Monday, April 30. 2012
2011 Romance Cover Contest - Let the voting begin!
We're celebrating the best and worst in 2011 Romance Books Covers!
Cover Cafe's 2011 Cover Contest
Online voting from May 2nd, 2012 until Midnight CST on May 16th, 2012.
Choose your favorites in six categories ~ Alternate Reality, Contemporary, Historical, Series, Two Image Covers, and the infamous Worst.
Please leave your comment below. We'd love to know your thoughts on this year's contest. Contest results will be posted in June, 2012.
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I had a pleasant time voting in all the categories again this year. Some lovely covers!
However, I skipped the "Worst" category altogether. I'm already scarred for life from previous "Worst" covers. When the contest started, the "Worst" covers were just embarrassing, ill-advised, or badly drawn, right? These days...oh boy. Brain bleach, please. No. Not this year.
However, I skipped the "Worst" category altogether. I'm already scarred for life from previous "Worst" covers. When the contest started, the "Worst" covers were just embarrassing, ill-advised, or badly drawn, right? These days...oh boy. Brain bleach, please. No. Not this year.
I had so much fun being a part of this. I'm thrilled that my cover for "A Southern Reunion" was on the list. Thanks!
I think the WORST category should be dropped altogether. No author wants to know their cover is so bad. I misread the instructions so I voted in every category...however, if I vote again next time there's this contest, I'll skip the WORST category.
I agree the worst cover should be dropped. Kind of takes the fun out of participating.
Thank you B. for voting and I'm sorry you didn't realize you need to vote in just 3 of the 6 categories for your votes to count & that you can skip the Worst category. Next year, if you decide to vote again, choose the other 5 categories and just skip the Worst. It is a popular category and unfortunately, there are poorly executed covers on the market and readers deserve better product. I have a love/hate relationship with the Worst category but I also want quality covers representing the romance genre.
The contest was created over 10 years ago to urge publishers to improve the quality of romance covers and "bad" covers were the original inspiration for the contest. The romance genre has been mocked because of "clinch" covers and the creators wanted to see covers that respected the genre. When you see the wonderful covers produced each year, it makes it even more puzzling why there are still bad covers on the market. But then, readers' tastes are different and one person's bad cover is another person's favorite cover. Thank you again for voting.
The contest was created over 10 years ago to urge publishers to improve the quality of romance covers and "bad" covers were the original inspiration for the contest. The romance genre has been mocked because of "clinch" covers and the creators wanted to see covers that respected the genre. When you see the wonderful covers produced each year, it makes it even more puzzling why there are still bad covers on the market. But then, readers' tastes are different and one person's bad cover is another person's favorite cover. Thank you again for voting.
I disagree. The worst cover is a lot of fun. Each year I can always count on a huge laugh when I look at the finalists
The covers seem to be getting better. But why do you not have a category for Paranormal or YA? Or Romantic Suspense?
Thanks for going to such trouble to do this. Oh and maybe next year you could do a "self-published" cover? There are some truly awesome selfpublished covers out and some truly awful ones.
WendyK
Thanks for going to such trouble to do this. Oh and maybe next year you could do a "self-published" cover? There are some truly awesome selfpublished covers out and some truly awful ones.
WendyK
Good question WendyK - There was a Romantic Suspense category up until a few years ago but there were not enough covers produced to sustain a separate category. Romantic Suspense is now included in either the Contemporary or the Historical category depending on the book's time frame.
The Alternate Reality category currently showcases Paranormal romances and YA romances can appear in all categories. The YA genre has exploded in the last two years and there may be a separate YA category in the future.
There is a self-published cover in our Contemporary finals this year, "Touched by Angels" an eBook reprint self published by Peggy Webb. It is the first self-published cover to reach the finals. I see self published covers competing head to head with the big publishers, just like small publishers have done successfully. Thank you for the ideas and also for voting in the contest.
The Alternate Reality category currently showcases Paranormal romances and YA romances can appear in all categories. The YA genre has exploded in the last two years and there may be a separate YA category in the future.
There is a self-published cover in our Contemporary finals this year, "Touched by Angels" an eBook reprint self published by Peggy Webb. It is the first self-published cover to reach the finals. I see self published covers competing head to head with the big publishers, just like small publishers have done successfully. Thank you for the ideas and also for voting in the contest.
Thank you!! This is my first time voting. What a nice selection. It was sort of hard to pick, but I do like my choices.
Your selctions were right on. I picked the book I have read and I would say the contest is going to be good, Thanks
Thank you - I enjoy this contest every year and adore picking the worst!
