It’s true, admit it…we all do it, even if it’s not conscious. An awesome cover can mean the difference in more sales and even whether a book gets faced outward by a bookseller. A compelling cover will grab our attention and make us pick up a novel. Maybe it won’t make us buy it, buy while we’re holding it and admiring that cool cover, why not turn it over and read the back cover blurb… and GOTCHA! 
I don’t know a single author who doesn’t sweat over their book covers. We wait with anticipation and hope and pray when we open that email attachment from our publisher that the cover represents the novel inside. I count myself very lucky that I’ve had some wonderful covers and I appreciate the opportunity from my publisher to offer my input as well as the art department’s amazing talent!
Every one of my covers has a story behind it. In some instances it was a scene I wanted to depict and in others it was an overall “feel” that the novel conveys. For my two main series below, I also had to keep in mind keeping a consistent series feel without the novels looking exactly the same.
Kendrian Vampires series
Bad in Boots series
The cover for Hearts are Wild was fun. I don’t know if you can see the three intertwined hearts tattoo on the guy’s right upper arm, but that was supposed to represent the three stories in this anthology. Each story had the name “Heart” in the title. My Bad in Boots story was called Hearts Afire.
Just for fun, here are the eBook covers for the print version of Hunger and Temptation above…ie, Hunger and Temptation is the print combo of two eBook stories Harm’s Hunger and Ty’s Temptation.
Did we accomplish our goal of keeping a similar “feel” to the books in each series?
For anyone reading this blog, what’s your favorite series covers and why?
There are these covers from books by Cheyenne McCray… I can’t think of the series title right now… but I do love the covers.
Unfortunately, I do judge a book by its cover. But, I have read some books that I didn’t like the cover, but ended up loving the story
Hi Ali! Maybe you were referring to Cheyenne’s Wonderland series?
Hi, Patrice! No, I like her Wonderland series, but the covers I like more are from her Wild series…or maybe I’m being prejudiced between the two because I love the Wild stories, lol
Ah, Chey’s Wild series covers are very unique and sexy.
Gotta say I love Chey’s Wild series covers but my fav vote goes to Patrice’s Bad in Boots series. What I like most about them is you get that great cowboy look without showing the face. Lets you put the face of your dreams in there What can I say, I’m a sucker for cowboys!!!
Oh Yey, Karen!! I’m so glad you love my covers. And yes, I agree about the “not seeing the face” part. I want my readers to imagine the hero the way they want to picture him.