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Shiny New Book Cover: "Doggy Tales 1"

at 1:20 PM Thursday, February 23, 2012
(Don't forget about the contest!)

I love getting shiny new book covers in my inbox! This is the latest one, from my upcoming Siren release, "Doggy Tales - Doggy Tales 1." It's a compilation of several stories, some of which were pre-released, but those were revised and extensively expanded, in addition to two new stories.

I know they're not the Lyall brothers (yes, yes, I'm working on them!) but I hope these scorching hot shape-shifter men will do it for you. LOL

I have been so lucky that I get amazing covers full of win with a side of total awesomsauce. LOL 

As a reader, I love book covers that draw me in and give me an immediate feel for a story, set a specific mood. I'm not a huge stickler for a hero or heroine (or plural) has to look exactly like they're written, but they should be a reasonable facsimile thereof. LOL I don't even mind "headless" heroes and heroines, because I know how difficult it is sometimes to match someone up exactly.

What I don't like are those CGI-avatar cartooney looking covers. I'd rather see a generic hero that's a real guy than one of those things that looks like it belongs in a video game. I just...I don't know, I can't take a book serious that looks like that. LOL That's just me. I'm sure there are some people out there who will disagree, and that's fine.

So what do you like in a book cover? What don't you like? What draws you in or repels you about a book cover? I know we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but let's be honest, we all do it.

(Don't forget to add your comment sooner rather than later for a chance to win!)

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25 reader comments:

  1. SheriV said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 1:38 PM

    I love a cover that gives me an idea of the story. And pretty man candy doesn't hurt. :P Your new cover is super shiny. :) The people on the cover don't need to match but I do have to do a double take when the heroine is blond and the lady on the cover is a brunette. Also the cartoony ones are weird to me, I don't quite get the point of those but that's just me.

  1. dschroeter said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 1:41 PM

    I totally agree with you! And of course, love the eye candy!

  1. Winddancer said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 1:53 PM

    I don't necessarily judge a book by it's cover but sometimes the cover makes the difference on whether or not I buy the book immediately. I'm a teacher who hasn't had a contract in 5 years (due to the economy)and that means money is extremely tight. If the blurb and excerpt don't do it for me, I might just wish list it for a while. Covers where the characters are oddly distorted or disproportional really do bother me, as do the "cartoony" covers. I do find myself more inclined towards the "clean" covers - not too much to distract my eye. Jinger does a spectacular job with your covers. I've never had a problem with any of them. This one is no different.

  1. Toni said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 1:55 PM

    I agree 110%. I'm a cover whore. I know I'm not supposed to judge, but I find myself doing that. I think a cover can make or break a book. For instance,Motier Foux: A Novel of Romantic Bondage. The publisher bombed on this cover. I chatted a bit w/the author and we both agreed, there wasn't even any bondage in the book. Totally ruined her chances for sales. I'm rambling, but a cover should at least be a fair depiction of what is between the covers. If the heroine has flaming long red hair, don't put a woman with short black hair on the cover. Anyhow, that is my two cents (more like a buck).

  1. SusieJ said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 2:01 PM

    Hot men with at least a passing resemblance to the hero (and the same goes for the heroine). I find it totally offputting when you see a great cover..and then find it has nothing to do with the story.
    Hugs xx

  1. Pat said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 2:21 PM

    Covers aren't really important to me if I know and like the author. It becomes more important to me if the author is new to me so I can get a sense of what the book is about.
    So, if it is a shape shifter book, I am as happy with a picture of the animal the character changes into as I am about seeing a hunky guy. Not usually impressed though with cartoony characters.

  1. Ratatosk said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 2:27 PM

    While I do like eye candy, I can just as easily be turned off by book due to it's cover. Several times I've read a book on my kindle and later have seen the artwork on facebook or elsewhere and think, "That is soooo not who I pictured as the hero".

    Liza

  1. Carla said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 2:33 PM

    I hate cheesy covers. Can't stand overly dramatic drivel. I want to be proud to show off the pretty covers not ashamed to have that as a cover. It does throw me off my reading game if the cover has no basis from the book. I hate to see a stick figure on the front when the back cover cleary states full figured.

