PoC covers

Rachel Udin · Aug 21, 2012

I think it's time to reveal PoCs on covers and have a rankings. I know the majority here aren't artists, but I thought we could share and celebrate good covers and discuss the nature of covers.

First ranking:
http://66.147.242.160/~cindypon/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/cover11.jpg
- Proper PoC on cover.
- Face is shown
- And from a pure artistic POV...
It communicates the book well, warm colors offset the cooler colors, the green is offset with the pink (because red and green are complimentary) and the typography doesn't suck. (You have no idea how much of a relief that is) Also, there are no strange tangencies.

http://www.sfreviews.com/graphics/Octavia Butler_1998_Parable Of The Talents.jpg
OMG PoC on the cover, well done too. Face is shown.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b0gjcPtc6Ac/Ty9BBPKrY0I/AAAAAAAAAtw/R51SdEoxYK0/s1600/leguin-powers.jpg

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0152056785.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

http://twittertales.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/69852-cover.jpg
(Ursula LeGuin must be thrilled with these covers after her long struggle)

Second Ranking:
http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328311934l/8170840.jpg
I would say it's where the PoC isn't really shown, or it's obscured... Almost like the publisher says, "It's good, but not quite good enough." or simply not brave enough.

http://www.ursulakleguin.com/Covers/Gifts-2_166x250.jpg

Third ranking:

Use images (stereotypical or not) that cover the culture.
http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175817146l/563002.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hLKX08Lq8...Vc/drG4mQ5PCZA/s1600/ImageSession08AmyTan.jpg

http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles5/196484/projects/597698/c7de9a3a5ecfcb213ac6b0dd27a95b2b.jpg (You can see a cover where it has a face on it: http://ia700807.us.archive.org/zipv...overs661/olcovers661-L.zip&file=6611881-L.jpg)

Fourth ranking:
No PoC on a PoC book, but no one else either/no identifiers.

This one gets close: http://ia600802.us.archive.org/zipv...olcovers57/olcovers57-L.zip&file=576842-L.jpg (in terms of design making the fenghuang so dark against dark is cowardly...

http://www.fantasy-fan.org/files/wizard-of-earthsea-cover.jpg

http://www.ursulakleguin.com/Covers/TalesEarthsea.jpg

http://www.publishersweekly.com/images/cached/ARTICLE_PHOTO/photo/000/000/010/10676-v1-300x.JPG

And negative ranking:
Outright put a white person on the cover because you don't think a PoC on the cover will sell.

http://i2.listal.com/image/531411/9...rthsea-(the-earthsea-cycle,-book-1)-cover.jpg

http://scv.bu.edu/~aarondf/earthsea/images/awoe_Gordeev_front.jpg

http://demiday.net/hkportfolio/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/velho_full-900x625.jpg

http://cindypon.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/SilverPhoenixpbc1.jpg

http://cindypon.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/FuryPhoenix21.jpg

(At least we have yet to see a flub where the wrong ethnicity is represented on the cover... besides white, so I guess it could get worse.)

This isn't to say that some covers with whites don't have obscured faces:

http://www.glassonion.com/catalog/images/large_weyrworld.jpg

http://www.saltmanz.com/pictures/albums/Cover Scans/Book Covers/Girl Who Heard Dragons.jpg

But they aren't often overwritten by people of color taking their place. So I prefer to make up the deficit with an in-your-face. 'cause if they are going to get insulted, they may as well do so with the cover. And besides, if the person gets to the end on a clearly PoC book, I don't think making it obvious will hurt any.

Afterall, if a white character can have a cover like this:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xTRDt-9mFZY/Tsw2WWTzvYI/AAAAAAAAA3I/OEj8-y-2dFc/s1600/book+cover.jpg

and this:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t68ar0SFX54/TOCJSMcKfJI/AAAAAAAAFhg/VJPWQkJxoLU/s1600/The+Diviner.jpg

PoCs should be the same.

BTW, though Gorsha is not the main character...

http://www.glassonion.com/catalog/images/large_sarra.jpg

still makes me happy. Michael Whelan didn't make him a light-skinned black person to try to color grade (the books make a point that he's very dark-skinned). Makes me all kinds of happy. (But then I'm kinda a fan of Michael Whelan... I wish he would come out of cover artist retirement~)

How about your favorite PoC covers?

aruna · Aug 21, 2012

Purple Hibiscus

also Purple Hibiscus

So Long a Letter

Nervous Conditions

The Joys of Motherhood

My own book:

The Speech of Angels

The original hardcover of this book is a full-frontal picture of a dark-skinned Indian child. Will scan and post tomorrow.

