Cover images for romance books is a tricky subject. There are so many genres and styles these days, you never know what you’re going to get when you head out to buy the latest and greatest from your favourite author. Mixed in with this post are a few of my favorite covers (by some of my fave authors who you’ll no doubt recognize).

For me, the first thing I notice about a book is the cover. If the image or artwork is cheesy, badly drawn, or has an awkward composition, I won’t even pick it up to read the blurb. What I love to see is deep, vibrant colours and contrasts. Because I’m a romantic suspense author, and lover of the paranormal, I’m automatically drawn to those types of covers. Dark and sensual. Mysterious.

The second thing I notice is the man.

And who doesn’t? Right ladies?

If he’s hunky he’s got my attention. I understand the need to put the heroine on the cover as well, but being of the female gender, I’m way more interested in the hero. I once bought a book just because the photo of the guy on the cover stopped me dead in my tracks. I think I was in the grocery store and I NEVER buy books in the grocery store. Never. Until I walked past hunky mister green eyes. Damn near crashed my cart into the candy display in a hurry to grab the paperback out of the rotating stand. Now that’s purchase power.

Yet not every book needs people on the cover. There are a great many covers that use locations, or symbols (especially in paranormal books) to convey the theme of the book, and still catch the reader’s eye.

Some authors are lucky enough to sell books on name alone, but for most of us the cover is what is going to get us past the next guy in line. I think most of the time the author has absolutely no say in the design of the cover other than to make a few suggestions. We fill in a bio sheet describing our hero and heroine’s physical features and characteristics, list the various locations the story takes place in, and someone who hasn’t read the story then makes the decision on your cover.

Sometimes you get an eye-catching, shopping cart crashing cover.

Other times?

Well… you get covers that are entered into the “worst romance book cover” contest. ^_^

Thoughts? Comments? Any stories or cover art you’d like to share?

- Nika