This years' worst was hard to choose - even the salacious ones at least demonstrated what the book was about. Not a fan of bondage so at least I wouldn't have picked up the chains book... the worst was the one that was so generic-cowboy with erection-girl is bad bikini in the grass-train trestle in background... what the heck was that supposed to demonstrate?
This years' worst was hard to choose - even the salacious ones at least demonstrated what the book was about. Not a fan of bondage so at least I wouldn't have picked up the chains book... the worst was the one that was so generic-cowboy with erection-girl is bad bikini in the grass-train trestle in background... what the heck was that supposed to demonstrate?
I think it's nice to have some foreign covers included in the contest. A couple of them were winners for me.
Nice job everyone. They are all great and it was difficult for me to chose.
Good luck to all.
Ana
Good luck to all.
Ana
I think this is a great idea! A cover can really say alot about a book. A pup on a cover caught my eye and ever since I found the best author ever!
What a fun time this whole year was! And what covers! Sometimes it was really hard to pick a favorite...even in the "worst" category. LOL
Can't wait to see the final results.
Can't wait to see the final results.
Thank you, Linnae and everyone! As always, it was fun to vote in this year's contest.
Based solely on the cover art, the entry I'd most want to read would be Sarah Sundin's "Blue Skies Tomorrow" in the historical category. As a rule I prefer painted rather than photographed covers. But this was the proverbial exception.
I'm looking forward to the results. Keep up the good work!
Based solely on the cover art, the entry I'd most want to read would be Sarah Sundin's "Blue Skies Tomorrow" in the historical category. As a rule I prefer painted rather than photographed covers. But this was the proverbial exception.
I'm looking forward to the results. Keep up the good work!
I was really attracted to that cover also. Something so different.
Linda Coppola: Yes, and imagine my surprise when I checked with Amazon and found out that "Blue Skies Tomorrow" is an inspirational romance. And I'm way outside of its target demo group. So I won't be reading it. Oh well, nice cover, anyhow.
I'm disappointed some of the beautiful covers from digital publishers weren't included. Samhain has some gorgeous covers, for example.
Linda - Samhain covers have reached the finals in the best categories:
"Little Red & the Wolf" in AR & "A Reason to Rebel" in HST in the 2010 contest
"One Thousand Kisses" in AR and "Lost and Found" in CO in the 2011 contest.
We vote on the covers that are nominated throughout the year. This year, there were 565 nominations received via the nomination form plus the covers discovered by the category chairs. Only 60 of the 565+ covers reached the finals. It is a tough competition and there are great covers that do not make the finals.
A cover has to be nominated to be considered so when you see one, please fill out a nomination form. Thanks for voting!
"Little Red & the Wolf" in AR & "A Reason to Rebel" in HST in the 2010 contest
"One Thousand Kisses" in AR and "Lost and Found" in CO in the 2011 contest.
We vote on the covers that are nominated throughout the year. This year, there were 565 nominations received via the nomination form plus the covers discovered by the category chairs. Only 60 of the 565+ covers reached the finals. It is a tough competition and there are great covers that do not make the finals.
A cover has to be nominated to be considered so when you see one, please fill out a nomination form. Thanks for voting!
Is there any way we can request that our voting comments not be shared? Or that if they are shared, that they are shared anonymously rather than using a real name? Thank you.
Anonymous - There are several options that you can use. You can request that your comment not be used at the end of your comment on the ballot. You can create a screen name that only you would know. You could also ask that your comment be listed under unknown or Anonymous. Comments are optional but they are so much fun to read and one of the most popular parts of the contest. Thank you for your interest in the Cover Cafe contest.
Thank you. Unfortunately I already voted using my name before thinking of it.
Click on my name at the bottom of the comment and send me a private email with the name of the cover and the name you used and I'll flag the comment.
Awesome, awesome, awesome! At times it's been so difficult to choose a favorite because there are magnificent artworks out there in the same category...I bow in front of such talented artists...their work is so important because what they do is the first thing that meets the eye of a potential reader and first impressions are so important.
I love the cover contest - thanks to everyone for doing this every year!
However....I love the 'Worst Cover' part of the contest, but I wish there were more paper covers. It's super easy to find terrible cover art from small publishers and ebooks. In the past, there have been choices from paperback, and I wish you would go back to those.
Still, a great job from everyone involved!
However....I love the 'Worst Cover' part of the contest, but I wish there were more paper covers. It's super easy to find terrible cover art from small publishers and ebooks. In the past, there have been choices from paperback, and I wish you would go back to those.
Still, a great job from everyone involved!
