A few readers have wondered why some of my book covers have had frequent updates. I’d like to take a moment to explain.
The reasons for cover change are many, but primarily, a cover may change because the market changes swiftly and so do reader tastes and expectations. Books may get buried unless you keep them up-to-date, and when this happens, authors can no longer make a living. Fortunately for indie authors, we can forge a close relationship with our readers and make adjustments without having to go through a mire of corporate red tape.
Other reasons for changes include: overused models, reader feedback and meeting genre expectations. We have a unique opportunity to create covers that push genre boundaries. But sometimes, market testing provides information that alters perspective. For example, having come from an era with biases against romance, some of my original covers moved toward a “bigger book look” that I thought might please my readers (e.g. no clinches). However, what I discovered was that you like classic romantic covers, and many of you are defiant in that regards. Which I find an amazing and empowering experience. You’re saying “Give me my romance, and I don’t give a flip if you don’t like it!” How awesome is that?
However, you should have no fear about buying one of these books twice, because Amazon will never allow you to repurchase a book you’ve already bought and I will never create a “new” book page for these older titles. They will always simply be updated, so that if you attempt to buy them, Amazon (and all vendors) will tell you that you already bought it.
Keep your questions coming!
Love your new covers!!
Always love to read the entire series back to back. Happy late birthday!
Happy belated birthday! I love your books as well as the info you send to us here!
Happy Birthday, Tanya have a beautiful year and thanks for being a giver!!
Great giveaway!! Thank you for the chance!!?
Would love to win.
I like the new covers, keeps it fresh!
I love the new covers. Visually stunning!
I think they are beautiful and change is great!
I have mixed feelings on new covers. For instance, Harry Potter has so many different ones it can get expensive if you want them all. Then on the other hand, it is nice to update them with the changes of artwork for books.
I love all the covers. I’ve read the. First two, I do plan to read the other 2 soon.
I like the new covers .
Love the new covers and thanks for all you do
Love your books! Keep writing, can’t get enough of your books!
The redesigned covers are interesting. It’s the stories that grab me more, and you write very good stories to go with the interesting covers, full and rich in detail. Thanks for the chance to win the entire series.
Leaving my comment for your most generous giveaway. I LOVE YOUR COVERS !!!
Covers are magnificent.
Thank you for the chance ,love the new covers .
I certainly understand that there is an attempt to keep covers current, and I appreciate the fact that Amazon alerts its readers to the fact that they have already purchased the book(s).
Keep writing and thanks for the opportunity to win!
I love the new covers!
Interesting reasons but seems expensive.
Thank you for sharing your talent with us. I love your books!
Love the new covers!
Thanks for the info!
The new covers are great but I loved the old covers best. I have Maiden from the Mist loaded to my iPad.
Oh I don’t think the best models are overused. Just as I have purchased books as a shout out to their authors, I have bought books as a show of support to the cover model.
P.s.happy belated birthday!!
Just love the look. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome website…love it!!!
It has really been a great help that online retailers will tell you if you have already purchased a book, since I have been caught in that trap in the ‘olden days’ of physical bookstores. But since I am a (much) more ‘mature’ reader, I have often read a book well before a re-issue comes out, there is absolutely no way any of these vendors can let me know that I read it some 20 years ago (and may even already have it somewhere on my shelves)! Probably not a real problem with newer authors, but some of my favorites have been writing for a long time. It does help if there is some indication that the story is a re-issue, especially if the title has changed.
I’d love to win your books !
I HAVE wondered about that. Thank you for the info!
I LOVE this new cover.
I can see the point of changing covers. Sounds like you do it right.
sherry @ fundinmental
Thanks for the information on changing book covers
[email protected]
Even though I won’t re-buy a book for the new cover (and glad amazon and others will let me know just in case) I stil like to see the new covers – a lot of them are artistic masterpieces!
Lisa, the good news is that your vendor should update them automatically. None of them are ever entered as new releases, so the next time it updates, it should show up with your new covers. Thank you!
Wonderful giveaway! Thank you!
The new covers are gorgeous – love them!
I have always wondered about covers that change! Thank you for clearing that up for us. I DO love your covers. 🙂 And yes, I am glad that Amazon doesn’t let us “re-buy” a book we already have – I have tried to many times on accident. LOL
Tanya, I’m impressed by your new website. I’m using my iPad to view it and think its functionality is superb!
Great authors matter much more than cover design. I do not purchase based on a photo, I take recommendations from other trusted authors, or great reviews. I have a lot of your books, btw.
Happy Birthday, Tanya! Thanks for sharing the love.
Happy belated Bday! I love your covers
Thanks for answering that question. I never thought much about why book covers change. I love reading about the “behind the scenes stuff”.
The covers look great
Happy Birthday! I have always wondered about this and now I know. Love the new covers.
Happy happy Birthday. Love the new cover. 🙂
Love the new covers. What an awesome giveaway. Thanks for the opportunity
Love your books and the covers, old and new. Hope you had a great birthday.
