Since "Look Inside" was missing from my Amazon account for almost a month for Cinnamon & Sugar, I felt I needed to reboot. So I invested a small amount of money in a Facebook ad. They shot back that they objected to my focus on body parts. Maybe it was the cover, probably it was the shot of the young man in a bathing suit.
I know that's not what the book is all about but it is partially. So many romances are about attraction on a physical, mental, and spiritual level. It's very hard to show anything else on a cover. In fact, for years the romance industry was and is focused on beautiful people. I have noticed that production companies, such as Hallmark, are opening it up to various body types and sizes. ABC's Bachelor series has dived into interracial but the contestants are nearly all physically gifted. Singing shows focus on singing talent, no matter what the contestant looks like. Regarding romance and an audience for it, it won't be any time soon you'll hear the hero or heroine say, "he/she's ugly, but I'm attracted to her/him." Perhaps romance is confusing physical attraction for love. That's why at least for now, as writers, make sure to develop the WHY. Why are they together. And it had better be more than he has nice abs, much more.
If ever you have a choice on covers, choose the dramatic one over the pretty people one.
I have a chaste photo to try for prissy Facebook.
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