to represent a character per se, as the land was a great part of your story and could be a character of it’s own. Mercy Kill cover – any chance for a peak, it’s not up at SS or amazon. ;D
by Michele Adams May 19th, 2010 at 9:14 amI know it’s not up, Michele, they haven’t given me the go ahead to share it yet, although the cover/blurb has already gone out in the S&S winter 2011 catalog.
I’m waiting to see what cover they put on the paperback edition of No Mercy…
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 9:22 amI have definitely come across misleading and/or unappealing covers. Strangely, I occasionally come across books’ UK editions and almost always prefer their covers to ours every time.
In my work, I actually have to deal with cover proofs. I had my first a few weeks ago and thought it was fantastic. I had to cross my fingers and hope the author liked it — and she did. We leave it open for author suggestions beforehand and so far, if the author’s made any suggestions (’cause not all of them do), they’ve turned out really great (my titles anyway). It’s a strange process, though, I have to admit.
by Becky LeJeune May 19th, 2010 at 9:22 amA very strange process, Becky. Just when I think I get it….alas, I’m thrown a serious curveball.
Congrats to you on getting a good report on your work!
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 9:29 amBlurbs are what usually annoy me. If it’s a bad cover I likely won’t even pick up the book unless it’s an author I already know and like. But it really annoys me when blurbs are misleading, making you think the story might be something other than what it is. Latest example: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. All sorts of blurbage lauding it as a thriller. It’s not a thriller. It’s a mystery novel. Somehow the involvement of a serial killer in the story makes it a thriller. Not. Makes me think some reviewers were just bandwagoning to get on the cover.
by jim duncan May 19th, 2010 at 9:22 amYou hit it RIGHT on, Jim. This book I’m talking about is 100% erotic romance. No wiggle room. So I hate that the cover is so misleading, especially when it doesn’t say anywhere it’s erotic romance. Yes, I’d love Linda Lael Miller’s readers to buy my books, and our books are similar only in that they’re contemporary books.
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 9:32 amWow! I count myself lucky that I love both my covers! The first one, I got what I got, but the cover artist at least read the MS info sheet I filled out. My only quibble is that the hero has a tattoo on his biceps on the cover and has none in the book. The second cover is perfect! The artist sent me a proof (not a normal thing!) and we worked on making the flames more intense, my only quibble. At my current publisher, cover blurbs are written by the author with input from the editor. That helps a lot!
As a reader, I admire a striking cover but it doesn’t make me buy a book any quicker. I check the blurb, the excerpt (if available) and likely will read a few pages if it’s a new to me author.
by Silver James May 19th, 2010 at 9:37 amSee, Silver, I’m exactly the opposite…a great cover will make me pick up a book — and you are lucky everything turned out so well for you and your covers!
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 10:21 amMy cover issues are different. When I started reading romance as a teen, it was all about hiding the covers from my parents. (To this day my first reaction on one of my parents entering the room I’m in is to hide the cover/book!) Which is why I still have warm, friendly feeling towards covers with flowers, castles et cetera.
Mostly these days I don’t care about the cover so much, as other than my parents, the only people I hide clinch and man titty covers are the school kids who get on my Friday bus.
by ms bookjunkie May 19th, 2010 at 10:01 amJust adding that while the covers for my auto-buy authors don’t matter (as I’m going to buy the book anyway), when I’m considering a new-to-me author, the cover does have some say in whether I pick up the book to check out the back, or skip over it.
by ms bookjunkie May 19th, 2010 at 10:09 amThat’s my point, my books are auto buy for people who’ve already read me…but for the new audience I’m trying to find, I want to make sure the cover is representative of what I write.
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 10:23 amYes, I’ve had quite a few people tell me they couldn’t read Rode Hard, Put Up Wet in public!
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 11:13 amSometimes I do pick up a book by the cover and I am sad to know that I might miss out on a great book like yours because I thought it might be too sweet for me.
by Amanda May 19th, 2010 at 10:09 amAmanda — I’m afraid people will see sweet, want sweet…and be shocked when it ain’t sweet
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 10:24 amGosh I hate it that they did this to one of your books!
