tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post5028763957852590771..comments2024-03-24T16:50:00.727-05:00Comments on Maria Zannini blogspot: Cheating Cover ModelsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-82441508172202020192013-02-14T07:13:30.396-06:002013-02-14T07:13:30.396-06:00Lynda: Stolen? Unless it's your photo/art (in ...Lynda: Stolen? Unless it's your photo/art (in which you have legal rights to sue), the other users bought the same license as your publisher, so it's not really stolen. But it does make me grit my teeth to see the same cover with a different title. Hazards of the industry.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-83053726151614284832013-02-14T07:10:53.690-06:002013-02-14T07:10:53.690-06:00Gwen: Occasionally, I'll see a stock photo and...Gwen: Occasionally, I'll see a stock photo and think, wow, that's exactly what I need, but even then I'll change out little details, just to prove it wasn't straight out of the box.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-32285049102185728492013-02-14T00:12:27.154-06:002013-02-14T00:12:27.154-06:00I like this nifty trick, but it makes me sad how o...I like this nifty trick, but it makes me sad how often my own work has been stolen...Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-91823639682678848652013-02-13T11:07:32.583-06:002013-02-13T11:07:32.583-06:00It would bother me a lot to have the same cover as...It would bother me a lot to have the same cover as another author. I recently saw the same photo on two different books, but the designers had each done something different with them, so that's better than just using a stock photo and calling it done. Gwen Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13132836346305559246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-51998086793925642872013-02-12T20:25:41.672-06:002013-02-12T20:25:41.672-06:00Jim: Doesn't it make you crazy? I'd hate t...Jim: Doesn't it make you crazy? I'd hate to go through all that work and then find someone with a similar cover. The only thing worse is if it had the same title too. I'd have to down my sorrow with alcohol. ;)Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-92170135268131793142013-02-12T17:52:38.913-06:002013-02-12T17:52:38.913-06:00Maria: I had this happen to me, long before I knew...Maria: I had this happen to me, long before I knew about it. I had my second book cover all designed and ready to go, and then, WTH! I saw someone else with the same basic cover. I decided to do a different one, and now I'm glad I did. I also learned a valuable lesson.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02788973149082963026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-79245811019705583842013-02-11T15:41:49.128-06:002013-02-11T15:41:49.128-06:00Carol: Most artists use at least a composite of tw...Carol: Most artists use at least a composite of two or three photos to create one picture.<br /><br />Models are the most distinguishing feature, but I also notice when certain background elements are used.<br /><br />You're right. It's inevitable. All you can hope for is that your cover is better than the other guy's. :)Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-28807470729785521392013-02-11T15:39:51.054-06:002013-02-11T15:39:51.054-06:00Cate: That's a positive spin on it. At least w...Cate: That's a positive spin on it. At least we can see all the ways to use the same stock art.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-78869553697404536462013-02-11T15:39:12.964-06:002013-02-11T15:39:12.964-06:00Southpaw: It's become almost a game to pick ou...Southpaw: It's become almost a game to pick out elements that have appeared before. Not a fun game if you happen to be the owner of that cover.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-38402762953580963732013-02-11T15:36:34.228-06:002013-02-11T15:36:34.228-06:00Maria - My cover designer combines elements from m...Maria - My cover designer combines elements from more than one image to make my covers. But so far only one model in each. So far I haven't seen either model on another cover, but I'm sure it's inevitable that it will happen one day.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03745686632918324803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-19710427693498062782013-02-11T12:36:48.526-06:002013-02-11T12:36:48.526-06:00I'm noticing the same images on different book...I'm noticing the same images on different books. It's inevitable, I guess, but interesting to see the variations. <br />Thanks for the tip!Cate Mastershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01371792447604980848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-79377925974070708062013-02-10T14:29:49.659-06:002013-02-10T14:29:49.659-06:00I've never noticed that. I do think it would b...I've never noticed that. I do think it would be weird to see two different books with the same cover. Heck, it would be confusing.Southpawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539290964546504171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-27431350215751570862013-02-10T06:53:21.753-06:002013-02-10T06:53:21.753-06:00Suzanne: I don't mind too much as long as my c...Suzanne: I don't mind too much as long as my cover looks better. :)<br /><br />Hope you find the same thing.