Olivia Cunning-Guest Post and Giveaway

Olivia Cunning-Guest Post and Giveaway:  Judging a Book by Its Cover

guestpost

Judging a Book by Its Cover

Sinners On tour

My Sinners on Tour series has been blessed with hot covers, which would correctly indicate that the contents are hot.

Backstage Pass was my first published novel. I still remember how excited I was when my editor sent me an email with the cover attached. I opened the PDF file and stared at the cover with my mouth agape. My first impression was: it’s orange… Very orange. Orange is my least favorite color. The orange cover does draw attention when the book is on the shelf. I won’t deny that. It’s just so… orange. Once I got past the color scheme, I noticed that there were people on the cover. And they appeared to be involved in naughty activities. Okay, that will do. Plenty of naughty activities in the book. I do have a couple of problems with the cover models. First, the man has short hair. The hero of the book has longish hair. He’s a rock star. And he doesn’t have a single tattoo. He just doesn’t remind me of the hero, Brian, at all. As an author, it’s easy to get caught up in the fact that the people on the cover do not match your idea of your characters in the book, but the point of the cover is to draw attention. Backstage Pass’s cover definitely does that.

The next cover in the series, Rock Hard, was even hotter than the first. The models on this one are pretty close to realistic. The big buff guy could be Sed Lionheart. He’s a big buff guy. His tattoos are missing, but that’s a minor consideration. Also the heroine is a strawberry-blonde in the book, not a bleach-blonde like on the cover, but I’m over it. And the whole thing is purple, not orange. I do like purple. It would draw my attention. It’s sensual, just like the book. Thumbs up.

The third book that was released in the series is Double Time. I was surprised by how closely the heroine matched my idea of Reagan, the heroine in the book. And everyone is all naked and flesh-toned. Yeah, I’d say this cover gives you a pretty good idea of what’s inside. One woman, two hot men. The hero, Trey, doesn’t look much like the cover hottie (Trey’s tattoos, piercings, and trademark cherry sucker are all missing), but still, I was really happy with this cover. I didn’t think the designers could top it and then…

I saw the fourth cover—the one for Hot Ticket—and my jaw hit the ground. Out of all the Sinners’ covers, I do think it’s my favorite. It fits the book the most precisely and you can’t see enough of the hero or the heroine for their cover model appearances to get in the way of their descriptions in the book. I didn’t have one complaint about this one. I was especially enamored with it because it was my first cover to have “NY Times and USA Today Best-Selling Author” stamp of approval. Plus, it’s black and white. I always think black and white photos are sexier for some reason. Maybe it’s just me.

The final cover–for Wicked Beat—is not quite in its final form yet, because the book will not be released until later this year. A lot of people have said it’s their favorite cover of the series. I’m not going to argue that it’s a beautiful cover or that the picture is both cute and sexy (just like the contents of the book). I really had a hard time accepting it as an appropriate cover for the book, because the hero of the book is not a guitarist. He’s a drummer. So they photo-shopped some drum sticks into Eric’s pocket to appease me. Eric is also insanely tall and his heroine is incredibly petite (and they both have partially BLUE hair), but any publicist will tell you that the important thing is that the cover draws attention and gets people to check out the book. I definitely think this cover does that. I hope you will check it out.

Which of the Sinners on Tour covers is your favorite? Do you think it’s important for the models on the cover to match the descriptions of the characters in the book? Are you ever drawn to check out a new book solely based on its cover?

***************

Olivia CunningABOUT THE AUTHOR

Combining her love for romantic fiction and rock ‘n roll, USA Today Best-Selling Author Olivia Cunning writes erotic romance centered around rock musicians.

Raised on hard rock music from the cradle, she attended her first Styx concert at age six and fell instantly in love with live music. She’s been known to travel over a thousand miles just to see a favorite band in concert. As a teen, she discovered her second love, romantic fiction — first, voraciously reading steamy romance novels and then penning her own.

Olivia’s first book in her Sinner’s Tour Series, Backstage Pass, was published in 2010 by Sourcebooks. Book two in the series, Rock Hard, was published in 2011 and the third book, Double Time just released November 2012. The last two books in the series are expected to be out in 2013. Aside from the Sinners Tour that launched her career, Olivia has been hard at work on a few other series and stand alones . . . of course with the music turned up.