Kitty27 · Aug 22, 2012

Thanks for this,Rachel! Ms.Butler's covers give me LIFE!

Covers mean a LOT. To see someone who looks like you means sooooo much to kids and teens.

Thanks,Aruna. I love when a publisher/author gets it right.

Unimportant · Aug 22, 2012

"Wild Seed" by Octavia Butler (this is the cover on the paperback version I have) -- African protagonist

"In Keisha's Shadow" by Sandra Barret -- bi-racial (African-American/Caucasian) protagonist

Heiresses of Russ 2011 (anthology -- a potpourri of stories and protagonists)

aruna · Aug 22, 2012

Rachel Udin said:
BTW, though Gorsha is not the main character...

http://www.glassonion.com/catalog/images/large_sarra.jpg

still makes me happy. Michael Whelan didn't make him a light-skinned black person to try to color grade (the books make a point that he's very dark-skinned). Makes me all kinds of happy. (But then I'm kinda a fan of Michael Whelan... I wish he would come out of cover artist retirement~)

How about your favorite PoC covers?

I didn't get this at first -- all I saw was the white blonde woman. I had to look several times to actually "see" the second person -- blondie grabs all the attention. Still.....

tprevost · Apr 8, 2013

I'm working on a cover now for a contest and the PoC is seen from the back and you can't really see that she's African American in my opinion. I'm trying to determine the best way to talk to the publisher about this, but am a little hesitant.

Kim Fierce · Apr 8, 2013

It's difficult for me to find covers with PoC for my stories. I have to select from stock photos, so it is usually very difficult for me to find characters who look exactly like the ones I created! For example, my latest short story features a main character who is a black gay teenager with dreadlocks who plays tennis. The title is "My Secret Pain". Even finding a black teen boy on the approved sites with dreadlocks was difficult, and when I did find some, it was a person smiling or too old or playing guitar. Or I could find a character who looked almost exactly what I was looking for, but he had a shaved head. So I either have to change what my character does/looks like to fit a picture, or choose something that is like a shadowy teen walking down a corridor with his head hanging down.

Custom-design covers would be helpful!

*Tprevost: I have had someone tell me that PoC covers don't sell as well, which is one reason I keep trying to find a blatantly PoC cover and fight for it . . . but it's a matter of me finding the one that I can actually fight for!

lolchemist · Apr 8, 2013

Wow that sucks Kim Fierce! I wonder if they'd let you pay out of pocket to just advertise on Craigslist, find a model and have a quick picture taken for your cover instead. It sucks that they're handcuffing you like this. Don't they want to give your book the perfect cover???

kuwisdelu · Apr 8, 2013

If people stopped putting people on their covers, this wouldn't be a problem.

(I know I'm in the minority here, but I prefer covers without characters on them.)

Kim Fierce · Apr 9, 2013

That was the other thing I was told. . . for most of the stories I was told people on covers sell better? But for my dystopia (The Divide) it was said that a symbol would do better, and I do agree with that. It is DEFINITELY hard to find characters that look like the ones in The Divide. Everyone is multi-racial. I would so love to have someone draw them for me!

But I think it would be possible for them to consider finding someone who could custom design some things. They are a small press so maybe this is more difficult, though.

I prefer symbols as well on covers. And for some reason I prefer a drawing of a character on the cover better than an actual photo?

Kim Fierce · Apr 9, 2013

lolchemist said:
Wow that sucks Kim Fierce! I wonder if they'd let you pay out of pocket to just advertise on Craigslist, find a model and have a quick picture taken for your cover instead. It sucks that they're handcuffing you like this. Don't they want to give your book the perfect cover???

Well there was one time they said we could use different sites, but they have preferred web sites. So maybe if I do find something better else where I can see if that would work!

Maybe for a new story I should just look at pictures til I find the perfect cover haha, then write the story.

SBibb · Apr 9, 2013

Thought I'd share a couple book covers with POC that I liked.