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-31416614200150197522013-02-10T02:38:31.386-06:002013-02-10T02:38:31.386-06:00You've got me thinking. I'm off to see if...You've got me thinking. I'm off to see if my upcoming one has been used. I'll die if it has. Well, I know it has but too much and I'll have a fit lol<br /><br />Suzanne Brandyn Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16969670520269001723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-7568869513623054882013-02-08T19:21:20.441-06:002013-02-08T19:21:20.441-06:00Susan: It's so disheartening to see your cover...Susan: It's so disheartening to see your cover model on someone else's book. And as a reader, it's confusing. I tend to remember stories by their cover art. If I see it on someone else's book I get confused over which story I've read.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-53650958071644888712013-02-08T17:38:16.636-06:002013-02-08T17:38:16.636-06:00I've only seen it a few times but it does both...I've only seen it a few times but it does bother me. I've also seen some that are so similar they have to be a variety of the same picture.Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-47138931168549957352013-02-08T07:27:37.648-06:002013-02-08T07:27:37.648-06:00Mike: It's true. There's a lot of trendine...Mike: It's true. There's a lot of trendiness that goes on. I'm not sure if it's an organic shift or just a copycat syndrome. Probably both.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-43518887369737579182013-02-08T07:26:33.223-06:002013-02-08T07:26:33.223-06:00Shelley: Oh, that would really aggravate me if it ...Shelley: Oh, that would really aggravate me if it was the same publisher. I'm never satisfied with the cover I've been given. <br /><br />In the old days, they were good about making changes, but no longer. <br /><br />Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-63335093419532291322013-02-08T05:02:39.153-06:002013-02-08T05:02:39.153-06:00I think covers are, maybe a little like 'genre...I think covers are, maybe a little like 'genres' For period vampires may be hot and you get a lot of similar stories. In the same way, with book covers, 'blue' maybe in one season, 'hot red' another season - sexy man or woman on both. A decade or two ago it was the swirly gold embossed titles on a pale background. And then you had the golden age of pulp before that. Those covers are magic - though it maybe age lends them patina.Mike Keytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15116528233058221536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-37063120798504065572013-02-08T03:16:34.326-06:002013-02-08T03:16:34.326-06:00If it's really obvious, it's a bit irritat...If it's really obvious, it's a bit irritating. A couple of my covers are the same as others and that's within the same publisher reusing the stock image :(Shelley Munrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03090469550227550713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-50638896988784364292013-02-07T21:34:01.352-06:002013-02-07T21:34:01.352-06:00Hiya Jimmy! I hope you're feeling better.
re:...Hiya Jimmy! I hope you're feeling better.<br /><br />re: Each story is original...<br />I think this is why it hurts me to see copycat covers. I know you can't always foresee when a cover might be used again, but if you at least try to modify it enough so it doesn't come straight out of the stock art site, it stands a better chance at being unique.<br /><br />I feel bad for the authors. Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-45756879412935750212013-02-07T21:14:54.759-06:002013-02-07T21:14:54.759-06:00Hi, Maria. Yeah, I agree with you on this. I think...Hi, Maria. Yeah, I agree with you on this. I think it does detract from the message. I have seen this quite a few times, and it bugs me each and every time. Each story is original and deserves to be represented by an original cover.<br />How are you, my friend? Well, I hope. You take care, ok?<br /><br />-JimmyJames Garcia Jrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00559119178720751963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-19243264381876460142013-02-07T17:43:43.728-06:002013-02-07T17:43:43.728-06:00Anne: That's unfortunate. And that's the s...Anne: That's unfortunate. And that's the same situation as using stock art. No one can stop you from using the same image.<br /><br />And I'm with you about showing cover art. I guard mine jealously until the last moment. I've spent too much time and work on it to just give that idea away to someone else.<br /><br />There's an old marketing ploy that releasing the cover early increases buzz. But with self-publishing, I'm not sure it's effective if someone can take that idea and publish before you.<br />Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-34906839726906334092013-02-07T17:37:57.465-06:002013-02-07T17:37:57.465-06:00Jackie: You're not the only one to be confused...Jackie: You're not the only one to be confused. When I first started noticing it, I was baffled. I thought maybe I had made a mistake in choosing a book, thinking I had inadvertently chosen a different book.<br /><br />It's worse when big publishers do this because you expect them to have the money to buy original art. Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-33981402604896503902013-02-07T17:35:20.422-06:002013-02-07T17:35:20.422-06:00Angela: Exactly. If you don't customize it at ...Angela: Exactly. If you don't customize it at least a little, it reinforces that cookie cutter look of covers.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.com