Close Encounters - You choose the design!
Help us pick a cover for our newest Eos author, Katherine Allred! We're publishing Katherine's debut novel, Close Encounters¸ next March and we have two designs so good we just couldn’t decide. Vote below on which cover we should put on the book. And after (or before) you vote, check out an exclusive sneak peek here. We’ll announce the winning design on September 1st, so stay tuned for the results.
Design #1
Design #2
The 2nd looks a little too much like a Harlequin romance for my taste.
I wouldn't be embarrassed to carry the 1st one around.
Posted by: SciFiChick | August 12, 2008 at 06:42 AM
I like the first one. The tiger caught my attention.
Posted by: Colleen Thompson | August 12, 2008 at 01:26 PM
Thanks to everyone who takes the time to vote. I love both covers and I'm excited to see which one you'll pick for Close Encounters.
Posted by: Katherine Allred | August 12, 2008 at 01:52 PM
I agree with SciFiChick..the 2nd one looks too much like a romance cover (though maybe it fits the contents of the book?).
Posted by: Jeff C | August 13, 2008 at 04:30 PM
I much prefer the first cover. The 2nd is more of a romance feel than what I think this story so far reflects. And I am looking forward to reading it- I am hooked already.
Posted by: ev | August 13, 2008 at 04:42 PM
I really love the first cover. It seems to "tell" more about the story than the second. And, although I'm a huge fan of the romance genre...I do write it myself ;-), I'd even like that first cover for a genre romance too. But then, I'm all for the kick-butt heroines.
Sandy :-)
Sandra Barkevich ~ Romance Author
Posted by: Sandra Barkevich | August 13, 2008 at 06:26 PM
Me, too -- I picked cover #1. After reading the sample chapter, I'm hoping the book turns out to be more of a sci-fi adventure story with an interesting female character lead rather than another romance novel a la Linnea Sinclair...or so much worse.
Posted by: Tanja | August 13, 2008 at 06:44 PM
Sorry to say, but I wouldn't pick up the book in a bookstore with either cover - they both feel like the kind of cheap and trashy space opera which non science fiction readers think of when they hear the words "science fiction". (No offense intended whatsoever to Katherine; that's just my gut reaction to these cover images, and I figure honesty here might help.)
That said, I do have to agree with previous posters that the first cover is much preferable, since at least it has less of the Romance feel about it; I'd be cringing much less if I was seen reading a book with that cover in the train. (Also, I like the color scheme better.)
Posted by: Sander | August 14, 2008 at 01:13 AM
Interesting. To me, the first cover looks like so many covers of current SF books that it would be lost in the shuffle. The second cover is more mysterious (love the colours). And 3 guys without shirts seems tackier than just one! But then, I read a lot of SF and no romance. Maybe to a romance reader, the 2nd cover is more cliche.
Posted by: Natalia | August 14, 2008 at 07:36 AM
Thanks for all the comments, everyone. Kiera is definitely a kick-butt heroine. And while there is a romance in the story, it's almost secondary to the main plot, there to help our heroine become what she was always meant to be.
Sander, no offense taken. It would be a very dull world if we all had the same tastes.
Posted by: Katherine Allred | August 14, 2008 at 07:43 AM
Hi... I feel 1st is best. it suits the title "Close Encounters"... Second is like a romantic and action novel. First is purely action
Thanks,
Ojal
Posted by: Ojal | August 20, 2008 at 05:06 AM
I like the second cover -- the first one is way too busy.
Posted by: Hilcia | August 20, 2008 at 09:40 AM
I like the first cover the best but I also feel that more could have been done to make it not an eye catcher but "I gotta read" look.
Posted by: Cara | August 20, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Hard choice... But I think I like #1 better. The second one looks like the book might be more about a love affair.
Posted by: Monique | August 20, 2008 at 05:00 PM
Ok, after reading the sneak peek, I'm going with #1 (which I was leaning toward anyway). BUT - I really don't like either cover. I'm really intrigued by the story and will definitely read it, but I'm really not a fan of either cover.
Posted by: Heather | August 21, 2008 at 08:12 AM
This is a cool concept! Thanks, Eos Press, for including us readers in the process.
Posted by: Susan Helene Gottfried | August 21, 2008 at 05:12 PM
I voted for the first cover. It looks more like something that would appeal to both sexes. the second looks too harlequinny
Posted by: Laura K | August 21, 2008 at 05:33 PM
I heard about "You chose the design!" over on the Avon blog. What fun! Both covers are wonderful in their own unique way. I also believe both project a sci-fi/relationship theme. For me, I love tigers so Design #1 gets my vote. Feels like a jungle setting.
Thanks - this was great fun!
Tracey
Posted by: Tracey Devlyn | August 21, 2008 at 07:36 PM
I think cover one is much too busy. I vote for cover 2.
Posted by: Donna | August 22, 2008 at 11:27 AM
first cover!
Posted by: TAMI blackroze37 | August 22, 2008 at 09:49 PM
The 1st cover just stands out, catches my eye, & makes me want to pick it & look further.
Thank you,
Susan B.
sbussey AT windstream.net
Posted by: Susan Bussey | August 23, 2008 at 05:04 AM
The Avon blog sent me. I still prefer #2
Posted by: carol | August 23, 2008 at 12:06 PM
I love the first one, very adventurous!
Posted by: Diana Dang | August 23, 2008 at 02:42 PM
I definitely like the second book best. It makes the heroine stand out more clearly. Please enter me to win. I came via Avon books newsletter.
Posted by: Jane Squires | August 26, 2008 at 06:48 PM
I agree with the majority. I like the first one much better.
Posted by: LuAnn Morgan | August 27, 2008 at 08:45 AM