Cover Trends
Aug 19th 2009
Madeline HunterGoddess Readers Speak Out & Madeline Hunter & On Writing!
I received the covers for my next two books! This is a new series with a new publisher, and a lot of thought went into the “package,” as it is called in the industry.
As you can see, they went with the gorgeous gowns trend, and I could not be happier. The cover for the first one,Ravishing in Red (Feb, 2010), is on the left. The second one is on the right (March, 2010). Both covers have a lot more texture, highlights and precision than you are seeing here (due to downsizing for the web), and I love them because I think all the textures in the gowns trend are yummy to look at. These are not up on my web site yet, so this is the sneak peek first upload.
The whole process of brainstorming and researching my input on these made me notice covers individually and as a group in ways I normally don’t. So I noticed some of the other trends too.
For example, there is a trend of returning to pastels in some historicals, and also what I call a retro trend—more painterly covers, especially painterly clutches. By painterly I mean the look of open brush work and a sort of impressionistic, fly away look, with a strong sense of movement. I call it retro because these covers remind me of the covers from the ’80s when the characters always appeared wind-swept. The choice of colors being used for these reminds me of the palettes used then too.
We are also seeing faces again on some historicals. This is also a trend that, after headless people for so long, can look fresh.
Then, in other genres— especially suspense, paranormal and urban fantasy– there is a monochromatic trend. One color
really dominates, like yellow or blue, and most of the cover appears to be shades of that color. There may be other colors, say for an item of clothing, but often it won’t be in a contrasting color, but instead a closely related one. If the dominant color is blue, that exception may be purple or green. If it is yellow, the exception will be red or orange.
This is very effective for a cover that has a lot of imagery because it keeps the dangerous street/landscape/lurking villain/post-apocalyptic world from creating a cover that is just too busy to be absorbed visually, the way it would be if every item had its own strong color. But this is sort of retro too, harking back to the days when covers did not use full color as a matter of course.
This monochromatic look is affecting historicals too, but not as obviously. Both of my covers reflect it. So do some of the other Goddess covers in the left column of this page <—–
Of course we all are aware of the guy’s naked chest trend. It has been going strong for several years in just about every sub genre. I find that I am becoming a connoisseur of those chests, and a bit picky about the pecs and abs after all this experience viewing them.
What trends are you seeing? Which ones do you like?
Do you miss any that have fallen out of favor?
If you could create the perfect cover for your favorite sub-genre, what would it look like?
Do you have a favorite cover, or a book that you know you ended up buying because a great cover grabbed your eye?
Do you have any predictions about the next trends?
As far as contemporary romance—Is it my imagination or has there been a high heel trend?
64 Comments »
64 Responses to “Cover Trends”
LisaK on 19 Aug 2009 at 4:36 am #
Wow, Madeline, I love those covers! They absolutely fit what you’ve already told us about that series at the forum. Just one question (and I so hope the model doesn’t read this!): Is the woman on PIP pregnant? It sure looks like it. Or are that just my poor, near-sighted eyes?
I’m a definite fan of that new trend in historical covers – I think that way the books look both elegant and sexy. They perfectly symbolize what romantic fiction is like (or rather what it should be like).
That’s the problem I have with German historical covers – they’re oh-so-cheesy and oh-so-bodice-rippers. I wish publishing houses would take a page from their US-colleagues’ books (how fitting!) because what they create is simply not beautiful. That’s exactly how people not knowing the genre think romances are, and I reckon that’s just wrong (see definition of romance above *g*). They needn’t be surprised that nobody wants to admit they read romance or wants to be seen with them – with that ugly covers!
Chloe Harris (Noelle) on 19 Aug 2009 at 5:15 am #
I love your covers. Just gorgeous, rich and elegant.
I am a big fan of the gown covers. I also don’t mind the old school clinch returning. I’m not a fan of the textured panel or fan with only a peek of the picture but that never stopped me from buying an author I liked.
The urban fantasy trend of a woman’s back I think has seen it’s peak and hopefully is trending down. You mentioned color washed covers. You do see a lot of those in suspense. Aphrodisia was big on color washed covers but has dropped those and has gone full color now.
Me of all people can’t knock the naked chest cover but for historicals I do like a hint of costume in there that let’s you know right away what you’ve got.
I can’t wait to read what’s behind the beautiful covers.
LoriHandeland on 19 Aug 2009 at 5:19 am #
Absolutely exquisite covers, Madeline. You must be over the moon.