FOLLOW Olivia : Twitter / Facebook / AmazonGoodreads / Website

*********

SINNERS ON TOUR series by Olivia Cunning

READING ORDER:  Backstage Pass, Rock Hard, Hot Ticket, Eric’s Story, Double Time, Wicked Beat

****************************

BACKSTAGE PASS (Sinners on Tour #1)
by Olivia Cunning
Release Date: October 2010
Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository
Backstage Pass

Five stunning guys, one hot woman, and a feverish romance…

For him, life is all music and no play…

When Brian Sinclair, lead songwriter and guitarist of the hottest metal band on the scene, loses his creative spark, it will take nights of downright sinful passion to release his pent-up genius…

She’s the one to call the tune…

When sexy psychologist Myrna Evans goes on tour with the Sinners, every boy in the band tries to seduce her. But Brian is the only one she wants to get her hands on…

Then the two lovers’ wildly shocking behavior sparks the whole band to new heights of glory… and sin…

***********************

ROCK HARD (Sinners on Tour #2)
By Olivia Cunning
Release Date: April 2011
Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO/The Book Depository

9442157 An ultimatum can break your heart….

Every night lead singer, Sed Lionheart whips thousands of women into a frenzy with his voice alone. But the stage is the only place Sed feels any passion since he lost Jessica…

If you’re not willing to break all the rules…

It shattered her heart, but law student Jessica broke off her engagement to Sed, determined to be successful on her own terms. But no other man can ever hold a candle to Sed…

Then a chance meeting and tortuously close quarters lead to uncontrollable flares of passion and rediscovery of their unique penchant for public encounters. Now, in addition to the risk of mutual heartbreak every time they get together, they’re in danger of truly scandalous public exposure…

******************

DOUBLE TIME (Sinners on Tour #3)
Reading Order #5
by Olivia Cunning
Release Date: November 2012
Amazon / Barnes and Noble/ KOBO / The Book Depository

double time He Craves Her Music and Passion

On the rebound from the tumult of his bisexual lifestyle, notoriously sexy rock guitarist Trey Mills falls for sizzling new female guitar sensation Reagan Elliot and is swept into the hot, heady romance he never dreamed possible.

She Can’t Get Enough of His Body

Ecstatic to be on tour learning the ropes with Trey’s band, The Sinners, Reagan finds she craves Trey as much as she craves being in the spotlight.

They Both Need More…

When Reagan’s ex, Ethan Connor, enters the scene, Trey’s secret desires come back to haunt him, and pleasure and passion are taken to a whole new level of dangerous desire.
*********************

HOT TICKET (Sinners on Tour #4)
Reading Order #3
by Olivia Cunning
Release Date: February 2013

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

Hot Ticket He needs her to mask his pain…

When Jace walked through the doors of Aggie’s dungeon, the last thing he expected was to find self-forgiveness and the love of a remarkable woman. But when a terrible accident sidelines Jace during the band’s tour, the burdensome chains of his past wrap ferociously around his heart.

She needs him to forgive himself…

Determined to crack through Jace’s armored shell, Aggie must go beyond her usual methods to mend his heart to love again.

*****************

WICKED BEAT (Sinners on Tour #5)
Reading Order #4
By Olivia Cunning
Release Date: August 13, 2013

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

Wicked Beat From the moment he lays eyes on Sinners’ new front of house soundboard operator, drummer Eric Sticks knows he has to make Rebekah his. Unfortunately, she’s too busy trying to seduce guitarist Trey Mills to pay him much attention.

Rebekah never planned to fall for the tall, goofy drummer with the weird sense of humor and a heart the size of the galaxy. But Eric makes her laugh and his constant attention makes her feel sexy and irresistible–exactly what she needs after the things her last lover said to her. A woman who gives as much as she takes, Rebekah makes Eric feel like a total stud–exactly what he needs after surviving a decade of watching the incredibly talented members of Sinners from the wings.

*************************

Giveaway-Purple:Black

Sourcebooks and Olivia are offering a paper copy giveaway of HOT TICKET.

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address as Twitter etc does not account for contact information.

3. Giveaway open to USA and CANADA only.

4. Giveaway runs February 21 -25, 2013

Share

36 thoughts on “Olivia Cunning-Guest Post and Giveaway

  1. Covers definitely have me picking up the book in the first place . Love hot books Olivia and went right to B@N and bought Backstage Pass on the Nook. Thank so much for coming by. Would love the book I prefer a book in my hand.

  2. I’m so glad you said that about Wicked Beat, because that was the first thing I noticed… but he’s a drummer…. 🙂 Still sexy. LOL

    Hot Ticket is my favorite cover and think it fits it’s story the best of all.

  3. Sounds like an amazing series.

    I think everyone’s first impression of a book is the cover, especially if it is an author you have never read before,

    So many indie/ebooks are releasing with some god-awful covers and for that reason alone, I don’t give a second glance.

