If you were to read an inspirational historical romance, which of these covers would attract you most? If you've already read any of the books, try not to let that sway your decision.
First there's the style I have dubbed "heroine stripe." By this I mean that there's a heroine in the top part of the frame, a stripe or division in the middle, and some kind of historical image in the lower frame.
Next comes the style I call "dress," for what may be obvious reasons. :-) They come in "dress no head" and "dress with head." Do you like my technical terms?
Then there's "girl in dress with dude and/or building."
Then we have the style of "big head" plus background object.
So can you tell me which style you like best? Or which single cover you like best?
17 comments:
Your first photo caught my eye right off, before I read even the title of your post, and you won't believe why.
When I attended the ACFW conference in 2008, I browsed the bookstore (I wasn't even looking for historical), and only one cover appealed, from "In the Shadow of the Sun King." It was the only book I bought that day. (I loved the book, and had it autographed by Golden at the next year's conference.)
My preference is for no face at all. But about the last thing I want to see on a historical cover is a contemporary looking woman. Put any clothes you want on them, most of them look like they came off the cover of a glamor magazine.
As for the stripe, etc? If the book is historical, the overall image should look old I think, regardless of how it's done.
Ironically, the sequel to this book has a contemporary image on the cover. :(
So many wonderful cover to choose from...
I loved the first group and actually- The Shadow of The Sun King the best!
I'm laughing at your "big head" description.
My favorites:
In the Shadow of the Sun King (love the title and the cover)
and
Troublesome Creek.
There you have it, my vote.
~ Wendy
Heroine stripe for sure. I like the last one of those best: my heart remembers I think.
Why? I think it lends itself to more realistic impression of the book within rather than just masquerading as a romance novel (which the dress ones seem to do more of).
I liked Bittersweet-dress with some head. I don't like the headless ones or the split ones (too busy), and the male in the background is all right, but the simpler the better for me.
I like something with as little face as possible. I like a hint of what the character might look like, but not anything so explicit as to take away from what's drawn into my imagination. Therefore, anything with the full face and body of a woman (or worse -- a woman and a man. It just seems cheesy) I usually pass by. I know it's wrong, but I totally judge a book by its cover.
My favorites from your choices are the first one, with a bust but no face and a building under the stripe, and the one further down with a blank prairie sort of image, very dusty looking. I like the lack of faces in those two!
I'm sorry I'm so opinionated on this! I have a feeling that I pass by many wonderful books, though, just because the cover art makes me uncomfortable.
Your "technical" descriptions cracke me up! I do NOT like "dress." That's kind of dorky, and all you think about is the woman and...the dress. I like the line, gives you two things to attract your attention. The cover & book I'd want to read is "Troublesome Creek." But, I do like the "big head" in front of the ship.
Fun quiz!
ACtually, my favorites are when characters aren't on them at all, but there's a pretty setting or something like that.
Fun question!
I love your responses! Keep 'em coming! I find it very enlightening to see the differences in taste.
Sarah - no need to be sorry for having a strong opinion. :-) That's the whole point. Many, many readers report that a book cover is the single most influential factor in whether they choose to read it. So it's very important for writers to understand which covers people like, and why.
Anne - I agree that In the Shadow of the Sun King is a good read. It is one of the few books I've read in the historical romance genre that has an unusual POV structure (rather than just heroine or heroine/hero). I applaud Thomas Nelson for departing from the "rules" to publish a good book!
I'll share my own favorites and comment on your selections after everyone else weighs in.
I love the cover for A Passion Most Pure. It's so period, and the people both appeal to me. With that title and those characters, I just know it's going to be a good book.
Totally not a fan of the headless heroine myself. It looks too much like the photographer cut off the picture in the wrong place.
Hi Rosslyn -
I liked these:
My Heart Remembers
A Passion Most Pure
Dawn's Prelude
They focus on the character.
Blessings,
Susan :)
I liked the simlicity of the Rose Legacy. One of the book covers looked like two separate covers on one page. I don't really like the ones with characters looking over their shoulder because I think it's been overdone.
Brandon
I think I like the look of the "big head" ones best. Interesting how many are so similar isn't it?
I prefer the ones where you can't see the faces. I like to let my imagination work with the author's words to determine what a character looks like. :-)
I like the heroine stripe, although I'm with the others who prefer not to see faces. :)
I like the heroine stripe, too, and I'm particularly fond of that first cover, which is funny because I don't usually like the headless ones. I'd rather have the woman turned away, as in _My Heart Remembers_ or that last cover with the brunette. But my favorite of all these covers is _Troublesome Creek_. Like a few of you, I prefer an atmospheric cover to a direct depiction of the heroine. But at least one cover in each of these styles appeals to me.
I like a picture with a mountain lion, bear or deer on the front. Sorry, my suggestion may not be helpful :)
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