11 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Grackle
Grackle
7 years ago

Based on the woman’s expression, I have to guess that the photographer took the picture a millisecond before the she opened her eyes and said, “Okay, we’re done here, right?”

red
red
7 years ago

When your inflatable superhero cowboy shirt goes off just as you are leaving for Cow-con.

Take Cover
Take Cover
7 years ago

Back in olden times, people who spent a lot of time around horses sometimes learned the trick of sleeping while standing up.

dtw
dtw
7 years ago

These two are holding each other in a way that exudes about as much sexual chemistry as a cigarette butt dropped in a puddle.

RK
RK
7 years ago

I’d have to give the cover designer(s) some credit for the cut-and-paste job; they almost could have gotten away with it if not for the hat’s weird angle and the not-quite-subtle-enough airbrushing that gets more obvious the closer you look at it.

dtw
dtw
7 years ago
Reply to  RK

Actually, yeah, what’s going on with the weird patches his shirt’s made from? I’d be interested to see the source files for this, to see exactly what they’ve felt the need to alter.

Barbara Goss
7 years ago

The pose came from Hot Damn stock photos and the only thing added was his hat to show it was a western. If you think it’s easy to find historical western stock photos after 32 books, be my guest and find one. We take what we can get and my professional cover artist did nothing but put a hat on him, as per my request. Furthermore, if you read the book you’d know why they had the expressions on their faces that they did. I think this is a mean site. Picking on Indie writers who don’t have the money and support that big publishers have it just MEAN. Source file: http://hotdamnstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/WES3715-600×600.jpg

Western Reader
Western Reader
7 years ago
Reply to  Nathan

Indie Authors do ask for money but they DON’T ask for as much money as the publishing house novels do. They are stuck with using stock sites that are over used, they can’t afford their own models and own private sessions. They do the best they can.

Also in this business there are many levels of authors. And these sort of sites can be rude at times, but then again Facebook and social media has taught everyone to think their opinion is more important than someone else, and that you can say anything you want without even THINKING about the person that did the work or owns the cover.

It’s caused people to forget others have feelings, people say things that they would never say if they had to look the person in the eye. And that to me is the worst thing about social media and forums etc.

No one minds for constructive criticism, but these sites end up being a lets gang up on a person and make fun of them and that does not help anyone.

I know Mrs. Barb and every time she does a cover she sends it out to her readers and they approve it or they don’t. Maybe you don’t like this cover, or maybe some of the others on this site don’t, but Barb’s fans loved it.

If I was Barb I would just thank you for the publicity of the novel and move on. And I don’t mean to sound rude either, but please if you’re going to try and help authors with their covers, be supportive, remember these authors pour their hears and souls into these books. They do the BEST they can with the money they make. If you want to help them, then do so with real ideas and helpful hints.

And no I didn’t leave my real name I don’t want to be the next person on your worst cover of the month list.

Western Reader
Western Reader
7 years ago
Reply to  Nathan

I agree, and she did that, and her fans / readers were happy with this cover. I saw the voting I’m in the group I’m one of her fans. You can never please everyone and there are several sites like this one that say they are the know all of what makes a cover good or bad, a person can not visit them all before publishing.

There is nothing wrong with this cover, it’s fine the hat is not perfect maybe but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And many people loved it just as it is.

Opinions as they are say are like noses, and yes you want to please as many people as you can, but you are NEVER going to make everyone happy. That is for sure. And this site shows that exact point. 🙂