I'm In Love With That Cover

I think I've always been easy going when it comes to accepting cover art. So far, I've only said no to one and it was one I commissioned, not one my publisher had made.

I figure the publishers and cover artists know more about marketing than I do, even though I try to educate myself about it. So although I'm not in love with covers where heads are cut off, I accept them as I hear they sell well. One of my best sellers shows a man's naked torso with no head.

Still, when I'm the buyer I'm attracted to much different covers.

I like to see people with heads and attractive faces. I'll admit I love bodice rippers.

I like covers with bright color and interesting scenery.

Here are a few of my favorite covers out my books.

First is "Make-Believe Lover". I love the dragon, the embrace, and the awesome blues.

I also love the cover for "Civil Affairs". It looks so much like the Biloxi beach I remember, it takes me back in time to a really wonderful place in my life.

Even though the cover for "The Perfect Gift" cuts off heads, I love how it's gift wrapped.

I like the vibrant colours in the next two covers as well.

and

What attracts you to a cover?

What colors do you like on covers?

I like mixtures of color, when one fades into another. That's why I like the first two and last so well.

Although I usually choose books based on the blurb, a really awesome cover will catch my eye.

The Cover Gods Have Been Busy

I've been blessed by the cover art gods. Not just with one new cover, but three.

I came home from Black Friday shopping today to find this gem in my mail box.

"Crazy In Love" is a Lust Bite (for those of you unfamiliar with what a "Lust Bite" is, it is TEB's short stories) that will be released in March 2010. Lust Bite covers are all the same - one for M/F and a different one for M/M. We authors don't get a say for Lust Bite covers like we do for covers of novels and novelettes. Luckily, TEB always has beautiful covers and I think this one is gorgeous.

The next cover is for "Pirate's Booty" a short MMF which will be released by Ellora's Cave December 9th. Again I'm pleased with the cover.I love the colors.

The last cover I'm going to show today belongs to "Take A Chance" which is a free story I wrote for The Long and Short Reviews. I didn't expect to have a unique cover made for a free story, but I'm thrilled that LASR made a cover and a beautiful one at that.

This Thanksgiving themed story is available now for your reading pleasure at: http://longandshortarchives.blogspot.com/2009/11/take-chance-by-ashley-ladd.html

 

It's more usual that I am asked for input on my covers. When one of my stories is accepted for publication, before the final contract is even sent, I must fill out the cover art request and return it.

These requests ask specific questions such as:

"What is the book's title?"

"Is this book part of a series? If yes, what is the series name?"

"Describe the heroine."

"Describe the hero."

"What do you want shown on your cover?"

"Is there anything you don't want shown on your cover?"

"Give a brief cover blurb that will hook your reader and make them want to buy your book."

"Tell us about the book. What is it about?" *Sometimes an excerpt is requested.

Although the cover art gods are good, sometimes outstanding, they aren't mind readers. Descriptions need to be in-depth. Vague descriptions such as "tall, dark and handsome" for the hero doesn't help the cover artist. For instance, you might envision this for "tall, dark and handsome":

But if you neglect to mention skin tone, age, build, length of hair, identifying marks such as tattoos, facial hair, and clothing style your cover artist might envision this:

Or this:

 

 Whereas the second two pictures are of very handsome men, they may look nothing like the hero described in length inside your book leaving your readers to suspend belief, if they can.

The same is true for description of the scenery. Sometimes a little information is more dangerous than no information. If you have a story set in South Florida and neglect to tell the cover artist, especially if they know it is Christmas or winter-themed, you're at risk to get this on your cover:

Instead of this:

 

Or this:

They evoke very different characters and images, don't they?

I've been blessed. Most of my covers are gorgeous. One day I'd like to have oil paintings made of several to hang in my house. At the very least I'd like to frame large poster size images. Only a couple times did I get a blonde when it should have been a brunette character, or a short-haired character when the character's hair should have been long.

Usually when a mistake like this happens most publishers are willing to fix it if you ask nicely. However, cover artists are busy people and I'm sure it's not always easy to change a finished cover, so be as precise as possible when you make your first request.

Recent posts you might like to read:

Nanowrimo Thoughts 

To Nano Or Not To Nano - That Is The Question

Why You Should Consider Library Booksignings

Make Sure Pretentious Words Don't Turn Off Your Readers

Are You Writing Me Into Your Book?

Dont Give Up Too Early

Must Write Must Write Must Write!!!


You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Book Cover Request Forms - Authors Really Get A Vote On Their Cover Art

Myths have circled the romance writing world since I began writing back in the Stone Age.

They include things such as authors don't get a say what their book's title is, what their cover art is, romance writers always get more sex than the average mortal...

Well, we hope the third is true for sure even if we don't like to be leered at by sleazy men.

A lot of things have changed since I first began writing. For one, epublishing arrived and even the big boys are playing now.

Two things I leaned early on: author titles usually stay with their books and authors get a say in their cover art. That is not to say ALWAYS.

When I submitted my first two or three books I

didn't think titles mattered, that no matter what I named my books, the publisher would change their names. Guess what? The publisher didn't change them even though I wish they would have. Now, I have to be more careful naming my books. :)

All of my publishers have asked my opinion regarding cover art for my books. That is not to say I always get my wish. That is either because I h

ad crappy ideas or maybe I didn't express myself well enough, or because the artist had a better idea.

I go with the flow when it comes to titles and

covers. I figure the publisher knows best and even if for some reason they don't, the publisher still owns the company, not me.