  1. iamltr said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 2:34 PM

    I prefer less detail when it comes to covers. I like to conjure up images of the characters in my head as I read and if they don't match at all with whats shown on the front,eh, it really takes you out of the story.

  1. Kim C said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 2:38 PM

    I like a cover that matches pretty closely to the characters, personally. Or no picture at all, just the name of the book (weird, I know), but the graphics catch my eye more than the pictures do. I absolutely HATE when they have a cheesy background behind the characters. Like a farmhouse that you can tell is not a true picture. Just turns me off, no matter how good the story is sometimes.

  1. kpill said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 3:03 PM

    I try not to judge a book by it's cover. However if the chacters and the cover don't match at ALL I do find it annoying. I think for that reason I do like the faceless or blurred view. Helps me to use my own imagination, rather than the picture from the cover. Love the new cover to the Brimstone series much better. Will those be available in print ever? I already bought the old versions in ebook form, and would like to read the newly released versions as well, but would rather have print, than two ebook copies. Thanks! :)

  1. The Heimster said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 3:35 PM

    I think the cover is 85% the reason I choose to buy a new book. I mostly buy books from authors Ive read before so the cover doesn't matter especially when its part of series because I've already been reeled in.
    I like people on my cover, there are times I like to look back at the cover to remind myself how the character is supposed to 'look' like. And I hate when its a picture of a thing, like a rose of landscape. Give me hot yummy models to look at or scenes that make me what to be the heroine on the cover. Now the only downside about that is when I'm reading in public, I don't like ppl seeing my 'smutty' books and their racy titles. But now I read mostly ebooks so I can read all the smut I want. lol

  1. Catnip said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 3:52 PM

    I love covers that resemble the characters as well. Doesn't have to be exact but same basic stats would be nice. Okay, so I also like checking out the cover again during certain "scenes" just to really get me into the book:}I do hate those cartoon covers. I feel like I'm reading a book for a 15 year old and won't even pick it up. So that's the perv in me.

  1. Kathleen C said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 5:13 PM

    Hi Lesli. I don't judge a book by its cover either, and it's a good thing. Morgan Hawke has a couple of awful (cartoony) covers, but I love her stories, especially Interstellar Service and Discipline series. I hate corny covers, and many grace the exterior of historical novels. But alas, Elizabeth Hoyt has written some of my favorite stories. So, by and large, I pay little attention. I prefer a single model, no faces (unless he's turned away), bodies only. Are there exceptions? Yes. Paul Maron on the cover of Kresley Cole's Lothaire is so compelling I can't look away. Another exception is Denise Agnew's Major Pleasure...again, it's hard to look away. So, in summary, covers neither entice nor prevent me from reading a book. It's all about the author and/or reviews. I also occasionally get a recommendation from trusted source.

  1. Emily said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 6:48 PM

    I love a cover that at least matches the description in general terms. When the story is about a hot man with black hair and sea green eyes the cover shouldn't have a hot man on there with blonde hair and blue eyes (I have seen it). As the sexy the pose the better yuuummmmyyy!!!!

  1. TTN said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 9:26 PM

    I like this cover. It showed enough of the man's physique for me to drool and not enough of the woman to put myself in that role. LOL I totally hate the cartoon-looking covers and won't even read the blurbs. Since switching to an ereader, it's harder to "flip" to the cover as I'm reading. On the good side, no need to hide or blush over the too revealing cover either.

  1. Ladycelt said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 9:38 PM

    I hate to say it, but it seems to me that a large portion of the erotica books (especially in the m/m genre) have terrible covers. The main characters depicted on the cover bear no resemblance to the characters described in the text. Usually far too young, too slim, too "weak" looking...
    The "bodice-rippers" of my young reading life were better than that!

  1. laurie said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 10:38 PM

    like many here i am too drawn to a c book cover before i try it. For me i want to have an idea of what the book MIGHT be about and it IS helpful if the characters somewhat resemble what i see on the cover when it comes to reading the book and visualizing them in my mind as i am reading along.

  1. ParanormalRomanceFan said...:
    February 23, 2012 at 11:46 PM

    Hello Tymber,
    I LOVE your Cover Art for your upcoming Siren release, "Doggy Tales - Doggy Tales 1"…..Mmmm its soooo darn Sexy & HOT!!!!

