How to create a successful romance novel.

Ah, the romance novel, the largest and most popular section in all of Books For Less. Their colorful covers featuring pretty ladies in pretty dresses (and sometimes scantily clad gentlemen) could make almost any housewife's heart flutter and yearn to flip through their passionate, previously read pages. Now, there is a bit of a stigma associated with these books. Their cheesy contents leave some of their readers ashamed at the check-out counter, they refuse to make eye-contact and often make up stories about how they're really buying these books for their elderly mothers. On the other hand, some women arrive at the check-out unabashedly; a basket full of more than 30 books in one hand and a list of obscure Jude Deveraux books to be ordered in the other. These women know the mushy contents of these books and they do not fear it.

The cover of the romance novel is really an art form in itself. It's evolving styles range from hunky men sporting porno mustaches, to covers featuring ladies falling out of their dresses with naked men standing behind them.
The most recent trend in romance novels I've seen all feature a woman wearing what is basically a prom dress, with half of her face cut off, and the the image is dominated by mostly one color. As seen in these examples:

There's also a trend in romance author names, with the first name being very modern and the surname sounding very classic and old-fashioned. Some examples are, Lisa Kleypas, Sabrina Jefferies, Kat Martin and Julia Quinn.

Using these ingredients I've created my very own fake romance novel cover.
Behold! A Rogue Most Ridiculous by Tiffany Aldridge (Who is also Elizabeth Day).


A pretty convincing cover, I must say. Now, if I could only devote enough time to actually write the story.
-Elizabeth

Resources:
promgirl.com | furniturevictorian.com | barnesandnoble.com