I don’t want to add to your angst but the truth is that I would not buy a book that appeared to have a religious/inspirational ‘message’. Many authors skip around from genre to genre so even if I recognized the author’s name I would still walk away from it.
And I find that the blurbs on the back are often as misleading as the cover art. With money as tight as it is for most of us it doesn’t make sense to take a risk with a chuck of the book budget.
You have every right to be hopping mad and if letters written to someone would help, please let me know.
by Donna May 19th, 2010 at 10:37 amAw thanks, Donna, for volunteering to point them in the right direction!
As much as I love the blurb for the book, and don’t want to change it, it doesn’t scream erotic romance either. So I think the cover should reflect it.
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 11:14 amI’ve picked up many books based on covers. I think covers are more important on a subliminal level than people realize. Even back cover copy comes second because people have to pick up the book first to read the copy.
I have two covers/titles I in my back list I don’t like. I wish I’d had the good sense then to express my reservations.
I do love my Magic covers though.
Once,years ago, I was in Barnes and Nobles specifically looking for cozy like mysteries with some romance in them. I found a hardcover I love–beachy scene, very romantic and sensual…I was half way to the checkout stand before I realized it was TWO MEN on the cover. My sister and I laughed so hard–I’d been so distracted by the sight of Muscles on the Beach, I hadn’t quite realized I had a MM mystery-romance in my hand. It just struck me as funny.
I always wished I bought that book. I put it back that day because it wasn’t what I was specifically looking for.
I think I have wandered way off topic…LOL…just another day in Jen’s World.
by Jen Lyon May 19th, 2010 at 10:37 amAh, mesmerized by the man lovin’ — now I wish you would’ve bought it too, Jen, then you could tell me the title, because I do love male/male romance stories.
So did you dislike your covers at the time? Or just now, going back when you have other covers to compare them to?
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 11:16 amHey Lori, I didn’t love the cover/title packages at the time. In one case, my editor Kate Duffy and sales were so excited I figured I was wrong. In the last case, I had reached a point where I knew it was time for a change for me.
I should have bought that book. I’m sure I would have read it. I just happened to be doing some specific market research and it didn’t fit what I was looking for.
by Jen Lyon May 19th, 2010 at 11:53 amThat’s the thing, Jen…in our gut we think we’re right and it’s easy to get swept up in someone else’s vision and to think, Hey, maybe *we’re* wrong
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 2:55 pmSorry to hear you hate the cover for one of your books.
by Moran May 19th, 2010 at 10:40 amI do think the cover should reflect the content of the story and not mislead the readers into thinking they are going to read a different story just because of the cover.
I also hate it when the cover is nothing like the hero and heroine in the story- the hero has black hair and the cover has a blond guy- I just don’t get it!
I guess I must be the squeaky wheel, because I definitely point out when the models on the cover don’t fit the characters in the book. I was really lucky, in the cover for Raising Kane, that the artist specifically picked out the models for that cover. The female model was blonde in real life, but the artist darkened her hair, making her into a redhead
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 11:18 amI have been so lucky with my covers so far – 3 of them, and I know that some day I’ll be going through this, but for now I love everything the publishers have done for me. On one book they changed the eye color of the heroine. I have heard of this happening before, to the great frustration of the author, but in my case they told me they’d change it if I wanted, but they felt it made for a stronger cover and would I consider changing the text? It was such a striking cover I agreed in an instant.
by sophie littlefield May 19th, 2010 at 10:40 amI agree that lots of time publishers/marketing departments know what sells, and yes, I do listen to them. If this was even remotely close to what fit the story, I probably wouldn’t complain!
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 11:19 amI research a new author before I buy one of their books. I want to know what kind of book they write before I pay the price for the book. I have (years ago) got a book that the cover and back made the book sound great and it was a flop. The only time I don’t pay that much attention to the cover is when I know the author and love their books.
by Julie Swaney May 19th, 2010 at 10:58 amSee, Julie, you are the person I’m trying to reach, trying to tempt into giving the book a shot. If the cover doesn’t grab you, and you’ve never heard of me, you’ll spend your money on some other book…
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 11:21 amI love all the Rough Rider covers but my favorite is CUAR. Cord and AJ are my favorites and the cover is great at showing us them.
by Rhonda Wolf May 19th, 2010 at 10:58 amHey Rhonda! I know you’re a big Cord and AJ fan, and I’m still thrilled with that cover
Thanks for stopping by!