I love the new covers saying that I tend to buy books on whether I like the sound of the book also on whether I have read any other books by the author, I hope you had a really special birthday, all the best xx
Love the new covers!
When I look at a cover, I want it to give me hint about what the content of the book is about. Your covers certainly do that. They are colorful and the garments look correct for the period.
Love your books and would love to win the give-a-way. Keep the stories coming!
The covers are always beautiful. Thanks for the chance to win, too.
Love the new covers?
Happy Birthday Tanya!! I would love to win!! I can’t wait for Madien in the Mist to come out!!
Happy Birthday Tanya! You have a lot to be proud of when it comes to your fantastic array of books… I love them all! As one of the first Authors I added to my “Bestest Bucket”, I have to say you never disappoint so keep up the good work.
PS-Love,love,love the Guardians covers!!!!!!
Happy birthday and the covers are great
Love the new covers.
Live your books
I am always looking for new reads. This looks like a good series. BTW…Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday! I love the new covers!!!
The new covers are great!
Happy birthday. Gorgeous covers
Beautiful covers that “feel” romantic! Are they drawn from live models or from pure imagination?
I love your books, and all the covers are wonderful. They make it look interesting to the point of wanting to buy the book. If a cover doesn’t look interesting enough to me I usually pass it up! Yours were some of the first books I started reading. Keep ’em coming!!!
Happy birthday. Love the beautiful covers.
Happy belated birthday! I think that the new covers are beautiful.
I DO judge a book by its cover. If the cover is enticing to me, then I will want to read it. New covers are gorgeous! Hope I win.
Love the new covers and updates! There’s a reason your one of the Queens of Historical Romance!!! I’m forever a fan! Hope you had a great birthday!
Happy belated birthday!?
I usually don’t dwell on covers too much but your new ones are very pretty and eye catching. Thanks for a chance to win.
I love the new covers.
Love the new covers, I think a refresh sometimes will bring in new readers, by attracting them to the new covers. Your books are wonderful reads. Thank you.
Thanks for answering this question. I always wondered why some book covers change after a couple of years. Happy Birthday to you! I hope you had a wonderful birthday.
Love both covers old and new!! Love what’s inside more! But I do decide a lot on a book from the cover and blurb if I’m not very familiar with author. So covers are very important. Updating them keeps them in the readers eyes especially for those who’ve not read your books and voila there you are with a new updated cover that catches their eyes ? and says read me!! Love ❤️ it!!
Happy Birthday from one Gemini to another.
The new covers are awesome!
Love all your books. Love the new covers keep up the god work Belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
I really enjoyed the insight you shared in this article!
I have always been curious why some authors change their covers. 🙂
Happy birthday Tanya from another Tanya! Love the covers!
Love Tanya Crosby. Always excited to see new stories written by her. One of my favorite writers.
The new covers are beautiful!
Book covers are the first thing to draw me in. Love yours!
I have to agree, I judge a book by its cover also. Happy Belated Birthday and Thank you for this amazing giveaway!
Love the new covers. More books to be added to my TBR pile.
Love ❤️ the beautiful covers
Great giveaway! I love all your books. I’m super excited!
Happy Birthday Tanya
Happy happy birthday!! I love the new covers and cannot wait to read “Maiden”.
OMGosh! … and what a prize this is! 🙂
I hope you had a birthday just as beautiful as you. <3
I love the new covers. They are refreshing and it is always nice to know what prompts this to happen!
The cover often sells a book I think..
Yes, it’s weird when covers change a lot. I don’t have changing reader or market tastes. I swear they make this stuff up. It’s not like readers’ tastes change from week to week.
I’ve been in the biz for about 28 years, Michelle. Book covers do get dated. But more than anything, it’s about visibility in a changing market.
Good info to know. Amazon has told me about a book I already bought…forgot I had it.
Your new covers are great, but I try to never judge a book by its cover. The blurb has to interest me and then, of course, the author is important to me. I have specific authors whose books I will automatically buy, even if I am not keen on the cover. In most of these cases, I have to have the print book, as I much prefer it to reading an e-book. (Look better on my bookshelves too! LOL)
Love the new covers!
The covers are like a work or art…they draw you in.
That’s a gorgeous cover. I love how the lighting is used.
Thanks for sharing. I love the new covers, but as long as the titles don’t change it is all good. I hate to purchase something that is in my library already.
Love the new covers. Would love to hold them and squeeze them and pet them. And call them George.
Love the covers! Thank you for the chance! Great giveaway! I would love to add your work to my collection!
I love to read paperbacks. I don’t know if I would ever give them up. I’d love to own a bookstore.
Absolutely to the covers! Happy belated Birthday!
Happy belated birthday,and thank you for such wonderful stories
Love the covers! Collection looks great!!!
I absolutely love your new covers. And I’m so excited for a chance to win some awesome books
Covers do attract buyers so I can see why changing them at times makes a lot of sense.
