Welcome Guest Blogger Charlene Teglia!

Submitted by Charlene Teglia on Fri, 2007-07-27 13:18.

Repackaging romance; selling happy endings via stealth marketing?

Thank you, Exploding Cigars, for inviting me to guest blog! I’m happy to be here today. I’m an RT award-winning erotic romance author for Ellora’s Cave, Samhain and St. Martin’s Press, with my first release from St. Martin’s Griffin releasing Aug. 7. If you’d like to win a copy of Wild Wild West, please comment! You must be a member of Cigars to win, so don’t forget to register before you post. Now, that we have that all settled...

Maybe you’ve noticed the way publishers are packaging erotic romance? Just like romance is known by the classic clinch cover and chick lit by the cartoon look, erotic novels are increasingly known by their sensual female model covers. The sexy look and the woman taking center stage send a message; this isn’t your mother’s romance novel!

I think it’s smart to create a distinctive look for a genre, something that says, “if you like books by Author A, you will like this, too”. It makes for easy reader recognition, drawing the readers who are likely to enjoy more books in the same genre with the similar style.

I also think the female focus of the covers is a good way to express the fact that these are stories about female empowerment, women embracing and exploring their sexuality.

Most of all, though, I suspect this is a stealthy approach to selling happy endings on the down-low, sneaking romance underneath the radar of a reader who “doesn’t read those books”. If it has a woman undressed for fun on the cover, and it says “erotica” on the spine, it’s not a romance novel, right? It just happens to have true love and a happy ending.

I really think this approach to repackaging romance is aimed at younger readers who think romance is for other people and disenchanted readers who tried romance in the 1980s and haven’t bought a romance novel since. Seems smart to me; anybody who hasn’t read romance lately is missing out on a genre that has grown up and has something to offer every taste. And those who think that romance novels are for bored housewives, not busy college students or twenty-somethings getting started at the bottom of the corporate ladder are missing out, too, because women’s conflicts and interests are timeless, ageless, and multifaceted.

All stories are human stories, stories about people struggling with human challenges and failures. We can all relate to universal themes of love, loss, success, failure, the courage to try again, the tenacity it takes to succeed. It’s all too easy to look at a genre label and think it’s a story about something other than people just like you and me trying to make the right choices.

What do you think? Is the look of erotic romance a new spin on the ageless desire to love and be loved? Do you think it might be luring new readers to romance? And what do you think of the erotic romance genre, as a reader or a writer?

Hey Charli!

Submitted by Samantha Hunter on Fri, 2007-07-27 14:12.

I'm pretty happy to have you blogging here, since I love your books and your writing. For those of you who haven't read Charli (yet), she's very good, as you can tell from her blog, at winding some of the hottest sex I've ever read (seriously freakin' hot) around real characters with real emotions. The books are fun, will have you running to find your honey, but they're also good stories, and that's the real clincher.

On the packaging angle, I don't know. I think you make excellent points about genre packaging and about modernizing the image of romance, but some of the current covers don't do it for me, at least in erotica. Honestly, I still like to see a man on the cover. Call me old-fashioned. LOL Naked women don't do it for me, not unless there's naked man there with them. I love a good clinch cover because to me that says "relationship." I love a hot guy on the cover, well, because he's a hot guy. ;) Some female-dominated covers like yours are sexy and fun, I think they hook into a fantasy like magazine covers do -- the reader may want to see themselves reflected in that image on the cover. For erotica, I like more suggestive, artsy covers -- some of the more blatant ones kind of turn me away. It's too much.

I don't know...I guess I actually want the books I read or write to say "romance" on them, whether through imprint, cover, or title. I would probably rather be seen in the waiting room at the garage reading a romance novel than a book with a mostly naked woman on the front. I'm a throwback, I admit it. ;) That said, I love your cover and your writing, and I have WWW on order, but I may not bring it to the garage with me when I get the cars inspected, I hope you understand. ;)

Sam

Thanks, Sam!

Submitted by Charlene Teglia on Fri, 2007-07-27 16:57.

Huge compliments! Characters you can care about and a story you can be emotionally involved in make for a satisfying story. Without those elements, all the hawt sex in the world can be *gasp* boring. I have to agree that the clinch cover says "relationship", and I personally would rather see a hunky cowboy (like your August Blaze cover) than a sexy cowgirl, but that's my personal taste. I have noticed the female-cover trend, though, and it seems to be gaining in popularity.

Hmm

Submitted by Samantha Hunter on Fri, 2007-07-27 17:03.

Thanks, yeah, you've brought up a great topic. I was thinking more on our walk... I wonder if it's not somehow reflective of similar trends in paranormal and urban fantasy covers, which also tend to show individual female images? Most of those the sexy, tough, tattooed heroine, etc. So we see different types emerging, maybe to attract female readers who relate to different types? So, as you say, strong, sexy women, but I don't know... to me, it makes more sense on the paranormal and UF -- seems like for women's erotica, we want to see men -- I can't quite eek out what's not playing right for me... I think I like, if it's a female cover, to see more artsy things -- did I say that? Like covers that just show a shadowed curve of a hip or the slope of a thigh, but not so much the whole person... Same with men in many ways... Maybe I'm just picky. ;)

Sam

Sexy batting eyelashes

Submitted by jibby2 on Fri, 2007-07-27 18:08.

