There are lots of stereotypes about romance writers, just like there are lots of stereotypes about romance readers. We are unintelligent. We have no social life. We sit and eat bon bons while fantasizing about unrealistic romance. We love looking at covers with half-naked men on them.
But wait, you say–at least that last bit is true, isn’t it?
I’m sure it is for some people, just like the other parts may be true for some. Because romance writers (and readers) are all different. But since I’m writing on the day before the Mayan apocalypse, and it’s a good day for confessions, I’ll tell you a secret: most romance covers don’t do a thing for me. In fact, I find the hairless, naked man-chest cover totally unappealing.
Shocking, I know.
I’ve thought about this a lot, because sometimes I feel like everyone love looking at sexy clinch covers but me. I’ve decided there are a lot of reasons for this. First off, I’m not really a visual person. This makes sense, me being a writer and all. 
I find it much more interesting to read about sex than to look at pictures of it. For the same reason, I enjoy writing about my heroes much more than seeing actual images of them. That’s probably why I’ve never made collages of my books, spent much time on Pinterest, or circulated sexy pictures on Facebook. It just doesn’t do much for me.
There’s also the fact that I can’t imagine my kind of alpha male ever posing for a photo shoot. Or getting his chest waxed. Or plucking his eyebrows. Or any of the other things those male models do. So the guys never look particularly sexy to me, either.
But you know what? I was spending time on a stock photo website this week, looking for cover photos, and realized there are some things that look sexy to me. High contrast pictures. Lots of muscles displayed in interesting ways. Suggestive poses that somehow manage to scream sex and yet remain subtle.
Basically, this:
Who knew! I really do like a good clinch cover! I just had to find the right picture before I realized it.
Now you know what I find sexy–but what about you?
Tell me about your favorite cover shots (even better if you post a link so I can check it out). Do you like ‘em hairy or smooth? Face or no face? At the end of the day, I’ll give away a copy of The Boss’s Fake Fiancee to one person who comments!
Since it’s confession time (we still have to the end of the day before we’re sure about this end of the word thing, right?) I have to say I agree with you. In fact, I don’t even like real people on covers, period. Although the new style of cover with half a person, or a shot of a woman from behind, can be pretty nice, as it “suggests” rather than “tells all”.
Like you, I prefer to imagine the “perfect” hero or heroine and my imagination does a much BETTER job than anything from Shutterstock or from a photographer’s studio.
But I’m sure marketing research has been done, and I’m in the minority–I totally understand that. (In between eating bon bons, I took a few marketing classes.) I appreciate that those covers sell, since they immediately brand a book–better than the title, better than the blurb.
And yeah, the shaved chest thing–don’t get that at all, but I do appreciate a set of washboard abs. Talk about bon bons…
Thanks Kathryn, it’s good to know I’m not the only one! And really, there are quite a few covers without people on them, so there must be some people who like them!
I like them hairless and showing as much skin as possible, preferably of one of my favorite cover models (Paul Marron, Thierry Pepin, Steve Kuchinsky). I have my favorite female cover models as well but they can keep their clothes on.
I am rather visual; I remember a book solely by its cover (hence my problems with ebooks). So I only buy books that have covers I like. I also have a list of favorite cover artists as well.
However, I rarely visualize the hero and heroine of a book as the models on the cover; I don’t generally imagine the faces when I read so cover art is a separate thing from the story itself.
That’s so interesting! I think the idea that the cover is separate from the book is cool-like you can enjoy the cover without expecting it to match the book.
I love that you know the cover models, too! You are much savvier about this than I am!
I think it depends. some romance covers are so cheesy, I just can’t deal. naked chests aren’t my favorite but I do love the covers to Jaci Burtons sports romance series. no faces are usually better so I can imagine what they look like. and that pic you shared is hot!
Okay, the cheese factor is HUGE for me too.
and I’ve heard people rave about those Jaci Burton covers-I will have to check it out!
I tend to be big on covers. I love a good hot looking cover, but I don’t really like to see the faces. I’m good with suggestive poses, having the faces turned away, or heads cut off. (I mean off of the cover, not literally, though I am a big zombie fan lol) I also like sweet, romantic covers too. Even with not tending to like seeing the cover model’s faces, I do like when they are gazing sweetly at each other or looking fun and flirty.
booklovingme AT gmail DOT com
Amy, I’m also a fan of cut off heads–leaves more to the imagination!
And I love the sweet covers as well–Jane’s Gift, one of the Entangled Bliss books, has an adorable cover. If you haven’t checked it out, you should:
http://www.amazon.com/Janes-Gift-ebook/dp/B009WVX0B4
Thanks for stopping by!
I asked the random number generator to pick a winner from today’s commenters and it was….
AMY!!
I will be contacting you about your prize!
Thanks everyone who stopped by!
xoxo,
Inara
I like them hot and smooth and like your cover, it’s sexy and how it has them in the midst of satisfying each other is so steamy !!!!!