Romance Artwork

Of course, you can always make a suggestion to your editor, but generally speaking, major publishers have staff artists to do the covers. I think I remember several H/S authors mention that they send their authors cover concept requests to ask about scenes that would make a good cover, and details about the hero and heroine.

But to choose an actual artist? Boy, I don't think so. Any of you ladies care to weigh in on this?

As Cathy said, H/S has the author fill out what's called an Art Fact Sheet, where the author provides information about the book (including a very important one-page synopsis that's used to make foreign sales), including three cover scene suggestions.

I usually send in pictures as well, simply because I work from pictures myself, and it gives the art department a visual to go by.

For my very first cover, I actually had a specific cover model in mind, a model I knew had worked with HQ before, so I requested him for my hero - and got him. I've known some authors who've also requested a specific model - sometimes they get him/her, sometimes they don't. (Probably depends on a lot of things.)

But I don't think I've ever known of an author requesting a specific cover artist. HQ has a number of cover artists that they regularly work with. In fact, I know the art director will assign specific covers to specific artists based on what their known strengths are.

I would say the odds of getting a specific cover artist of your choice are pretty slim. (But I never say never. <G>)

Susan G.

Zandische said:

that artist has privately agreed to do cover work for the author in the event of publishing

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If the artist has done cover work, he or she will already know that writers have little to no say about their covers. Even when they DO, the publisher's marketing department always wins. They've been doing this kind of thing for decades, and you won't be the first writer who's wanted to do this.

Nocturne books have a specific style so they're easily recognized from a distance. It's a Marketing Thing. HQ won't be likely to change that for one title.

do you think the Harlequin art department would consider working with that artist,

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They *might* if you speak to your editor, but they have a stable of artists and Photoshop experts who do their covers on a regular basis. Your artist friend would have to apply separately, submitting a portfolio, and win a job on his or her own merits.

or is that too much to hope for?

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For a new writer, yes. Look after your writing career and don't worry about the covers until you get a strong track record of sales. I was horrified at my first cover, but what the hell, the book sold well despite that.

Cautionary Tale:

There was a writer in Canada who had her book all but sold to a major publisher. But she insisted that her artist brother got the job as cover artist. She said she would NOT sign the contract unless that happened.

The publisher decided she wasn't worth that kind of trouble and passed on her book. So far as I know she and her brother never made a bean on the deal.

She was a good sister, but lousy at business. If her brother was that good at art, then he didn't need her help to get himself cover jobs.

And Welcome to AW!!!!