Conquering Venus Cover Concept

Here's a look at the cover concept for my novel. There will be blurbs and other text added (including the words "A Novel"), but this gives you an idea of what the final book will look like. The photograph is of a statue of Venus on the grounds of the Louvre. The actual Venus de Milo didn't quite work. I love the sky over Paris and the androgyny of the silhouetted statue. Many thanks to my friend Elizabeth and Kimberlee at Vanilla Heart for their help and guidance on the cover. I think it's gorgeous. 

Comments

January said…
I love it! Great cover.

And yesterday, finally, my copy of After the Poison arrived! Looking forward to diving into your beautiful collection.
Unknown said…
Gorgeous, Yes!
Anonymous said…
It's perfect.

GAV
Anonymous said…
It's lovely, Collin.
Envy...
stacebro said…
Beee-you-ti-ful! Can't wait to get it in my grubby little mitts!!
DeadMule said…
How exciting, Collin. I like it.
It really is lovely. Yaaaaaaa, Collin's first novel!
Anonymous said…
ooooh I just love! Gorgeous! Yeah Collin!
Maggie May said…
how exciting!!!! love that statue and the font of the title
Radish King said…
Oh Collin! It's so beautiful.


w/v gables
I used to ____ a guy named Dusty Gables. I dunno. I think it's a very good sign.
Radish King said…
I meant to write "date" in the space but I didn't want to be misleading :)
It's great!
DCH said…
Honestly, it's a pretty dull cover. I realize it's a concept, but the two big things that are lacking are (i) evocation of Paris and (ii) dynamism. A good cover design, like a well composed photograph, has a narrative or "storytelling" quality about it... a linen tablecloth (evoking a Paris bistro) with a glass of red wine spilled in a kind of Rorschach "Venus", for example. This cover just kind of looks generically romantic.

Think of a cover like the Harper & Row edition of Bulgakov's "Master and Margarita" - the cat with the gun, its shadow projected on an unseen wall, it evokes the novel so well and makes you want to open it, to see why the cat is holding a gun.

There are so many ways to make a cover "move": look at the cover design for Orbach's "Bodies" ( http://henryseneyee.blogspot.com/2009/01/bodies.html ) which is just a crude drawing of a man being erased and replaced by the rubbings - it's dynamic and violent, in a way.

I kind of hesitate to criticize after all the "wow it's great" replies, but I'm speaking from prior experience as a book retailer; you don't want to economize on the cover design - more books are bought by sight than is even reasonable!
Collin Kelley said…
Broooom...whoever you are...once you read the novel, you'll understand why this is the perfect cover. A generic, cliched image of Paris, the Eiffel Tower or yet another bistro table has absolutely nothing to do with this story. As a former book retailer myself, I was looking for an image that would make me stop to investigate further. This one did it for me. I understand it won't be everyone's cup of tea.
Anonymous said…
The great thing about the Conquering V. cover is the color of that sky. It's a great photograph. Im sure the actual cover will show the true rich colors. Having only read a couple of the chapters I think you guys hit the nail on the head with this cover. There is something lonely and spare about it that fits with what i read about the characters. With that said, don't fret the haters. SOmeone is always going to try and piss on your parade because they're bitter or just full of shit.

GAV
Justin Evans said…
I don't pretend to know anything about the marketing of a cover. I'm simply thrilled things are moving so quickly for you, Collin. My perception has always been that pre-production can take eight months or more for a novel. To already have the cover is fantastic. Personally, I think the cover is fine just the way it is because its anonymous nature pulls me in. I like it because it doesn't give me a sense of place, and my imagination starts to go.

But hey, that's just me.
Anonymous said…
Anyone would love to wrap their arms around that Venus. The setting, or rising, sun is also evocative. Yay! So exciting. Thanks for sharing the process with us.
Unknown said…
it is gorgeous, collin. i'm so glad you've got a caring, creative press to work with. can't wait to see this "in the flesh".

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