What trends are you seeing? Which ones do you like?
I like the new historical trends. The covers are very elegant.
Do you miss any that have fallen out of favor?
I miss the covers that were paintings. They were so beautiful. Looks like they may be coming back. Claudia’s new cover looks like a painting too.
Do you have a favorite cover, or a book that you know you ended up buying because a great cover grabbed your eye?
I loved the cover on Dates from Hell, an anthology I just happened to be in. It was perfect for the book.
If I wasn’t already buying your new series, I think I’d buy those for the covers definitely.
Do you have any predictions about the next trends?
If I did I’d use them for my upcoming books! I’m no good with covers. What I hate others seem to like and vice versa.
As far as contemporary romance—Is it my imagination or has there been a high heel trend?
That and dresses blowing up a la Marilyn Monroe.
Maggie Robinson/Margaret Rowe on 19 Aug 2009 at 6:31 am #
Total, total win from your publisher’s art department! I still like period paintings, like Candice Hern’s recent books. Basically, I appreciate a cover that doesn’t allow the chemistry teacher to mock me in the break room.
Lisa H on 19 Aug 2009 at 6:57 am #
Madeline – I think your new covers are gorgeous!!!! I love the gowns.
I love the old bodice ripper covers, a man and woman, the clinch, her neck back and him going in for the kill…
I also like the old “painting style” covers better than a clear photo.
What I miss is seeing faces. I love to see the hero and heroine’s face, and also have them actually resemble the characters they are supposed to be portraying.
I do agree, there seems to be a trend of high heels on contemp. romance covers of late.
D. D. Scott on 19 Aug 2009 at 6:57 am #
What fabulous covers, Madeline!
So rich, elegant and provocative! Really makes you want to get to know the woman under the gown…
Re the contemporary high heel trend, I’ve noticed bunches of that too…and I must admit…as a RomCom writer and huge contemporary fan, seeing those shoes makes me grab the book off the shelf every time.
It’s those specific images — like the gorgeous historical gown or the dark, edgy suspense colors and graphics of people running or the sexy, sassy, smart shoes (and boots now too!) — that let you know as a reader that “boom, that’s the kind of book I like”.
Fun stuff and fabulous topic!
Marketing soooo intrigues me…and on that note…here’s a trend I’ve picked up on too…how about all the sweet dogs gracing the cover shots of all genres? Now all genres have their Marley and Me’s…LOL!!!
Sexy, Sassy, Smart Wishes — D. D. Scott
http://www.DDScott.com
http://twitter.com/ddscottromcom
Pesky on 19 Aug 2009 at 7:03 am #
I love the new covers!
I really like the jewel covers with the inset behind, (piece of jewelry or fabric with the character inset behind the cover. I can’t think of the proper name for it.)
I noticed a couple of years ago the cartoon cover coming into fashion and the no inset but little oval of the characters on the spine of the book trend. Not a fan, but it hasn’t stopped me from buying a book.
I haven’t bought a book for it’s cover, though I have put some back because of it. An author I love I can’t read the books of anymore because she went ebook and her assistant puts his face on the books as the hero. I have also ripped off covers if I really want to read the book and the art annoys me enough.
Abs…lots of abs. When I first started reading romance the man was generally covered from head to foot and the women were bustin out all over…I thoroughly approve of the abs trend in comparison.
ellen on 19 Aug 2009 at 7:06 am #
I loved to play “look for the cherry” on chick lit covers for a while. I mean, there were cherries everywhere that had nothing to do with the story. Let’s face it, chick lit is hardly about “pure doves” so the cherry reference was always lost on me.
I think Karen Rose has had some of the best covers in the industry. They scare me. They always have a sensual tone cloaked in terror. Maybe for her next book they can have a woman choking on a cherry?
No?
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 7:48 am #
Lisa K— one of my German editions made use of an old cover from another author’s US novel. I think they buy the rights to some covers in bulk, and use them. Just a guess, but I knew that cover and remembered when it was on the other author’’s US release years ago. It really surprised me to see it on my German language edition.
ellen—I never understood the cherry either. Well, I did, sort of, but also did not understand why it was there.
Pesky, you are talking about a “step back” cover. Two covers, with the back one having the clinch. I had them on my first six books. Then my publisher stopped doing them for most authors. The booksellers were saying they did not help sell books because a customer had to have already picked up the book to look at it in order to see it. Since covers are to get that book picked up in the first place, the high cost of step backs was seen as a questionable investment. But I loved my step backs! And some publishers still use them, so someone thinks they work, I guess.
