I'm just curious if anyone knows anything about how they go about deciding on bookcovers and just stuff like that. And the models?

♥ Kel

that sounds like somthing for Mr. Spice or Lynsay....we can keep bumping it up until one of them see it!! If you wish..

THanks :)
I wonder where the heck Sweet Bunz is off to? If he is bugging Lynsay well I just might have to have some words with him!

Publishers have an art department that do the book covers. Authors don't always have much of a say in Titles or cover art. Dorchester does "cartoon style" covers but Avon doesn't. That is why we have a difference in covers from the two publishers. The art department probably gets a "summary" of the book to go on, but from some of the covers of books you can tell they didn't read it very well. Also, like the "bat tattoos" some things are put on a book to draw attention as a gimmick...a marketing technique. Very important, as you want to catch browsing readers in a store who might be looking for a paranormal, or a historical from a certain time period, etc.

I think Avon did a really good job with the last three Argeneau novels, both with the cover art and the titles. I know the The Accidental Vampire was Lynsay's title for Victor's book. They did not use her original title for Bite Me If You Can...she had called it Once Bitten...which is in the blurb on the back of the book. Her title was much better, imo, for the storyline...because Leigh had already been bitten. However, the first two Avon Argeneaus were A Quick Bite and A Bite To Remember, both which fit those books very well, so I think they were trying to keep the word "Bite" in the title to match. I don't know if Lynsay came up with those titles or with the titles to LB, SWV, and TD&H when she was with Dorchester.

There are career models for book covers. Even in SWV, you have a scene where it mentions the models at the RT conference. So, I guess that would depend on the model's contract with the publishing house...or whoever his/her agent places contracts for their models. I saw in Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine where Adrian Paul was going to be at the cover model reunion at this year's conference. He is the actor who played Duncan McCleod on The Highlander...and I adore him. I didn't know he had been a book cover model, but I can see where he would have been perfect for the job...He can look like a highlander or a pirate...I'm sure he would make a nifty immortal! It was probably during those years that I didn't read a lot of romance that he was a cover model...

More than that will have to come from The Spices!

wren

I dont want to be disrespectful but I don't really care for the cartoonish type covers. But the three that are, are very good :) I noticed that art department didn't pay attention to Inez, she isn't blonde...and I thought her hair was curly not perfectly straight (I would kill for that cover girls hair! I have long dark curly hair aRGH I am jealous)

i'd kill for Thomas that man on the cover is HOT

i think it sucks that auhors dont have a say as to what the tittle of their book is gonna be

mmmmm...isn't he though!!

I love the tummyon Accidental Vampire!....don't see the face, don't care!!

Okay I do agree on that one Gena. Ummm...tasty

I keep placing that Cheyenne J. guy's head on that tummy...with long hair! UUUMMMMMM!! victor!

Depends on what the publisher is, all my other favourite authors have personally chosen their titles, except for one where the publisher has a set format for the title but it works well though

Hahaha, Drool Fest 2008.

The author can suggest or include the title, and even make suggestions concerning the cover art. Sometimes they are asked for their imput. But few of the large publishing houses have to go by those suggestions...that is why they have marketing and art departments.

Which authors are you talking about, Acal? Because I haven't known of any that were able to choose all of their titles, or make a final decision on the cover art.

I really think the author should get to title their own books. But I also believe an author should be able to take all of their characters with them if they move to another publisher...but that is not the way it works!

We are very fortunate that Lynsay and her agent were able to arrange to move the Argeneau characters with her to Avon. That was not an easy thing to accomplish! As you have seen, with three of the books still published by Dorchester, it causes some problems on getting all of the books printed in a timely manner. However, if Dorchester had not agreed to release the Argeneau characters to Lynsay & Avon, she would not have been able to keep writing the series! Nora Roberts could not keep writing the McGregor series, because she is with another publisher now. It's not about how big a name you are, but about the investment that publishing house has already put into your work. They don't let those books or characters move, especially when they own the rights to still publish them.

I like some "cartoon covers" and that was what caught my eye when I picked up SWV. I was looking for something humourous. However, I also like the Avon covers...and I read a lot of Avon authors.

wren

Kelley Armstrong and Kerri Arthur I know for one that i'm quite certain don't have the publisher chosing for them.

Acal,

Who is their publisher(s)?

wren