I Need Your Help Choosing A Cover for "The Bodies Of Mothers!"

(Cover Idea #5)

I received an email today from a beautiful woman voicing concern about the image she thought I might be using as my 'cover' image for my book The Bodies Of Mothers. The image she thought I was going to use is Cover Idea #3 in this list of images with the tattoos and gorgeous stripes from growing 3 lives. The woman who wrote me expressed that she thought it was too much like what is already accepted in our culture as beautiful (meaning the woman is 'thin and young' and white) and thought it was both un-powerful and not a good choice to convey my 'redefining beautiful' message. It got me thinking and while I don't necessarily agree with everything she wrote I do strongly agree with some of what she expressed to me. Plus I love listening to other people's ideas and I would love to hear your ideas.

Here are 6 ideas, all numbered below the image, including the image above these words.

The book is going to be 12x12 inches, sustainable paper and printed in the USA.

Ultimately, I want the most powerful image (big surprise). An image which attracts people to he book who don't even know about this project while encouraging those who own it to keep it out in the open as opposed to hiding it away in a book shelf because perhaps nudity might offend them or their family. I want it to REACH as many people as possible before they dismiss this work based on a cover. INSIDE the book there are nudes and there is a wide representation of women.

Please tell me your thoughts. Each image has a number underneath and if you feel so inspired , please comment why you do or don't like what number, and I would be eternally grateful for this collective of ideas on how to make the most powerful and inviting book cover for this profound work that tells the story for so very very many of us.

**Please note these cover ideas are all sketches/drafts. The font etc will most likely change.**

(*Stephanie* cover Idea #2)

(*S* Cover idea #3)

(*Jane* Cover Idea #4)

(*Kasthuri* Cover Idea #5)

(*Lulani* Cover Idea #6)

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commented 2014-01-02 23:41:27 -0700 · Flag

Keep the nipple! :)

commented 2014-01-02 22:18:11 -0700 · Flag

I like #3 the best.

commented 2014-01-02 22:09:12 -0700 · Flag

#3, #5, #6 are my top choices.

Love the ink mixed with the stretch marks and the body being normal size. It may limit your consumers to a younger generation though…

Love the skin on skin holding the baby, very calming, very beautiful showing the bond of mother/child

Really love the children hugging the mom and her belly. I’m thinking if you feel the need to crop the nipple to help sell the book to a certain audience it’s not going to reach that particular audience anyways. Some people are too conservative and having “older” children hugging a non clothed mom will aready be an issue for them, whether you crop the nipple or not..

I know this sounds crazy but is there any way to release the book with all of the different covers?

commented 2014-01-02 21:08:12 -0700 · Flag

I think 2 would take the book the furthest distance - it’s celebratory. Like Kristie Epp said…if it were my book and my book only I too would be all over number 4. …..2 has energy and it has the single message about a mothers body. The ones with kids speaks more of the mother/child bond and I think are the most popular picks as far as I can tell because we like to see that and feel it . Number 2 would be my second pic for the same reasons.

commented 2014-01-02 20:57:51 -0700 · Flag

Acho muito acolhedor este corpo que se deixa brincar enquanto amamenta! (Jane Cover Idea #4)

commented 2014-01-02 20:50:35 -0700 · Flag

without a doubt. Absolutely gripping and speaks to the wear and tear a mother’s body continues to endure far after pregnancy and childbirth. Beautiful!

commented 2014-01-02 20:15:50 -0700 · Flag

My number 1. should read #5
My number 2. should read #6

commented 2014-01-02 20:13:50 -0700 · Flag

it is SO hard to choose! I LOVE them all for different reasons…if it were MY book only, I would be all over #4…this is the phase I’m at with my second babe and this photo has let me relax a “little” more with all the nipple tweaking…ha,ha,..
For SALES sake, I would choose between #5 and #6.

would be the “safest” bet for ALL places, in order for your book to reach MORE people!
is striking, stunning and a little bit “bad ass” in terms of mainstream..and gets your point across in a strong way.

commented 2014-01-02 20:01:11 -0700 · Flag

#5! I love it . It’s beautiful and serene - and completely innocent. There is nothing that could possibly be misconstrued about it.

commented 2014-01-02 19:48:06 -0700 · Flag

I would choose Cover Idea #6: I feel it totally evokes motherhood with the children beside her while keeping their anonymity. Also, when I think about my mother, this is the type of body I envision. I love it.

commented 2014-01-02 19:33:38 -0700 · Flag

(Lulani Cover Idea #6) hands down.. This one’s a tough cause I love them all! But hands down..gotta be (Lulani Cover Idea #6)

commented 2014-01-02 19:29:26 -0700 · Flag

I feel you can project your own story on #3.

commented 2014-01-02 19:27:30 -0700 · Flag

#3. It is a pic of a mother, which is the topic of the book. Beautiful.

commented 2014-01-02 19:02:04 -0700 · Flag

6 is what I would choose. It shows the body as it is years later, not just right after birth. And I think you should keep the nipple. It’s beautiful.

commented 2014-01-02 18:49:31 -0700 · Flag

is just perfect

commented 2014-01-02 18:42:01 -0700 · Flag

As a breastfeeding mama, I tend to love the nipple being included, but would love it with or without.

commented 2014-01-02 18:39:32 -0700 · Flag

thank you loves! If i use #6, should i crop our nipple?

commented 2014-01-02 18:12:11 -0700 · Flag

I love 6!

commented 2014-01-02 17:45:10 -0700 · Flag

I really like 6

commented 2014-01-02 17:23:55 -0700 · Flag

All of the photos are beautiful. However, I associate #6 & #5 with your projects. If you go with a different photo, you may miss out on sales because, so few of us are “label readers.” From 20 paces, I can recognize the images. If I see that in a store from a distance, the mind clicks in—that’ Jade Beall’s work, go pick it up.

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I Need Your Help Choosing A Cover for "The Bodies Of Mothers" Please

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