Lisa H on 19 Aug 2009 at 7:52 am #
Ellen – perhaps you mean a man choking on a cherry?
Claudia Dain on 19 Aug 2009 at 7:55 am #
Gorgeous covers, Madeline! Congratulations!
I like a strong visual cover, no matter the color. I prefer strong colors in a monochromatic theme, a clear, clean image that resonates. Too much stuff on a cover, either images or text, muddies the whole thing for me.
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 7:55 am #
Lisa H, the kind of covers you like are making a big comeback, I think.
Lori, I’m not very good with covers either. I have loved some of mine that were not very good in the stores, not good “shelf covers”. Things look different up on the shelf. And I have disliked some of mine that ended up being great shelf covers.
Chloe mentions the fan with a cut off view of the people. I had that on Secrets of Surrender. I did not care much for that cover, in part because it was not an original idea at all. However, that ended up being a really good shelf cover because of the color—a bronzy orange. Orange does sort of pop off the shelf.
In the RR cover here, in “real life” those reds are subtly different, and her dress has a clear but subtle pattern to increase the contrast and also the texture. I think that someone passing by will see that color first—the crimson— and like it even more if they pick it up. So I am hoping I am right that it is a good shelf cover.
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 7:56 am #
Lisa H!
Julia London on 19 Aug 2009 at 8:01 am #
Madeline, I am drooooling with envy. Those are gorgeous, gorgeous covers.
Freshechelle on 19 Aug 2009 at 8:08 am #
High heels on contemporaries? Yes, I’ve noticed that’s become the “this is strong woman story” neon sign these past few years too. When they are photos not drawing, they’ve got to be great, sexy shoes. Too often the cover shots use shoes that are just the wrong side of hot, straps too thick or heels to short or not a good heel shape. Make ‘em hot, make ‘em top of line. Go big or go home.
My friends started an imaginary Anita Shreve novel called “This is How We Sit”; we’ve cast the lifetime movie and but more importantly to your point, the cover designed – 4 empty beach chairs each with a unique flower. My idiot friends amuse me or we’ve started the next “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon”.
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 8:16 am #
Freshechelle, I smiled at your imaginary cover for your imaginary book.
I think it is very cool that Julia’s publisher communicated the same idea of the summer woman fiction story with other props.
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 8:20 am #
Lisa K, she isn’t prego, lol. I think the empire dress just sort of bunched a bit there with the way she is sitting.
Ellen on 19 Aug 2009 at 8:21 am #
Lisa H…coffee shooting out of my nose so early in the day is too much! You are way too funny, girlfriend!
gibb on 19 Aug 2009 at 8:28 am #
Beautiful covers. I like the gowns and from the neck down look. Sometimes the face throws me off since everyone’s mental image of beauty for the hero/heroine varies.
Since I’m an artist I like the painterly look although some jobs are better than others. Some photos are touched up to “look” like a painting and some people do a seamless job and it’s beautiful; others look like someone went a little crazy with photoshop.
I don’t really care for the cartoon sketches but NOTHING has stopped me from buying a book from an author I love. Some covers will stop me from reading them in the staff lounge though. Too many knowing looks and jokes.
I also like the step backs. The recent Elizabeth Hoyt books have some nice ones.
Your covers are beautifully done and look classy.
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 8:28 am #
Maggie, for my very first cover I wanted them to go with a period painting. I sent them to a lot of late medieval Flemish paintings on the web, and pointed out those incredible textures, etc. We went with something similar that worked really well, but created by artists now, not a period painting, so in the end it had a very different look.
Karen Rose on 19 Aug 2009 at 8:29 am #
Gorgeous covers, Madeline!!
I’m not a cover person, so much. I’m looking for text before pictures. When I find what I’m looking for, then I look at the cover and saw “Ooooh” or “ewww.” I’m not a browser. Wish I was.
Ellen, I love my KFM cover!! I think it’s my most beautiful one. ICSY is scarier, though and I like it too, very much. However, I’m missing the cherry connection.
LisaH – you are naughty!
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 8:31 am #
gibb, they were aiming for classy, so my editor will be glad to hear your opinion!
