Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Which cover picture do you like best--new photo added
I have a romance novella that I'll be putting up on Amazon soon. Possible title: Long Time (and at one point illegal) Crush
I need a cover. So I've been looking at pictures of hot guys on Shutterstock (It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it.) and now I want your opinion.
Kye, the hero, is a guy who's family owns a large ranch in Montana. When his father had an injury, Kye changed his plans from being an engineer to being a high school math teacher so he can help out on the ranch.
We see him in a cowboy hat, in his school teacher duds, and in a tuxedo as best man at the heroine's brother's wedding. You would think it would be easy to find pictures of a hot guy in a cowboy hat--and it is--except that none of the pictures seemed appropriate for one of my stories. According to Shutterstock, cowboys wear very little clothing. Apparently something in their job requires them to walk around shirtless, with glistening abbs. (I sooo should have been a cowgirl.)
Let me know which picture you think would make readers look twice. (Oh, and by the way, the guy is age 24 and then 27 in the story.)
***news flash**** I have a new contender in the hot guy cover category. A friend pointed out this awesome photo by photographer Rob Lang. I emailed him and asked for permission to use it on the blog so you, my dear readers, could vote on it. Keep in mind that even though you may want to copy said photo and wallpaper your bathroom with it (who wouldn't, after all) it's copyrighted and a flurry of lawyers will pounce on you should you press the "save image" button.
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63 comments:
I like the last two - especially the last one. The last one is my favorite because it makes me think "Montana" more. (Side note: Having grown up all my life in Montana, I can't wait to read this one of yours!!) The first two images are way too "corporate" and they look more like stock images than the others.
I like the third one best!the way he's dressed could be any of those things--kinda preppy casual.
I like 1 and 3 best, but I think Tiana is right about 1 being perhaps too corporate. #4 looks a little too brooding-cheesy to me, and #2 looks a little too funeral/wedding-cheesy to me. :)
The top one was the one that worked best for me. . .it does look kind of generic, but I really like his eyes :)
Sigh. So many hot guys to choose from. Thanks for weighing in!
I like the first one! Mmmm. :-)
Seriously. I'm supposed to CHOOSE? I'll take any one of them, thank you. I know that's not much help but what do you expect when you ask the impossible.
I like the first one best, with #3 coming in a close second.
Out of those three, definitely #2.
Please don't pick number #3! He is not cute, and actually looks a little creepy to me.
I like #2's smile.
#3 looks like he fits the story the best. #2 looks too happy and from your blurb it sounded like he had to make sacrafices and he looks too happy. #4 does not look like he would live in Montana, be a school teacher, or help on a ranch.
i love number 4' he's sexy, casual, the colors are great all round, and his eyes are irresistible! the other factor is what the guy looks like in your book. hair,eyes,etc.
3rd one. kind of ranchish and teacherihs.
#'s 1 and 3 would work. :) I think you need a Hawaiian to make it the best, lol, though I know your character isn't Hawaiian; that's just my personal preference. :) hehe
I like #3 the best if you cut off before the messy shirt hanging out and maybe darken the sky (just a bit!) behind him so it's not so sunny/happy. I think he has the best "inner pain" look in his eyes, too.
-S.
#3 if you cut it off before the messy shirttails hanging out. Also, darken the sky a bit so it's not so suburbia. The eyes show the sexy, the pain, the hope for happiness. ;o)
-S.
I also vote for #3 -- seems to fit all his personas.
I like the 3rd one the best.....don't tell my hubby :)
#4 has the best eyes ... and that is important in a cowboy and in a math teacher... he gets my vote
Three or one
Thanks for your votes! Keep them coming!
I like #4 best, that was the one that really caught my eye! :)
#1 and #3 -- if I had to choose between them, I would go with #3. When I saw #4 my first thought was Michael J. Fox... and then he just didn't work for me!
The last one. definitely.
The last one. definitely.
I like one-for the math teacher-and three-for the casual. Good luck!!
Number three, my Lord!
Yes on the cowboy!
number 3 all the way.
Cowboy works best for your story. :) (thought still prefer Hawaiians, lol)
Okay, if you want a straight guy's opinion (who doesn't read romance novels but loves a good relationship built into a novel), then I vote for #3. He looks easygoing, and it also looks like he'd be comfortable in all those clothing scenarios.
