Random thoughts # 34098….

Do happy endings really exist or are they a greeting card company plot to make us feel bad if we’re not in a relationship?

And what the hell is a relationship? You either love – hate – lust – loathe – or are bored shitless by someone so why just plonk all those emotions under one pathetic banner? Call it what it is I say.

Do we read erotic romance for the sex or the romance? Hmmm?

I know that if one of the pumped up–bouffanted heroes off a romance novel appeared shirtless or in a kilt or pretending to be a werewolf at my door I would laugh my arse off and give him $50 to get a taxi to the airport.

Real men – flaws and all – can’t beat ‘em…some times you wish you could but beating’s against the law.

Hoping you are the same…..

I ponder…

I noticed one of the publishers is now putting more books into print than ever. That makes me suspicious. Why? Well previously before, with this mob, you had to literally beg or suck up big time to prove you were worthy of your story going into a paperback. Now, between you, me and the garden post there is stuff all monetary return in a print book – unless I guess you’re JK Rowling or it’s a re-print of War & Peace or the Bible. So, I ponder why all of a sudden they’re putting out print books for authors who they never considered ‘worthy’ of them before? Possibly wanting to keep the authors they have from leaving as many have before them? Hmm…

Also, they seem to be using the same cover models over and over again. You know when you have no money and you re-use things until their limp and ragged and you’re sick to death of them? I’m wondering if that’s the same deal here. Use cover model Hunky H Hunk like an over-worked tea bag because he’s locked into a contract and costs less than other models.

Interesting times to ponder in romance land…

Coverage is thin…

It seems to me that less and less e-pubs are using in-house models. How do I figure that out? Well, I was wandering through stock photos for images to use on some book trailers and I came across lots of pictures I have seen on many upcoming e-book covers from publishers who I thought used only a stable of models. No, not conclusive evidence but it did surprise me how little work would be required in banging out a cheapie cover using a stock photo than relying on a studly pool of talent employed to be cover models – and a lot of e-pubs do…or did. I expect it's a sign of the financial times and that it would be cheaper to buy a bunch of stock photos in bulk then employ in-house models. I have to wonder though if patch and paste and obvious computer generated covers, while cheap, do more harm than good for an author and the company.

Another thing that interested me about covers was when I heard, from a couple of different sources, that some cover models aren’t interested in posing as gay on a MM cover. I can understand that. Now I don’t care if you’re black, white or brindle, who you love or worship or if you think red nail polish is better than blue – blue is actually better – but to my mind if a male cover model has a certain time frame where he can utilize his physical assets to make money, then it’s completely up to him to represent what he wants and can make a living from without being tagged as any one thing or the other. I think that’s fair. You have to do what’s right for you and maybe that’s another reason some e-pubs have moved away from in-house models to patch and paste floating torsos and body parts slapped on a front cover.

People do judge books by their covers. We’re human. We do that. If the cover is cheap is the company the same?

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www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Giving good back…

I’ve seen this man’s back on so many book covers that I am beginning to wonder how he got paid. Is it a one shot sum of money for ‘back’ or is it back to back payment for every time his back gets used? Does he own his own back? If a book has copyright can he trademark/insure his back? How much would that cost? What does his face look like – yes, I know facial features are not important but I would like to look at the whole man…but then, is this just a simulated back made up in a studio somewhere? Maybe it’s not a real, live back at all. Does he smile and tell his friends every time his back is on a cover? Do ex-lovers go “I know that back anywhere. I want that back back in my life.” What if a lover scratches his back during sex? Or do you think he has rules on that – ‘do whatever you like to me darlin’ but no nails on my back I’ve got a back gig tomorrow.’ Is there steady work in the ‘back’ industry? Does he have front he can use? Is the back industry competitive? Is he challenged by younger backs? How old is this back anyway? He seems to have been around forever. What happens when he can’t give good back anymore? Are you only as good as your last back shot?

www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book