Look at the front cover of the romance you are reading right now. Did you know that there is a 97.9988978% chance that if there’s a hero on the cover, it’s this guy:
He’s got us covered, ladies. And let me say up front that I found a number of these covers at Nathan Kamp: Book Covers, maintained by CT. So thanks CT (and I apologize in advance for a post you may not enjoy).
You want category? Presents, Historical, Intrigue, Special Edition, Nocturne, Suspense?
Here’s Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, and Nathan:
Contemporary? Historical? Romantic Suspense? Paranormal? Western?
Here’s Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, and Nathan.
I think even the Smart Bitches would have to give Nathan a Perfect 10 for this cover. Note the large belt, the unbuttoned but tucked in shirt, and the long … erm… sword:
Interestingly, neither Kamp’s professional modeling website, nor his new cooking website even mention his career as a romance novel cover model. Nothing in his bio. Not a single romance novel picture in his online portfolio. No name of any publisher in the long list of clients. If you relied only on Kamp and his web presence, you would have no idea whatsoever this guy ever had anything to do with the romance industry.
On the other hand, Kamp reached out to one romance website, Romance B(u)y the Book, earlier this year to publicize his new web cooking show. That article links to an older interview with Kamp, in which he says that by 2006 he had already modeled for 400 romance covers. Kamp has never read a romance. He had no idea either that romance had steamy scenes nor that there was a line of inspirational romances.
I love reading romance, but I don’t like most romance novel covers. They are not pleasing to me aesthetically, even when they feature a handsome model like Kamp. But that’s not the main issue, as you all know. The main problem is that they send a blanket message about the content of all romance novels which so many of us are trying to dispel: that they are porn for women, that what’s inside is as cheesy as what’s outside, and that they are the literary form of Xanex: temporary escapes from the drudgery of our lives.
And this message — ubiquitous, unavoidable, and univocal — is sent primarily to nonreaders, the ones who won’t ever find out otherwise, because they get the message while they are picking up some chicken at Shaws, or buying toothpaste at Target, or grabbing a book at the airport book stand for the flight, or standing in line to pay at Borders.
I think it would be nice if Mr. Kamp gave even the tiniest nod to the fact that his face and abs completely dominate the best selling genre in English fiction. And of course, I would love to see some cooler, edgier, different looking covers, especially on historicals.
But insult is added to injury when publishers take one model and put him in new poses and new clothes for cover after cover after cover after cover. Doesn’t this further shore up the idea that there is basically one story being written over and over, and that readers keep going back for it the way a junkie keeps going back for a hit? And besides, on a visceral level, my personal limit has been reached. Psssst. Hey art department. I know it’s the same guy, even in a kilt. And I am sick unto death of him.
Thinking on it, I am pretty sure I bought a Kindle just so I could avoid looking at any more covers of Nathan Kamp.
What do you think?
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#1 by Chris on May 18, 2009 - 9:41 am
Ok, I totally hadn’t thought of it that way.
But color me shallow – I have to confess to being totally hooked on Nathan Kamp covers and have been known to pick up and/or buy books simply because he is on the cover.
#2 by Jill Sorenson on May 18, 2009 - 10:18 am
Well, I do have a favorite Camp cover. The stepback in Sabrina Jeffries’ Beware a Scot’s Revenge is delicious. But, yes, I’m sick of him. Especially his face. The body, not so much, haha.
http://www.covercafe.com/contest/2007/TIC-res07.html
#3 by Kati on May 18, 2009 - 10:45 am
I confess to being utterly sick of Kamp. But then again, covers have next to nothing to do about why or when I pick up a romance. I’m all about the author or the blurb. The cover model has bupkus to do with my level of temptation for picking up a book.
Now, if they started putting Taylor Kitsch on all the covers, I’d probably be more tempted.
#4 by Janice on May 18, 2009 - 11:03 am
I really don’t enjoy covers — pity that buying a Kindle isn’t an option here in Canada.
#5 by Laura Vivanco on May 18, 2009 - 11:20 am
“Doesn’t this further shore up the idea that there is basically one story being written over and over, and that readers keep going back for it the way a junkie keeps going back for a hit?”
