Romance novels are famous for their stereotypical covers: the hunky, muscle bulging, sometimes bare chested man for women to fantasize and swoon over. Made especially famous in the 1980’s and ‘90’s by Fabio Lanzoni who graced over 400 book covers, and the fact the books were just so visible – mass produced paperback books that were readily available to women in supermarkets, drug stores and book shops.
In those days book covers were painted in acrylic by hand, today there are so many more options from traditional photo shoots to stock images and Photo shop. According to Liz Pelletier, it used to be that everyone wanted to see Fabio on the cover of a Romance novel, today though, readers want to have some variety, they don’t want to see the same face every time and “individualism prevails.”
But, who is Fabio? Here he is on a book cover…
Pretty hot – right?
These covers may look “cheesy” but they sold books, millions of books and were adapt at drawing in their target market with their sex appeal. Even if the design of the book cover has evolved:
“They’ve gotten a lot better and a little more artistic, and cover artists are beginning to realize readers respond to a well-done cover and not just one with a ripped guy on the front.”
Jennifer Ashley, Author
It’s still book covers with male models that sell over three times as many books as those with a woman alone states Liz Pelletier.
It’s easy to see why….
But who are these models, what does the photo shoot entail and is it as glamourous as the poses suggest?
Jason Aaron Baca is a book cover model who has appeared on nearly 500 book covers:
“I don’t think people realize…what models have to do to get on these covers…Models are always working out and dieting and constantly working on themselves to make sure they’re looking confident.”
Jason Aaron Baca cited in the article: Chicargo Tribune: Romance Novel Covers
Or how hard it is to pose:
“It’s awkward for everybody in the room. You have to remember there are like 10 people watching you… You have to look like you’re very into the moment and into the other person – whether you are or not doesn’t really matter, you have to pretend. It’s basically acting.”
Jax Turyna full time model and actress, cited in the article: Chicargo Tribune Romance Novel Covers
And that’s the key to the whole photo shoot: that look. The cover has to be appealing and the model has to portray the essence and authenticity of a book in that one pose. It’s all in that snapshot image whether a potential reader will even read the blurb, it has a huge amount riding on the success of the book.
And for the models who pose, they spend many hours on a photo shoot but may not even make it on to the book cover, there is huge competition and other models will also pose for the same shot. It’s impossible to make a living from this work and even a successful model like Jason, with an agent, still has to work another job. In his best year he earned $20,000. Why do it then? In Jason’s words:
“Cover modelling gives him a taste of fame in an otherwise low-key-life.” And of course, “It’s very rewarding to be the mountain of molten lust.”
Jason Aaron Baca
I can only imagine…
The models themselves can gain a following and become very popular, readers want to get to know the cover models that are regularly adorning their book covers and a convention in the US enables you to meet and pose for photos with the man of your book cover dreams. The RTBooklovers Convention has included activities such as “America’s Next Top Cover Model” and “Kickass Cowboys, Cops and kisses.”
Even though the whole idea seems comical, it is a serious business, with serious fans, generating huge amounts of money. Even if we laugh at some of these book cover images, subconsciously our bodies respond and we are intrigued by the book based on the image alone. Perhaps we mock them because they make us feel uncomfortable, but perhaps that says more about social conditioning rather than our own desires. The fact Romance covers can illicit these responses, demonstrates how powerful they are. Romance covers are a piece of art.
“Each art cover is like a work of art. Our art director is so passionate about what he does. He wants every cover to mimic movie posters and has grand visions for each cover. We go into thinking this is art.”
Erika Tsang
Further reading: The NY Times: With Romance Novels Booming, Beefcake sells, but It Doesn’t pay and The Chicargo Tribune: Romance Novel Covers