August 9, 2008 | Filed under: Stuff
Just off the presses for 2/09, the first of a new three book series (and it’s not a final, and yes, I have lots out before then, I promise!) Instant Attraction is the first of three brothers who make a living running an outdoor adventure/expedition company in the wild Sierras. Think big, bad and sexy as all get out (um, what does “all get out” mean anyway?)
Back cover copy to follow soon as I get it from my editor. But here’s the question of the day: How much do covers affect the books you buy? And if you as a reader could have a say in the cover, what would you like to see? What don’t you like to see? Curious minds want to know . . . Specifically me, lol. I want to know. As an author who has no control over her covers, and also as a reader. Share!
Posted by Jill @ 1:00 am | Make a Comment
Ewa In The Garden says:
hmmm… good question.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 1:56 amI think I would like to see something that would make me instantly understand what the book is about. Preferably it should be enticing and little misterious.
seems to be easy, but it is all about details …
Greetings, from Poland,
Ewa
Marty says:
I like to see some information on the main two characters, a little about their personalities, and of course, a little about the main stumbling block they must overcome.
Also, the back cover copy should be consistent with the overall tone of the book. Sometimes there’s a disconnect in tone, a light and humorous back cover and a darker tone to the book (or vice versa) and that throws me when I start reading.
Have a great weekend,
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 3:48 amMarty
Cheryl M. says:
Hmm, well for romantic suspense novels I like to see something sexy and steamy on the cover (like that yummy hunk on the cover for Instant Attraction!) The cover should definitely tie in with the story; I hate it when the cover features models that don’t look anything like the H/H described in the book!
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 4:23 amStephanie says:
I have to agree with Cheryl M. on this issue and I as well like to see a picture of a model that resembles the H/H in the story. However, I am instantly attracted to men in uniform so I am kind of biased as to buying a book just by looking at the cover!!!
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 5:11 amMental P Mama says:
Lord. Have. Mercy.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 5:22 amNina says:
I have to agree with Stephanie on men in uniform. YUM! I will buy those books. I have on occasion bought a book with a bright cover without actually knowing what the book was about. I judged that it looked like it was a funny book. It was. I also agree that a lighthearted book should use light colors on the cover, while a more dark book should use dark colors. Maybe depict a scene from the book. Or better yet, depict the scenery. Where does the book take place? If the cover depicts that, the author does not have to explain that much in the story. It’s kinda strange when a cover depicts a city when the story takes place in the wilderness. However, I must say I like a picture on the cover that I can actually see what it is, not modern art or just the title of the book.
I try not to judge the book by its cover as much as the title. The title is much more important to me than the book itself. A short title of two or three words is better than a long one basically telling the whole story in one sentence. Besides, a long title takes up more room on the cover which means less room for hunky guys.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 6:41 amLaurie says:
Yum! Readers are going to love this one!! I typically try to purchase books based on back cover blurb, excerpts and (occasionally) reviews. Every now and then a cover will catch my eye and make me pick up a book and while I try not to buy a book just because of the cover, I sometimes do.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 6:45 amMelissa says:
Whomever said, ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover’, wasn’t into marketing. That’s my primary book buying gauge. If the title and cover art grabs my attention, most likely, it’ll grab my money too.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 6:47 amJudy F says:
OH have bought books by the cover alone. Recently it was Bella Andre Game For Anything. The back cover just sealed the deal on that one. I loved the book.
I too like covers that reflect the book and blurbs that tell a bit of the story.
This cover is yummy. I hope some day you get to met your cover models
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 7:17 amKare says:
A cover has a big impact in making me discover a new author - new to me, that is - but once they’ve made my ‘favorites’, the cover has little impact because I tend to watch for their new releases.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 7:47 amCarol says:
Jill,
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 9:21 amIf it’s one of your books the cover could be blank and I would still buy it because I know what would be between the blank covers. But if it’s someone I’m not familiar with I look for a funny and cute cover, like Kristin Higgins, because I love romantic comedy.
Tina L says:
I usually get most of my books at the library where I can only see the spine of the book at first, so the cover is secondary to the title in that case. Then the decsription on the back of the book seals the deal. I would have to say even in bookstores or magazines that the book’s description is probably more important to me than the cover picture.
I do agree with the other commenters that I like for the picture on the cover to relate to the book in some way. I hate it when the cover picture and the book have little to no relation to each other. I know authors don’t have much, if any input into cover art but I wish the people who design it would be required to have read the book before designing the cover.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 9:25 amAllie says:
I want a book cover that will not embarrass me in public.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 9:46 amNancy L. says:
I agree with Kare. I buy books from my favorite authors, and am usually eagerly waiting for their release. However, firefighters get me everytime. I love looking at them and reading about them. As far as picking out new authors, I pick them from seeing the book in ads or reading about the book in Romantic Times Magazine. I also pick new authors from my favorite authors’ blogs. Last, as far as enjoying the cover, I like the ones with hot guys on them the best.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 10:11 amDonna M says:
The new series sounds great, can’t wait!! Glad to hear we have them to look forward to.
Ah, book covers! One of my favorites is Shadow Hawk. I love it because it is sexy & yummy but you can keep your own image of the H in your mind. I really hate when the book cover models don’t look at all like the people described in the book. It seems they rarely do! Most of the male models are so young it is hard to believe they are the guy in the book. I love the guy on the cover of Flashback because he looks older than 20! Since most of the books I buy these days are for authors that are favorites, covers don’t matter to much because I will be buying the book. If it is an author that I don’t know the cover might make me pick the book up off the rack or shelf to read the description on the back. I love romantic suspense and I love romance with humor.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 10:28 amDid I mention how much I loved Flashpoint & Flashback? I’m looking forward to the next one.
