Historical and Contemporary Romance Author

I Need Cover Art Opinions

I’m working on cover art for my next historical series, the first two books of which should be out in the first half of 2013. I’d already approved the cover for the second book in the series (Unashamed), but when I got the comp for the the cover of the first book (Unbridled), it was apparent that the font that looked great on the first book’s was fussy and hard to read on the second. This meant going back to the drawing board for the title font for both books.

I think I know which font I prefer, but I’m looking for opinions from my minions (oh, how I wish I had minions, lol). I’m showing you both sets of covers with the same font side-by-side in two sizes, 200×300 (which is pretty common for the main book pages on the major retailer sites) and then in thumbnail (which is what you see on search pages, bestseller lists, and in the also boughts). Let me know what you think. I’d be ever so grateful!

200×300

Set 1
Set 2
Set 3

Thumbnails

Set 1
Set 2
Set 3

So, what do you think? Set 1, 2, or 3? Comment or, if you got to this from Twitter and prefer to answer there, @ reply me with your vote! (I’d do a poll, but I’d have to reinstall the plugin, and that’s just too much work!)

P.S. Ignore the telephone poles in the background on Unbridled if you’re eagle-eyed enough to see them. I’m sure my artist can get rid of them!

12 Comments

  • Kristen Koster (Kaige) August 1, 2012 at 2:20 pm

    Hey Jackie… I really like 1 & 3 best, but while I like 1 in the large size better, it’s much more readable in set 3 in the smaller size.

    Reply
  • Ros August 1, 2012 at 2:39 pm

    I like the first font, though I think the colours of the Unbridled cover are too bright in all of the pictures.

    Reply
  • Kimberly Farris August 1, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    I like Set 2 the best. The font to me is a good combo of the ones used in the other sets. Not too fancy and not too plain.

    Reply
  • Rita Oberlies August 1, 2012 at 4:26 pm

    My vote is also with Set 2. For some reason it had the most visual pop for me.

    Reply
  • Booklover1335 August 1, 2012 at 10:53 pm

    I’m not a fan of any of the fonts really. Like you said they are too fussy to be really readable. But if I had to choose it would be #3, even though I don’t like the U so big because you can read it at a small scale.

    And I agree with Ros the colors in Unbridled are too bright and unnatural looking.

    Reply
  • Monique August 1, 2012 at 11:05 pm

    I like the font on set 1 the best.

    Reply
  • Tonia Laird August 2, 2012 at 12:05 pm

    I think set two is the strongest. The “U” is the clearest and brings the eye down easiest from the image.

    Reply
  • Lisa Voisin August 3, 2012 at 1:13 am

    I like # 3 the best.

    Reply
  • Anthea Lawson August 5, 2012 at 12:49 am

    I’m a fan of set one. 🙂

    Reply
  • Anthea Lawson August 5, 2012 at 12:51 am

    And then set 3, and then 2 the least. Ah, opinion! I also agree the colors are too bright in cover #1, especially in comparison to the beautiful elegance of cover 2.

    Reply
  • Leslie Lee Sanders August 5, 2012 at 9:39 am

    Number 1 for sure! I think the U in the title stands out enough to be sort of a brand in itself. Even as a thumbnail it’s easy to see the books are connected, and it makes me want to take a closer look. Which is good. Plus, the font is a bit unique. You don’t see it often so it calls attention to the books. Set #1 all the way! :))

    Reply
  • Era Quarles August 7, 2012 at 8:46 am

    I prefer 1

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Kristen Koster (Kaige)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.