AHHHH, I LOOOOOVE anything cowboy related and this book looks like a real winner to me. I like the fact that she has the cowboy hat on;-) That does make ya wonder what she's been up to hehe:0 As for the conservative or not on the cover, I like them either way. I'm not shy about people knowing what I read. In fact, the better the cover, people want to know what I'm reading usually, so they can get one. A few people might giggle, but that's good for them to wonder about me lol. Well, I might have to be careful around my dad. He hasn't figured out that I'm an adult yet. My mom would laugh and roll her eyes at me. As for hubby, he probably likes when I read them;-) Can't wait to read the book and love browsing around the site too. This newbie loves what she sees:) Tracey

Tracey

Submitted by ChicagoCubs on Fri, 2007-07-27 20:55.

Tracey, I get soo embaressed when people see what I'm reading!! lol Doesn't stop me from reading naughty stuff though! Kristen

Cowboys are fun!

Submitted by Charlene Teglia on Sat, 2007-07-28 17:03.

And so are cowboy hats. Yeehaw. ; )

Yep, urban fantasy

Submitted by Charlene Teglia on Sat, 2007-07-28 17:02.

tends to be heroine-centered and focused on the heroine's journey or just her adventures if it's a more episodic sort of story, so you see the solitary female cover a lot. I think erotica often does focus on the heroine's journey, but then you run into the issue of trying to sort out which books are erotica and which are erotic romances. It's a labelling confusion issue that isn't helped by everybody from readers to publishers using the terms interchangably. It's usually pretty easy to tell from the blurb, though, if it's about a couple that ends with commitment, i.e. romance, or not. I do agree that the partial figure covers are very eye-catching, probably because they force us to use our imagination to fill in the blanks!

I tend to be conservative

Submitted by Cindyct on Fri, 2007-07-27 16:59.

I tend to be conservative myself, so also prefer less obvious covers. The more important part, of course, is what's between the covers. ;-) Enjoy the day! Cindy

I've been put off by covers

Submitted by Charlene Teglia on Sat, 2007-07-28 16:59.

that are, um, overly graphic myself. *g* But a strong visual will attract my attention.

Welcome!!

Submitted by goddessani on Fri, 2007-07-27 15:32.

I have to start by saying that When Sparks Fly: Love & Rockets is one of my all time favourite books. When sparks fly (clever play on words there, btw) is true! *fanning self* To be honest, I haven't noticed a shift in the covers of erotica books. Now that you've pointed it out, I will look more closely. Having said that, anyone who looks at an erotica book and can't figure out what's going to happen has to be brain dead! LOL The covers are very sensuous. Now, personally, I love the ones with the hot guy who is barely covered by a sheet. Mmm mmm mmm But I also know that some people are embarrassed by those covers especially if they want to read at lunchtime in an office. I'm not saying ashamed but that might be tmi for your boss! LOL Anyway, this new book looks great and I will certainly look for it! ani

Ani, thank you, Love and

Submitted by Charlene Teglia on Fri, 2007-07-27 17:01.

Ani, thank you, Love and Rockets was a really fun story to write. I hope you enjoy Wild Wild West just as much! I think we all agree that a hot guy on the cover is going to catch the eye! I'm honestly not sure if the female-centered marketing approach is because the marketing departments are run by men and that's what they like, LOL, or if it's really proving effective where it counts: sales. Good point on lunchtime reading. Bookcovers for mass market sized paperbacks have been around forever for women who wanted to hide their romance covers, but I haven't seen any trade-sized. And that's primarily the size erotic romances are printed in.

Hmmm...

Submitted by fedora on Fri, 2007-07-27 20:00.

I hadn't thought much about covers before, but what you've said makes sense. I personally like either the hot guy by himself or an appealing couple on the front. While the sensuous woman can be visually attractive, it doesn't appeal to me the same way because I tend to love the relationshippy/interaction part of these stories. I'll have to think about it some more... ;)

You're the 2nd person

Submitted by Charlene Teglia on Sat, 2007-07-28 16:58.

to comment on how the couple together on the cover says "relationship". Maybe that's the reason clinch covers have endured despite the complaints about them!

It's a great cover. I've

Submitted by Stacy S on Fri, 2007-07-27 20:29.

It's a great cover. I've seen some great reviews for this book. I haven't read any of your books yet. I've just started reading this genre. I do think the covers on the ones I've read helped me buy them.

Thanks, Stacy

Submitted by Charlene Teglia on Sat, 2007-07-28 16:56.

I'm very pleased with the cover. Even if it doesn't have a hot cowboy on it. *g* It's a very diverse genre, hopefully you'll enjoy exploring it in your reading!

Covers

Submitted by tetewa on Fri, 2007-07-27 20:29.

I know for myself personally that a good cover helps to catch my eye when looking for books to purchase. This will than get me usually read the book blurb to see if the book sounds like something I might want to purchase.

You're in good company

Submitted by Charlene Teglia on Sat, 2007-07-28 16:55.

