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Thursday, January 12, 2012

The Right Picture

I changed the book cover of RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN three times. I just couldn't find the perfect picture that would reflect the essence of my story.

My husband loved the woman's face. Her expression reflects her puzzlement: Is it the right name she blurted in her dreams? Is she with the wrong man? The Eiffel Tower showed the French setting.

But other authors commented the picture wasn't sexy enough and the font not professional.


I frantically looked for another picture that would be more sexy, and found this one. Just when I was about to upload it, a friend visiting me at home loked at it and said, " She looks nice, but what's this, are they two women?"
My heart sank. I examined the picture carefully and admitted she had a point. The man looked too feminine.



 
When I turned the picture by mistake, I liked it much more. The man had a 24 hour stubble and looked more manly. I showed it to a couple of best-sellers authors who prefered it to the first one with the Eiffel Tower. "Much, much better," was their answer.

But I personally was not comfortable with this picture. Yes the girl was cute, but I don't like bold men. After monitoring the Amazon reports, I realized that this new book cover didn't increase the sales.

So I kept looking for a better picture. And came up with a new one where the man was really a sexy one, at least one who appealed to me. I showed it to a fan who have read and reviewed my book. She said," Where is La Eiffel Tower by night for my favorite scene?"

Who am I to disapooint a fan!
So I modified the new picture and added an Eiffel Tower by night.
Here is the blurb:
What’s a girl to do when she whispers another man’s name in her fiancé’s arms?

When forbidden dreams about the sexy French Dr. Yves Mtlroux assail her at every turn, Mary-Beth puts her wedding plans on hold. The man would probably not even remember the plump nerd she was three years ago before she lost her illusions faster than her pounds. Regardless, to be able to marry her fiancé without reservations, Mary-Beth needs to confront her past and flies to France for a summer training program in surgery with Yves.

But Yves never forgets an organ he removed from a patient or a woman he dated. And he never forgot the pretty student of Harvard Medical School who has turned into a stunning beauty and seems in serious need of coaching about spicing her serious life with some fun and passion.

While too many questions still swirled in her mind, her jealous fiancé summons her back home.

Will Mary-Beth let her heart decide who’s her right man? Will Yves break his no-strings-attached rule to offer love and commitment?

It's not easy to come with the right bookcover and we should appreciate our bookcover artists.

20 comments:

L. j. Charles said...

Great comparison of book covers. i can't tell you how many hours I've spent with iStockphoto trying to find just the right cover picture. It's definitely not a slam-dunk kind of project.

Love your final cover. Nice work!
L. j.

Barbara Monajem said...

I love your final cover, too, especially the guy's five o'clock shadow. :) Great vibe!

Clover Autrey said...

I do like the final cover also. That first guy didn't appeal to me.

Mona Risk said...

So glad you all approve of my final choice. I told my DH my readers are women. I shouldn't let a man's choice influence me.

Unknown said...

Mona--this is an excellent lesson. I read ever word and studied the photos and the font. The friends and you were right on every count. I have read the block letters are best for your name, for sure..and if you're in charge of your books, put your name in the same place on every cover--in block letters. Whatever you do with the title may vary, but yes, "professional looking" is a good point.
You know I love that last cover--I envy it, actually.
Lately I've been rethinking my view of "no people on covers." With ebooks, I'm believing they are pretty much essential. The reader can't turn the book over, read a blurb, etc., all they see is the cover and it must appeal to them.
The three books I have out that have received the highest ratings from TRS, LASR, Night Owl, etc. are not selling at all--and guess what? None of them have people on the covers.
You've helped me make a new choice and a couple of decisions.

LK Hunsaker said...

I like the composition of the second one but agree he looks pretty feminine at that angle.

Art is so subjective; you can never tell what might really appeal to someone else. I think you need people on some types of books but not all. Sometimes symbols that work as metaphors for people is just as good, or better.

Jannine Gallant said...

The final cover is by far the best, in my humble opinion. You were wise to listen to readers and ended up with a winner!

Beth Trissel said...

I agree! The final cover is wonderful.

Beth Trissel said...

I agree! The final cover is wonderful. I agree with people on covers. I request that for all of my WRP romances and would go that route if I self-pubbed.

Mona Risk said...

Hi Celia, people on the cover is a must for me. With both EC blush and TWRP I insisted on a "romantic kiss", because my books are above all romances. I want the "love" part to be the main theme and I want the book cover to show love. The artists were good and obliged me. But until I did it on my own, I never realized how difficult it was to find the right picture, with the right expressions.

Mona Risk said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mona Risk said...

Hi Jeanine, it was pure chance hat his reaeder emailed me, so I asked for her opinion.

Mona Risk said...

Loraine if I could have found a similar picture to #2 with a macho guy, I would have been delighted.

Mona Risk said...

Hi Beth, I'm so glad you and many others like this last book cover. I'm getting crossed-eyes from looking at so many pictures.

Maggie Toussaint said...

Mona, You have really taken the matter of covers to heart. I admire you for keeping the process going until you were absolutely satisfied. The last couple/cover really appeals to me as well. If I hadn't already bought the book, I might be tempted to buy it all over again! Best wishes, Maggie

Mona Risk said...

Aw, thanks Maggie for telling me the latest book cover would make you buy the book. Did you hear that, Readers!

Mary Marvella said...

Good job, Mona! I need to start working on 3 covers.

Stephanie Burkhart said...

Mona, I agree - nice comparison of covers and I do like your last cover very much. I think it captures the "ambience" of the inside very well.

Smiles
Steph

Mona Risk said...

Thank you Mary and Steph.

Caroline Clemmons said...

Yes, this last one is by far the best!