Can Covers Make or Break A Book?

Fair question, isn't it? How many times have we read smart-alecky, snarky comments about covers? Some are well-deserved, that's for sure. Others poke fun -- if you haven't been to Bam's blog, you've got to check out her cover snarks here. She's simply hilarious.

How much impact does a cover have on a book?

A cover tells a lot about the story. The mood, the theme, the overall feel. It is the first thing a reader sees. A vampire/werewolf book would typically have a dark mood, emphasizing the darkness of the creatures/humans that are the main characters in the story. A chick-lit would often have a cartoon in the front, indicative of light humor. BDSM? Usually a cover that involves handcuffs or any instrument that would bring to mind bondage. Sounds simple and straightforward enough. You would think. *g* Here's a sample of a cover that I think is really hot:



Nice, isn't it? It's sexy yet understated. Tells you right away it's erotic. The arm around the woman screams possession, mastery. (Or am I reading too much into it? LOL)I really liked it. And no, I don't write for that publisher, nor do I know the author. But I do like the cover.

An attractive cover will certainly draw the reader's eye, enough to make her pick up the book and read the blurb -- or in the case of ebooks, click on it and check out the blurb. Dramatic colors and evocative poses help, too. Romances almost always feature "clinch" covers. Lately, covers have been more daring. A body part here, a buttock there. Hey, we've all seen the hot EC covers. *g*

On the flip side, there are covers that just suck great, big, hairy donkey balls. This can be somewhat of a death knell for a well-written book. An ugly cover can turn off a reader before she even ventures to read the blurb. As an author, how much control do we have over covers? Some, but not a lot. I have a vision for my covers, and I try my best to communicate that to the cover artist. Of course, there are always things that will limit the cover artists, like budget, availability of photos, etc, etc. That's where computer programs come in. Remember, it's a business, folks. Bottom line is the profit margin.

So yes, I think covers play a large part in a book's success. Of course, it's still up to the author to weave a gripping plot line to hook a reader from start to finish. Then again, you don't want to lose a reader before she even reads the story. A beautiful cover is like icing on a delicious cake.

Feel free to point me to covers that you love. Better yet, tell me of some horrendous ones you know. *g*

Bandar: Pursuit of Pleasure Available Today

The third book in my Bandar series for Changeling is available today. Pursuit of Pleasure is the story of Dax and Ariana, and the race across space to save her family and her home. To read an excerpt, you can go http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=512. As always, you can let me know what you think of the story. I'm a little bit torn because I think this is the last of my Bandar series. I really don't want to see it end.

We'll see what the muse says. Happy reading!

Too Much Sex?

When I was in my early teens, I read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. But when I started imagining Nancy in love with the Hardy Boys, I knew it was time for a change. No kidding. And that's when I discovered the lovely world of romance books. Like most other readers, I grew up reading series romance. Over the years, their appeal began to pall. I wanted more. More details, more sex. Don't lead up to the bedroom and shut the door in my face. I've been with you through all the preliminary stuff. Let me in on the good stuff, too. Right? This is about the time I discovered Ellora's Cave. Pretty soon, I finished a manuscript and turned it in. Hallelujah, they got back to me within a couple of weeks and wanted it! That was Abduction of Emma. The rest, as you know, is history.

I came across a pretty interesting discussion the other day in one of the lists I belong to. The topic was about sex and having to put too much of it in a book. What snagged my attention was the fact that some bemoaned the fact that they were being asked to add more sex to their finished stories. I guess I'm fortunate enough that I've never been asked to do that. What that says about me, I don't know. You tell me. *g*

When I write, I don't consciously tell myself that I have to put a certain number of sex scenes in it. To me, if I do that, it will come across as forced. It disturbs the natural flow of the story and will seem out of place. I can't insert a sex scene in the middle of a chapter for the sake of it. But having said that, I also have to keep it mind that I am writing an erotic romance. The plot, while it can involve other elements (paranormal, suspense, vampire or what-have-you) has to revolve around romance and the development of it and of course, sex (which comes naturally with romance, IMO).

I've heard some people grouse that you can't have sex every ten pages. True, you can't. But what sex the story does have, it's got to work. You have to delve deep in the reader's emotions. Make them feel every sensation the characters feel. Add sensory details. What's the heroine feeling, smelling, touching? What does the room look like? The atmosphere? Even if it's a short sex scene (like some romantic suspense I've read lately. I found myself turning the pages and gasping when there wasn't anymore), you've got to ramp up the heat. Turn it up a couple of notches and make it satisfying.

If you're having to add more sex to a finished book, maybe it's not erotic romance, you know? Maybe it's conventional romance that's being spiced up to be erotic.

Resolutions

Every year, like millions of people out there, I write down some resolutions that I'd like to fulfill for the next 365 days. All in the name of becoming a better me!
Here's a few I'd like to share with you.

1) Lose the extra weight I've been carrying around. This is a universal resolution. Everybody wants to lose weight. Just don't write me and tell me you need to lose three or five pounds. Puh-leeze. Don't make me sick.

2) Addendum to #1. Use the treadmill and elliptical for the express purpose of exercise. They're pretty much furniture right now. LOL.

3) Make more at-home meals instead of eating out. In a perfect world, you'll find me in the kitchen every night, wearing an apron over my dress, whipping up delicious, nutritious home-cooked meals. Reality is, I'm not able to do that most of the time. I'd love to, though. Eating out gets old after a while. Plus, it can drastically cut down on expenses.

4) Be more sociable. Believe it or not, I'd rather stay home with a good book than party. I'm the complete opposite of my husband, who is very outgoing, knows practically everyone and will talk to all of them every chance he gets. I always tell my kids I'm moving to an island somewhere when I retire. They think I'm kidding. Not.

5) Travel. I'd like to take a few weeks in the summer to explore Europe. My idea of a good time would be to get lost in ancient castles and spend hours exploring. Less work, more fun kind of thing. Of course, this is more like a dream, really, than a resolution. LOL.

6)Write faster. Okay, faster might be the wrong term. While I've matured a lot in the past few years that I've been writing, I haven't gotten to the level where I'm comfortable putting out books on a regular basis. I'd like to get to the point where I have three or four books in the cue--without sacrificing quality and plot. Damn it, life. Stop intruding!

7)Try New York. This year, I'd like to try my hand at submitting to a NY pub (again). Last year, I received ONE rejection letter and I consider that my rite of passage. Time to get back on the horse and try to ride that baby one more time.

8) Clean out my closet. Y'all know what I mean. If it hasn't been used in a couple of years, it ain't never gonna be used at all. Throw it out.

9) Other women have Blahnik or Choo fetishes. Mine is for cute, fashionable sneakers. I have more than a dozen pairs that I wear, and more stowed in boxes in the garage. Have got to STOP shopping for sneakers.

10) I'd like to be a better wife and mother in the sense that I'd like to have more patience and cut down on the hormonal rants (another term for pms). Hey, I can dream, can't I?

I will keep my resolutions to ten only. Gotta keep it realistic and most of all, doable. If you have any good ones you'd like to share, let me know. I just might add it to my list.