I think one would have to be really quite interested in Kamp (is that his real surname?) to identify him from some of those cover photos. Maybe I’m unusually unobservant, but I cannot recognise a man solely on the basis of taking a look at his mouth and part of his jaw.
In addition, I do think the cover artists had managed to make him and the covers look quite different from one another thanks to the use of clothing, colour, backgrounds, the positioning of the models etc.
And I haven’t read Tempt the Devil myself, but having read the review you and Tumperkin wrote I can now state with immense and incontrovertible authority that Nathan Kamp’s expression on the cover of that novel accurately depicts the obsessive emotions of the hero
#6 by Meghan on May 18, 2009 - 11:30 am
I do agree that covers prevent many people from picking up romances. We know people will happily read them when they don’t look like romance novels. Many people like romance in their books. But carry around a cover plastered with half-naked people? Not so much. I don’t think it matters that it’s the same guy, since there are dozens of non-romance books with very similar images on covers. I think the racy covers, regardless of who is on them, just support the assumption that romance novels are solely porn for women, and that makes me sad.
#7 by katiebabs on May 18, 2009 - 12:08 pm
Someone had to take over the reigns after Fabio.
#8 by AnimeJune on May 18, 2009 - 12:15 pm
I totally agree!
I don’t judge romances by covers anymore, but as a newer romance reader, I certainly did. The whole point of a book cover is to attract readers, and in this case I would say that romance covers fail – because the people who do understand that romance is awesome don’t judge them by covers and the new readers who aren’t familiar with romance are turned off!
Also, I’m so not in the Nathan Kamp camp. He looks like Prince Humperdink from “The Princess Bride.”
#9 by Lissa on May 18, 2009 - 5:00 pm
I have to say that while I was aware that Nathan Kamp was the premier cover model now-a-days, in much the way that Fabio was in the 80′s & 90′s, I never really pay much attention to the actual covers.
I have never decided to purchase a book based on the cover, though I have passed on a few because of the picture or title being something that I don’t want to leave around the house for my children to see.
As for Nathan himself, I suppose he is attractive enough but he is a bit too pretty to really trip my trigger, so looking at him wouldn’t really entice me to purchase a book whose content didn’t appeal.
#10 by Nicola O. on May 18, 2009 - 11:29 pm
katiebabs wrote:
Hah, exactly what I was thinking! Also: “At least he’s not cross-eyed.”
#11 by Tumperkin on May 19, 2009 - 5:28 am
I’ve been planning to do a post on this very thing (ok, just lots of pictures with Nathan Kamp without the thoughtful commentary) for ages! Yes, I HAD noticed Nathan Kamp (Laura – in the interests of keeping the universal balance in place – I’ll point out that I CAN recognise this chap merely from his jaw). He has been actively bugging for me for some years now. And now thanks to AnimeJune, I finally get why! Prince Humperdinck!
I always say the same boring thing about the cover thing. Over in the UK, if an author is famous to get a separate UK print (rare for romance admittedly) the covers are usually much more tasteful. And actually, they even FEEL nicer with matte covers, a bigger size etc. They are just nicer things that you are more likely to want to keep. But unfortunately most of the romances sold over here (e.g in Borders) are imports, hence small with shiny lurid covers. And that’s unattractive to me and even embarrassing to buy. Plus it’s lazy.
But in every cover discussion, someone usually pops up to say that whatever the aesthetic preferences of a few people on blogs, the majority of romance readers dig these covers and mantitty sells. So what do I know?
#12 by Margie on May 19, 2009 - 8:57 am
When I first started reading romance in high school I was too embarrassed to check out a book with a lurid cover. I would purposefully choose books with nondescript covers and refused to touch man-titty (heh). Now, I’ve kinda gotten over it. Although I still get the urge to say “It’s not what it seems; it’s a really great author/book” when I’m getting rung up by some nice-looking guy at Borders.
I would vote to change covers to more artistic, tasteful, subtle images.
#13 by Kate on May 19, 2009 - 2:58 pm
Hey, I think Chris Sarandon is cute even if Prince Humperdinck is nasty. Humperdinck, Humperdinck, Humperdinck.