Just in case you've never seen a cover art request form and you're the curious sort, here are a list of the questions I received from one of my publishers. I don't think they'll mind if I show you as long as I removed their name. The questions a

re generic.

Ø Title of Book -

Ø Series Name (if applicable) -

Ø Author name –

Ø Genre -

Ø Time Period -

Ø Book length (word count) –

Ø Tag/hook (this is the sentence that sums up the story in one line and hooks your readers into wanting to read more) -

Ø Cover Blurb –

Ø Reader Advisory (this is the line that we

add to the bottom of the blurb if there are scenes that need more explanation than just the genre – e.g. This book contains scenes of F/F intimacy, and menage or more sex or This book is best read in sequence as part of a series) Please add any notes that you think we should be aware of

regarding specific scenes in your book so that we may make a decision as to whether any reader advisory is necessary.

Ø New book or re-release –

Ø Where the story is set –

Ø Hero Description (Whatever details will help the art department) –

Ø Heroine Description (Whatever details will help the art department) -

Ø Short Summary of Story –

Ø Is there anything you would specifically like to see on your cover or any comments -

Ø Is there anything you don’t want on the cover or any comments –

In addition to my written response, I usually include pictures of my hero and heroine to give the cover artist a better idea. Of course the artist can only use pictures that are public domain or that they have special permission to use, they hopefully will find people who look similar on my covers. Since I learned that one of my publishers usually uses stock photos, I "shop" through their other covers instead of opening my search to everybody online, so unfortunately, I don't send pics of Julia Roberts or Adam Lambert.

Below are some of the questions if you'd like to see. Since I have to fill out a cover art request form now, I'm going to skeedaddle so I can get it done.

Here's the cover to my story "Charity's Auction" that will be released in the "Caught in the Middle" anthology that will be released at Total-E-Bound Monday May 11, 2009.

I didn't get an input on the cover of Caught in the Middle. That's because it's an anthology put together by the publisher. But I'm fine with it. I love this cover! TEB has some of the prettiest book covers.

I'm happy the publisher didn't ask all six authors featured in this anthology what we'd like to see on the cover. A few years ago, a different publisher asked our anthology group what we'd like on the cover and as everybody wanted an element to represent their story, it was a mess.

You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Cover Art

I forgot to shout about it, but I contracted another book this week with Total-e-Bound.com that I entitled "Heart & Soul".

This will be my eighth story published with TEB.

There's no release date yet (of course) and it's too soon for edits, but I had another assignment tonight - to fill out and return the cover art request form to TEB.


Ummm, this cover looks familiar (see my side bar). It's the cover to my most recent release, "Wild Fantasies" at Total-e-Bound. It's my fifth story published with TEB.



Now I'm not an artist (I leave art to my daughters), so I don't know all the ins and outs of cover art. For interesting descriptions of how cover art is actually created, visit TEB's head cover artist.

As the author, I get to describe what the hero and heroine look like, give a blurb and tag line of the book, and tell them what I do NOT want to see.

Of course, I have to give good descriptions of the hero and heroine or I could end up with something very different than I picture.

Being vague isn't much help to the artist, so I can't merely say the hero is "tall, dark, and handsome" or even "built". Instead, I need to specify what type of build, how tall, color of the eyes, hair, skin tone. If the hero has a mole or a scar or tattoos or piercings or gold teeth, I need to describe what they look like and where they are.

Speaking of "where" they are, I really hope the cover for "Heart & Soul" will feature the hero and heroine cuddling under the setting sun whilst they're boating on the Ohio River. (Did I mention I was a river rat? You'll see that in one of my former posts). I'm a sucker for moonlight and water, beach, rivers, lakes, or pools - it doesn't matter.

I thought I'd be a big help and find photos of people who reminded me of my heroes and heroines. You know, regular people like Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Reese Witherspoon, Patrick Dempsey, Carrie Underwood... :)\

However, after reading a post by the cover artist, it's not that easy. Cover artists, it seems, can only use certain photos in the public domain or that they purchase the rights to. Seemingly, finding a similar person in the stock photos to the ones I sent, aren't that simple. Not at all.

Since my daughters are artists, the oldest one in particular (she has a degree in graphic design), I've always admired artists. But I didn't know just how tough making a cover would be until I read Lynn's blog. She's talking about gruesome things like decapitating people - I love it! (Well, not in real life).

Pardon me while I segue for a moment. Since I mentioned Monica, let me post one of her pictures (copyright by Monica H.). This one's done in pencil, before her college days. As you can see, she loves anime.



Back to the cover talk, here are some of my favorite covers of my Ashley Ladd books.



The cover for "Civil Affairs" is supposed to be on the Biloxi, Mississippi beach under the moonlight where I have SEVERAL wonderful memories. The artist did a beautiful job. Every time I gaze upon it, I feel like I'm back in Biloxi, falling in love on that beach, all over again.


Of course I've never made love on a dragon, or even ridden one, except in my fantasies. But boy, wouldn't I love to like Becca and Lobo are doing on the "Make-Believe Lover" cover above.



I can't take credit for the beautiful cover of "Alien Encounters". New Concepts Publishing, probably Andrea, came up with the concept for this one. If I had better resolution, you could see that the woman is superimposed over a nebula and stars. It's absolutely gorgeous, sheer genius.

Hopefully I'll have many more cover art request forms in my future so I'll get the knack of making my requests picture clear and easy for the cover artist. My fingers and toes are crossed.