I changed the third cover because I wanted the model to match the fourth cover, and I loved the picture the cover artist used for the fourth.
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Oooh, I like these ones! Better than the previous one, although I’ll admit, it’s a bit strange that she’s not a blond. I’ll get used to it.
I know. I nearly told the cover artist to go with a blonde, but in reality I say in the books that Tori has brown hair, so it seemed like I should go with brown. Although, you can also just pretend this is Rosa . . .
Why do girls on the cover of books always have to look trampy? She looks kind of emo too. I’m just saying that if I just saw this book on the shelf, and if I didn’t already know that this author is great, I wouldn’t pick it up.
Funny you should say that. I actually had the cover artist darken the lace on the model’s shirt so it wasn’t as revealing. (Explaining to the artist that Tori is only a junior in high school, and I don’t want the mothers of the teenage boys who read the book mad at me.) Now I feel justified in making the change. Anyway, if you peruse the available photos in Istock or Shutterstock, you’ll quickly see the problem I face. You can spend hours, days sorting through the pictures trying to find one that works. (This is a bit like looking for a homecoming dress for your daughter. You start out with all sorts of stipulations in mind. You want it modest, affordable, a good fit, and a flattering color. After a few days of driving to different stores, tromping around the mall, and finding nothing but dresses that look like they were made for Vegas strippers, you’ll settle for anything with a hint of sleeves and more than a yard of fabric.) The thousands of cover models you’ll find either look like they are smiling happily in anticipation of selling some product or they are pouting seductively. There’s hardly a middle ground. But hey, if you’re good with a camera and know attractive girls, I’m sure you could find willing authors who would use your services! I can’t tell you how long I’ve been looking for a picture of a cheerleader to use for the ebook of Revenge of the Cheerleaders.
Ok, so now I have to play devil’s advocate. What about this image? Girl on motorcycle, more clothes (there are also other pics with the same model – some of them even have a guy in the photo too):
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-155463983/stock-photo-biker-girl-in-a-leather-jacket-on-a-motorcycle-looking-at-the-sunset.html?src=9YY6xxSIukTl4JeOt9DESg-1-87
Or this girl (who also has more photos with different poses) which could kind of be like the cocktail dress she wears in your story:
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-150099887/stock-photo-a-young-woman-in-a-black-dress-with-hands-on-a-belt-walking-along-the-waterfront-at-evening.html?src=fNZdhc2AvTj2PH3hyeQpdg-4-24
Or one final one, which could also be like her cocktail dress and has a few poses:
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-196743830/stock-photo-full-length-portrait-of-a-sexy-blonde-woman-in-little-black-dress-crossed-arms-and-legs-closed.html?src=fNZdhc2AvTj2PH3hyeQpdg-1-33
Ok, I’m done playing devil’s advocate. I like the model you chose above, just thought I’d point these out in case you are worried about her looking trampy 😉
I really like the first and third–but one of the other problems I faced this go around, was that I needed two images of the same model that would work. (Thus the reason that I had the designer switch out the first model on the book. We didn’t have another picture of her that would work for the fourth book.) At this point the covers are done so it’s a moot point, but I’m impressed that you came up with three good images so fast. I literally spent hours and hours without turning up much. If you find some that would work for a cheerleader book, send the links my way. I’ve been looking for months on that one.
Sending you an email with some cheerleader options. If I comment here with too many links, it thinks I’m spamming you 🙂
That’s rough. One time I needed to find a picture of an African American teenage girl holding a gun for a school project. That’s already more specific than “teenage girl holding gun” or “African American girl”, so I didn’t have a lot to choose from. The only one I could find on the whole Internet was bearing a bra. I had to crop her at the shoulders before I could put it on a PowerPoint.
One of my friends has been approached and asked to be a model three times. She keeps turning them down because she doesn’t want to be told what to wear.
Lovely covers. I so agree about pouty models and trawling stock photo sites for hours without result. I get my daughter to pose for my covers – though that’s not easy, either :o)
That works out nicely. One of my daughters wants to be on a cover, but she’s still too young. Maybe in a few years.
Oh wow! I like these better! How is it going with the beta readers? Do you think the third book will be published soon? Looking forward to it!
I love this series. I’m currently reading Book 2 and I ship Tori and Dirk so hard. Team Dirk! It’s a bit weird that Tori is going from blonde to brunette on the the covers, but the covers are still great.