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Alternate Reality... The category that may include things like ghosts, vampires, werewolves, aliens, alternate universes... You name it. The opportunities seem almost endless... for writers as well as cover artists.
We saw an increase in the number of nominations in AR for 2007, and below you see the top ten covers that made it through our voting process.
The top two winners in the Alternate Reality category were pretty close in number of votes, with a very comfortable margin to the third place winner. The covers that placed third and fourth were only a few votes apart, and they also had a good margin to the fifth and sixth place covers.
Mira |
The 2007 Cover Café Contest – Alternate Reality winner is Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. This elegant and slightly mysterious cover with its winding staircase and striking colors captured the eyes of many voters. Leila: "The stonework in the background looks gorgeous! It feels as if it's right out of a castle. It has a very enchanting quality to it, like a story out of a fairy tale. And the contrast of the bright red robes against the walls is very dramatic!" Lavinia confessed: “I picked it up and read it based on the cover -- not something I do that often anymore.” Judith admired: “It has beautiful movement and light in a sophisticated setting. The central horizontal band brings your eye to the title square which is lit and benefits from the backlit, sunlit architectural elements in the window. The diagonals of the staircase and the inner column with its carved surface diagonals reflect the curve of the subject's cape, creating movement and drama. The half-figure also brings suspense to the scene and the choice of red, a fiery color, for the cape brings menace and drama to the scene.” Suzannah was in no doubt about her choice and said: “you have the stairs, the glimpses of architecture, and the model just slipping around the corner. It's mysterious, pretty, and really interesting.” Diane commented: “AR always seems to have the most consistently well done artwork. I often have to look at the covers a few times to decide which one I would buy. This cover grabbed my attention immediately. I found it a little haunting and mysterious in a good way.” Wendy: “I was immediately drawn to this cover. The dramatic red gown contrasts so well w/ the lighter Romanesque stone walls. I love how you can't see the woman's face. Who is she? Is she escaping or plotting? I'm reminded of the saying - Poison is a woman's weapon. I'm intrigued. I want to read this book, and I normally don't even like alternate reality!” Rachel: “I love the red dress against the faded yellow stone. The woman's cape flows nicely, curving with the wall and suggesting a stealthiness, like a serpent, or like the poison in the title. The building's architecture too hearkens back to a time when poison was a practical solution to a personal problem...for some.” Sandra: “Beautiful and mysterious. It reminds me of the paintings of the Pre-Raphaelites.”
Several voters were pondering about the heroine: Poison Study was the favorite among several Cover Cafe members as well. Leanne thought it was a tough category with all good selections but chose Poison Study because “the overall format of this cover is what really made the difference.”
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The second place winner was Changeling by Yasmine Galenorn. Many voters complimented the artist on how he pictured the heroine of the book. One of them was Fawna, who thought that “it matches the character to a T.”
