Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Cover Confessions


Um. Hello.
My name is Regina and I'm a cover slut.
Wonder if they have a 12-step program for book cover addicts? Ya think? Heck, better sign me up quick because I'm a gonner over new covers. From the moment I started writing in 1992, I imagined what a book cover for a particular story of mine might look like. Is that completely nuts? Yep. I think so. I actually have manuscripts that will never see the light of day. They are shoved under my bed with the dust bunnies but, oddly enough, they all have fully formed COVERS in my HEAD.

At the end of last week, I got really LUCKY. Once AGAIN! I asked the Ellora's Cave cover gods for a hot man and woman, naked or nearly naked, a bit of tartan plaid and an ancient castle and this is what I got. Yes, I tend to be a bit spartan in my cover requests. I keep it simple and only add a few odd items for them to play with. It works for me and I've never been disappointed in an Ellora's Cave cover. Granted, my hero doesn't look a bit Scottish but he IS indeed, dark and luscious. Oddly, I never mentioned a rough looking table but I got one. How on earth did they know there is a very sexy scene in this book that features a table just like this one? Highland Beast comes out April 29 and I'm anxious to see if everyone else like the cover as much as I do.

Was talking with Anne and Kell yesterday about covers. Those we liked and those that could've been better. Kelley was nice enough to send me one of HER favorites. I have to agree with her that the cover for Lotus Blossom Chronicles: Book Three is gorgeous. Kelly admitted she naturally LOVES the great chest along with the soft, yummy green color and the scrollwork designs at the top and bottom of the cover. Oh yeah...I would judge this book by the cover and snap it up. It's a recent release at Parker Publishing and you can buy it HERE!

It's funny. For some writers, I'm sure the big thrill is making another sale. Maybe it's release day! I figure it depends on the person. But for me, the big thrill comes when I open my email to find a nice little note from the cover department. My heart pounds and I hold my BREATH!



Yesterday I got another wonderful surprise. Tempting Turquoise, an anthology that includes Elaine Lowe, Amy Ruttan (a very good friend of Three Wicked Writers) and Moi! My Feral Moon, a paranormal/shifter menage is sharing company with two other great stories. You can pick it up on the Jasmine-Jade or Ellora's Cave home page. And speaking of covers...um...I think this is beautiful, don't you?

What about a cover catches your eye? For me, it color. I love love love color. Of course, an uber hunka hunka burnin' love pretty much does the trick, too. Women? I don't care so much about women on the cover. For me it's all about the guy. I'll usually ask for just the man or the couple (barely clothed, of course) but seldom just a woman. As far as body parts, I'm not picky. I like em all. Legs, arms, chests, abs, backs, hands. I don't particularly care as long as they are beautiful. If I request a man for a cover, I always always stress...no baby faces please! No rounded features or fellas who look like they just graduated from high school two months ago. Give me a man. Make it hot. And make me drool. That works for me everytime.

Yes, I'm a cover slut. Sign me up for that 12-step program fast!

23 comments:

Amber Skyze said...

Sign me up too, Regina. I pick books based on covers first, then the blurb. A sexy man gets me every time. :)

Anne Rainey said...

For me it doesn't have to be a hunk on the cover. It just has to grab my attn. Like Janice Maynard's "Mating Game" http://tinyurl.com/dy5kxn
it's very romantic, the way he's cupping the back of her head, as if he cherishes her. Also I like when the cover is directly related to the title. Like this one: http://tinyurl.com/dzybpq

Julia Barrett said...

You manage to get the greatest covers! Sigh...
A hunk will attract my eye and I'll read the blurb, but the blurb still needs to sound interesting. I too am a sucker for bright colors!

Molly Daniels said...

As I've said before, maybe YOU should do my cover requests, ha ha!

Right now, I have to be careful when reading e-books when the kids are present. They invariably catch sight of the cover and give me the eye-roll...'Mom's reading porn again!'

Teenagers...

Regina Carlysle said...