Akata Witch: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7507944-akata-witch

Cold Fire (the one with Daja ice skating): http://www.amazon.com/dp/0590396560/?tag=absowrit-20

kuwisdelu · Apr 9, 2013

Kim Fierce said:
I prefer symbols as well on covers. And for some reason I prefer a drawing of a character on the cover better than an actual photo?

I prefer drawings to photos, too.

Cyia · Apr 9, 2013

kuwisdelu said:
I prefer drawings to photos, too.

It depends on the execution. Too many drawn covers end up looking like concept art, or unfinished, to me.

kuwisdelu · Apr 9, 2013

Cyia said:
It depends on the execution. Too many drawn covers end up looking like concept art, or unfinished, to me.

Concept art generally looks pretty good to me?

Corinne Duyvis · Apr 11, 2013

With regard to Cindy Pon's covers--the original is often praised as being culturally appropriate, but I've seen several Chinese people roll their eyes at that. So while it still unarguably features a PoC, which is excellent, it's less excellent that they didn't get the rest of it just as right.

Also, the model on the new covers is apparently Asian. I totally think they should be critiqued since the covers do everything in their power to hide that the model is Asian, but it still feels inaccurate to say that it's a white person on that cover, end of story.

A recent cover I love is Nalo Hopkinson's THE CHAOS. It's gorgeous from a design perspective and prominently features a black girl. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11831627-the-chaos

Rachel Udin · Apr 11, 2013

Corinne Duyvis said:
With regard to Cindy Pon's covers--the original is often praised as being culturally appropriate, but I've seen several Chinese people roll their eyes at that. So while it still unarguably features a PoC, which is excellent, it's less excellent that they didn't get the rest of it just as right.

It depends on what time period and culture group of Chinese you're thinking. Cindi Pon, herself said that "Xia" was "Chinese-like" rather than a Historically Accurate time period...

The clothes on the cover are actually Han-ish. Meaning Hanfu and the Han Dynasty. The hair is even Han Dynasty-ish too.

In addition Cindi Pon said she helped make the cover so it was accurate to her vision. (She's Taiwanese.)

While the typography isn't perfect, I don't think one could pick on it for its exact Chinese-ness.

The cover DOES NOT feature the character in a Qipao, which came much later in the timeline and is mostly considered Mongolian-influenced. And there are other types of groups within China besides the Han, which often do not get remembered/recognized. Even the make up seems to match...

So, Uhh... what's the problem with the accuracy about it being from a Xia to Han-ish representation? Weren't there flying eves, and motifs...?

For the character's rank in society it's not a bad basic match from what I do understand of hanfu... (representing it as silk isn't that off either).

She also commissioned: http://cindypon.com/images/sp.jpg

So definitely Han Dynasty.

Corinne Duyvis · Apr 14, 2013

Rachel, I know nothing about Chinese history, I'm afraid! I'm not arguing for or against it, just pointing out what I've seen people mention. If I ever come across the specific post(s) again I can link it here, though, if you're interested in seeing their arguments.

Kitty Pryde · Apr 14, 2013

Polenth said:
Pinned - Sharon G. Flake (also see the back cover with the 'look inside' feature)

I liked this one. There's no attempt to shadow out the teens, they're dressed in casual clothes and appear to match the descriptions of them in the book. Adonis is in a wheelchair, which is also shown clearly on the back cover.

Cute kids, though I'd give it a poor grade on minority representation as they've put him in the completely wrong kind of wheelchair (one for hospitals or temporarily injured people).

I've been admiring the cover for Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone, from Tor. I think they did a nice job on it. Lady of color with natural hair and sweet magical knife in a dark fantasy setting. Bonus points for having a hot lady on the cover who's fully clothed.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13539191-three-parts-dead

slhuang · Apr 14, 2013

Corinne Duyvis said:
Rachel, I know nothing about Chinese history, I'm afraid! I'm not arguing for or against it, just pointing out what I've seen people mention. If I ever come across the specific post(s) again I can link it here, though, if you're interested in seeing their arguments.

I remember seeing that at the time, too. I did a quick search but the results were overwhelmed by posts about the whitewashing, so I couldn't find where I'd seen it. (I haven't read Silver Phoenix and the only Chinese history I've studied heavily is the last couple of centuries, so I can't comment myself, but I do remember seeing negative reactions to the original cover from some Asian reviewers.)

Polenth · Apr 14, 2013

Kitty Pryde said:
Cute kids, though I'd give it a poor grade on minority representation as they've put him in the completely wrong kind of wheelchair (one for hospitals or temporarily injured people).