Again, with my very first book, I saw the step back and I kept debating in my head—was it a painting or a photoshopped photograph? The photoshopping was so well done it was hard for me to tell. Finally I noticed a crease in the hero’s sleeve and knew it had begun as a photo. No painter would paint in a crease on a billowing medieval sleeve!
Freshechelle on 19 Aug 2009 at 8:31 am #
Madeline, Time Out magazine recently did a spread on beach reads and how the covers are marketed to specifically tell the casual reader (not us here, we’re savvy readers) this is a SUMMER READ, buy me now because it’s sunny and warm – the beach chair image along with the overall yellow or sky blue is the signature of the trend.
When I saw Julia’s cover, I knew despite the well used imagery, there’s sure to be more than the usual “beach read” story inside. Bought it last night, Jules, can’t wait to get to it.
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 8:35 am #
Karen R, I love your new cover too. I think it communicates the tension of the suspense in a new and effective way. It pops on the shelf–that face just comes out at you, commanding attention
Cail on 19 Aug 2009 at 8:42 am #
love the new covers!!!
i’m partial to step backs. very partial. i read a lot in public, and while i’m very very proud of my choice in reading material, having nearly naked people on my books can be some what awkward. I really don’t like the old school bodice ripper covers.
kay on 19 Aug 2009 at 8:48 am #
Nice covers! I love the costume dress cover books, especially the Tudor ones. I was never a big fan of the cartoon covers, especially when they were on an historical. It always seemed to me that the book should be light-heartened if they were cartoon and sometimes they weren’t. I sometimes miss those old Fabio covers, but I do not like the bare chested men that are drawn badly and their bodies are way out of proportion and they are usually standing in the snow. I have fond memories of my first Fabio book…a Johanna Lindsey…certainly caught my eye. All that long flowing hair (his). I have never purchased a book because of the cover, although I have picked them up and read the blurbs because of the cover.
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 9:01 am #
pesky, I’m all for the abs too. How hard was it to figure out the books are being bought by women, so if someone is going to be “out there” it should maybe be the hero?
kay, I was never a big fan of the cartoon covers either. Like most trends, they got overused.
Louisa Edwards on 19 Aug 2009 at 9:06 am #
The new cover look is gorgeous. I love that they’re taking your design in a new direction–these covers give me a sense of your sweeping, lush style, which is awesome.
I think you’re definitely right on the contemporary covers getting obsessed with high heels. My new cover totally falls into that trend! LOL Also, I see a lot of dogs on contemp covers. Kristan Higgins, Barbara O’Neal, even Goddess Karen Hawkins! Maybe I should write a puppy into my next book…
elsiehogarth on 19 Aug 2009 at 10:00 am #
Congratulations Madeline! Excellent gorgeous covers.
The trends I am seeing are the headless covers. It’s just a body of either a man or a woman. I need a little bit more. Also there are a lot of high heels, high heel boots, thigh high boot covers.
I miss seeing “my” John DeSalvo on the covers. He’s my favorite cover model. Every now and then you can find him on a cover. I use to just buy any book that he was on. I even got to meet him, 7 years ago, at an RT Convention. He is such a gentleman and very nice. It’s just great that from this he has gone to do other projects.
I like the Lynsay Sands Vampire covers because I always want to see where they put the vampire tattoo. Her books first started with cartoon covers and I loved them because he beginning books were all so funny.
I never buy a book for it’s cover. If it’s a new author I will read the back and then look on the inside to read the little excerpt.
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 10:28 am #
Thanks, Louisa. I think they captured a good look for my style. Dogs, huh? I’ll have to give that a look. A really cute dog probably has a lot of appeal, if you think about it. Hey, get them to use a kitten instead!
Elsie, I miss John too! A story—when By Possession was published, it was headless. One of the first books to do that, so that trend is around ten years old. Anyway, a couple of years later I saw the original photograph and the male model was John!!!!! I said to my editor, for crying out loud, you hired John DeSalvo and you cut his head off???? I told her that there were many readers like you who would buy a book just to get the covers he did. What other projects is he doing?
Kelly Ann on 19 Aug 2009 at 10:33 am #
Beautiful covers – I can’t wait to read your books.
I’m a very visual person and I have to say that when I’m looking for a new read (that is not in my normal favorite author list) the cover attracts my eye 1st. Then I read the back cover and usually the 1st chapter if the back cover passes muster! How do you think I found Sabrina? Passing through the store the cover of In a Princes Bed, caught my eye.