    Thanks for the post Olivia.

  4. Great post Olivia. Cover have always been a pet-peeve of mine.

    I agree with Alicia, that our first impression of any book is the cover and if the cover is just butt-ugly, I am turned off. Many indie authors ‘design’ their own covers using istock photos and sometimes the results are terrible.

    I know a few series I read the covers rarely match the content. Most of the heroes have long hair and every cover shows the men with short hair, or there is something added to the background that has absolutely NOTHING to do with the storyline.

    We interviewed CRAIG WHITE, a graphic artist and he says that sometimes he receives a manuscript/author’s favorite scene or art sheet from the publicist, so for him that is always helpful to designing the cover art.

    I too, love WICKED BEAT…*sigh*…hopefully you do not have to change the image…

  5. I loved all of the covers. I have to agree that a lot of the cover models are not who the characters are in the books. I find Wicked Beat to be the SEXIEST of the covers. I think Hot Ticket is the closest to the book’s characters. *Swoooon*

  6. Although I really like the last two covers, you said it all with regarding Wicked Beat: I really had a hard time accepting it as an appropriate cover for the book, because the hero of the book is not a guitarist. He’s a drummer.

    I’ve been known to buy book purely because I liked the cover. It is important to me, especially if its part of a series. It’s always preferable to have the cover reflect the characters inside.

  7. First I have to say they are all hot, and I too look for the cover first , The cover has to grab my eye for me to pick it up, and I have too say you have that. And i,m going to go with Double Time very HOT !!!!!!!!!!

  8. I LOVE all the books but I think my favorite cover is Hot Ticket. I like Wicked Beats cover too but I wish it had more of a drummer theme to it. I have to agree that I do prefer the covers match the characters descriptions but it definitely doesn’t take anything away from the wonderful story!!!

  9. I think my favorite of the Sinners book cover is Hot Ticket. I like the cover to be close to the general description altho I usually have my own idea of what each character looks like. I only bought a book once because of the cover and my daughter gave me a really hard time because of it also. lol The cover may sway my decision on if I buy pb or e-book tho.
    Thanks for the chance to win Hot Ticket!
    kgagnon@donofrio.cc

  10. My favorite cover is Hot Ticket. I enjoy looking at the covers – and you’ve been blessed with some really good covers – but I do not buy books because of the cover. Having said that, I do think it’s important for the cover models to match the characters within.

  11. All of the covers are nice however my favorite is Hot Ticket. That one is not only Hot but it fits the book the best. I like a cover that catches your attention but also has something to do with the book. This one is the best fit for the theme of the book. The cover for Wicked beat is hot but it doesn’t fit the book. That should be the cover for Backstage Pass as that fits Brian better. But they are all good covers. I love these books. They are by far my favorites and I have read them all more than once.

  12. I love a good cover – it is what draws my attention first. My favourite Sinners cover is Hot Ticket. Hot!!! I like the cover for Wicked Beat a lot too, but the guitar throws me off. I immediately went “Wait, what?!? But Eric is the drummer…” I agree with the post above, that it would have been an awesome cover for Backstage Pass. That being said, obviously I am in agreement that the cover models should be close to the characters descriptions so it suits the story well.

  13. Hot Ticket is drp dead sexy, and fits the book so well its crazy.
    Rock Hard’s cover fits, reminds me of a svene in the book
    DT – The cover says it all
    Backstage Pass -original cover- fits that book to me bevause it lets you know its about a rock band
    Wicked Beat – *sigh* not diggin it 🙁

  14. I would definitely like to read any of these books the covers are great. I often pick a book by its cover. Shallow I know but that is the way it is. Double time really caught my eye. Thanks for the interview. I always like to get to know the authors of the books I read

  15. Just looking at the covers I’d say Wicked Beat is my favorite but because I am a reader of the series and like my covers to match the books I read they all are slightly off…given this I’d say Hot Ticket is the best match and therefore my favorite.

  16. I love these book covers. As much as they say you shouldn’t just a book by its covers, there are just times it can’t be helped with an eye catching cover. It was fun reading about the author and the the books. I wanna give these series a try.

  17. This is one of my favorite giveaways and from a list of already wonderful ones. I recently read a romance featuring a rock star and well, rock stars make such exciting characters. The covers for this series is HOT.
    Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

  18. They all sounds and look amazing. I have been looking for new titles and Rock Hard is at the top of the list. I have finally gotten used to buying books on my kindle but I always have perfered the real thing!! I cant wait to read them!

Leave a Reply