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 11:20 amI PICK OUT BOOKS BY THEIR COVERS SO I AM REALLY PICKY. I HATE IT WHEN THEY MODELS ON THE COVERS THAT DO NOT RESEMBLE THE CHARACTERS IN THE BOOK. IF THE LEADING MAN HAS BLACK HAIR DON’T PUT A BLONDE ON THE COVER. I HAVE PICKED UP BOOKS WHERE THE MAN WAS TO BE NATIVE AMERICAN AND THE GUY ON THE COVER WAS PASTY WHITE. WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!
by DESIREE May 19th, 2010 at 11:01 amDesiree – that wrong ethnic stuff really bugs me too…
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 11:21 amThat is one of my big problems with Carnal Sin’s cover! Not only did they put a standard PNR cover on it, but Rafe has collar-length black hair and is Irish through and through. That’s not an Irish chin on that man.
Please know that we as authors have little to no say on our covers. I get a cover and I can usually get minor fixes, but the basic cover design never changes. I did get them to give the guy on CS a knife, though.
by Allison Brennan May 19th, 2010 at 6:38 pmI don’t buy books by their covers, but it sure helps when the covers reflect the stories. I do remember picking up a playful, pastel cover whose images suggested a lighthearted contemporary, maybe a romp! It was a little disappointing/dismaying to find instead a pretty serious suspense (yes, romantic, but SUSPENSE!)… So the covers help set my expectations, and I want them properly set, please!
by Fedora May 19th, 2010 at 11:23 amWell, Fedora, you’d be mad if you picked up this book! The cover does have those pastel tones and a pastoral scene. Pretty, but not an accurate depiction of what’s inside the cover.
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 11:37 amwell, I usually pick up a book based on its cover if I don’t already have a book in mine and I feel like I’m disappointed when i just go by the cover because sometimes it just doesn’t fit the book. I can’t think of one right now but I do know that I love Nalini Singh’s covers and I lover your’s Lorelei. I can’t wait to read Raising Kane and Corralled. I love those covers.
by Himeko May 19th, 2010 at 11:29 amHimeko, that’s probably why I’m so upset, those other covers you mentioned are great!
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 11:37 amI’ve picked up more books then I can tell you by the beautiful cover only to have it be dull, boring and heading to the donation bag but quick. The covers can fool one into thinking its one thing, rather then what it really is. But there is some really beautiful covers. The colors are amazing, the pictures professional, nothing like the old bodice rippers. Although, they were good for the times.
by Lee May 19th, 2010 at 11:51 amI don’t even mind some of the bodice rippers, because they were ALL THAT at the time. The cool thing about covers is we can see how they evolve over the years. Remember when cartoon covers were all the rage?
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 2:56 pmHey Lori,
I understand your concerns…and unfortunately I think you will get a lot of feedback from disgruntled readers since the publisher didn’t indicate anywhere on the jacket copy that it is an erotic romance. The readers won’t go back on the publisher, but the author.
It’s unfortunate, but look at it this way…they say that no press is bad press. And when someone posts a review or makes a comment online at how appalled they were by the amount of sex in the book, that may be exactly what it takes for someone who was interested in it enough to read reviews to buy it despite the non sexy cover.
I love a good cover, even if it doesn’t represent the book as much as I think it should. It’s all about attracting the reader to pick it up and take a closer look. What I won’t forgive a publisher for is when the they purposefully misrepresents the book in the blurb, or says it’s “x” genre because that is what is currently selling, when it is really a “y” genre book. That I think is deceptive. I hate it when they do that more than when the cover doesn’t represent the book.