I like the cowboy photo, but it feels like a story with that picture should happen in Montana and might feature a daring horseback rescue, or a scene where a city girl takes a horseback-riding lesson (as opposed to a wedding scene with a tux), but what do I know?
Okay, I still think the cowboy is best for the story, but I just noticed; he kinda has the 'I just smelled something foul' look. Lol!
The cowboy is good looking, but I would assume it was a "Western" book and probably wouldn't pick it up. I still like #3.
Wow, your job is rough. I like number four.
I liked #4, but the guy in the hat . . . not bad. But the rancher isn't REALLY what he is, right, just what he helps with?
The hat guy reminds me of a young Paul Newman.
The new one hands down. If not, the one right before it. He has a more casual look like the cowboy he is.
I like #2.
Far and above I like the pose and the look of the last one with the cowboy hat.
Failing that,the guy with his hands in his pockets.
All the guys look attractive but we all know the teacher/corporate look. Who doesn't love a guy in a tux? But, that guy looked too happy. The guy with the scarf doesn't make me think Montana.
The pockets guy I like the look on his face but as others mentioned not the shirt tails and back ground.
Cowboy hat guy concern of looking historical.
Could the other cover design features keep a reader thinking contemporary Montana?
Does the photographer have another picture maybe with that guy or a similar one with a truck or a truck and horse trailer or motorcycle or something in the background?
Just my ramblings.
Number three is my first choice, but the last one might work too.
That IS a young Paul Newman. Can't use that one. I guess I'd go for the casual, shirt tails out one.
The last one!!! Yum. ;)
Wow, you're right--it does look like a young Paul Newman. I guess that's not a bad thing . . . So hard to choose. Yeah, he's wearing a cowboy hat at the beginning of the book, but never when he's teaching school.
I agree with Tanya. I saw the Paul Newman-ness right away, too, and though I'm drawn to the cowboy more, I think #3, shirt-tails and all, is best for what you describe.
I'm not into cowboys, so the last one doesn't work for me, but all of the others are perfectly dreamy. The 4th one sorta looks like a bad boy to me. Does that fit your storyline?
1 through 3 are all awesome and I'd happily fix up any of them with my daughter (or with myself if I were single :-)
I like the third one. It's got some versatility.
The new contender, hands down, no question. (insert wolf whistle here)
I like 1 and 4. #1 caught me first, but after I read your description, I liked 4 better. He adds that sense of "illegal" danger. :)
Definitely three or four. The first two look way too put together, or "corporate" like Tiana Smith said. For some reason I'm not a fan of the fifth one.
My 17 year old daughter votes for either #1 or #3...she says #1 portrays that professional stud with "swag to spare" and #3 has the masculine vibrato your character obviously oozes (; Good luck!
I have to pick the third guy.
The last one for sure...dreeeeeeamyyyy...
The last one seems to fit best. 2nd choice would be the third one. Can't wait to read it!
Awesome blog my friend! I think the first is the best man. Hope all is well!! 2013 is going to rock!
www.chrisburkmenn.com
My opinion since you've added the last picture - I still like #4. Definitely Montana (believe me, as a Montanan, I can with all honesty say you would see a LOT of people dressed like that. We also have a surprising number of hippies, but this one shows the good sexy edge of Montana). I also think this one gives the best portrayal of your writing style (I can say this even though I haven't read the book in question - I've read pretty much everything else you've ever written, so I don't think the "corporate" looks of the first two photos really mesh).
While I do like the cowboy pic, it definitely makes me think of a Western novel. You know, the kind where the ranch hand does some kind of cattle herding and then rides off to save a lady being "troubled" by the sinister town drunk. Just sayin'.
I like the cowboy had best if it was in color - and then the one just above it with the brown jacket and scarf. They look the part more than the others.
Margaret Turley
I like the last one best! Hurray for a cowboy wearing a shirt!
Just found your blog and loving it so far - I love a realistic view on life! Definitely the last guy for your book - far and away the best!
My gosh! It's Paul Newman! Or a very good facsimile of him. You know me, it's the cowboy I'm referring to. A-Number 1!
The cowboy hat photo is great, but I think the one with the scarf is the best.
I have always loved Paul Newman....and if that isn't him in the cowboyhat...it is close enough!
He has my vote.
I like the second one in the tux and the third one.
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