Representation on book covers matter. It’s also expensive. Most of my covers only cost a hundred or two in stock photos, plus labor. To hire a model, photographer, and editor to accurately represent my fat character on a series cost around $10,000.

I had the money and I’m happy I made a job (albeit one day of work) for the actress on this cover. I got to go out for the shoot. It was so cool, you guys would love the actress. She UNDERSTOOD Dana and spent the shoot swearing and acting Dana-like and I loved it.

Paying the people represented is really important to me. I used a black Latina model as Deirdre on my War of the Alphas covers, then learned she wasn’t paid for the shoot that led to that stock, so I contacted her separately to pay.

It is a lot of work. It’s expensive. It costs close to nothing to get skinny white blonde women stock that matches, and my marketing/covers job would be a lot easier if all my characters were like Rylie.

I don’t have the money or the mental health or organize big shoots like the Dana McIntyre ones again. I wish I did. But the next time she shows up on my covers, I’ll have to do art of some kind - painting or illustration. OR I can choose to not put Dana on another cover.

I have no plans to stop writing characters who are largely not skinny blonde white women, so I will figure it out. I still have some resources and I’m a graphic designer, which saves some $. Authors less connected cannot do this. Trad authors often have little say.

For this reason, among others, I am supportive of illustrated covers. I would prefer to see people from marginalized groups (models, actors, artists) get more work - by far. But I also want to see marginalized authors tell their stories, even if they can’t afford fancy covers.

Publishing all but the biggest books runs on tight profit margins. For traditionally published (not self-published) authors, earning out production costs is important to make sure the next book can be produced. I dislike the intersection of capitalism and art but we live here.

For self-published authors, it’s complicated. I know authors making REALLY good money who aren’t doing 1/100th of the work to support marginalized colleagues and contractors. I wish they would. Most of us are earning a lot less and publish using paperclips and duct tape.

Anyway, as a reader and graphic designer, I find illustrated covers very appealing. I’ve made a few and enjoy it. But I also get why so many people hate that they are a thing. The reasons behind them sucks. (Don’t have to produce diverse stock, spend less money...)