I’m sorry they didn’t listen more to your concerns, but you never know. A reader who has never read it before, might be surprised at how much they enjoy the book because you are such a talented writer!
by Booklover1335 May 19th, 2010 at 11:59 amWe’re still in negotiations, but I may very well be stuck with it…
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 2:58 pmI must confess–I don’t like book covers very much, other than for the obvious practical reason. They too frequently misrepresent the characters or plot of the book. I like cover blurbs by authors I read; that’s interesting information toward a purchase decision. But I do understand the cover functions like advertising for the book and I so don’t expect much. I’ve never bought a book because of an “appealing” cover. I empathize with your plight, Lori, since your cover issue sounds like it could lead to some upset purchasers. Good luck working it out all.
by GSM May 19th, 2010 at 12:09 pmThanks, I hope so too
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 2:58 pmHi Lori,
by Carol L. May 19th, 2010 at 12:21 pmOnce I know an Author I’ll go to their site to keep up on their next release so I don’t have to depend on the often misleading blurbs or covers. That’s how I know what their stories are all about. But I am often drawn to a book by it’s cover and hope for the best but I’ll tell you that I don’t have a problem writing to them to tell them they screwed up. Not that it’ll matter to them but it’s still worth letting them know.:)Have to read the Rough Riders for sure though.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
Carol, just as long as you let the publisher know and don’t blame the author, I’m all for it!
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 2:59 pmI love my books from cover to cover and everything in-between! For me, the cover image and back blurb must match the character descriptions and story line detail. A terrible cover and misleading back blurb can hurt a great book, and my heart goes out to the hapless author who gets stuck with no chance to “fix it”! I recently read a very good book, which I ordered online due to great reviews. When I got the book, it had a generic historical romance cover. The lady on the cover did not match the character’s description, especially her best feature… her big, blue, expressive eyes! The cover model had very dark eyes. The back blurb was even worse–it had incorrect information and really did nothing to promote the great read inside! Stick to your guns, Lori! You know what’s right for you!
by Virginia C May 19th, 2010 at 12:29 pmThanks Virginia, and to some extent I can forgive the “the character didn’t look like this” artwork oversight…but when a book looks one way, but that’s not the content…well, look out!
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 3:00 pmthe cover is normally the first thing that will draw me unless i’m already looking for a specific cover and given i’m a sucker for a (half) naked cowboy, those i see first but i do read the blurb if it’s an author i’m not familiar with. Now one of yours, i don’t have to read the blurb, i just know it’ll be good !!!
by Krista May 19th, 2010 at 12:45 pmThanks Krista! But can you imagine the look on a reader’s face who doesn’t know I write erotic when they get to that first threesome scene?
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 3:02 pmoh now wouldn’t that be a shocker, woohoo !!! lol
by Krista Plott May 19th, 2010 at 3:38 pmYeah, I just don’t want them to contact *me* afterward!
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 6:01 pmI don’t really have anything to say on the matter, I’m not a writer, and I read mostly e-books, and go for authors I already know, so, honestly, I not always look at the covers.
But, this: “no holes barred type of sex scenes.” totally made me rotflmao. Something I’d be WAY too SHY to buy for myself (and embarrassed my mom would see it and ask: “WHAT is that that you’re reading?”,am probably too innocent to read, but, hey, if I was the lucky commenter who won it, I’d have a pretty good excuse to read.
by Barbie May 19th, 2010 at 1:11 pmBarbie, I actually stole that phrase from the back of my Rough Riders book…and it’s true
— when people buy them in ebook form and download them, no one knows what they’re reading, which is a godsend to people who want their reading preferences…private
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 3:03 pmI have bought many books just by the cover and have been disappointed. Now I read the back cover and then the first chapter to see if I really want to buy and to be sure I have not already read the book.
I have not read any of your books but do have on my wish list.
by misskallie2000 May 19th, 2010 at 1:30 pmCongrats on your latest release.
Thanks Miss Kallie for stopping by
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 3:04 pmMy friend gave me a book that she had recently finished. She said she really enjoyed it and wanted me to read it. Well the cover was awful. It was cartoonish and blah. The book was really good. And the love scenes in the book did not match the childish cover at all.
by Bethie May 19th, 2010 at 2:13 pmBethie, those cartoon covers were all the rage about 8 or so years ago, and I loved them, but now they look…dated.
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 3:04 pmyou know that saying…’don’t judge a book by its cover”? well i do unless i know who the author is. it’s great that some publishers are limiting to body images since you can use your imagination on how you want the face to look.
by Chin May 19th, 2010 at 2:14 pmwin or lose, i try to collect all of your books.