Enjoy your Saturday.
Patricia says:
I buy strictly by author, not by what’s on a cover. I never notice them. Also, I am NOT a fan of TP, because of space & monetary considerations.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 12:20 pmCryna says:
I have my Auto Buy Authors, but I do pick up books because the cover has caught my eye, and after reading the back blurb have made the decision to buy. I would definately give the book cover above another look if it was not on my list of buys already.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 2:51 pmSuzanne says:
That’s a great cover!! Congrats!!
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 3:03 pmmary beth says:
A cover alone won’t make me buy a book, but it’s definitely important. Covers like this make me pick up a book.
I like sexy covers. I’m not a fan of the cartoon covers, and I want to cover to convey the content of the book. I hate when the publisher puts a sweet cover on a hot, sexy book.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 3:19 pmPat L. says:
I love your cover. Is this a full sized book or the skinnies as I call them like a blaze type?
I like colorful covers like the cutesy ones on Pappano’s Bethlehem series or Evanick’s Misty Harbor. Also like a studly hunk or the studly hunk’s body with the head cut off so you can picture whatever face you like. And I like it to depict something related to the story, not for example a picture of the h/h standing by a tree and there is no such thing in the story.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 3:38 pmLiza says:
I like the hero on the cover to match the description in the book. I really love the cover you showed… can we keep him?
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 3:51 pmRaeLeigh says:
hey jill
he’s preeeeeetty. 
julie miller wrote a book for her taylor clan series called the rookie. you know how some people have tv boyfriends (mc dreamy, mc steamy, seeley booth from bones, hugh laurie maybe? 
well josh taylor from the rookie is my book boyfriend. i have read that book a zillion times and julie knows of my love for josh. yum. here’s an amazon link if anyone has no idea what i’m talking about: http://www.amazon.com/Rookie-Taylor-Clan-Julie-Miller/dp/0373226993/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218331366&sr=8-1
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 6:25 pmabby says:
Well, hello! ::fans self:: You can bet I’m gonna add this series to my to buy list.
As for how I pick my books… Yes, the cover can make a difference especially with authors I’m not really familiar with. But honestly, I read the summary of a book and the reviews for it before I decide. Now with authors that I love, it doesn’t matter. Their books are bought asap.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 7:13 pmkim h says:
wow , nice . no covers dont affect much, many covrers are not that horrilble.
Posted on August 9th, 2008 at 11:37 pmlimecello says:
Whoa - that is some kind of cover, Jill. I always say covers don’t have too much impact on me [unless they're just too cheesy or horrible]. My favorite ones are the artsy types - and/but Brava has some great covers as well. It’s nice if the cover does convey a bit about the book - either way, as long as it’s visually appealing, I go for it. There have been some books where the cover continued to catch my eye, even though I initially had no interest, then caved and bought/read it. I’m a bit done with the half naked man covers, however, because they’re all the same. There’s no distinction - that might be why I don’t like them so much. Haha - this is making me think more than I expected.
Posted on August 10th, 2008 at 1:16 pmKarin says:
I love that cover, Jill. Generally covers don’t affect my buying much. I pay much more attention to the blurb on the back cover and any excerpt I can get my hands on since I do most of my book shopping online now. When I’m at the bookstore, though, covers can grab my attention, but it’s still the back cover blurb and the opening of the book that get me to buy it as I generally read a few pages before deciding.
Posted on August 10th, 2008 at 11:37 pmDee says:
All I really want in a cover is some idea of what the book’s about. The front cover means little.
This cover turns me off. I HATE kissing beards! He also looks menacing. I wouldn’t go out with him.
Posted on August 11th, 2008 at 5:34 amHelenKay Dimon says:
I’m someone who picks up books due to covers. Absolutely. If it’s awesome, I pick it up and turn it over to read the back. This theory also works when the cover is so odd that I just have to see what the book is about.
And this cover soooo works for me. He pops off the page. Well done, art department people. Well done.
Posted on August 11th, 2008 at 11:03 amsarah says:
I absolutely love the recent dark, subtle Blaze covers (I’m thinking of Jo Leigh’s “Closer” series). Very sexy.
The sexy ab shots work for me every time, too — but I prefer to buy those online instead of the checkout stand. That’s a good test for me — am I embarrassed to hand it to the teller?
Really liked the cover for Smart&Sexy, with her climbing in his lap on the airplane.
I usually prefer to not see full faces on covers, too… oops!
(When I love the author, covers don’t matter). Something about it clashes with my imagination of the characters. And it’s hard to fit everyone’s perfect hero impression…
Can’t wait for the new book!
Posted on August 11th, 2008 at 2:07 pmtrish canfield says:
I go first by author! I have three must haves. Jill being one of them. I like the newer covers with just the title in large print with bright colors. There was a time years ago when I bought by the cover, but like alot of the other readers here, I did not like the cover not matching the authors description. My grown children constantly tease me when the cover is too sexy. I won’t let embarrasement about a cover keep me from purchasing the book if the author is excellent.
p.s. any title with the word baby in it gets my attention! Love babies, what can I say!!! lol
Posted on August 12th, 2008 at 5:51 pm