I'm presenting this week's cover critique in a step-by-step format. This is purely my imagination running wild with one potential scenario of how the designer arrived at the final cover art for Tempest Rising:
Hmmm. This story is about a Selkie. Selkie's are big fans of water, so I think I'll start with a water environment. She's most likely naked when she swims, so I think I'll utilize the classic naked-but-not-really-naked pose for her: topless with long hair to cover her breasts. Oh, and I'll need some strategically placed water ripples.
Nice. I even gave her eyes reminiscent of a hammerhead shark to enhance her water-creature vibe. Well done me. You know what enhances implied nudity? Snakes. Snakes make every half-naked woman look sexier (Britney Spears anyone?). And I think a banner will be nice for the title, almost as though the snakes are holding it in place.
Shazam! I. Am. Awesome. Still missing something though. Oh! She has a boyfriend. He should be represented on the cover. Perhaps a heart. I'm sure she hearts him. I think to show how truly astounding my creativity is, I'll make that heart have fangs since he's a vampire. A heart with fangs! I deserve a raise.
Design award here I come. Not quite there yet though. I'm not sure what other elements to add, I've really outdone myself thus far. I think maybe I'll just go with some nondescript nature-like elements. Everyone likes nature right? Right.
Those are perhaps the greatest branches ever drawn. And look at the floating purple orbs I added for no apparent reason! Marvelous. Okay, to finish up I need to add the author's name. But I have so much room left at the bottom that just her name will look lonely since the rest of the cover is so nicely occupied. I know! I'm a big fan of seals. And coffins. Those will flank her name nicely I think.
TA DA! It's truly something to behold isn't it? Please refrain from falling at my feet spouting odes to my brilliance, that would be embarrassing.
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No offense meant to the illustrator, he/she is obviously very talented, this type of illustration just doesn't appeal to my particular tastes. Of course, my husband walked behind me while I was writing this post and went "wow, that's a really cool cover, " so what do I know?
What do you guys think?
I am definitely not digging it. I'm a huge cover person although I hate to admit it. Your post if hilarious by the way. :)
ReplyDelete*giggle* These covers appeal to me only in how diff they are from what's out there. Sometimes I get so tired of the tortured overly built he man with half their faces cut off.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I'm not sure how I feel about this cover. In some ways I'm drawn to it - maybe the colors? and it makes me want to check it out but it leaves completely confused as to whether this is a cartoon - an adult story, a YA. The one thing that does annoy me is the coffin and seal.. it doesn't make any sense. I think this cover makes me want to look at the book (in fact I think I have at the bookstore) but in more of a wtf is that about way, and not in a cool - I'll buy it kind of way.
ReplyDeleteSnakes! ROFL. Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier. You do some great work here!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan, but it's not really my thing anyway...wanted to thank you for stopping by today. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI love the cover snark!!
ReplyDeleteThis is actually one of my favorite covers! Cute and original, it stands apart from all the "face" covers and chicks with tramp stamps and faceless dudes with tattoos lol.
ReplyDeleteAnd actually, in defense of the cover, the purple orbs are mage lights from the book and um...selkies take the form of seals and...ya, all the cover elements rep something from the book. And I SO don't mean to sound snarky-ish, just defending a cover I loved lol!
ReplyDeleteMeh doesn't do much for me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for replying...some people get so bent when you disagree about something! Love your blog and yes...I DO love me some good snark =)
ReplyDeleteAnd with that I'll stop monpolizing your comments lol!
Enjoy your weekend =)
I think it's a cute cover though when I first saw it I thought the book was a graphic novel because of it.
ReplyDeleteIt's okay. It's something different. There were so many obvious routes they could have gone with the cover (headless girl holding something important). I might be inclined to pick it up, but it does look a little cartoony, maybe something I'd find in a MG section instead of the YA.
ReplyDeleteit is moething different like najela said. someone might like it.
ReplyDeleteI hate that cover! If it was my boo that I had written I would probably be in the fetal position in my closet sobbing my eyes out and I would refuse to leave until they scratched my name off of the front. LOL
ReplyDeleteOh, that was so funny. I really don't like this cover and is one of the things preventing me from finishing the book. Every time I pick it up my husband starts to make fun of it. Another friend (male) says, "Ah, she's picked up the porno again." Sigh... While I don't like the video arcade style art, I've read that the author really liked the vampire heart at the top of the cover.
ReplyDeleteA very clever post. I have to agree with your husband that this is a cool cover though rather childlike in a way.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog! New follower here. This was a hilarious post.
ReplyDeleteCover critique is inredibly funny and extremely creative. Very well written!
ReplyDeleteI love your cover critique - your post was hilarious even though I have to admit that I actually like the cover *grins*
ReplyDeletehaha, I actually agree with your husband, I actually really like this cover! :D
ReplyDelete