Christopher: “the artist was about to take the characters true being. When I first pictured [the heroine] this is what came to mind long before this book came out and Tony's work was truly amazing.” Timothy: “It's a really cool looking cover, the character on the cover looks just like I envision the character when I read the book. The artist has his stuff down pat!!!” Tina said: “Unlike a great many current supernatural/alternate reality books, we don't see yet another bared and tattoo-ed back of the kick-ass heroine. I like that. It would grab my attention in a store because it IS different from the rest and I'd pick it up.” E commented: “They haven't cropped off parts of her body, nor shown her from the back. Paranormal publishers should be encouraged in this trend.” Karyn: “That was the cover that immediately captivated me because it somehow looks really haunting, her eyes are almost obstructed from view but you can see, that they're not quite human. At the same time the body language is very dynamic, which is also due to the hair, as if she's just about to move... The background is just wonderful, with those earthy colors in the top part to the fiery ones in the lower section. Moreover it highlights the title with the intricate artwork around it. And - not to forget - the obvious relation between the artwork and the title. Thank God for such covers!” Courtney: “The lighting is what makes this cover exceptional. The slash of sunlight across the heroine s frame, the crimson mist at her feet, and the golden halo outlining her head and shoulders, all illustrate a preternatural element. Her youthful appearance and the surrounding light make me thing her power is growing or that she is just coming into her own. The shadows on the top right of the cover could indicate darkness, or evil, lurking just around the corner.” Tina: “The cover is haunting yet sensual. I get the feeling that this girl wants my help, but at the same time, would bite my head off if I tried. Love it!” KJ: “It's the only one that caught my eye on a complete list of other books on the shelf. The cover art got me, complete hook line and sinker.” Stephanie: “This amazing cover totally caught my eye right off the shelf one day. I picked it up, read the back of the book and had to have it. This cover was the reason I discovered one of my new favorite authors. I'm very grateful to it.” |
Berkley |
St. Martin's Press |
The eyes have it in our third place winning cover, Devil May Cry by Sherrilyn Kenyon. And I admit, I was one of those who were captivated by those bedroom eyes. ;-) It was also the favorite of Cover Cafe's Christiane who commented: “mysterious, tempting and that glint in his eyes are there for a good reason...”
Teafunny: “Hero's eyes draw you in and make you want to know more about him.” Jenny: “The spotlight on the eyes, with the face mostly obscured conveys a strong sense of mystery and the street scene in the background tells us this is a contemporary.” Courtney: “The author and title text is clear and not obscured by complicated images. The man's eyes are sexy, a little bad, and a lot mysterious, which makes me want to read the book to find out what he's got going on in his head.” Anne: “I like the monochrome color style and use of light to draw focus to eyes and city street background” Liz: “I like the view of the city behind the mysterious figure of the hero, it seems very intriguing, and I like the colors.“ limecello: “I like how everyone on the cover works together, and the color scheme. I don't like how the text OWNS the cover - but it's the one I like most out of the bunch. I think mostly because of the font [though I'm less taken by it's size] - and the color scheme.“ Jennifer: “I love the color and the cover is very intriguing. There is an element of mystery to it.” Brandy: “The all blue and shadows is very dramatic as is the light playing across the model's eyes. The overall effect is very classy and moving.” |
Our fourth place winner is Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder, only three votes behind Devil May Cry. The lush green and the heroine going up that staircase were enchanting. Nana: “When I saw Magic Study and Poison Study, I had to go over to Amazon to look up the books, which is something no other covers in the entire contest made me do. I love them both, and I love how together they create a ‘brand image’ for the series. I'm afraid, though, that two great covers in the same year from the same series will split votes and knock each other out. Ultimately, Magic Study edges Poison Study for me because of the unusual setting, lush colors, and interesting outfit on the heroine.