It’s time for yet another Adventure Of Bucket! Not Hyacinth Bucket, nor the Lolrus Bucket. This bucket. This bucket has a lot of work to do. Here’s an example. Look! It’s a book cover, brought to my attention by sharp-eyed reader DL! Quite a lovely photograph, really. It’s not bad. But NOT FOR BUCKET. Bucket Must Make Change! read more »
Harlequin, you’re going to think I’m picking on you, but, well, ok, I totally am. Thanks to Lyndsey, we have a new challenge this week: Which Is Her Real Hair? First up: The Unmasking of a Lady (could that title GET any better?) by Emily May, Kindle edition: Next up, same title, paperback edition: But wait, there’s MORE: thanks to eagle-eyed Lyndsey, we have His Cavalry Lady by Joanna Maitland: Which is her real hair, the short, the long, or the other long? Is it me, or are her ears really weird-looking, like, even more than ears are normally weird-looking?… read more »
Hi Harlequin! You tired of me yet? I’m sure you are. But that’s ok, I still think you’re spiffy. Today’s column is all thanks to Sally, who sent this set of images in (Like how I threw you under the Harlequin bus there, Sally? Yeah, you’re welcome!). First we have Wedding at King’s Convenience by Maureen Child Is it me, or does “King’s Convenience” sound like a great name for a corner convenience store, and now I’m wondering if they got married while standing next to those rolling hot dog conveyors and the slushy CafPow machine? But then, there’s this… read more »
How you doing? I hope you’re having a pretty swell day. It might not be swell by the end of this but if the coffee was good this morning, that’s a win. I’m writing to talk to you about Kelley Armstrong’s book covers. First, this comparison was sent in by alert reader Ashley-Anne, who found them separately and had to send me the cover images. Oh, my my. It’s happened before, and I understand, obviously, that there are only 35 stock images to go around. Look at the pink legs that were everywhere. And yes, the tulle-wrapped legs are evocative… read more »
Hi Harlequin! You know I think you are all spiffy, right? How’s things? I wanted to give you guys a heads up that there is a blonde girl who is confusing me utterly. First, she was on Julie Cohen’s His for the Taking, which I read and really liked - and which caused me to start a Cohen-a-licious attraction to anything Julie Cohen writes. I ranted about the US Harlequin Presents cover in my review, but I’ll post it here: Oh, my GOSH. The poor girl’s man hands and her THUMB. She’s like Sissy Hankshaw up in there. My gosh.… read more »
Sometimes, you’re just not sure if a cover is going to work. I imagine this happens to everyone in publishing. Maybe there’s two perfect covers, or two perfect models, and you can’t pick the right one. Sometimes, it’s just a question of hair. Uber curl or long and blonde? Which do you choose? How about both! Uber-alert reader Tracey sent me a heads-up about these two… heads. Exhibit A: the paperback cover Exhibit B: the ebook cover Which do you like better? read more »
One person said they feared the upcoming mockery when the Twilight fonts were discovered on her computer. Another lamented that it was so easy to work with images against a black background. But everyone who entered BROUGHT GAME like DAMN and MON DIEU. Are you ready for the entries? Pick your favorite in the poll below. This entry will expire in 24 hours. read more »
Twilight, you may have noticed, is everywhere, especially now that UK and US editions of Wuthering Heights have been rereleased. This is the UK version: And this is the US version: both, obviously capitalizing on the fact that this is Bella and Edward’s favorite book in the fictional Twilight universe. Never let it be said that the iconic red on black imagery isn’t effective. Those books are gorgeous. But the redesigns got me thinking, especially with the use of other people’s names to market different books and similar marketing hijinks, that it’s time I did Simon & Schuster a favor.… read more »
Ahoy, it’s Simon Kernick is Awesome Photoshop Contest time! Behold, the entries. So much awesome, all in one place. The poll below will record your votes - and the entries, all 38 of them, are below the fold. Enjoy - so much humor, snark and groaning, all in one place. read more »
If you look glance quickly at each of the book covers, it looks like the couple is line dancing. Whee! Dance couple, dance! One question: I well understand the shortage of good photography, but wouldn’t it make sense to spread out the release dates so the bookstore folks don’t go, “Huh, didn’t I just see this cover?!” Thanks to B. for the heads up. read more »
Dear Ellora’s Cave: I know there’s a shortage of great images for covers lately, and to be frank, your covers have been MUCH more attractive than the glut of dead-eyed Poser males that used to flood my inbox. But if I might be permitted a kind word of advice: if you are going to use a close up of the same model for two covers in the same month, it might be a good idea NOT to place those two covers next to each other in your promo lineup. It’s barely noticeable otherwise, but in that context, it looks almost… read more »
So, what book was this buffet of romance based on? Or, better, how many books?! Total and epic win to the folks at Fandom lounge who said, “OMG WTF MUST SEND TO Smart Bitches.” HA! WIN! Thanks to InnocentSmith, who also sent me the much higher-res link should you wish to see the high quality version. You really should watch the high-res version to appreciate what lyrangalia wrote: “I feel like I need an explanation as to why the entire Romance aisle of the bookstore just came alive and [tried] to eat me.” She also suggests a drinking game “where… read more »
It seems that even the great and sales-tacular gets the occasional cover doppleganger. At least it’s not an image used without permission, I suppose. [Thanks to Katiebabs for the link.] read more »
Meet Nathan Kamp: Hi Mr. Kamp! Meet Nathan Kamp’s Bukkit: Hi Mr. Kamp’s Bukkit! See Mr. Kamp’s Romance Cover: But wait! Mr. Kamp does not like the color of her dress! read more »
In a failing economy, it becomes essential to any business to recycle and to seek alternative means to cut costs. Such as? Stock imagery! Hey, when you find a hot image with expansive man-titty, you work that for all it is worth. For example? But wait, there’s more! It seems Silhouette has discovered that they can also use all the heads that were chopped off from all those headless cover illustrations, and invite those poor lost craniums to gallivant about their covers. How charitable! How fortunate, particularly for Bonnie Vanak! Witness the evidence: read more »
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