Chin, I often wonder what would happen if everyone had the same brown wrapper type of cover, what books would sell best? Because I do think a lot of people buy based on a cover.
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 3:06 pmLori, I hope they scrap that cover and start over!
I love covers. A cover can and does often draw me to a book, it also can steer me clear of it. I’m always perplexed by misleading cover art. Why? What does it accomplish except making the author and the consumer frustrated?
by Karin Tabke May 19th, 2010 at 2:20 pmGrumble, grumble, Karin. We’ll see. And you’re dead on. I did bring up the “disappointed and pissed off consumer” point of view in our cover discussion today…
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 3:07 pmHey Lori,
I hope the cover trouble resolves itself – I’m always surprised to hear how little input authors have over their covers…I mean in my mind…it’s a simple calculation…whoever writes the book should have the great input as to the direction of that cover…there is always room for compromise and negotiation and if the publisher needs it to go a certain direction…sure make the topic a subject to debate but to have no creative control of over the final outcome of a cover is rather unfair I think to the author.
As for books with covers that have been misleading…well as much a great cover is appreciated…I’m the odd reader who actually bases all her purchase decision based on the back cover…give me a strong blurb and the book is a sell for me.
by Anna Shah Hoque May 19th, 2010 at 2:28 pmAnna, I know an author who’s an artist and her covers are great. I could never do that, however.
I’m a back blurb reader too, but even sometimes that can’t stop me from getting the wrong type of book.
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 3:10 pmI’ve never bought a book based on its cover. I have been duped by a book’s description before. The book was advertised as a romantic suspense, but there was no romance and there was no HEA.
by Jane May 19th, 2010 at 2:38 pmJane, now that would annoy me. And the marketing dept. should’ve listed it as women’s fiction or something else…
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 3:11 pmI have seen a lot of books that the covers don’t match the stories, but I usually read the blurp on the back! And I go with a lot of authors I have heard about on the blogs.
by Quilt Lady May 19th, 2010 at 2:40 pmWhich is cool, that you’re savvy enough to surf online. Lots of people only find book through their local bookstores and grocery stores and big box stores…so they’re at the mercy of the cover gods..
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 3:12 pmWhen looking at books, unless I know the author the cover will sell me on the book. With Cowgirl Up, the cover was great and when reading the book the cover definately hit AJ and Cord.
by Shelly Wegand May 19th, 2010 at 2:48 pmHey Shelly, Cowgirl Up is the book most mentioned as the most accurate depiction of the characters
by Lori G. Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 3:13 pmI’ve always cared more about excellent reviews for a book and never really paid much attention to book covers!
by etirv May 19th, 2010 at 4:03 pmAnd that’s the way it should be..but not everyone is as savvy as you and reads the reviews. Sigh.
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 5:51 pmYes! ALL. THE. TIME! I, personally, just scratch my head while looking at the book curiously after I’m done reading. But for the author? It must really suck. I think the people who design the covers should at least read the books to get a feel of it before designing the cover. But that’s just me.
by Chelsea B. May 19th, 2010 at 4:04 pmChelsea, I think they outsource some of the artwork, and when the artist is looking at doing…maybe 20 or more covers a month? They don’t have time to read all of them, sadly.
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 5:52 pmso excited! amazing author!
by Tabatha May 19th, 2010 at 4:04 pmAw, thanks, Tabatha!
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 5:54 pmHi,
I don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
I have a book that doesn’t match the cover picture . In the story there are 3 men. An older man and his younger twin brothers. The cover has twins boys and their young brother. Funny cos the oldest is suppost to be taller.
I read the back cover first and to see what genre it is.
Cherylnne
by Cherylnne Jurgens May 19th, 2010 at 4:19 pmIt can be a total crapshoot, so I’m grateful to readers like you who *do* pay attention to the back blurb…
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 5:57 pmMy main gripe about book covers is when the same image is constantly used. This confuses me and it is kind of like cheating the book itself out of getting special attention because someone might be buying it because it reminds them of the work of another.
by Leni May 19th, 2010 at 5:25 pmLeni, I have a stock image on my Rough Rider book Rough, Raw and Ready, that was used…on another Samhain book. Granted, they flipped the image and used it full size instead of a close up, but it bugged the crap out of me too. But I lived with it, because the picture so accurately fits the characters and situation in that book.