    I know we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I wouldn’t be honest if I said a Smokin’ HOT Cover doesn’t win me over almost every time! What I like in a book cover is a Genre-related Cover with HOT, Well-Muscled Alpha ManCandy on the Cover! What draws me in to a Cover for instance is; if the genre is BDSM, let me have a taste of that on the Cover, or if it’s paranormal I’d like the cover to reflect that as well…of course let’s not forget the ManCandy, that’s an absolute MUST for me! I want a Cover to make me say, “WOW that looks like a really HOT Book” & that Cover will grab me to read more about the book.

    What don't I like or repels me about a book cover? I’d have to say a Cover that tells me nothing about the Book at all or the Hero & Heroine on the Cover looking NOTHING like what they are describes like in the book. Now they don’t have to look exactly like the description…but if the Cover has a Hot Guy with long black hair & tribal tattoos & the book description is of a Hot Guy with short blonde hair with no tattoos, that REALLY annoys me.

    Take Care & Have a Great Weekend,
    PaParanormalFan (Renee’ S.)
    paranormalromancefan@yahoo.com

  1. Nikki said...:
    February 24, 2012 at 2:04 AM

    I too hate those CGI-type covers. Usually when I see those I steer away from those books. I like covers that give an idea of what the story will be, but also portrays the characters somewhat. Although, the reason we read books is to use our imagination and get caught up in the story as well as the character, so using my own idea of what the characters look like is have the joy of reading the book. I do have to admit that the cover, whether it portrays the character of plot, has to catch my eye or I just pass it by...unless of course it's written by a favorite author. After all, it was the cover that drew me to meeting Nevvie, Tyler(such a cutie), and Thomas. Thank you for them, by the way. I believe this is the fourth time for me to read those books and I still cry every time.

  1. Katy Beth McKee said...:
    February 24, 2012 at 10:53 AM

    I don't like the cartoony covers either. Makes me think it should be something my kids want to read. I also don't like where one company tends to use the same cover over and over. I'm surprised on how much a cover can still catch my eye even when e-book shopping. My other pet peeve (Harlequin is the worst for this) is when the cover picture is real or drawn and the hero or heroine don't match their book description at all. The long red head has short blond hair on the cover. Or she's nearly as tall as he is but only comes to his chest on the cover. I'm mean really.

  1. Di Eats the Elephant said...:
    February 24, 2012 at 8:25 PM

    I have to agree that when you're already reading the author, you're not even looking at the cover. At the same time, I'm turned off by covers that look like the old harlequin romance covers. I liked one BDSM cover I saw recently where it was a view from behind of a female in a schoolgirl outfit hinting at what was probably not well covered, and holding a paddle. Let me think about what is going to be in the book. I'll pick it up to read the blurb, the beginning, and near the ending, to get an idea of tone/voice, ability to pull me into the story, use of dialogue, and believe it or not, whether or not I like the type. I have put books down where the type was small or boring (like times new roman). Sometimes less is more when there is a lot more in the book. Should relate to the book, tho.

  1. redjuliet said...:
    February 25, 2012 at 12:22 AM

    I like covers that have real people on them as well. Headless doesn't bother me either as I've noticed that the heads usually don't match the author description! Buff males on covers are my favorite but I also like covers with sensual images. A blah cover makes it less likely that I will check out a book unless it is an author I like.

  1. Paula said...:
    February 25, 2012 at 3:49 AM

    For me, the cover HAS to match the theme, or at least the characters of the book. Otherise why pick it up if you don't think it will match your mood or topic?

    Working behind the scenes in a major book retailer, I cringe at some things that get submitted. Two years on, and I still don't get the connection between an 18thC Cornish mine being on the cover and the actual story being set in 20thC New York...

    Overall, I prefer my hero to be on the cover, if it's romance.

  1. Tymber Dalton said...:
    February 25, 2012 at 11:40 AM

    Great comments everyone!! Thank you for adding your thoughts to the list.

    Now, for today's winners... *drumroll as I fire up the random number generator*

    Toni
    The Heimster

    Remember, you can keep entering on every blog post for more chances to win up until I do a drawing for the grand prize! :) Thanks!!

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