Yes, I’ve promised stories and lessons learned from the last three months of publishing drama with Dorchester–I’ve actually pitched the journey/adventure as a workshop (with my agent) to two different conferences so far. So, more to come soon.
But first. A reminder of how out-of-the-author’s-control so much of this industry is, just in case there was any misunderstanding about whether or not cover choice can substantially affect the saleability of a book.
I give you today’s visual learning tool…
This is the cover of the sexy, fabulous anthology I was asked to do with Vicki Lewis Thompson and Jade Lee, released domestically, January, 2009.
I had a blast writing my novella, Weekend Meltdown. It was sassy and current and an opportunity to dive into aspects of my creativity and style I hadn’t been able to play with in my family-oriented Superomances.
This cover, we were told, was supposed to draw readers to the emotionally-charged and, yes, hot content of our winter reads. FINALLY, I’d get to have something more than a cute, cuddling couple on the front of one of my books.
Eh-hem…the above is what the North American art department came up with for our bold adventure.
Makes me think of, I don’t know, finding a pair of socks to ward of the chill or something. Or asking the painfully young couple if their parents know they’re out past curfew. And the guy if he’d like a guest membership to my gym, because let’s face it, I could take him. And I’m not much bigger than the twee model posing beside him.
Not so much with the sexy.
This January, we’re being released in the UK, and THIS is what the British artist thought might sell across the pond.
Now, I don’t know. It’s early in the morning here. But, I just have to ask.
Which cover do YOU think will leap off shelves and into romance readers’ shopping carts? Which book would you think sales numbers would soar for?
Not that the authors were asked for more than cursory input into either choice.
And them’s the breaks in the NBA, unless you’re the quarterback and get final say on which plays to run…
Tags: Anna DeStefano, writing articles
I have to say, the Brit version screams at me that I must read this!
The first image doesn’t match the title, ‘Winter Heat’, IMO. Interesting comparison.
I’m not crazy about either of the choices, but if I had to choose it would be the second one. Will be curious to see the outcome.
Stay tuned–I won’t have royalty/sales info on the British release until fall ‘11… Another slow publishing reality you either learn to live with, or let the business side of this drive you nuts. Which I haven’t. Really. No, REALLY. I’m feeling MUCH better these days!
Ah yes, Cover Art. I have the book with cover number 1 on it. I think I might trade it in for cover number two. Just saying.
Cover Art is an interesting thing and I now have the cover artist POV. Oh, the things I’ve learned this past year and the mistakes I’ve made in covers. Some of the early ones were just horrible and they still show up on some sites even though I’ve changed them all. The hardest thing was learning how to take the input I was getting and how to turn that concept into a cover.
Much improved, Anna!!! I agree a cover makes all the difference. I just got a HOT one for my forthcoming April Blaze and it’s going to fly off the shelves… less because of my story, more for the mega-hot man I was lucky enough to snag for my cover art
. Readers are drawn to covers – me included!- no matter how much we think you can’t judge a book by a cover. So glad you’re going out in the UK with a nice one.
You AWLAYS get the hotties, Joanne! Blaze covers rock the sexy romance vibe. Which doesn’t play as well in a heart and family line like Superromance, but even there the production team is starting to steam up our guys and the couples’ poses to get someone to pick the book up and read the back cover!
Ha ha ha ha. I am so spoiled. Jenni did my cover and it is awesome. Love the blog. Thanks for sharing, and I can take him to LA Fitness for a week and there is no sign-up fee until January. Just sayin’.
Love the British cover!
I already have the covers of my 2 un-shopped manuscripts designed in detail in my mind. But I don’t know how much of a say a new author has in the design of a book cover.
Not much, I’m afraid. Don’t cling too tightly to those cover ideas, the titles themselves, or even what the hero and heroine look like. The packaging departments and your editorial staff have their eye on what will sell the book, and often that takes over once your contribution is through the revsion/edit stages and the book’s moved on to production…
ARRGH . . I love my book covers / titles / what the hero and heroine look like. But thanks for telling me, I’ll get all my pouting out of the way now.
Just part of the job. Sometimes, you just have to strap on yoru big girl panties and roll with it ;o)
Frankly, neither cover does it for me. The first is too cold and the other shows a bit of laughter. Nothing rich with passion in either. Heat, winter, hmm. Why not something in front of the fireplace? Not a couple of kids looking like they’re daring frostbite to hit. I know they’re in a hot tub, but only after closer inspection. Blue is not the colour for heat. It’s the colour for some, ahem, movies.
I’m with you, Barbara, on the blue. Though it’s actually my fave color, it doesn’t scream HOT or romance done this way. And it blended into the woodwork, when it was on the shelves–even spotlighted at the front of stores, because we had Vickie’s name on the cover.
The laughter is actually appropriate. This isn’t blazing hot stuff. Nowhere near erotica. My novella actually turned out to be more of a romp, with emotional undertones, so the laughter might be a good choice if it attracts British readers who wanted to go there, as well as somewhere hotter than the frozen hot tub used in the NA version.
I like the new cover a lot. It’s sexy.
the Brit cover definitely matches the book, it was fun…. I wouldn’t have taken the other off the shelf but for your name on the front!
Ah, Katt. You’re a sweetie for saying so.
Feeling groovy and loved here in Atlanta ;o)
I know that authors must hold their breaths until they get a copy of their book covers. The two here don’t either one say “hot” o me. I would like the second one better if they were not laughing; but you seem to say that laughter fits the story. Since book covers go a long way to drawing buyers maybe the folks who came up with these two will prove to know something that I don’t. LOL Best of luck and cross your fingers.
Sorry. I am NOT feeling the heat & it’s summer here in Australia.
I’m not thrilled with either cover, but I like the second one better. Like others, just having your name on the cover is enough for me to buy it! (Good thing, eh?)
I actually bought the book with the first cover and loved it. BUT I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the British cover. This one I would have bought for the cover alone.
Tami