I think I've always looked at covers. I love the art, the different styles of artists, and the way fonts and typography are as important as any image on the cover. That's why helping set up the cover contest appealed to me. I love seeing all the cover nominations, not just the ones that make the finals. Believe me, seeing all the worst candidates is a real hoot!

As a SF/fantasy reader of many years, I was used to seeing creative and varied covers that really captured my eye. So when I segued into romance, I was surprised to discover that a lot of the covers were, well, almost the same. This was in the early 80s, when the classic "bodice ripper" cover--man, woman, clinch--was still strongly in vogue. What a shock when someone put just a flower on the cover of a romance! Or when Fabio (a man alone!) came along!

I've been pleased to see the evolution of covers in the 20-odd (gasp!) years I've been reading romance. And I've come to understand that a cover has one purpose. It's got to say "PICK ME UP. LOOK AT ME." to you. And if it does that, it's a successful cover--whether it's really good or atrociously bad!