Boy, I was surprised at the time shown on my recent comment. I am looking at 9:05 P.M. on my computer while it showed my sending it at 2:04 A/.M.
Happy Birthday and please keep your wonderful stories coming.
Happy Birthday! Love the new covers and thanks for the information on why they change and an awesome opportunity to enter your contest!
Happy birthday
I hope you had a great birthday! I love your books and the covers???
Love your tales of the Scottish Highlands.The new covers are great!
Happy Birthday and thanks for the opportunity!?
Thank you for this awesome chance! 🙂
Love your books! Just not finding them at my local library.☹️
Hope your birthday was awesome! These covers are gorgeous; such rich colors. Thank you for sharing your birthday with us. Terrific gift/contest
I Love the book covers !!
Happy Birthday! I’m also a Gemini, I’ll be 57 on 6/11. May this year bless you with good health, great joy, and a vast number of moments worth remembering.
New covers are always exciting!!
Happy Birthday. Love the cover.
Happy Birthday Tanya!! The new covers are beautiful!! 🙂
I help my Authors get their graphic artists and work to get the covers just right and it can be hard, especially when ( as you said) the market changes so fast. Some companies have great prices and packages, others take newbie authors for waaaay to much money and give them crappy covers. I try really hard to stay on top of the good graphic arts people and steer my authors in their direction.
I would love to read and review your books
Nice. Very pretty covers. Love them.
Happy Birthday, Tanya. Your covers are beautiful. Which is your favorite?
Mel K.
Meljprincess AOL dot COM
Happy Birthday Tanya I hope you have had a really special day and that your year is full of joy and happiness. ?? I am so pleased you explained the reasoning behind upgrading your book covers. I do love the gorgeous romantic covers so please keep these. And I do appreciate the fact that Amazon notify you if you have already purchased this title.
I think you must have an amazing brain thinking up all of these stories. Sometimes I would love to live in your world . Have a great day ?Susie
I love when book covers have clear pictures of the main characters- it makes it easier to see the story in my head. Happy belated birthday!
New covers are beautiful!
A very Happy belated Birthday. Hope you got to celebrate big time. Love the new covers on your books and thanks for all the great stories.
I love the covers! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!!!
Happy, Happy Birthday to you!!!????? I’m very excited about this opportunity to win such a Great gift. Love your books! ? THANK YOU!!! ?
Love the new covers! Happy belated Birthday.
Love the covers. Would love to win.
Great cover, I imagine you do need to keep up with changing tastes in the literary world. I am a die hard romance fan so I like clinches. I also love when the colors pop on the clothing the models are wearing.
New covers are nice but sometimes it is confusing because you think it is a new story, as well. Happy birthday.
Your new covers are great! AND Happy Belated Birthday!
I love when authors update their cover but then I think I should buy another copy so I can have the new cover. My hubby then blows his top, we fight and then we make up in the best possible way.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TANYA!!!
The new covers are gorgeous!
I think your present covers are eye catching. I love the colors. Clinches I can take or leave. I’d rather use my imagination as to the love interest, rather than to have him always on the cover.
Love your cover!!
The cover may get a new reader in in the first instance…..but your stories are so good that once you’ve read one, you’ll always come back for more regardless of what the cover looks like. At least that’s how it was for me. ?
Happy Birthday. I am also a June born.
Ooooooo…. Pick me! Pick me!
I really like your new covers and I liked your explanation of why covers change – it makes sense and I can see how it would help boast sales. Hope you had a GREAT birthday!
I love the new covers, it makes so much since why writers change their covers I’ve always wondered why so I’ve learned something new today. Thanks for the givaway I love your books
Happy BIrthday. Hope you have a great day. Love the new website. Your books look fabulous.
Happy Birthday. I like the new covers however as a reader who tends to grab paperbacks based on cover design I have bought multiple copies of the same books due to covers changing. I read a lot and while the characters and stories sometimes seem familiar I am a really visual person and if the cover has changed, you get the picture. I have purchased multiples several times but the good this is they make great gifts.
Happy Birthday. Great giveaway!
Thanks for the explanation, always was curious Why book covers changed. I personally adore your book covers, very colorful and they catch my eye. Thanks for the Chance to enter your Contest. Good Luck to All who enter! Love & Peace, 🙂
What a fun contest. Thank you very much. Just an FYI in case you did not know: At Niagara Falls, the boats that travel the river up to the Falls are called Maid of the Mist!
Such a cool tidbit!
I love your new and old covers I’m not a cover person. I o a book because it’s an author I enjoy reading. And I truely love your books. Your a very good writer and I usually can’t put your books down. Looking forward to reading the last 2 books of this series.
Happy Birthday Tanya. Would love, love, love to win signed books from you. Thank you. Star Montgomery
ever changing industry
denise
I like the new cover and, yes, indie authors do have to change with the flow of things. Best of luck and happy birthday. 🙂
I think changing the covers bring them up to date, almost like a new hair style. They get a new look.