“ Anna: “I chose this one over my second favorite Poison Study because while both of them avoided the now clichéd ‘misty’ setting, I was especially intrigued to see where the girl was going as she walked up the stairs from the grotto.” Lizzie: “While the heroine's back has been getting overdone on covers, I love the focus on the lush setting and the question asked by the staircase--where is she going? Also, props to the thematic follow up of the Poison Study cover--it was a toss up between them for me, but the otherworldly forest stairs won me over.” Marian: “A tropical forest, a mysterious stone stairway and a heroine bracing herself to climb it... what's not to like? And the centered title with the flower-spray looks as though the book is bound with a ribbon the reader has to untie. The title's also easier to read here than it is on some of the other books.” carrotbat: “Wasn't a different cover for this book on the ballot last year? I liked that one, and I love this one -- the green, the oranges, the way it reminds me of my grandparents' garden, the fact that you can see all of the model's head...“ Yes, that’s right, the Luna edition of Magic Study was in last year's contest, and came in third place. Emily had difficulties choosing her favorite cover, saying it was a: “tossup between this and Mooncusser Cove - both beautiful and mysterious.” Then she continued “but seriously, what's up with the titles in this category? Mooncusser? What did the moon ever do to them? And Devil may cry?” Well, you’d have to ask the authors or publishers about that… Cover Cafe´s Mary Alice chose this cover and commented: “This cover looks magical and romantic; I wonder what is at the top of the stairway and what will be waiting for her once she reaches it.” |
Mira |
Liquid Silver Books |
Mooncusser Cove by Darragha Foster is our fifth place winner. This stunning, ethereal cover fascinated many voters. Sheridan was one, and said: “it’s the colour. The book draws my eye, whereas the other books fade a little next to it.” Valerie: “Mostly because of the colour, the reflection of the moonlight...I would have probably liked just as well or better without the woman.” Karen: “Love the blue and the sparkles in the picture - Love the water and the big skirt that the model is wearing.“ Darragha: “this cover is breathtaking, and looks really good as a backdrop on a pair of earrings. It is unusual and conveys the mystery of the novel.” Michelle: “this was the most beautiful of the covers, as well as being wonderfully evocative for this genre. The single blue tones, the clouded sky, with the brilliant moon, the pose of the figure all added up to a lovely whole.” Andrew chose between The Morcai Battalion and Mooncusser Cove, where Mooncusser won in the end “due to the beautiful use of color and light, both realistic and magical. This practically dares the reader to pick it up and learn more. “ Malvina: “She's standing on the edge of the water, drinking in the moon and the little moonbeams thingies clustering around her - drawing them (and their power?) in. She's really in the mood, swishing her skirt, eyes closed (from what I can see). Gorgeous cover, arresting, believeably paranormal or otherworldly.” Denise: “I liked this one for several reasons; the ethereal quality of the scene--it fairly shouts MAGIC and seems appropriate to the title. Honestly, with the exception of the Kenyon cover (which I found blah), all the covers were very eye-catching. My decision to choose this one was based on a more visceral reaction than a visual one. While lovely, I liked it best because it reminded me of the cover of one my favorite books, The Bridge across Forever.“ |
It was a very close call between the fifth and sixth place. Lady of Light and Shadow by C.L. Wilson came in sixth place, only three votes behind Mooncusser Cove. Nicole: “I love the colors and the fantastical quality of the art. You don't even notice the glowing red eyes right away as the woman commands your attention.” Leah: “It's a great blend of beauty and a subtle creepiness with the shadowy figure *just* visible when you really start to look. I love it!” Sandra: “Many of the other covers don't evoke ‘Alternate Reality’ without the title telling you. I really like the whimsical and the dark aspects of the cover.“ Diana: “I like most of the covers, but this one I have read and loved a lot, so the cover makes sense to me. This scene is in the book.” Kristen: “In person, it's so much more beautiful. Plus, it really fits the story. Points for that!” Gita: “The cover really reflects the story well - at first you only see a woman dreaming, but as you look closer, you start to realize that there is some sort of menace. It's really intriguing, and the cover art is excellent.” Cheryl commented: “I absolutely adore the cover, the art is so very striking. The beautiful, rich red of Ellie's curls, the royal blue of her gown really play against the sunlight meadow, magic sparkles and the dark shadow of the evil High Mage hovering overhead. Judy York captured the book perfectly, and the cover really stands out on the shelves.” Barbara: “Is it just me or does the guy with the glowing eyes bring back memories of ‘The Emperor’ from the Star Wars saga?” No, you’re not alone thinking that, Barbara. Deb asked “how did we get a Star Wars villain here?” Maya: “Like my favorite fantasy paintings, there are so many elements in it, elements that visually tease the reader while depicting major characters (and threats) beautifully.” |
Leisure |
Love Spell |
