Open Mic Spice….with Lucinda Betts!
Have you been watching the Cover Café 2007 contest? 
Kensington’s Aphrodisia line has become famous for its cover art. When I heard about the contest, I linked over there to see which Aphrodisia covers made it into the various categories.
I didn’t find any Aphrodisia covers in the Alternate Reality category, which was the first one I looked at. I wasn’t too surprised because the Aphro covers specialize in capturing that “falling in lust” moment or even the washboard abs and almost bare hips moment—but they don’t have dragons or wizards or other otherworldly accouterments on their covers. (I have to admit I voted for Magic Study, although Belladonna 
was hard to resist.) Sharon Page’s covers would have looked good here, though. They’re very sexy, and you definitely know you’re getting a vampire book when you see the cover art.
I wasn’t expecting to find any Aphrodisia titles in the Romantic Suspense category–even though some of us write erotic romances with suspense elements, they’re just elements. (I voted for Abandon, just barely resisting Hide.)
The Two-cover category has books with 2-part covers (a front with a second image set right inside), and I don’t think Kensington makes these for any Aphrodisia books, not even Kate Douglas, who gets raised letters and gold foil. (I am NOT green with envy—okay, I am, but it’s a pretty green, not unlike that found on the cover of Magic Study. And I’m still happy for Kate.) So, I looked at the covers and couldn’t decide. I didn’t vote in this category.
When I came to the Historical category, I thought I might find one of Noelle Mack’s covers. Not only is her cover art
beautiful, but she’s garnered at least one 4 and a half star review from RT. (Again, I’m Magic-Study green with envy, but congrats to you, Noelle!) But no, nothing from Aphrodisia here. Drat.
I clicked to Contemporary, knowing we must have some great art on this page. Thigh High? Gorgeous cover. Sexy Beast? Oh, yeah. Lush? Dear God, Yes. Bound to Ecstasy? Should definitely be there. But none of them were. Damn. What’s wrong with these people? Lush and Thigh High are two of the most breathtaking covers of all time?
And then I got to the Worst Cover category, and I thought I’d fallen into the next dimension. Look at the covers they thought sucked. Lacy Danes, What She Craves? It’s beautiful and raw and edgy. Maybe not to everyone’s taste, but definitely not It Happened One Wedding, which doesn’t just border on goofy—it defines it. When Cassie Ryan got her
cover for Ceremony of Seduction, I was green with envy and there wasn’t anything pretty about it. The cover is romantic and lush. The couple exuded not only lust, but romantic love. I want to be that woman. What was the nominating committee thinking? They were on crack. Big Spankable Asses? Well, the girl on the cover has a spankable ass, but it sure as hell ain’t big. So maybe it got nominated for lack of logic. But look at Kink. The cover art oozes edge. Fishnet, handcuffs, and a suggestively placed title. But the book is about kink, for god’s sake. Please.
But okay, I’m biased. I write for Aphrodisia. I love the cover art (with the exception of a certain pair of boots and a particular cover that is the exact color of a Good N Plenty box). So maybe I’m in denial 
about the quality of the cover art. So I start looking on the web for what other people are saying about it.
Robin at DearAuthor said: Well, I thought some of the “best” nominees belonged in the “worst” category (and vice versa for a couple of the worst noms), but it was still fun.
Jennifer McKenzie said: Wow!!! Some of these covers were great. The “worst” category wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. I’ve seen some stinkers compared to those.
Evie Byrne said: Also, I protest Kink’s inclusion in the Worst. I think that design is very fresh, very strong–and edgy, yes, but heck, the novel is called “Kink.” What’s it supposed to look like?
And Robin added: I’m still trying to figure out, though, whether I like or hate the Big Spankable Asses title and cover.
So, I’m not the only one who thinks the cover committee is smoking crack. Still, looking at the covers was fun. Next year, I want to be part of that nominating committee—not tat they’ll let me because I’ll be nominating all Aphrodisia books.
So what covers would you like to see in the 2008 contest?
She’s on Top would be among my nominees for Contemporary. Sins of the Night gets my vote for Alternate Worlds. (Of course, I have to nominate my own—She and Running Wild). Dark Master and Nailed are also pretty damned hot, too. Let me know your thoughts.