I usually pass up anything that looks cheesy. I prefer elegant, sexy and I’m sorry, not sleezy. I’m sure I miss out on a lot of good books. Ha-ha! I don’t mind not seeing faces, I see a different face for the characters then what the artist has either designed or taken a picture of. I do like covers that depict what’s in the story. You wouldn’t believe how many covers I’ve seen that have no bearing on what’s in the story! In all I have to say that I do love covers on the books, I think they really do attract a reader. I have favorite authors that I buy no matter what the covers look like, but in my favorite authors published books, I’ve never seen a bad cover!
freshechelle on 19 Aug 2009 at 10:39 am #
BTW, Madeline, the covers look great and as a fan, thanks for putting more good stuff out there for us to read! Next year seems to far away in book time.
Julia London on 19 Aug 2009 at 10:43 am #
I told my publisher to put a dog on the cover of Summer of Two Wishes. To be fair, I said, “put a dog on the cover’ before they had a concept. I think their idea was much better.
I love the trend in historical covers, too. I love that rich, art-y feel to them. That really makes me, as reader, want to pick it up and step into that world.
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 10:54 am #
Kelly Ann, before I had a must-read list of authors, or even clicked into any word of mouth, covers were essential to my buying. I’d browse by cover, and hone down from there.
freshechelle, it will be a wait, but then there will be 4 in about 14 months. This series will be published pretty fast. Thanks for waiting, tho!
Julia, they could have fit a dog on that cover, lol!
I think dogs have certain connotations that are appropriate for some books, so the trend makes sense. Also, who doesn’t respond to a picture of an adorable dog? But I think that I would assume it was a sweet book. I don’t know why, but I think I would.
Julia London on 19 Aug 2009 at 10:56 am #
oh yeah, I think a dog on that cover would imply it was maybe a little lighter than it actually is. But I can see one hanging off the end of the dock, butt high in the air, tail wagging, about to make the leap and soak the picnic with lake water, hahhahaa
Ellen on 19 Aug 2009 at 11:01 am #
Did I mention that my 8 year old lab, Phil, is looking to kick off his modeling career?
Ellen on 19 Aug 2009 at 11:05 am #
He looks very sexy with his butt high in the air, tail wagging. Not unlike his Mommy….
SheridanLA on 19 Aug 2009 at 11:11 am #
Though I am usually about new trends and I see the point behind them, what bugs me is when ALL the books in a genre look the same. It is so bad in some instances, I cannot remember if I have read a book or author (I am bad remembering titles) because they all look alike.
That being said, they are all gorgeous (for the most part) but are starting to blend visually to me. This applies to most industries now, I think. I know we are asked to shoot “Donna Hay Style” all the time… it is beautiful and pretty, but really? again?
I remember a few years ago, I was in Borders trolling for new books.. I saw this book with a really cute (to me) illustration. It made me grab the book, read the back synopsis and decided to buy it.. but mostly for the illustration. (random bonus – when I flipped it over to see who wrote it, turns out it was an old friend of mine! talk about serendipitous!) anyway.. I loved the illustrations and even hunted down the illustrator to see other work they had done. The biggest thing was that it stood out to me.
LisaK on 19 Aug 2009 at 11:12 am #
FL (that’s Fellow Lisa, I’ll call you that in the future, okay, Lisa H?
), you have one naughty mind, really!
Forgot to mention, I’ve once in all my lifetime bought a book because of its cover and it turned out to be just the right choice: Claire Delacroix’ a.k.a. Deborah Cooke’s Kiss Of Fire (here’s a link: http://deborahcooke.com/fire.html ). Can I just say “Droooooool”? The guy absolutely turned me on and I had to have the book in my greedy little hands just to touch him!!!
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 11:22 am #
Sheridan, I hear you. I think part of it is genre fiction’s “different, but not too different” approach, in all kinds of ways. So when a trend gets identified with a type of book, the tendency is to keep using it to communicate in a snap it is that kind of book. Every now and then a book’s cover goes really outside the norm, and if it doesn’t do well, the cover is blamed. If it does do well—-a new trend is born! That is what happened with the cartoon covers. The first one was really pretty daring.
I also think that there is a pool of freelance artists and illustrators working for these houses, who are reliable, and there is hesitation to go outside that pool because the timeline is tight and what if the new person doesn’t deliver? I can identify some of the artists by their “hands” or type of cover or styles, even if I don’t know their names.