I had a relative with one rather like that, so I'm curious what about it makes it say American hospital?

Kitty Pryde · Apr 14, 2013

Polenth said:
I had a relative with one rather like that, so I'm curious what about it makes it say American hospital?

So, a teenage boy with no legs. He would likely either be covered under a family insurance plan or Medicaid (state health insurance for the disabled or very poor). He would have an expensive snazzy wheelchair, all black or with a nice paint job, and customized fancy cushioning, sized to fit him precisely. He would probably also want a chair with a low back and no handlebars (so people don't literally push him around) or brakes (that kind gets in the way of pushing oneself around). You can visit the Quickie or Colors wheelchair website for an idea of what I am talking about.

The one in the picture is uncomfortable, can cause pressure sores due to total lack of padding, and isn't for long term use by an active individual (ergonomically it's much harder to get around in because of its shape as well). It's for an old person recently incapacitated, a younger person who just busted up their knee, or someone getting pushed around a hospital. The only time I have seen an actual person who can't walk in one of those, it's because their regular wheelchair is in for repairs. And I know they've used it in the photo because it was one they could rent for the day from a shop to use in the photo shoot. But to me it stands out like a YA novel cover photo of a girl wearing one of those plastic old lady hair bonnets and flowered housedress. Nothing wrong with those particular items, but a YA protagonist wouldn't use them.

Polenth · Apr 14, 2013

Kitty Pryde said:
So, a teenage boy with no legs. He would likely either be covered under a family insurance plan or Medicaid (state health insurance for the disabled or very poor). He would have an expensive snazzy wheelchair, all black or with a nice paint job, and customized fancy cushioning, sized to fit him precisely. He would probably also want a chair with a low back and no handlebars (so people don't literally push him around) or brakes (that kind gets in the way of pushing oneself around). You can visit the Quickie or Colors wheelchair website for an idea of what I am talking about.

The one in the picture is uncomfortable, can cause pressure sores due to total lack of padding, and isn't for long term use by an active individual (ergonomically it's much harder to get around in because of its shape as well). It's for an old person recently incapacitated, a younger person who just busted up their knee, or someone getting pushed around a hospital. The only time I have seen an actual person who can't walk in one of those, it's because their regular wheelchair is in for repairs. And I know they've used it in the photo because it was one they could rent for the day from a shop to use in the photo shoot. But to me it stands out like a YA novel cover photo of a girl wearing one of those plastic old lady hair bonnets and flowered housedress. Nothing wrong with those particular items, but a YA protagonist wouldn't use them.

Thanks. I was curious, because the one I'm thinking of really was a lot like that, and was used as an every day wheelchair. It had handles and no padding (so they added cushions to stop sores). It also wasn't that easy to manoeuvre around doors. Which makes me wonder now where it came from.

Rachel Udin · Apr 15, 2013

Corinne Duyvis said:
Rachel, I know nothing about Chinese history, I'm afraid! I'm not arguing for or against it, just pointing out what I've seen people mention. If I ever come across the specific post(s) again I can link it here, though, if you're interested in seeing their arguments.

Just curious... ^^;; Didn't mean to sound argumentative.

Silver-Midnight · Apr 15, 2013

kuwisdelu;8100048 [size=1 said:
(I know I'm in the minority here, but I prefer covers without characters on them.)[/size]

Sometimes I'm kind of like this. It kind of depends though really. Some covers I've seen do look nice.

Okay, seeing as how I don't seen a genre requirement, I'm going to share my favorite covers:
(All of these are by the same author; she has other books out. But I'm going to try to post only my favorite covers of hers.)

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15712502-the-rose-petal-beach

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1298576.The_Cupid_Effect

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1298578.The_Chocolate_Run

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9981618-the-woman-he-loved-before

PoC covers

On a wing and a prayer

So Goth That I Was Born Black

No COVID yet. Still masking.

On a wing and a prayer

Attack me with everything you have.

Shooting stars.

Revolutionize the World

Attack me with everything you have.

Attack me with everything you have.

Revolutionize the World

Rewriting My Destiny

Revolutionize the World

My New Cat Is Too Big for Shoulders

My New Cat Is Too Big for Shoulders

i luv you giant bear statue

Inappropriately math-oriented.

Mushroom

i luv you giant bear statue

Mushroom