*You can find a lot of the Aphro covers on our blog.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:37 am
I totally think we should just make up our own contest.
I think Devyn’s Sins of the Night deserves top honors for hottest headless dude
And thank you. I love the cover for Nailed and think it should win for hottest underage hero who’s not (underage) cuz I’d still do him.
I LOVE your covers–they definitely set the tone. Another of my all time faves is Moreen Clark’s Promiscuous. It’s not the most blatant cover but it’s very sexy and hot and classy. And I’ve said this before but I LURVE the BSA cover/title.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:41 am
PS I voted for HIDE
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:01 am
I say go for it! Have a NAughty and Spice cover contest!
As for all of the erotic covers being in the “Worst” category…I’m so not surprised it’s sad.
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 am
Thanks for the vote for She’s on Top, Lucinda.
There are 2 particularly interesting things about that cover. First, turquoise is my favorite color and I wear it a lot. When I pose for a photo holding the book in front of me, you can barely see the book because it blends into my turquoise top!
Second, the heroine on the cover looks to be about a size 2 blonde. The heroine in the book is a plus-size woman with masses of wavy black hair. I love the cover, but every time I look at it, I think, “Who IS that girl???” LOL.
Of course the important thing is, the cover’s eye-catching and it does capture the sexy and romantic relationship between Rina and Giancarlo.
I think a lot of the Aphro covers are representational rather than strictly “accurate.” In general they do a really good job of conveying the tone of the book. We have such a range of writing styles and stories in our line, the covers help readers figure out if the particular book will appeal to them.
Susan
www.susanlyons.ca
For sexy romance that’s intense, passionate, heartwarming and fun!
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:05 am
Sasha….I might talk to the NAS girls and see if we can’t work up something a bit more formal (and FUN) for this summer. I think I’m the only one not going to RWA so I could take over the whole blog BWAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAA have guest bloggers, prizes, our cover contesttttttttt
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:08 am
[…] Betts is on a roll over at NAS…we’re talking the worst book covers…or are […]
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:12 am
I was surprised at some of the choices for worst cover, too, Lucinda. Aphrodisia has some of the best covers in the business. The lighting and shadow are superb in all of mine, especially my couple covers.
And I keep a copy of THIGH HIGH on a stand on my front all table. I get a lot of great comments on that one…and really, I *wish* my butt looked like hers.
Bonnie
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I love the cover contest idea!!
And I also loved Lacy’s cover and I LOVE the Kink cover.
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
If NAS decides to hold a contest, I’ll certainly contribute goodies. Maybe everyone who votes will get a chance to win something? I always have good stuff to give away.
And hey, in the case of the worst covers category, no publicity is bad publicity!
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:37 pm
And Susan, I hear you about the heroine not matching the photo model. My heroine in SHE is blond! The gal on the cover is brunette. Maybe the committee picking the Cafe Cover 2007 covers aren’t the only ones smoking funny stuff. Still…the cover of SHE is very attractive.
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Hi Lucinda!
I don’t get the worst cover nominees this year either. I loved both Lacy’s cover and the Kink cover - I thought they were fitting for the subject matter. I almost feel they were nominated because so many like to pick on the erotic romance genre in general.
But that’s another rant. That’s Feisty’s rant from yesterday. LOL
And I love the idea of a cover contest! Let’s do it!
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:01 pm
“Ceremony of Seduction” is a beautiful cover.
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
You know I saw this and was just annoyed. It seems like all the worst covers were ones that were erotic or sensual books. Seemed very bizarre to me…
Those are definitely some good covers that didn’t belong there. The Big Spankable Asses I do think was probably because is so obviously isn’t a Big Spankable Ass.
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
With Big Spankable Asses I think it was case of they didn’t like the title…no matter what the cover looked like.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Did you guys see the chatter over at Smart Bitches today? They love to snark about covers and even they couldn’t find anything to say about Ceremony of Seduction. And they’re professional snarkers.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Yes ma’am! Already been there
May 8th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Thank God my covers weren’t there!!!!