Oh My Goodness! (Book Covers)
I left on a short vacation on Monday morning and I’ve been so wrapped up with reading the end of HOT PROPERTY and getting it sent off later today, I forgot to blog! 
Forgive me!
So I’ll go with just a question today based on a reader letter I received this weekend. I had my FUN bright Carly Phillips covers for years; Cross My Heart and Sealed with a Kiss changed to women on the covers …
Not sure what I mean? Visit Carly’s Book Page to see covers!
How did you feel about the change? What would YOU like to see on a future Carly Phillips cover? And why? (I’ll pass along the feedback to my publisher but no promises on what they will do, LOL!) I’m curious … I want to know what my readers prefer!
Happy Tuesday!
Carly, in my opinion, the ones with women on the covers look more like a ‘romance novel’ whereas the others resemble a chick lit cover. this can go either way. chick lit covers are less (for lack of a better word) embarrassing to carry around and read in public, but as I have no qualms with showing that i am a proud romance novel fan, this makes little difference to me.
i’d say i like the old ones for their spunk and fun, but the new ones are good too. eitherway its whats inside the cover that counts!
Comment by Cail — July 24, 2007 @ 8:58 am
The “Hot Zone” series covers are my favorite. One of those was the first book of yours I read, and I picked it up because of the cover.
I hadn’t ever really thought about it…well, I gues I kind of had thought about it…a half-naked guy on the cover definitely draws me in more than the female.
If I wasn’t already familiar with your books, I’m not sure that I would immediately recognize them as being romance with just a female on the cover. Even with the titles, because I’m more visual and just look at pictures.
Comment by Jodie — July 24, 2007 @ 8:59 am
The new covers kinda remind me of the books I read when I was a teenager (the ya type). Don’t ask me why. I happen to agree with Cail (see above).
Of course, my favorite cover is Lori Borill’s first book. I like the nerdy, pensive type (okay, hot guys, too), if it happens to be that type of book (a Blaze type book).
Happy Tuesday, everyone…
Comment by katie — July 24, 2007 @ 9:49 am
While I never buy for a cover (the author is my criteria), I like the “Hot Zone” series covers the best. I don’t get the point of the two recent ones, but, I don’t get the point of a lot of the new covers.
Hope you had a good vacation.
Patricia A.
Comment by Patricia — July 24, 2007 @ 11:01 am
Wow Carly, I never realized how different looking your covers are.
My favorite covers of yours are from The Chandler Brothers series (The Bachelor, The Playboy, & The Heartbreaker).
I admit that I have bought books because of a cover in the past, but now I tend to buy because I love the author and the cover doesn’t matter. Covers are attention grabbers when you shop in a bookstore, but when I shop online I choose a book for the author.
Comment by Carolyn A. — July 24, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
My favorites would be the Hot Zone, Costas Sisters and now the new ones.
I reallly like the new ones quite a bit, but then this is what I’m seeing on the shelves.
I rarly buy on cover alone though. Well, except for one book I bought at conference that I loved the cover. It was just plain fun and the title was cute.
Comment by Vicki — July 24, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
I really like all of your covers. Each cover goes with the stories you are telling in the series. I always have certain authors in my TBB pile, so the covers don’t matter for them. I have picked up a couple of new authors because of the covers, but the covers also matched the story.
Comment by Liza — July 24, 2007 @ 1:35 pm
The cover can attract me to pick up a book but that is not what makes me buy it! In your case I’m going to buy the book because you wrote it, the cover doesn’t make a difference. I do like the cover to reflect something about the story inside, often times the people or person on the cover does not match the characters and that is always disappointing. It is intersting to see how covers on romance books have evolved.
Comment by Donna M — July 24, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
oooh I like the cover for Going All the Way
I like the cover to be steamy becuase then I know the book will be also….At least it leads me to believe it will be…lol
Comment by Tina Martinesi — July 24, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
I really liked the original cover for Cross My Heart. It was interesting and pretty!
Comment by Jen — July 24, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
Hi Carly,
Hope your vacation was fun.
I to now buy by author. When I had not been an avid reader,
it was the cover that would draw me in. Covers have to be very
important to new readers and for display purposes.
I like the new girl covers better than the hard covers for those books.
I too love the hot series covers. I like the new white covers too.
I like the couples and will buy most of
those sexy ab guys no matter who the author. Hey I’m old and shameless.
The puppy went to the vets and is on more medicine than food
for a couple of weeks.
Vet says she is a good dog so I can
deal with the baby issues. She had her distemper shot yesterday.
