Cover Cafe ~ Dear Publisher

The 2012 Cover Contest results are ready for their closeup.

nospam@example.com (Linnae - Cover Cafe) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:12:00 -0700

The 2012 Romance Cover Contest results are now online. See how the sixty finalists fared in public voting and see which covers captured the top spot in their category. Make sure you visit each category page and read the always interesting voter comments. If you have any general contest comments, please leave them in the comment section below. Thank you for being a fan of Cover Cafe's annual romance cover contest. We'd love to know if you enjoyed the results and how you feel about the voters' top choices for 2012.

Cover Cafe's 2012 Romance Cover Contest Results!

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2013 Erotica Romance Covers - New and Notable

nospam@example.com (Linnae - Cover Cafe) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:11:00 -0700

Take a look at another edition of new and notable 2013 covers. I spent some time this past month searching for new and notable covers from the erotica genre. I am a huge supporter of having "general audience" friendly covers no matter what the genre. Unfortunately, I lost count of how many new erotica covers online made me cringe. Why are there so many covers with close ups of women's rear ends complete with thongs? And don't get me started on the titles featuring the words rape, grandfather, father, uncle, or stuffed animal sex. Yes, there are titles in the erotica sections using those words. I understand that erotica covers need to signal their content but do they have to be so blatant?

Below are a few new and notable sexy covers that I wouldn't be embarrassed owning nor do they demean women. You'll notice there isn't a naked female rear end, pushed up breasts, or titles with incest, rape, or stuffed animal sex. Maybe erotica readers really like "butts on parade" and incest as topics but this reader appreciates covers that signal a more sexy read without adding to the objectification of women. Granted it is just my personal opinion and I don't usually read erotica romances. However, since Cover Cafe only features covers suitable for general audience viewing, finding "general audience friendly" erotica covers is my challenge every year. Who knows? You might see one or more of the covers below in the 2013 finals next year.

PUBLISHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON MOUSE OVER!

In February, Samantha Young posted the cover on the left as her upcoming US cover from Penguin. However, when Down London Road was released in May the cover had been changed to a close up view of the couple. Don't get me wrong, they are both fantastic covers but I'm partial to the cover with the entire view of the couple. Which cover do you prefer?

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The Worst category has always been controversial.

nospam@example.com (Linnae - Cover Cafe) — Tue, 28 May 2013 12:23:00 -0700

Every year we receive complaints about the existence of a Worst category in the contest line-up. We also have voters express dismay about the more graphic finalists in the Worst finals. (They are tame compared to covers we exclude because they are not acceptable for viewing by the general public.) However, we also receive comments from people who enjoy the category. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and a cover hated by one reader may receive a passing grade from another reader. There are no absolutes when judging covers because everyone has different tastes and perspectives. We understand that publishers and authors dislike negative critiques about their releases and having a cover reach the final slate in the Worst category is a negative critique. The Worst category has always been controversial but it is a necessary evil because there are some horrendous covers in today's market.

When Carol and Sandy created the original contest for All About Romance in 2000, they were dissatisfied with the quality of romance covers. They wanted publishers to respect romance readers and eliminate bodice rippers. The annual contest was their chosen messenger. Since 2000, large publishing houses have improved their covers and they seldom deserve an appearance in the Worst finals. In the early years of the contest, small publishers and self-published authors did not have large marketing budgets and they were exempt from the Worst category.

Then eBooks arrived on the scene and everything changed. Covers from small publishers and even self-published covers began competing on an even playing field and reaching the finals in several of the Best categories. Unfortunately, poorly executed eBook covers also started multiplying like bunny rabbits. The digital revolution made creating covers possible for anyone with Photoshop and access to stock photos. Once covers from small publishers reached the finals in our Best categories, it was time to remove their protection from the infamous Worst category. Small publishers and self-published authors have produced some beautiful covers and it is perplexing why they ever release poor quality covers. (Currently, self published authors are still exempt from the Worst category but that will change once they began appearing on a regular basis in the other categories.)

I believe publishers and self published authors are capable of producing quality covers even with minimal budgets. Covers that readers will be proud to own and enjoy via their readers or in print. Covers that will not demean the genre, covers that are viewer friendly for general audiences, and sometimes even "frame worthy" works of art. There isn't a valid excuse for releasing covers that embarrass or disrespect readers. Today, I'm featuring great covers released by five of the publishers featured in our 2012 Worst finals. Go figure? The publishers are capable of producing quality covers based on the examples below and they are also responsible for the covers appearing in the Worst finals.

PUBLISHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON MOUSE OVER!

Breathless Press released the very romantic Winter Gifts cover using grey scale and a clutter free design. They also released Rose Between the Thorns, the cover for the sequel of To Please a Lady, one of the 2012 Worst cover finalists. The sequel is a big improvement.

Resplendence Publishing released the two covers below and but they also released Negotiated Passion, a 2012 Worst finalist. I love the heroine's expression and her specs on the Love & History cover and The Reluctant Bride is a gorgeous and well designed cover.

Siren Publishing has some lurid and sloppy Photoshopped covers but they also have a few covers that feature a pleasing cover design. They might not win First Place in our Best categories but they won't end up in our Worst finals.

Beautiful Trouble was a little more challenging but I found a great cover, You are My Everything. They also released, Pretty as a Picture, a 2012 Worst cover finalist. (It makes me laugh every time I see it.) Books We Love publishing gave us the 2012 Worst cover finalist, Savage Possession but also produced the sophisticated and sexy cover for Make Love Not War.

If you are an author or a publisher, putting your best foot forward is essential. The all important first impression needs to impress not inspire laughter or disgust. Releasing an ill conceived cover design is like arriving for a job interview without makeup, dressed in a worn out bathrobe and fuzzy slippers. If you're a Nora Roberts, you will get away with a robe and slippers, but if you are a new or mid list author then dress for success.

FYI - The 2012 contest results will be posted online in mid to late June! Thank you for voting and your interest in Cover Cafe and the annual contests.

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