Lisa H on 19 Aug 2009 at 11:31 am #
I’m sorry!!! I couldn’t resist!
Ellen, maybe we could have an act?
elsiehogarth on 19 Aug 2009 at 12:00 pm #
Madeline, one of John’s big projects is that he wrote a screen play about an ex-boxer that becomes a teacher and tries to help inner city kids. He’s trying to get funding and a studio to see if it can be made into a movie. I wish him all the best and know it will get done.
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 12:02 pm #
Claudia, I am thinking I agree about the limited colors. I think one great color stands out in all the jumble of colors on the racks. I realized that with my last two books. Before I saw anythiing else about the cover when I went to the store, I saw the color. I notice your next book uses all purple shades. Yummy.
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 12:03 pm #
Elsie, it sounds interesting. I wish him the best too!
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 12:16 pm #
D. D. Scott, marketing intrigues me too, but I am not qualified to judge the high heels, lol. I haven’t worn anything over 2 ” in years. Nice web site, btw!
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 12:34 pm #
http://thepenguinblog.typepad.com/
That is a link to a blog post the art director at my publisher just did about how covers are designed. What a nice coincidence.
Pesky on 19 Aug 2009 at 1:02 pm #
ROFLMAO…the first thought that went through my head when I read of the decapitation of John DeSalvo was… Hey, Hugh Jackman in Wolverine shape…who needs the head? ABS!!! Yes!!!
As to high heels, I know quite a few friends that lust after shoes as well, including myself. Maybe they’re trying to trigger the buying impulse by putting shoes on the cover…cute shoes.
If they combined abs and shoes and a cute puppy (but not piddling on the shoes) and maybe a kitten…I’d buy that book, just to see what the heck those three things had in common.
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 1:23 pm #
oooh, Pesky, I think you are on to something. Picture this— close up of female legs, knee down, from back, in cool high heels to die for. Between her legs on the floor you see very cool hunk with great abs, looking up at her dangerously seductively. He is in turn is petting dog.
OR, up close, femail leg from side, propped on a chair, wearing great shoe. IN background, hunk with great abs sprawled facing us on couch, arms behind head, watching her. Dog there somewhere, looking confused.
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 1:25 pm #
OR, great abs close up. Female embracing from behind, with one leg, wearing great shoe, coming around hips. Dog sticking its nose into the whole thing, not wanting to be left out of the human fun.
ellen on 19 Aug 2009 at 2:10 pm #
Madeline is on a roll! The dog petting is purrr fect!
Claudia Dain on 19 Aug 2009 at 2:25 pm #
Madeline, I agree. A solid color ‘push’ stands out to me more on a cover. Of course, if all covers looked like that, then it wouldn’t stand out anymore!
I love my new cover! I love the strong single image, the strong use of a single color, the look on that girl’s face. Plus, I really love that the cover girl looks like the heroine.
Nicole Jordan on 19 Aug 2009 at 3:11 pm #
Gorgeous covers, Madeline! And Claudia too.
M, I think you summed up the trends nicely!
Heather Boyd on 19 Aug 2009 at 6:22 pm #
Oh I love those covers and I hope we get them when they eventually hit the Aussie bookshelves. I have to say I’m a fan of the frock. And I think my preference is for the bolder colours too but they are both great and obviously, I now have two new titles to add to my “must get that book” list.
)
Tal on 19 Aug 2009 at 6:56 pm #
Those covers are beautiful!! I can’t wait… I love covers like that!! last year there was a trend to put male models, plain with nothing done to th cover artistically… just a plain old face I hated those , I mean to me they were not even good looking.. I just don’t like seeing a face to go with the character, I like to use my imagination more… Tal
Louisa Cornell on 19 Aug 2009 at 7:03 pm #
Oooh, Madeline, these covers are gorgeous. I am really loving this new trend. Now, don’t get me wrong. I am ALL FOR a cover with a half-naked guy on the cover. But the new beautiful gown covers are also a hit with me. I have all of the postcards of Nicola Cornick’s new series of covers and they are just frame-worthy.
I am fond of the painting look as well. When I participated in the Avon FanLit event one of my prizes for winning chapter three was one of the three original paintings for a Stephanie Laurens’s cover! It is gorgeously framed and one of my prized possessions. I didn’t realize it was one of only three until I met Ms. Laurens at a book signing and mentioned it. She has one, I have one, and the artist has one. That is a very big deal to me!
