"We can't compare ourselves to great authors"

I don't think the covers are melodramatic or even dramatic. They're just bland, granted I'm thinking of the American covers it might be different in other countries.

There was a lot of follow-the-leader on the cover art, even with books that had nothing to do with Twilight's style. I remember for example a copy of Pride and Prejudice with a cover in that style in the teen section.

I still see the half of a well-toned body with an Instagram style layer over it more often.

Really? Usually on Pride and Prejudice's cover is a lady in regency dress. Anyway, here's the cover I'm talking about.◊ It's so Twilight-like that the only thing it needs is that flower to be a slightly deeper shade of red.

I meant on romance novels in general. Actually not just romance, romance and generally anything urban fantasy, the only difference is the gender on the cover.

edited 20th May '12 8:38:29 AM by Vyctorian

Well your problem is that you're looking for follow-the-leader going on in the romance section, when you should be looking in the YA section.

Doesn't Follow the Leader happen in all genres and all mediums? *

Have you been paying attention to the conversation?

If you want to find book covers that follow-the-leader of the TWILIGHT BOOK COVERS then you look in the YA section, because it's not a trend in the ROMANCE section of the bookstore.

I mean seriously has anyone looked at the YA section of the bookstore lately? Five sixths of the covers are black or some really dark color, and 2/3rds of them are Twilight-ripoffs.

I think I've been pretty emphatic about my choosing the latter if it comes down to it (not that I'm making a living off writing anyway).

But it's not like it's a binary choice - while popularity doesn't equal quality, it doesn't prevent it either. Most well-known authors are good or great writers, and so that brings me back to my original point: Meyer's success is not really something to admire no matter how you look at it, because it's possible to reach similar levels of success with more (or any, really) talent.

Quite true.

And yet there are authors who never really reach the success of those famous authors but there are some treasures among the trash. I remember reading a contemporary science fiction book on the main character discovers something strange going on at his university. I don't remember too well but the story involves cloning, genetics and a university professor as the antagonist.

Nrjxll, stop stealing my thoughts. Please.

Also, I can think of one great book that came out of wish fulfilment: 'I wanted to kill a monk.'