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 5:56 pmI always pick up books by the covers unless it’s by an auto buy author of mine. I do read the blurbs but I don’t usually pick up a book to read about it unless it looks interesting. Also at my B&N, they have the shelves set up so that some books are facing out to see the covers. That’s how I look for books. Sometimes have to go by titles b/c of the way they are facing. If it sounds good, pull it out and look at the hopefully cool cover and blurb. Sometimes disappointed, others not so much. In all, has to look good and sound good thanks to the cover, title, and blurb. Hate when I see a book that looks neat but the blurb doesn’t go with it.
by Alicia L. May 19th, 2010 at 5:52 pmAlicia, I think publishers have done that a lot with jumping on the Twilight bandwagon, doing the single flower to entice readers to pick up the book because it reminds them of Twilight.
by Lori Armstrong May 19th, 2010 at 6:00 pmI don’t really pay attention to covers anymore. About 20 years ago, it used to bug me that the scene on the covers of many books rarely seemed to have much (or anything) to do with the story.
by chey May 19th, 2010 at 7:01 pmChey, I do think covers have evolved!
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 7:22 amMy techniques are crazy when I go out to pick a new book. As a former science geek here’s how it goes…I disect it like one would do with a science project. I examine the evidence;I check it out from cover to cover, a reader has to like what they see. I probe by reading the first chapter and random one through out to see if it reads well and if it’s easy to follow. I summerize my findings; well, you can easily guess this one. It’s either a yey or a nay! Lol! You get the jest!
by Lisa G. May 19th, 2010 at 9:26 pmLisa, that’s a really great way to take a sample — gotta love science geeks
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 7:23 amI personally don’t pick up a book because of the cover. Since most of the books I read are electronic books I only see the cover once when I start the book and it’s in black and white (more like grayish) so I wouldn’t be able to tell really if the hair color was off. What annoys me is when the blurb makes the book sound really good and I start reading the book and it sucks. Whoever wrote the blurb should have written the whole book!
Laura
by Laura May 19th, 2010 at 9:34 pmLaura, it’s funny you say that, for one book, I don’t remember which one, I had a great blurb, and I told my editor…hey, do you think the blurb writer could finish the book for me?
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 7:24 amI read a book that had a great cover and blurb sounded good but the book was such a let down…sad at end…one of the main charachters in the relationship DIED. I vowed never to read her again. I also have read some really amazing books that had the worst cover ever.
by foretta May 19th, 2010 at 9:39 pmForetta, sounds like they were misleading you into thinking it was a romance, when it’s not. I would’ve been mad too.
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 7:25 amI am not sure how much say an author has over their covers but I think that authors should have final say in what a cover should look like. I hate when book covers are totally wrong. I read one where the character has blond hair and on the front it was dark brown. Hate that! I try to never look at the cover again when it’s wrong.
by carol b May 19th, 2010 at 9:44 pmCarol, I’d really like to know in those instances, if the author backed down because they were told…this is the way it is.
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 7:27 amOne of my favorite series is the Malory series by Johanny Lindsey. I have recently bought the books with new covers (no pic) because originally she used the same male model for a few of the books. Hello like we wouldn’t notice it was the same guy as different characters in the same SERIES. LOL BUT I still LOVE the series!!!
by Patti May 19th, 2010 at 9:47 pmPatti, for a number of years, the Fabio years, he was on every cover, with hair every color of the rainbow. I’m like…he’s a distinctive guy, don’t the marketing people think readers will notice that?
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 7:26 amWhen I read books that have horrible pics on the front I try to not look at it agian. I love covers where you can’t really see the faces.
by Terri Lee May 19th, 2010 at 9:48 pmTerri, when we first started the Rough Riders series, I told the artist I didn’t want faces. So some have faces, some don’t. I like the variety.