I will confess that I have bought a few books based on the covers. I have some hot Denise Rosetti coverflats signed and framed in my writing studio. When my brothers and nephews came to build my porch my brothers were mortified that I had these pictures with “nekkid” men on them on my walls. I told them it was research!
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 7:04 pm #
Thanks, Heather and Tal! Heather, I hope those covers get to your Aussie bookshelves too.
Claudia, it is so cool when a cover hits all the right notes. Yours is gorgeous.
TinaLouiseF on 19 Aug 2009 at 7:06 pm #
I like the PIP cover better because her cap sleeve exposes her arm and breaks up the white on white.
The RIR cover colors are not broken up as much.tt
I have noticed a trend of cutting off the head above the nose.
dbrown3400 on 19 Aug 2009 at 8:37 pm #
Sorry to be so late. Madeline, your covers are beautiful, especially since they’ll grace a NEW SERIES! 2010 seems so far away. Thanks for the sneak peak. Glad to know the books will be released back-to-back. You said the rest of the series will follow not far behind?
Although I pre-order most of my books and don’t get to see the covers in advance, I do admire them once they arrive, especially the gorgeous step backs. Not browsing in stores has somewhat subdued my OCD book buying habit. LOL
I like most covers. But it is somewhat disconcerting to have an artist’s rendering that disagrees with the author’s descriptions. Cover artists like Elaine Duillo did some fantastic work. I don’t remember if her paintings ever messed up the hair color, but they were good anyway.
Patricia Barraclough on 19 Aug 2009 at 8:53 pm #
For many years, I didn’t buy romances because of the covers. The bodice ripper covers just didn’t appeal, they still don’t. Julie Garwood’s books came out with a series of fabric and jeweled broach covers. Lovely and not embarrassing. After reading the first one,I bought every one I could find. The current trend with the gowns is lovely. The landscape covers are nice. As for the naked men’s chest covers, they were OK for a while, but I’ve noticed lately, their jeans are getting lower. I’ve had ladies at our library complain about them. “If he sneezes, they’ll fall off all together!” “It just isn’t descent.”
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 9:22 pm #
Tina, the PP cover does have more contrast and dimension. Altho the RR one has more that it appears in this pic. For some reason when I reduced the resolution for the web, it make her dress fuzzy when it is actually pretty crisp in detail, and a subtly different color than the background.
dbrown, the third book will be in the fall of 2010, and the fourth in the spring of 2011. So all 4 in just over a year.
Madeline Hunter on 19 Aug 2009 at 9:26 pm #
Patricia, funny you should mention the very low slung jeans. My home page when I get on the web often has celebrity pics flashing by, and I have noticed the fashion for men’s bathing suits to be VERY low slung among the stars. Almost “why bother.” To get a vague sense of that, see the FROS pic from last Sunday, where he is at the beach. So maybe this is infuencing the covers. In my browsing reader days, there was often a line for me with covers too.
Sabrina Jeffries on 19 Aug 2009 at 9:53 pm #
Madeline, I love your new covers!! I’m kind of ambivalent about the new cover for MY Feb. release. I think they may still be playing with it, though, so I won’t worry until it’s firm.
I always liked the jewel and fan covers myself, though I also like the gown ones. But I do like men who are clothed. Why THAT never seems to be a trend, I don’t know.
Karen Hawkins on 20 Aug 2009 at 10:34 pm #
Madeline, those are GORGEOUS. I can’t wait to get my hands on them. I especially love the rich red cover. It just intrigues me.
As for contemporaries, my next book, LOIS LANE TELLS ALL, has both a cute puppy (a St. Bernard named Krypton), and some killer shoes. I asked for both of those because I feel that it denotes a light, fun sort of read and well, I love them both.
Having just read Julia’s TWO WISHES (and weeping and sighing with happiness throughout — it’s just THAT awesome), I can see why the art department and the editorial staff gave it more of a women’s fiction look. It’s a very emotional and rich and sigh-happy read. The cover really denotes the book.
Sabrina, I love the fan and jewel covers and wish they’d do more of them, too!
alisha on 23 Sep 2009 at 3:37 pm #
I like the covers to match the description of the characters in the book. If the herione has brown hair and blue eyes I hate when the cover has a blonde(for example). Or as in one Eloisa James books the main character was a more plump heroine and the over a skinny girl on it.
Madeline the covers on your books look beautiful. I want that red dress:-)