Thank you for voting Toni. In this year's contest, there are 4 print covers and 6 eBook covers featured in the Worst category. If you see a "Worst" cover and it is in the print format, be sure to fill out a nomination form. Since eReaders arrived on the scene, the eBook market has exploded in popularity. Each year, there are more and more eBooks nominated in all of the categories.
There wasn't a single nice cover among the lot. I chose the least frilly/cutesy/alphamanly ones, but it was a vote against, not for.
This is my first time voting, really enjoyed it! The worst cover was a tough one...
I've always wanted to vote, but I kinda missed the dates. This year I actually got to vote but....I voted once in every category...oh sigh, that means my vote won't be counted?
Oh well, I had fun. Most of the covers are really great and represented the stories inside. Will certainly vote next year. Keep up the wonderful work Cover Cafe!!
p/s love the worst category, can't help but flinching/wincing and grinning at the same time!!
Oh well, I had fun. Most of the covers are really great and represented the stories inside. Will certainly vote next year. Keep up the wonderful work Cover Cafe!!
p/s love the worst category, can't help but flinching/wincing and grinning at the same time!!
I'm glad you were able to vote and voting once in every category is perfect. I'm sorry the rule was confusing. We have the rule that to avoid ballot stuffing. Ballot stuffing is where someone votes multiple times for one cover or only votes in one category because they are fans of the author. We want to keep the contest as fair as possible. People need to vote in at least 3 of the categories (but we would love them to vote in all 6 categories)and only once in each individual category. Thank you for voting!
this is my first time voting I really enjoyed it!cant wait to see who won
Just wanted to stop by and say thanks for the opportunity to vote on this year's covers. Great collection...
Mel
Mel
This is my first time voting. Wow, it was hard to choose from all the good covers.
Enjoyed all categories.
Enjoyed all categories.
Love the Worst cover round !!! Good luck to all!! However i would say that 'Just a Kiss Away' by Jill Barnett shouldn't have been put in historical category...made no sense to me.
Laura, Thank you for voting and I'm glad you enjoyed the Worst category.
I wrote a Dear Publisher Blog post about the "Just a Kiss Away" cover last year.
http://www.covercafe.com/serendipity/index.php?/archives/31-Reprint-Sleuthing-Everything-Old-Is-New-Again!.html
I loved the cover when I saw it while surfing romance books and it was one of my nominations. However, I nominated it in the Contemporary Category because it looked so modern. When the CO Chair researched specifics, she discovered it was a reprint cover and belonged in the HST category. I thought...OK, it must be a story about a flapper from the twenties...but no, the story takes place in the 1800's. I also had purchased the original book...talk about surprised.
I still love the cover based on the cover's terrific execution but the cover design doesn't signal that the story is Historical. The contest committee did not vote this cover through to the finals. The cover was the 10th choice of the Historical Chair. She really liked the cover and wanted to see how it would fare competing with the other nine covers. It is a great cover and if it had been in the CO category, I think it would have made the finals.
I wrote a Dear Publisher Blog post about the "Just a Kiss Away" cover last year.
http://www.covercafe.com/serendipity/index.php?/archives/31-Reprint-Sleuthing-Everything-Old-Is-New-Again!.html
I loved the cover when I saw it while surfing romance books and it was one of my nominations. However, I nominated it in the Contemporary Category because it looked so modern. When the CO Chair researched specifics, she discovered it was a reprint cover and belonged in the HST category. I thought...OK, it must be a story about a flapper from the twenties...but no, the story takes place in the 1800's. I also had purchased the original book...talk about surprised.
I still love the cover based on the cover's terrific execution but the cover design doesn't signal that the story is Historical. The contest committee did not vote this cover through to the finals. The cover was the 10th choice of the Historical Chair. She really liked the cover and wanted to see how it would fare competing with the other nine covers. It is a great cover and if it had been in the CO category, I think it would have made the finals.
Thanks Linnae for the info, Its not really my cup of tea for cover art but i find it so interesting how other people see art differently 
Love this competition it great that romance book covers can be appreciated and recognized
Love this competition it great that romance book covers can be appreciated and recognized
I voted for the first time this year, although I've always enjoyed the contest. I voted in every category except series, and commented on most of my votes. Do you post full names with comments you use? I was thinking you only use first names, which would be fine, but I'd rather not have my full name displayed.
Alissa - I'm glad you enjoy the contest and that you voted this year! We use first names and sometimes the first letter of a last name unless it is the author of the book. If someone uses a nickname like "Luv2Read", we will use the nickname. When you vote you do not need to use your full name. You can use your first name, a nickname, or initials. You could also ask to have your comments not used on the ballot but comments are so much fun for other readers and a very important part of the contest.
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