The case of the headless bodice!

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Here is the first cover for my new HQN Regency series, The Brides of Fortune, which will be coming to a bookstore or internet bookseller near you in June! I am SO excited to see the covers for my new series, which are all in this beautiful style. Over the next few weeks I'll be posting all the covers and some juicy details about the series!
I've noticed that the "headless bodice" cover seems to be increasingly popular with publishers and has featured on historicals by Phillipa Gregory, Elizabeth Chadwick and Mary Balogh, amongst others. In this case of course the heroine isn't totally headless, just cut off somewhere around the nose. And whilst this may not sound very attractive, I think the cover looks gorgeous. But what do YOU think? Do you like covers where there's a little bit of mystery about the appearance of the hero or heroine, or do you prefer a full face version or even a full body version of hero and heroine together? Let me know!

Comments

Jan Jones said…
Oh! I want that dress!

(Actually, I'd quite like a waist, too, but you can't ask for too much in this world.)

To answer the question - I like a bit of mystery, and I like the cover to reflect what's inside the book.
21 March 2009 at 19:52
Wendy said…
I know some readers don't like them - but I love the trend of Headless People covers. Adds a bit of mystery - and there's less likely to be a mistake made by the art department! "But the heroine has red hair? Why does she have blonde hair on the cover?"
22 March 2009 at 01:51
juliemt said…
Absolutely gorgeous cover, Nicola! I'm sure that it will fly off the shelves.

I love these kinds of covers. As Jan said, they add a bit of mystery and they allow the reader to picture the characters as they are described in the book rather than as they are depicted on the cover.

Hugs,
Julie
22 March 2009 at 14:01
Nicola Cornick said…
LOL, me too, Jan. I'd like a dress AND a waist to put in it!

Wendy, that was the Kidnapped cover, wasn't it. I did point out to my editor that the heroine was a redhead, but to no avail. Checking with my HH colleagues I hear this happens with covers quite a lot (sigh.) It was a very pretty cover but I must admit that I do prefer my HQN ones.

Hello Julie! I'm so pleased that you like it. And I agree that it does allow readers to use their imagination to fill in the picture of what they think the character looks like.
22 March 2009 at 17:50
Wendy said…
Nicola: LOL - yeah. I actually loved the cover for Kidnapped. I thought it was very pretty. "But, but, but....the heroine has red hair!" LOL
22 March 2009 at 18:19
Nebula said…
That's funny; I never thought of equating the appearance of the person on the cover with the heroine of the book--I guess this comes from reading so much science-fiction, where the cover is often just a weird abstract drawing that is meant to convey something scientific! But I do like the cover of your new book--the colors are rich and sensual.
23 March 2009 at 11:05
Nicola Cornick said…
Thank you, Nebula. I'm glad you like it! The colours are very rich and vibrant, aren't they. Interesting that you don't usually equate the person on the cover with the heroine. I think I usually notice the cover but then develop my own idea of the characters as I'm reading.
23 March 2009 at 11:20
Gillian Layne said…
It's the kind of cover that would have me buying the book without even knowing the author. Gorgeous! :)
5 April 2009 at 18:03
Kate Hardy said…
It's lovely. And I'm with Jan. I'd like that dress (and the figure to go with it). Gorgeous colours, too.

(Mind you, your name on a book always means I'm going to enjoy the contents. Currently enjoying Unmasked.)
6 April 2009 at 07:56
Nicola Cornick said…
Thank you all very much! I've seen the finished version of all the covers now and I am totally besotted with them! I think the cover goddess was definitely smiling on me this time round! And I'm so pleased you are enjoying Unmasked, Kate. Thanks so much!
6 April 2009 at 11:37
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