The Deceptive Significance of Cover Art

People who say they don't judge a book by a cover are full of shit. 

Sorry. 

I just wanted to set the mood and let you know that this blog post won't be lathered in B.S. I won't be shoveling fake opinions in an attempt to woo you into liking me enough to buy my books.

Nope.

Today, after two large coffees and not much sleep, I will be raw, honest, and probably piss you off. Not that I'm not usually honest, it's just in this moment, I refuse to sugar coat this message.

Book covers matter. Sometimes more than the implementation of the whole plot-line.

Isn't that fucked up?

For a writer, it's disappointing and horrific that before someone gives your words and characters a chance. . .they judge your cover, something that is so outside of your creative process. . .it's ridiculous. 

However, as a reader, I won't buy a book if it isn't pleasing to the eyes, well-executed, or grab my attention in some way. So although I'm annoyed about book covers representing the story as an author. . .oh I'm a complete contradictory person when it comes to me buying a book.

But let's dig deeper. . .

Which book would you buy?

A)

B)

An unexpected experiment happened for me back in the fall of 2013 (so long ago). Amazon decided to finally regulate ebooks that they considered breaking their mature content rules. Basically, the site started deleting books that appeared to involve incest, pedophilia, bestiality, and all those things that pretty much disgust the normal population of people. 

My novel The Babysitter was deleted because (I assume) it showed a "shadowy vagina" and because the woman looked like an underage girl with a teddy bear. 

Yikes. 

What is interesting is the next day I quickly grabbed a quick stock image that I believed represented the characters and the plot-line, then had an artist due the font. I more wanted my short story out there for my fans who were waiting on other books.

This became the cover. . .three hours later. . .The Babysitter was on the Erotica Bestseller's list as if triggered by magic.

With the other cover, the novel sold five books a day. With the new cover, it sold a thousand books in two weeks. The book continued to rise up to the top twenty on the Erotica list and remained there for several weeks.

Is this confirmed proof that book covers matter?

No.

There are so many reasons why people decided to give my short story a try on that day and all of those reasons could have nothing to do with the cover. 

However, do I place more significance on books covers these days?

Um. . .did you see the part about the book going from 5 sales to a thousand?

5 Erotica Genres that Freak Me Out

We all like what we like. Let's get that straight, but some erotica genres just freak me out!

In my browsing of Amazon erotica ebooks, I've found some crazy stuff, things that make me embarrassed for writing and reading erotic romance (which is different from erotica, but always thrown together, by non-genre readers)!

Anyway. . .

Before previewing the list, you should ask yourself this. . .

Do I really want to know the types of books that would freak Kenya Wright out (she's already a weirdo)?

Red or Green Pill, People!!

Additionally all tag lines under the novels are actually from their book blurbs!

I can't make this stuff up!!

The 5 Erotica Genres that Freak Me Out!

5. TEDDY BEAR PORN

I just get really upset for all of the innocent stuffed animals in these books. 

". . .a woman whose insatiable lust was satisfied only by one thing… her stuffed teddy bear"

4. BEAST and MONSTER SEX

"When the angry T-Rex corners the huntress in a box canyon,
it seems more interested in her wet womanhood than in her flesh." 

3. DOGS 

In all fairness, apparently in these novels the dogs end up being Were-dogs afterwards. . .

thus making this not bestiality. . .just revolting.

"One dog will be the master until she is yelping with pleasure."

``

". . .the dog becomes overly friendly and, to Helena's surprise, the animal isn't only what it appears to be..."

2. More Mature than I can deal with. . .

And the WINNER and still Champ. . .

1. DIAPER LOVE

Artist created Barbie with Normal Female Measurements

19-year-old female, artist Nikolay Lamm of mydeals.com created the “Normal Barbie.”

Read more about it HERE

I love this!

For me personally, the regular Barbie actually looks like the odd one next to the "Normal Barbie."

For those that don't know, the first Barbie was made by Ruth Handler in 1959.

There has been some controversy over her figure.

What? No way!

