a critique site for book lovers, hosted by author Jude Hardin
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Home by Calisa Rhose
What's the genre? What is it you like or don't like about this cover?
Does it make you want to know more about the book? Does it make you want
to BUY the book? Discuss.
I totally love this cover. I love the colors, the faded picture of the kiss. Really, it's outstanding and I would definitely check this book out based on that alone. Nice!
The cover colors are sensuous, calming and evocative of a previous era. I like the cover very much! It begs the question is the car taking one or other character home? Or is it something else?
Lovely colors, very romantic, ethereal and sweet. Only think bit off is the yellow glow behind the text. I love the old car and the mint color, so pretty and yummy. <3
Gotta agree with everyone...the haziness implies something remembered from the past...and the marquis, "tales from the scrimshaw doli", how intriguing :)
I see that the "Fan" clubs idiots have shown up again. I have to ask is the publisher paying you or are these just fake account that the publisher has created to create this sort of SPAM?
I expect, with that sort of comment, you have an "honest" opinion, Eric? Why is it a negative thing for others to give positive reviews about a cover? No, my publisher, nor I, are not paying anyone for "nice" opinions. Your statement reeks of someone who may have gotten bad comments at some point and I'm sorry it has made you bitter toward others. But I thank you for taking time from your busy day to at least look at mine. :)
@Calisa Rhose, there are several people on this site who comment on covers on a very regular basis. Eric is one (I am another).
It's a very common theme for authors to use this site, not really as a sounding board for critique of their cover, but as a marketing too. They post the cover here, they get their friends to come over and give gushing reviews, complete with "Oh I can't wait to read this book!"
For those of us who actually want to help you by sometimes NOT being so googly eyed about the cover but rather give you honest feedback from a graphic designer perspective, all of the empty fan gushing is annoying. It's very much a waste of my time (and money) to try to help someone with a cover when they have no intention of being helped. The fact that this generated 20 comments in a very short amount of time, implies heavily that you are such an author; you don't want my opinion, you just want to spread info about your book.
Too bad. You're going to get my opinion anyway.
The cover is romance. Not bad, but I think it's a little too washed out. I can't read the blurb above the title at all, even at this size; bad in an ebook.
The overly heavy glow behind your author name looks like it's the default color for Photoshop's glow, and it does not match any other color on the cover. I'd eliminate the glow and go with something like a transparent white band, which would crispen it up a bit. Overall not a bad cover, I've seen far worse. It's just a little too bland to appeal to me.
I love the cover. It draws me in, not only by the soft treatment of colors,lending the feeling of a memory, but I also love the car...and the couple leaning forward, beginning to touch lips for the first time. It's poignant, speaking of a past era, a past feeling of things bittersweet, filled with longing. That's what it evokes in me, Calisa:)And that is why I purchased it:) Lo
@Calisa Rhose I’m sorry that my comments came across as bitter. I was just pointing out that not one of these people who posted about your cover have ever posted a comment before on this website. Their comments were nothing more than bland comments about how wonderful the book must be and not providing some useful information about the cover.
Over the life of this website / blog we have seen this sort of thing happen time and again where a author has had their cover put up and they suddenly get 20+ people show up within a few hours gushing how wonderful the cover and book are. Because this has happen so many time I just had to post my thought that either this was some sort of organized sales push for a book and/or a bunch of fake account that a publisher has created to also help sell the book. This is a similar marketing strategy as publisher’s putting fake reviews on amazon.com to promote books.
If you look back over the reviews only Robin was the only one provided you with any useful information. I personally didn’t say anything because I figured it was not worth my time based on past situations like this and with 4 covers going up a day I would rather concentrate on people who want real criticism rather than people who are just here trying to promote their books.
Read over Robin’s comments. I agree with them about your cover.