Carly, Janelle said I could send a picture. It will have to wait
a few days cause when she’s awake she won’t sit still for the
camera.
I’ll get some shots while in Maine this weekend.
Hugs to all!
Comment by jeannie — July 24, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
I like the Hot Zone, Costas Sisters covers best, but as a reader of both “chick lit and romance” covers never really bothered me. OK, I lie a little - around my 80 year old grandfather they may bother me a little.
Of course, I tend to like ones without complete people so it leaves more to the imagination - but I actally like the new covers for Cross My Heart and Sealed With a Kiss since they look fun and that the people will match the story. Sometimes you pick up a book, see the guy and/or girl on the cover … read the book and the people on the cover are nothing like you would picture them based on the book.
Comment by Yolanda — July 24, 2007 @ 2:28 pm
it dont matter to me, the new covers has colors and can attract more readers
Comment by kim h — July 24, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
Jeannie, Can’t wait to see the pictures…did you get another yorkie?
Comment by Tina Martinesi — July 24, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
I love all of the bright colors on the covers. I think they work well, and it is what we expect to see in a Carly book. I say stick with what works well.
Comment by Shannon Upright — July 24, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
Yes TINA I got a yorkie.
This one weights 1.5 lbs. @ 2 mo. hoping it wll be smaller
than the last but not to small. She is precious, seems very alert.
Seems intelligent and is sleeping thru the night bless her heart.
More later this week.
Comment by jeannie — July 24, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
Jeannie — We can’t wait to see a picture of your new baby!
Comment by Janelle — July 24, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
Tina — I agree that the cover for GOING ALL THE WAY is great. As an interesting aside, Harlequin did a series of THREE of these covers that when you purchased all three books, it completed a complete picture. I’m going to try and post the covers here so you’ll see what I mean!
Comment by Janelle — July 24, 2007 @ 6:18 pm
I was hoping to get them to go side by side so you’d get the jist of the entire picture, but I think you’ll be able to figure it out, LOL. It was a very cool concept!
Comment by Janelle — July 24, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
Janelle,
I bought those books because of the covers lining up.
I thought that was so cool. The books were good too.:love2:
Comment by jeannie — July 24, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
Hi Carly
I agree with Carolyn A
My favorite covers of yours are from The Chandler Brothers series (The Bachelor, The Playboy, & The Heartbreaker).
I admit that I have bought books because of a cover in the past, but now I tend to buy because I love the author and the cover doesn’t matter. Covers are attention grabbers when you shop in a bookstore, but when I shop online I choose a book for the author.
Comment by Cherylann — July 24, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
Janelle…I must say….holy canolli….I love those covers. I didn’t buy them because of the covers, but I always thought it was cool the way they lined up (I have kept them because of that).
Carly: I don’t buy books because of the covers, I buy them because of the author. I still don’t understand the covers of CMH, but that is okay. I am probably too old.
Comment by katie — July 24, 2007 @ 7:03 pm
I love the covers from the earlier books like The Hot Zone. They are so sassy and flirty. But, I must confess, I would buy your books if they had a blank cover. I know that what’s inside is wonderful.
Comment by Carol R — July 24, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
Now see
…those covers got my attention….hot, steamy, sexy
that’s what I’m talking about
Comment by Tina Martinesi — July 24, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
The cover is what attracts me and I prefer cutesy covers to the real people. Of course if it was some hunky stud on the cover with a nice 6 pack and handsome face, I could deal with that nicely. That cover would certainly attract me.
Comment by Pat L. — July 24, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
My favorite covers are the Hot series. But I also liked the original covers for the Simply series (not the ones currently on the site).
Comment by SamP — July 24, 2007 @ 11:01 pm
I like the Hot Zone covers best, but I like the funs ones as opposed to the girly ones. I would rather carry one of those- they spark more interest from other people. They look like they are books with humor and a good time in between said covers.
Comment by ev — July 25, 2007 @ 5:47 am
It sounds like I’m in the minority but I still like the covers with real people on them!
However, once I know that I like an author the cover isn’t so important.
The blurb on the back is what will get me to buy an author for the very first time or another person’s recommendation.
Comment by Laurie — July 25, 2007 @ 7:24 am
Carly, your website seems to want to leave a cookie or is tracking people coming to your site. Unfortunately, many people have security devices that completely block your site. Did you realize that? Guess i won’t be able to see your covers after all. Sorry
This site was fun though.
Comment by RA Hanes — August 2, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
I like the covers better with real people on them
Comment by Amanda — August 2, 2007 @ 11:11 pm