I’ve always wondered why the UK covers look so much better than the US covers. I read my only Rachel Gibson (picked up in a shop in Munich with the UK cover, which I thought of as “William Morris in a post-feminist mood”) since it looked lovely and the cover blurb was interesting, but noted (after reading it and not liking it) that had I been in the US and seen its cover, I probably wouldn’t have bought it. And that US cover is still pretty tame if sloppy.
I have this sneaking suspicion it’s somehow related to the Philosopher’s Stone/Sorcerer’s Stone issue.
Ah, same old same old. In any case, I too recently noticed the glut of Nathan Kamp covers and am considering one for an Unbuttoned book, since that truly would be choosing a book by the cover.
#14 by Jessica on May 20, 2009 - 9:25 am
Chris wrote:
Thank you for representing what is clearly a large group of readers! they wouldn’t keep putting him on if it didn’t sell! And I agree, he is very good looking.
Janice wrote:
In the interest of full disclosure, you do get the covers on the kindle, but for whatever reason, the book opens to the first page, so unless I actively seek the cover out I don’t see it. And it’s in black and white, which ruins the effect anyway.
Laura Vivanco wrote:
I am pretty unobservant, and I noticed it. But the extent was not clear to me until I wrote this post.
Laura Vivanco wrote:
That’s a good point. I don’t want to take anything away from them. Although, of course, we have the cases of just changing the woman’s dress and calling it a new cover.
http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/nathans-bukkit/
katiebabs wrote:
I think we disagree on this one, KB. I want a wide range of cover models, not one dominating the genre.
Although, maybe when you count up the thousands of romances covers a year, it’s not real dominance.
AnimeJune wrote:
OMG. He DOES!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Humperdinck
Tumperkin wrote:
We don’t allow their kind ’round these parts.
Seriously, it’s true. romance is very consumer sensitive. Someone likes them. this is the nice thing about having a blog. I get to voice minority opinions and create a tiny teeny space where they seem like the norm.
Margie wrote:
I sometimes also have the feeling. And then I take a closer look and notice he was in my into class last year. He sat in the front row picking his nose the entire time and got a D.
Kate wrote:
I think Tumperkin may be writing about this in the near future. I am going to encourage her to do so, anyway!
#15 by Jill Sorenson on May 20, 2009 - 10:36 am
My impression is that the UK editions are more sedate. And a bit boring? When I see a really elegant cover, I think “literary” or “not explicit.” Which isn’t always the case, I know. Sometimes the naked guy images are just as misleading.
I agree that mantitty is a lazy shortcut for HAWT, but it works. A cover that looks like it will deliver sexy content catches my eye. I don’t need anything classy.
#16 by Heloise on May 21, 2009 - 2:00 pm
Jessica, what I love about you is the rant. Really. I spend way too much time reading your blog, and as well as the wonderfully articulate writing, I’m really here for the rant.
But I think you’re off the deep end here, honey.
I certainly fall into the “Cover? What cover?” category of long time, wanna know what I’m getting, romance readers. But is there really anything wrong with one guy showing up on over 90% of these books. He’s cute, he’s got really nice abs, what do I care if he’s cluttering up my shelves.
Now, low quality of romance cover art in general? Yeah, I’m there with ya. But equating “lack of inventiveness” or “Nathan’s always free. I’ll give him a call.” to evilly propagating the ‘every romance novel is interchangeable with every other romance novel’ myth is a bit of a stretch for me. Maybe I’m frighteningly naive.
#17 by Jessica on May 21, 2009 - 2:34 pm
LOL. Do I seem to rant a lot? I feel like I don’t it nearly as much as I’d like, and this doesn’t even qualify as half a head of steam for me.
Could “Nathan’s always free” be the explanation? Er. Yes, now that I think about it. But that’s so much less fun than Evil Patriarchal Propagation!
#18 by Laura Vivanco on May 21, 2009 - 2:50 pm
“Could “Nathan’s always free” be the explanation? Er. Yes, now that I think about it. But that’s so much less fun than Evil Patriarchal Propagation!”