Robin and Eric- I understand why you said what you did. Robin, you are wrong to assume I don't want your opinion. I do. I appreciate you taking time to give any opinion you have, good or less than good. I posted my cover for honest opinions and I was not trying to bite back at anyone. It irritates me that people would assume I was being insincere when they don't know me. I WANT honest, appreciate honest. No, I can't change the cover once it's printed, but I like to know what people think about it just the same. I imagine I got 'glowing' reviews because I put this link on my loops to let people know about it. I did not tell anyone to come here and 'be nice' but to simply stop by if they had a chance. I didn't even ask them to leave a comment. They just did and I love them for it. But I don't know everyone on here who did comment. Incidentally- I happen to agree with the yellow glow behind my name, always have. But I didn't have an opinion in the creation other than the basic author sheet. My heroine actually has short, black curly hair- these don't make me love my cover any less. They are merely fact. And there was one other comment besides Robin's that mentioned the glow if you read the earliest comments. But all in all- I love the job my cover artist did and I would love to have her do any of my future covers. I have seen far worse (in MY opinion) and still seen gushing comments. This is a case of 'to each his own.' I am glad you and Robin gave your reviews. If you don't like it, really- then by all means, tell me what you don't like. But you don't need to be mean about it. That just hurts feelings. I'm aware there is scam artists out there. It saddens me. I've also seen horrid people try to do damage to other author's work in reviews when they clearly haven't read the book they comment on, in blatant attempts to build up their own. It's wrong, but it happens. If you have something to say, please keep it in relation to the actual cover because you never know when the person posting truly wants sincerity, or when those commenting are being sincere in their minds. There's no need to call others names because you 'think' something's fishy. My friends who did post aren't idiots. They just said the same thing they've said since the first time they saw my cover. I can't speak for those I don't know. Twitter and FB are big anonymous worlds. And though I don't get in here every day/week, I also comment on other covers of those I don't know if I happen to come across a link. If I happen to like a cover I've never seen, does that make me an idiot? I don't think so. It makes me honest. Thank you for your honesty. I do mean that. Thank you.
I love this cover. It's soft and muted and romantic!
ReplyDeleteThis cover is beautiful! If I saw this in bookstores, I wouldn't be able to pick it up fast enough. :)
ReplyDeleteThe 'haziness' of the cover intrigues me. I like the soft colors, also. Based on the car, I would say this is a 50's-60's story.
ReplyDeleteSoft and understated. Not at all busy. I love the beautiful colors. I want to find out who owns that incredible car!
ReplyDeleteI love the cover! It invokes a romantic image and a time period that makes me want to read the story and find out more.
ReplyDeleteI love the soft colors of this one. And I think it depicts the time of the book well.
ReplyDeleteI've read the book and this cover is everything you'd want it to be to represent the story. A great read! :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cover! Definitely a romance. Maybe one from the 50's or 60's. I would for sure want to read this based on the cover.
ReplyDeleteIt has a soft romantic feel, and compels a second look. Nice job!
DeleteThank you all for your thoughts and opinions. Personally, I'm very happy with my cover. Thank you Tina Lynn Stout!
ReplyDeleteI totally love this cover. I love the colors, the faded picture of the kiss. Really, it's outstanding and I would definitely check this book out based on that alone. Nice!
ReplyDeleteThe cover colors are sensuous, calming and evocative of a previous era. I like the cover very much! It begs the question is the car taking one or other character home? Or is it something else?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cover, very evocative.
ReplyDeleteLovely colors, very romantic, ethereal and sweet.
ReplyDeleteOnly think bit off is the yellow glow behind the text. I love the old car and the mint color, so pretty and yummy. <3
nice, wispy, soft, a book full of memories...
ReplyDeleteGotta agree with everyone...the haziness implies something remembered from the past...and the marquis, "tales from the scrimshaw doli", how intriguing :)
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with everyone else too. The cover artist did a great job.
ReplyDeleteI see that the "Fan" clubs idiots have shown up again. I have to ask is the publisher paying you or are these just fake account that the publisher has created to create this sort of SPAM?
ReplyDeleteI expect, with that sort of comment, you have an "honest" opinion, Eric? Why is it a negative thing for others to give positive reviews about a cover? No, my publisher, nor I, are not paying anyone for "nice" opinions. Your statement reeks of someone who may have gotten bad comments at some point and I'm sorry it has made you bitter toward others. But I thank you for taking time from your busy day to at least look at mine. :)
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI like the cover, the soft pastel colours give it an understated charm. Going by the car I would guess the story is from the 1960's.
Margaret
@Calisa Rhose, there are several people on this site who comment on covers on a very regular basis. Eric is one (I am another).
ReplyDeleteIt's a very common theme for authors to use this site, not really as a sounding board for critique of their cover, but as a marketing too. They post the cover here, they get their friends to come over and give gushing reviews, complete with "Oh I can't wait to read this book!"
