It’s always exciting to get your first look at a new cover. Even if it gives you an odd feeling of deja vu. That’s what happened to me when my editor first sent me the cover art for my latest release, Love on the Mend.
This is a novella that follows up with a character from Full Steam Ahead. In that story, the hero and heroine take in a runaway boy named Jacob. The full story of what led the boy to run away in the first place, however, is never completely revealed . . . until the novella. In Love on the Mend, Jacob is a full-grown man, a doctor weary from his time as a surgeon in the Civil War and all the death witnessed firsthand. He longs for peace, but knows he will never have it unless he lays his past to rest. So after 17 years, he finally returns home, only to discover that his past is still alive and kicking.
Now, since this new story will only be available in digital format, and as a novella it will be offered at a fraction of the full-length novel price, my publisher decided that it would be more cost effective to use material they already had in-house for the cover instead of doing an entirely new cover shoot. Being a frugal person, myself, I thought this a wise plan. Besides, it left me with a fun quirk for my cover.
Playing off the doctor angle and using outtakes from a previous cover shoot, the art department came up with this adorable cover–one that is remarkably similar to a book by the wonderfully fun Cathy Marie Hake.
The original cover from 2009. (You can click this one, too. Grin.)
My cover. (Only $1.99 on Amazon! Click cover to order.)
They changed the scenery in the background, photo-shopped the color of the dress to change the stripes into a teal color and used a different pose and props than the one selected for Cathy’s cover, yet the two remain very similar.
Now, Cathy’s book came out five years ago in 2009, so I wasn’t sure if anyone would even notice. But the first time I posted the cover on Facebook, one savvy librarian from the Netherlands was quick to pick up on it. She asked straight out if it was the same model and dress. Yep. Didn’t bother me in the least, though. It’s not like going to prom and finding two other girls wearing the exact same gown as you. No, to me it was a conversation starter. Besides, I’m a huge fan of Cathy Marie Hake and was honored to share a cover model with her.
The only complaint I have at all is that the style of dress is not right for my time period. Love on the Mend takes place in 1868. The skirt should be much fuller and belled out. But other than that, I’m very pleased. It’s fun, cute, a bit flirtatious, and it fits my feisty heroine, Molly Tate, just fine.
- So what do you think of the cover similarities?
- Ever showed up to a gathering wearing the same dress or blouse as someone else?
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Yes that does happen..
My mother was surprised when one of her sisters came to my wedding wearing the same dress mom was wearing as the mother of the bride.
That would be a surprise. At least no one was dressed like the BRIDE. 🙂
Great cover, Karen. My sister and I had such similar tastes that we once arrived at a family wedding–from opposites sides of the country–in similar outfits. And we couldn’t change because it was all that we brought to wear. Neither of us minded, though.
Ha! That’s a great story, Lynn. My husband’s brother and his wife picked out the same china pattern that we did without either of us realizing it until about a year later. Made it easy to host a large party, though we hardly ever combined since they live several states away. It was fun to see the similarity in tastes, though. Especially since the unrelated girls did most of the choosing. 🙂
One of my friends in college had the same dress, in a different color, as I had. We both wore it to the homecoming banquet. I had gotten mine on a major discount, and it was, admittedly, a bit loose in places. Hers was too tight, and she knew it as well. I have a picture of us together, hers too tight and mine too loose. What can I say? We were poor college kids!
I like your cover just fine even though it was recycled. It is amazing what they can do today with technology! There is a Janette Oke book whose cover was repeated from another book that I have, and that book wasn’t as popular. So it has been done before!
Thanks, Courtney. I’m glad you like the cover. I do, too. 🙂
It’s too bad the two of you weren’t closer in size, then you could have traded dresses and had the perfect fits. 🙂
I had thought it looked like a book I’d read a long time ago. At the time the only thing that I could remember was that the lady had been a doctor , who wasn’t excepted because women doctors just weren’t common then. Then today you showed the other cover and I see yours and realize the similarities of the cover. Don’t mind in the least since the covers on both books appeal to me.
Blessings
Shirley
Perfect, Shirley! That’s what we’re hoping for, that both appeal. My hero is the actual doctor in the book, but since he hires the heroine to help out at his clinic, we figured her holding the medical bag wasn’t too much of a stretch.
I’m really wanting to make jokes about the dress color – is it blue & black or red & black? lol Sorry, I just had to go there!
I like the covers – they are similar but it’d take a very observant person to notice! A good friend and I in college had the same formal gown that we wore to the spring banquet. Her’s was a pale blue while mine was pale green. We just figured we both had excellent taste! 😉
You know, I have no idea what the actual color of the dress was in real life. They do so much with photo shop on the colors, that I don’t know if the first cover with the red stripes was actually the color of the dress or not. Oh, and blue & black sounds much better than black & blue for my poor heroine. 🙂
I’m so glad you and your friend were able to laugh off the same dress thing. I’ve never understood why some girls get so bent out of shape about something like that. Thankfully, most of us have cooler heads and cheerier dispositions. 🙂
I was joking because of this: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/28/business/a-simple-question-about-a-dress-and-the-world-weighs-in.html
I remember when I was a teen and went to camp with our youth group. One day the leader & his wife accidentally wore the same shirt. She ended up having to change because he was so self-conscious about it. Which I’d say was pretty loving of her considering she wasn’t the one who cared! 😉
Ah! I think I remember my husband talking about that dress. What a strange phenomenon.
I loved hearing the story behind your novella’s cover, Karen! It’s fun to compare the two covers and I’m all for recycling. 🙂
Do I get bonus green points for this recycled cover, Becky? Hey, it must be extra good for the environment since they aren’t even printing it. Digital only. 🙂
The cover is adorable! Although similar, it is different; but attracts attention right away. I’m looking forward to reading this novella sometime in the future. You’re an amazing author! 🙂 May God bless you and make His face shine upon you and give you peace.
Thank you, Faith. That is one of my favorite verses and a gorgeous song. May you have a blessed week!
Haha! Yes, Karen, when you sent out the cover the first time, I noticed right away because I am a Cathy Marie Hake fan. I thought it was a little strange but didn’t say anything. Didn’t feel it was my place. Now I know the story- very interesting.
So you have one of those eagle eyes, too! Excellent, Sandy. 🙂
Thankfully, my publisher was completely up front about it. That was I wasn’t surprised by the similarities. It’s cute on it’s own, and since I’m a Cathy Marie Hake fan, too, I didn’t mind sharing one bit. 🙂
What a fascinating post, Karen! I loved getting to see the behind-the-scenes development process of the cover. I had absolutely no idea it was a previous model picture! And honestly I’m sure most readers won’t know either. I have seen “stock” cover photos duplicated on different books and I’d hate if that happens! But your covers are always lovely and have a definite “Karen” sense about them which really says something about the art department at BHP. They know the voices of their authors and strive to make the covers stay true to that! 🙂
Love the cover! I don’t think I would have noticed it was the same model and dress – especially since they were published several years apart.
Can’t wait to read it; just downloaded it to my Kindle! 🙂
I just wish ebooks had a better emphasis on covers. Once I download it, I never see the cover again, unlike books on my bookshelf that I pick up and read.
Love the cover. Can’t wait to read the book.