The Smart Bitches included an interview with John DeSalvo in Beyond Heaving Bosoms and he explained that “Arlene and Bob Osonitsch [...] took me in like a son and I worked with them more than any other photographer, for over ten years. Even if they needed just a shot of a torso, an arm, or a back, they called me” (182) and
John Ennis [...] For several years he pretty much worked with me exclusively, and I remember him catching flack from a group of women for it. He went on to tell them in an interview: “You might think that we [cover artists] have a lot to choose from, but in fact, it is very hard to find someone who is good-looking, muscular, and extremely talented, and John is all three. He appears on many of my covers because the alternative is to use a model who is lacking in at least one of those three qualities.” I’ll always remember that … thanks, John! (182-83)
So that suggests that the photographers have their own criteria for choosing models and those can include their personal relationships with them (i.e. is the model someone they can work well with and rely on), but are also about the talent and appearance of the models. Although the expressions of cover models quite often get snarked, they are often having to pretend to feel immense passion while striking silly poses and, presumably, holding themselves in those positions for a significant length of time. I’m not sure how many people would actually be capable of doing that well.
#19 by Julie on May 23, 2009 - 8:53 pm
I’m so glad you posted this! I am so sick of him too! Plus, he does nothing for me. Most of the books I read, he is not the image I have in mind at all. Hallejulah! I hope the art depts. read this post!
#20 by Lola on May 30, 2009 - 11:19 am
I am probably one of the majority romance readers when it comes to Nathan Kamp, in that I just love, love him. I am disappointed to see that he is not on as many covers as in previous years. So for those of you who are sick of seeing Nathan, you are getting your wish. I will miss seeing him on romance novals by some of my favorite authors. I’ll admit though, as I listened to his interviews and watched him on his cooking show, I find that he is more stimulating to the body than the mind. But then, when one looks that good, who needs a brain?
#21 by pam on July 9, 2009 - 8:45 pm
I tell you what.. I love Nathan Kamp and if I’m going to buy a novel, might as well be him on the cover…. Thats all I have to say about that!
#22 by Jessica on July 9, 2009 - 9:07 pm
pam wrote:
LOL! Tell us how you really feel! Clearly he has major appeal to folks like you and @ Lola!
I hope you enjoy him while he lasts as the reigning cover guy!
#23 by Lola on July 10, 2009 - 1:32 pm
@ Jessica:
Jessica wrote:
What’s there not to love about Nathan? He’s gorgeous, your typical tall, dark and handsome Adonis. He looks a lot like many of the heroes described in the books he graces the covers. Besides, in the world of Romance Readers, one really can’t afford to be pretentious about quality covers. Let’s be honest here, we are all shallow and live vicariously through many of our favorite characters. That’s why we keep reading
#24 by Jessica on July 10, 2009 - 8:39 pm
@ Lola:
You’re right. There is nothing wrong with Kamp’s looks. The post was about how frequently he appears on covers. Aren’t there other handsome men who deserve a shot?
#25 by lola on July 11, 2009 - 10:01 pm
@ Lola:
Oops, not sure what happened above.
Now, Paul Marron has been showing up everywhere lately . He is very sexy as well, but I think it’ll take sometime, if ever, for many of us romance readers to fall in love with him as we have with Nathan.
#26 by Gabrielle on July 17, 2010 - 3:23 am
> Aren’t there other handsome men who deserve a shot?
There are, but like Laura Vivanco has pointed out, how many of them can actually pose as romance cover models? When you look at the male models on covers of every book genre, not just romance novels, you can hardly remember 2 or 3 faces. Most guys lack this little something that would make you linger on the book — and 1 or 2 seconds more of lingering can trigger your decision to purchase the book — or aren’t as attractrive to a majority of ladies than the most popular cover models.
I remember when I was researching about Fabio that because he was gracing the cover of a romance, be it from an unknown author or a best-selling writer, the publisher could expect the sales to increase by 30% compared to a no-Fabio cover.
I believe when John de Salvo was the top romance cover model, it was the same situation and so it must be true also for Nathan Kamp.
It’s about identifying the model to the genre so that the readers know immediately what they are buying without even needing to know what the story is about or who’s the author. Publishers don’t really care for non-romance readers. They can be occasional readers but won’t necessarily come back for more. With a romance reader, romance books are an addiction so they are the ones buying massively. So the publishers need first to attract those readers.
#27 by Jessica on July 17, 2010 - 6:25 am
@Gabrielle: Thanks for your helpful comments. I confess that as much as I adore the genre, the whole romance cover issue is a mystery to me. Your points about the male model as a part of the quick id process make a lot of sense.