Cover is the first thing most people notice, but I know after I pick it up, I read the blurb. Then I open it up and read a few paragraphs or pages.

The New Look

Submitted by cherierj on Fri, 2007-07-27 20:30.

I enjoy reading erotic romance but I must say that the new trend of scantily clad women on the covers does not entice me. Now a scantily clad man is enticing and I am more likely to pick up that book if it is an author whose work I have never tried before. I wonder if the marketing people think these new covers represent women expressing their sexuality. If that is the idea they have, in my opinion it is not working. New isn't always better. Thanks for a great, thought provoking post Charli.

I'm with you, Cherie

Submitted by Charlene Teglia on Sat, 2007-07-28 16:54.

Put a hot bare-chested guy with a sculpted six-pack on the cover and I'm all over it. *g*

Hi!

Submitted by ChicagoCubs on Fri, 2007-07-27 20:52.

Hi Charlene, I can't wait to read your new book! I really like the erotic romance genre. I haven't really noticed the covers like you described, but maybe that's just because I need to pay more attention...or just buy more erotica!! :) Kristen

LOL

Submitted by Charlene Teglia on Sat, 2007-07-28 16:52.

Buying more erotica is one way to study the covers! Thanks, Kristen, hope you enjoy Wild Wild West.

I just started reading this

Submitted by kendara on Fri, 2007-07-27 21:52.

I just started reading this genre maybe 6 months ago and I haven't noticed the cover changes. Of course I am more likely to notice a hot guy on the cover and remember it than I would seeing a hot woman. One of the things I had not realized about this genre until I started reading it was that they have good stories along with all the spicy stuff and that is what kept me reading it---not the covers.

I noticed the trend a while ago

Submitted by Charlene Teglia on Sat, 2007-07-28 16:51.

And while there are still plenty of covers with hot men, I am seeing more and more of the female only covers, everywhere from Harlequin Spice to Berkeley Heat. In any genre, it's very true that a cover may catch your eye but it's what's between the covers that'll bring you back. ; )

I like that cover! Congrats

Submitted by KimW on Sat, 2007-07-28 05:48.

I like that cover! Congrats on your upcoming release! Three hot-blooded cowboys...that's enough to get my attention. I think the covers have changed for the better on romance books. I don't remember many erotic romance books years ago like there are today so I can't say whether the covers are different on those. I think just the fact that the normally forbidden erotic books are available on the shelf to buy is luring new readers. I like to read the sweet stories just as much as the erotic. There is a place for each one. The sweet ones are read during the day at work and the heated ones in the privacy of my home.

Thanks, Kim!

Submitted by Charlene Teglia on Sat, 2007-07-28 16:49.

I'm looking forward to the big release day. 3 cowboys would grab my attention, too. *g*

Wild Wild West sounds great!

Submitted by amysmith98 on Sat, 2007-07-28 15:56.

Wild Wild West sounds great! I love reading erotic romances. Love your cover too! I think they may be luring new readers to romance. Did you help with the cover any?

Nope

Submitted by Charlene Teglia on Sat, 2007-07-28 16:49.

I didn't help with the cover; my editor and I discussed a couple of concepts and what came back from the art department was totally different! But I like it, it's bright and eye-catching and I think it conveys the fun, sexy, contemporary tone of the book very well. Which is really a cover's job. Thanks, Amy, glad you like it!

Hot Covers

Submitted by SilverNightMoon on Sat, 2007-07-28 20:55.

I just had to comment on cover embarrassment - normally I'm one of those people who hates to get caught with a spicy cover in my hands. Don't mind reading them just don't want to be seen doing it. Well, I've decided my shyness needs to be conquered on a whole lot of levels and not hiding book covers seemed a great way to start. (Small step, I know!) Especially since I want to write these kind of books (Blaze, etc.) and it's darn well time I toughen up. So last weekend, at Target, I picked up Samantha's new Blaze. Hot cowboy cover, proudly displayed on the conveyor belt, even as the older lady behind me and the checkout girl seemed to check him out a bit more than necessary. (Probably they wanted to read it, too!) It's on my TBR...I'll let you know what I think, Sam. Btw, I started reading this blog from reading your posts on Adwoff. I'll miss reading your board there, though I understand why you felt you had to leave. Lately I hang out here more than there anyhoo. :) Cari

They probably bought their own. g

Submitted by Charlene Teglia on Mon, 2007-07-30 14:14.

I've had a checker start to read my books as they scanned!

Hi Charlene

Submitted by Mads on Sun, 2007-07-29 05:30.

Thank you for taking the time to blog with us. I love the cover of your new book and I most definitely read erotic romance. Romance books have come a long way, and I'm glad that I now have so many different choices. Years ago, it was just plain boy meets girl type romance stories. Todays authors are branching out and taking romance to very different levels. I'm glad that they are. After reading Sams new release, I'm starting to have a thing about cowboys. I'll definitely order your book as soon as I can. Three cowboys sounds like some fun reading. Yes, I do think that erotic romance is luring new readers. It's also bringing back some of the older romance readers who, stopped reading romance, due to reading the same old type of stories. Have a good weekend. Mads:)

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