For those of us who actually want to help you by sometimes NOT being so googly eyed about the cover but rather give you honest feedback from a graphic designer perspective, all of the empty fan gushing is annoying. It's very much a waste of my time (and money) to try to help someone with a cover when they have no intention of being helped. The fact that this generated 20 comments in a very short amount of time, implies heavily that you are such an author; you don't want my opinion, you just want to spread info about your book.
Too bad. You're going to get my opinion anyway.
The cover is romance. Not bad, but I think it's a little too washed out. I can't read the blurb above the title at all, even at this size; bad in an ebook.
The overly heavy glow behind your author name looks like it's the default color for Photoshop's glow, and it does not match any other color on the cover. I'd eliminate the glow and go with something like a transparent white band, which would crispen it up a bit. Overall not a bad cover, I've seen far worse. It's just a little too bland to appeal to me.
I love the cover. It draws me in, not only by the soft treatment of colors,lending the feeling of a memory, but I also love the car...and the couple leaning forward, beginning to touch lips for the first time. It's poignant, speaking of a past era, a past feeling of things bittersweet, filled with longing. That's what it evokes in me, Calisa:)And that is why I purchased it:)
ReplyDeleteLo
@Calisa Rhose I’m sorry that my comments came across as bitter. I was just pointing out that not one of these people who posted about your cover have ever posted a comment before on this website. Their comments were nothing more than bland comments about how wonderful the book must be and not providing some useful information about the cover.
ReplyDeleteOver the life of this website / blog we have seen this sort of thing happen time and again where a author has had their cover put up and they suddenly get 20+ people show up within a few hours gushing how wonderful the cover and book are. Because this has happen so many time I just had to post my thought that either this was some sort of organized sales push for a book and/or a bunch of fake account that a publisher has created to also help sell the book. This is a similar marketing strategy as publisher’s putting fake reviews on amazon.com to promote books.
If you look back over the reviews only Robin was the only one provided you with any useful information. I personally didn’t say anything because I figured it was not worth my time based on past situations like this and with 4 covers going up a day I would rather concentrate on people who want real criticism rather than people who are just here trying to promote their books.
Read over Robin’s comments. I agree with them about your cover.
Robin and Eric- I understand why you said what you did. Robin, you are wrong to assume I don't want your opinion. I do. I appreciate you taking time to give any opinion you have, good or less than good. I posted my cover for honest opinions and I was not trying to bite back at anyone. It irritates me that people would assume I was being insincere when they don't know me. I WANT honest, appreciate honest. No, I can't change the cover once it's printed, but I like to know what people think about it just the same. I imagine I got 'glowing' reviews because I put this link on my loops to let people know about it. I did not tell anyone to come here and 'be nice' but to simply stop by if they had a chance. I didn't even ask them to leave a comment. They just did and I love them for it. But I don't know everyone on here who did comment. Incidentally- I happen to agree with the yellow glow behind my name, always have. But I didn't have an opinion in the creation other than the basic author sheet. My heroine actually has short, black curly hair- these don't make me love my cover any less. They are merely fact. And there was one other comment besides Robin's that mentioned the glow if you read the earliest comments. But all in all- I love the job my cover artist did and I would love to have her do any of my future covers. I have seen far worse (in MY opinion) and still seen gushing comments. This is a case of 'to each his own.' I am glad you and Robin gave your reviews. If you don't like it, really- then by all means, tell me what you don't like. But you don't need to be mean about it. That just hurts feelings. I'm aware there is scam artists out there. It saddens me. I've also seen horrid people try to do damage to other author's work in reviews when they clearly haven't read the book they comment on, in blatant attempts to build up their own. It's wrong, but it happens. If you have something to say, please keep it in relation to the actual cover because you never know when the person posting truly wants sincerity, or when those commenting are being sincere in their minds. There's no need to call others names because you 'think' something's fishy. My friends who did post aren't idiots. They just said the same thing they've said since the first time they saw my cover. I can't speak for those I don't know. Twitter and FB are big anonymous worlds. And though I don't get in here every day/week, I also comment on other covers of those I don't know if I happen to come across a link. If I happen to like a cover I've never seen, does that make me an idiot? I don't think so. It makes me honest. Thank you for your honesty. I do mean that. Thank you.
ReplyDelete