Writ on Water by Melanie Jackson is our seventh place winner. Many liked the beautiful, yet sad angel statue on this cover. This cover was Judy’s favorite: “The pathos in this cover are fabulous. The weeping statue and spreading branches of the tree in the background let you know there must be some intense emotion in this book. Much better than a blowsy wench or shadowy man for a change.” Amy: “It’s not the traditional woman in a pretty dress with nice scenery picture. I like the cemetery look and somber tone of the cover.” Linda: “like the look of the suffering angel monument in the moonlight.” Susan: “the statue looks both eerie and sad at the same time.” Rebecca: “the clarity of the monument and the shadows on it against the foggy softer background is very artistic.“ This was also the favorite for several of Cover Cafe’s members: Jeanette: “The mystery, the sadness. It looks so real. The Angel can start moving any time. Really beautiful.” Heather chose this one because “it's eerie, romantic, and sad too - just what I think Alternate reality should be.” Mary Lynne: “It's a really different type of AR cover, many of which tend to center on people. But here we've got a statue come to life--and not only that, but mourning something. Doesn't that make you want to pick up the book and figure out why that's so? It does for me--and that's the hallmark of a good cover!” Mary Lynne continues “but honestly, this is the most amazing category of covers. Every single one is strong, and would easily win my vote given the right circumstances!” |
Belladonna by Anne Bishop came in eighth place. Deanna: “The cover offers a mysterious landscape but you don't know if that is just a painting or the door way into the world. The female character looks to be self assured. The colour contrast also brings the eye to the female. All in all a very well done cover, making it seem that there is more to the story.“ Amanda: “Her dress is gorgeous and I like the misty background. I also like that she is looking at the reader rather than staring off into the distance. Very mysterious.” Erin: “I work in a bookstore and Anne Bishop's covers are always simple but very eye-catching for their beauty.” Zola: “The color combination is striking -- soft grays, mystical blues and the surprise of a deep red. I like the way the woman is looking away from the viewer -- she'd pensive, probably for a compelling reason. I'd pick this book up to read the synopsis on back.” Janet: “The heroine is beautiful, lovely expression on her face, I love that she's wearing red and stands out clearly from the background.” Anna: “Though I don't read much in this subgenre, I could look at this cover for hours. The frame, the misty effect, the colors, the pose and mood of the female figure, even the title font remind me of what I'd like to achieve in my own art (recently taken up digital art as a hobby) so I find this one personally inspiring.“ Kim: “I love the covers in this series. The frame around the picture, the mood the background evokes. The wonderful costume and beauty of the figure. Love the font also. I usually steer clear of alternate reality books but the covers of this series definitely make me want to start it...“ |
Roc Hardcover |
Signet Eclipse |
Luna |
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In ninth place placed Mystic Guardian by Patricia Rice.
Deborah: “Intriguing misty cover, watchful face above in the clouds...makes me want to take a journey.” Margaret: “I love the mysterious look of it all. The island, the boat and the mist. I feel that there is something safe on that island.” Caroline: “I love the dreamlike quality of the cover - very mysterious and appealing in a nicely understated way. It is a cover you want to look at for some time to catch every detail.” Sherrie: “I love the misty moodiness and the mysterious island. Also love the lettering.” Lisa: “what can I say - I like my hero to be pictured on the cover with a little left to the imagination.“ Cover Cafe’s Lee liked this cover: “The title and illustration both tie in together and the fonts even add to the total picture.” |
The Morcai Battalion by Diana Palmer, which came in at number ten, was complimented on its otherworldly feel by several voters. Helen was one: “I like the ’other worldly’ feel of this cover with the strange objects in the sky.”
Emily: “Now I want to read this book. The cover stands about--there is no languishing woman or brooding stare, just a strong and silent type with a strange civilization behind him. Unlike the other covers, this one actually says alternate reality.” Jen: “Because it looks really cool and makes me want to go out and buy a copy even though I'm not a huge fan of this genre.” Cover Cafe´s Jo-Ann chose this cover: “This is a really nice entry into this category - very Sci-Fi! The colors are pretty and I always like a monochromatic look. Plus I like the contrast of this very-well known traditional romance author's name with this very traditional looking science fiction cover. Since it's so startling, it would make me pick it up! Besides which, I didn't feel any other cover had anything special going for it. This one stood out.” |
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