Love me some sexy guys on a cover! I shoot for a sexy cover with all my Ellora's Cave titles. The only exception is with my erotic regencies. I mean, hot is GOOD, too but I also want a romantic aspect because they are historical. Dreamy but sexy is the goal with those.

Regina Carlysle said...

HA. I know what you mean, Molly! I think that's why I love my reader. It's a little (a LOT) more private.

Kelley Nyrae said...

If I don't know an author, the cover is always the first thing that draws me to the book. Without an eye-catching cover, I don't usually pick up the book. Probably missed a lot of good books that way but its just natural

Anny Cook said...

And some covers completely turn me off. If they're too... blatant, then I might not ever pick up that book.

Regina Carlysle said...

It's a matter of personal taste and what draws the eye. I usually buy on a combination of things. The blurb has to be snappy but it's the cover that pulls me in first.

Mona Risk said...

Great covers Regina. I absolutely love Tempting Turquoise cover. I must be the exception who is not swooning in front of a naked chest, maybe because there have been so many of them recently I can't recognize a book by the bookcover anymore. I personally prefer a kiss or a hot embrace.

Molly, your kids remind me of my daughter: Another of YOUR books, Mom.

Regina Carlysle said...

I know what you mean, Mona. I mean, I love a great chest but I wouldn't mind seeing OTHER bodies parts...backs and shoulders would be niiiiiice.

Fran Lee said...

I love a cover with hot bods and half-faces. I prefer to imagine the eyes. Lips are hot! Sounds silly, but I don't like to see the guy staring back at me, no matter how hot he is. Makes me feel like I've been caught ogling. Makes me feel like a peeping tomasa.

Amy Ruttan said...

Damn! That's a great cover.

Oh Oh OH! I don't think I checked my email and saw that Turquoise is in! WOOT!! WOOT!! WOOT!!

I was disappointed our original turquoise guy would be replaced, but I think that's still him and he's still hot.

Running off to order author copies. :D

Again, honored to share a print book with you Regina. :)

Mary Ricksen said...

Your cover is wonderful.
I can't imagine it being any better.
Step in line for the twelve step program.

Unknown said...

I agree on the men as opposed to boys.

I like hot or classy but I rarely like the ones that look cartoony.

My son doesn't care about my books. He knows they're off limits and ignores them. Since there's nothing on the covers that is over PG the covers have never been hidden from him. I know from personal experience that hiding things just increases curiosity. That's why I read my first R rated book as a kid. My had hidden it. LOL

Nicole North said...

Wow yummy covers!! Yes, I like a hot guy on a cover (abs, chest, back, muscular arms, etc), combined with almost anything else. A sword for instance is awesome! :) Covers that show the emotion between the characters are great too.

Regina Carlysle said...

OMG!!! Amy you didn't KNOW???? Well yay for US. I just ordered my copies today. And GUESS what? Anne sent me a note and said that all the gemstone print books are featured in a full page color ad on the May Romantic TImes. I just saw the ad...totally goreous.

I am completely honored to be sharing this with you, honey!

Regina Carlysle said...

Ooooooh HOT LIPS. I love those too, Fran! lol

Regina Carlysle said...

Yep. I'm a complete addict, Mary! HA. I love the cover too. He just has a smoldering look in his eyes that I just love. Like he's imagining what he's gonna DO to his heroine!!!! I loooove that.

Regina Carlysle said...

I never hid my covers any more. At least now my kids are grown but I never did before really. They always just laughed and rolled their eyes. Awwww, mom is reading PORN, AGAIN!!!

You just have to laugh. Now my son tells his friends that his mom writes porn and he'll just CACKLE about it. Maybe I should just SMACK that guy! lol

Unknown said...

Regina, that's what my nephew does. He loves to call it porn and says he knows because he always on gay porn sites. LOL

My son recently admitted to liking girls (his dad hasn't figured it out yet). He asks what's in the books, I say sex and he says "never mind". Don't you just love kids? GRIN

Regina Carlysle said...

AWWWW. It's so cute when they suddenly NOTICE the opposite sex!

Unknown said...

Yeah it is. He's so cute. GRIN
He still trusts me and that's even better.