It was realized that if Barbie was a real person her measurements would be an impossible 36-18-38 (which is so my measurements). 

"I'm starving. I would get something to eat but my strange calf muscle to thigh proportion causes me to waddle, which takes forever getting place to place. Ken! Where are you!?"

In 1980, the first African American Barbie and Hispanic Barbie were introduced, however, Barbie did have a black friend named Christie who was introduced in 1969 so don't start calling her a racist.

 

Then there is Ken.

The doll that gave us abnormal expectations of what men and dating would be like. . . .

This picture scares the shit out of me. . . and I don't know why!

Apparently in the real world, a guy won't just let you move and order him around. And he damn sure won't color coordinate with you in lovely bright purples and psychedelic pink!!

So I know what you're asking. . .

Kenya, why should I care about Normal Barbie?

Because it is a long time coming. That's why. 

It would be nice for more dolls to have real woman measurements.

Guess what?

It would be nice to have WAY MORE heroines in Movies and Novels at not only real woman measurements BUT. . .

and this might be tricky

I would love them to act, talk, experience, and react like real women!

I mean if we aren't. . . 

meek little wenches in need of a man's strength while everyone is dying around us. . .

then we're a wife that is usually an unforgiving bitch.

I mean really. Why couldn't she just be nice? He only cooked Meth for like. . .half of the country. She's such a Bitch!

You know what? Let me calm down.

I haven't had any coffee yet. . .I've just taken a discussion on Barbie dolls to the plight of all female worth in media.

I will now step away from the computer.

Enjoy your weekend people!!

Where My Soul Sisters At? The Black Experience in the New Adult Genre.

I'm in desperate need of help people. I need some book recommendations  but not just any. . .ones with SISTERS!

Let me explain...

So I crawled out of my writing cave for a while and decided to check out a new book or five. There's a lot of great stuff out right now in the New Adult genre.

There are so many out there. . . 

BUT

I have a taste for some chocolate right now. I would love to read a book with a Soul Sister in it.

Any New Adult Soul Sister books out there? 












Maybe Shaniqua bumps into a  guy with a twisted and sordid past.


Perhaps Keisha would like to lose her virginity. 


I laugh because my name is Keisha and it's been decades since I've been a. . . 
(oh nevermind. That's another topic all together)

Anyway, I'm sure there are some books out there. 

Where are my sisters in these angst college romances? We do go to college too. Anybody know of a hot and steamy college romance with a black heroine, that's twisted like Broken at Love?

And I'm not just talking about the typical Interracial or African American romance that mirrors the typical romances of any heroine (girl meets guy, regular conflict, sex, seen before fight, reunited, sex). 

I want something to read that will make me think about stuff! Is there an African American version of the  Sea of Tranquility out there?

I crave a novel where I'm learning the black experience in New Adult.

Okay. 

I know someone out there is reading this and thinking. . .

Why does it all have to be about race?

or....

Kenya, just read books. Don't think about what color the heroine is. I don't see race!

Just STOP IT!




I'm black, African American, etc.


I'm okay with being who I am. I embrace it. I also love other races too. I like learning about your cultures, experiences, etc.,

I think the worst thing a person can do is pretend like I'm not black. It's a part of me and who I am. 

NOTE:
Granted, it's probably not a good idea to just send me a basket of chicken wings and box of watermelon with a birthday card saying, "Happy Birthday, Got you this cause I know how you black people love you some chicken and watermelon." 
BTW, if you read that and don't understand why it isn't a good idea to send me that gift. No problem. Just Read this book.

Anyway, back to my rant. 

I like to read about female experiences in romance, fantasy, etc.,

Because I am a woman, and with that comes even more powerful things that I share with other women that spice up a great plot.

SO FOR GOD SAKE  FIND ME A NEW ADULT ROMANCE WITH A BLACK HEROINE.

Please say I don't have to write it myself. I already have a lot on my plate.

SO get to thinking you sexy readers out there and drop me a comment. I can't wait to see all of your book recommendations  Until then, I leave you with "Where My Girls At?" by 702

(I just dated how old I am. SMH)