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 7:30 amHmmmm what do with bad covers. Well I will admit that I do sometimes read a books blurb because of the pic. I also sometimes don’t read the blurb simply because of the cover. I don’t really like covers that look anamated or poorly drawn, perfer photos. Once a cover was so bad and I loved the book so much I cut a picture out and taped it to the front so I wouldn’t have to ever look at it again. LOL
by Tammy B May 19th, 2010 at 9:53 pmTammy, now that is creative, putting your own cover on it!
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 7:31 amI think that was Fabio on those covers, Patti. He was on a lot of her original covers. Probably the most popular male cover model during that period.
by Valerie Cozart May 19th, 2010 at 10:06 pmYep. Fabio. He really was the perfect historical romance hero, IMHO
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 7:31 amI do tend to pick up and read the back cover of a book if I like the picture on the front but usually this does not influence if I buy a book. The cover doesn’t affect my auto-buy authors, one of which is you, but I understand why you want your cover to reflect the content of the book. Some of the e-books I buy have terrible covers! I think Samhain’s are the best covers, yours in particular!
by Angie Malone May 20th, 2010 at 12:04 amThanks Angie, and thanks for popping over to comment
Ebook publishers have really stepped up their game as far as covers, and that’s good for everyone, readers and authors alike.
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 7:33 amI guess I’ve never really thought about a bad cover. I really like the rough riders series covers. But a bad cover? I guess I can’t pick one. Sorry. I always tend to read the back cover, to see if I’m interested and look at the front cover to see if there’s horses or a cowboy on it. As you know, I’m a western girl and like to read western type books, oh, I’ll read other, but I’m sort of picky.
by Tiss May 20th, 2010 at 12:14 amNothing wrong with being picky, Tiss. I’ll admit I’m drawn to covers with cowboys on them every damn time!
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 7:34 amHello Miss Lori,
by Zina May 20th, 2010 at 12:40 amI like covers to represent the books, sometimes just a senic picture does it, esp. if its set like Wyoming but if it’s about say sexy vamps or shapeshifters orwhatever I like to see some representation of them as a base for my minds eye as the story unfolds.
Zina
Zina, I have particular fondness for landscape covers, especially for mysteries.
One of the things I love about covers in recent years, are the ones with the guys with tattoos on all sorts of…interesting places on their bodies
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 7:35 amMiss Lori,
by Zina May 21st, 2010 at 10:37 pmHHHMM, can you share the titles, it sounds very interesting.
Zina
I’ve never picked a book BECAUSE of its cover. so i’ve never experienced the misleading.
usually, i read the blurbs on the back cover, some praises on front if any..then i pick that book and buy it.
by Mariska May 20th, 2010 at 3:16 amMariska, it’s interesting how many books I’ve bought because I admire the author who gave the blurb about the book.
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 7:36 amI never realized that authors don’t have a lot of input in covers for their books. I love to browse in the bookstore. If a book catches my eye I’ll read the cover and even a random paragraph or two to see if I might enjoy the story.
I really dislike when the cover doesn’t reflect some aspect of the story. One of my favortie authors has a book where the heroine is rubenesque. However, the woman on the cover is skinny. While I enjoyed the story, the cover stinks. The author mentioned how disappointed she was, but she couldn’t do anything about it. It’s really unfortunate when the cover art is so off. However, it won’t keep me from reading my favorite authors or exploring new ones.
by savonna May 20th, 2010 at 5:10 amSavonna, it’s too bad that the author wasn’t able to get an accurate depiction, because not all girls are skinny rails and I think it might’ve sold more books.
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 7:38 amI’ve picked up a couple of books that are nothing like what the blurb says and I’ve got a lot of books that the cover doesn’t match the story. If it’s a good story I’ll read it anyway but if I can’t get into the book it goes into my try again later stack and if I can’t ever get into it I put it in my give away book or just take it to work and see if anyone wants it. When I’m reading a book and the cover doesn’t match what the characters look like it gets on my nerves but I read it anywasy.
by Sherry S. May 20th, 2010 at 9:46 amAt least you’re finding something positive to do with them, Sherry!
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 6:30 pmI love covers and they are usually what attract me to the books. However, if it is an author I like, I would buy the book regardless of the cover since I already know her work. It is nice though if the cover matches the story in the book.
by Tamsyn T. May 20th, 2010 at 10:19 amMe too
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 6:31 pmI tend to find most of my books online, i read reviews and readers recommendations on writers i havent read before, but i have found that i can be put off sometimes by the cover and blurbs but they dont affect any books published by the authors i do really like, once i read one book by an author and find i really like their writting style i then find myself reading nearly every book they write
by Fiona Trickett May 20th, 2010 at 6:09 pmThat’s why having an accessible backlist is so important to authors, Fiona, we love it when readers discover us
by Lori Armstrong May 20th, 2010 at 6:31 pmI mostly read m/m romance and the covers “aint” bad…*grin* but, it is deceptive when they put 2 guys on the cover and it end up being an m/f story with m/f/m menage in it…so I understand the frustration of the other commentors. I have been readin romance a LONGGGG time and the covers have gone thru alotta changes in all those years. The worst were the flower covers….I just hated those! *grin* btw the Lorelei books I never judge by the cover I just read them….thanks for the great reads! Hope I am not too late for the contest!
jo
by jo May 20th, 2010 at 7:33 pmThanks for taking the time to comment, Jo, and I agree, there are some really great, really hot covers in m/m romance.
I’m not so crazy about the flower covers either
by Lori Armstrong May 21st, 2010 at 7:34 amI Feel Julie Garwood’S Buchanan Series Book Covers Do Nothing To Show What The Books Are About. ALthough I LOVED The Books In The Series I Felt The Covers Did Nothing To Represent The Awesome Stories That Were Contained In The Pages.
by Raquel Vega-Grieder May 20th, 2010 at 7:59 pmI haven’t read that series, Raquel, and I’m glad the crappy covers didn’t keep you from the series
by Lori Armstrong May 21st, 2010 at 7:35 amI don’t pay too much attention to covers (unless of course there is some serious man candy going on). This is even more so since I got a Kindle last year. First the story synopsis has to grab my attention, and then I check out reader reviews. If too many people didn’t like it, I skip it. I make exceptions on favorite authors though!
by kris gilson May 21st, 2010 at 7:49 amI’m guilty of that too, Kris. If more than 70% of the reviews are bad…I skip the book.
by Lori Armstrong May 21st, 2010 at 9:03 amI usually find that the book and the cover are unrelated. I have read many of books that the cover looked like junk and therefore read nice-looking books and was disappointed to say the least. I usually read an excerpt and the back and that is how I choose.
by Candace Johnson May 22nd, 2010 at 5:26 pmThanks for stopping by, Candace
by Lori Armstrong May 23rd, 2010 at 8:49 amI will never forget when I purchased a paperback by a new author Lisa Valdez titled Passion. It looked like your typical historical romance….but….WOW….was I in for a surprise!!! The book was probably one of the hottest books I’d ever read and set me to searching for more of the same….which lead to Robin Schone, Lora Leigh and Lorelei James….Hehehe. Needless to say, it’s been a fun ride!!!
by Mitzi H. May 22nd, 2010 at 6:30 pmThat’s a great story, Mitzi, I love to hear how people find the Lorelei books!
by Lori Armstrong May 23rd, 2010 at 8:50 ami have not i read only the authors i like
by kh May 23rd, 2010 at 1:33 amThat’s one way to always be ensured of a good read…
by Lori Armstrong May 23rd, 2010 at 8:50 amMostly I read books from my favorite authours. Sure I read others too but then I am picking by the blurb and of course the cover. I think when I’m reading an erotic romance novel or whatever, the cover has to fit with the story.
by Sabine May 23rd, 2010 at 10:39 amI love yummy sexy male skin at the cover when it’s all about the story… Please, no photos of flowers because we still know the stuff with the birds and the flowers. And please don’t tell you don’t expect hot sex when there’s a (half) naked couple at the cover, no one would believe it.
And man, I love your Lorelei James book covers. The first one I only bought because of the cover and then the next books got in my hands very soon
I usually keep up with my favorite authors and the series. I know when a new one is coming out so if the cover is not what I expect, I still buy it anyways. So never fear, I believe we will all grab your books like we always do!! I have picked up books before at the store and after looking at the cover and then reading the back, I had to turn the book over and look at the cover again because they did not really match.
by Paige Purnell May 24th, 2010 at 1:22 pm