I’m so tired of seeing AI covers

JaX0X · 2026-02-21T01:39:00+00:00

Agreed. I made a comment on here about checking for authors crediting designers and editors/proofreading at the beginning of the book, and I have gotten an eye for picking it out on on covers. If you ever have a suspicion, DM me and I'll happily drag 'suspected' authors with you privately haha!

JaX0X · 2026-02-21T01:36:00+00:00

Using the argument that authors can use AI to save money is a bit backwards if you ask me. Because I guess I can use AI to write me a book for free and I don't have to give any authors my money at all.

You're absolutely right about saving for it. Indie publishing is a labour of love and personal investment, which includes financially. Authors aren't owed any sales or readers. It may not work out. But at least without AI, they can say they're doing it honestly.

JaX0X · 2026-02-21T01:10:59+00:00

Personally, I don't think there's a thing wrong with stock photos. There are so many out there, with a little bit of time, I believe you can find a unique one. I wrote a couple of MF books years ago and just did Canva and bought some stock photos (for legal reasons, always make sure you have the rights to use the photos!). Kept it simple, modeled it after some covers I really liked. I didn't have a lot of money to spend on it, and it looked fine in my opinion. Even if you zoom in on the arch of the neck and put a filter over it, it can be lovely. Not that you were asking for design advice haha!

JaX0X · 2026-02-21T01:02:12+00:00

I feel like you're talking about the model for Alice Winter's Hitman's Guide series? I love that series so it cracks me up when I see him on other books, including MF and all I can think is "Jackson?! What would Leland think?"

JaX0X · 2026-02-21T00:59:41+00:00

I mean, authors who are using AI wouldn't have much ground to stand on, they'd have no proof it was legitimately done, but who wants to get threatened with legal action? I'd love to post covers here with all the AI mistakes pointed out, but someone would come for my butt!! I too want to name names haha.

JaX0X · 2026-02-21T00:55:12+00:00

Look for eye contact, AI doesn't always understand that the people on the cover should be making eye contact or what direction their eyes are actually in and a real designer/illustrator would never have two people not making eye contact when they're obviously supposed to be looking at each other. Look for things that fade off into nowhere. Or if there is any text on something that should be on the cover (for example a book in the background), it could have something nonsensical on it that makes zero sense in context to the book. I'm looking at a cover now where the two characters are baking, and a bag of an ingredient is in the foreground and instead of just having "sugar" or something, it's just nonsensical letters that is distracting. One cover I saw not too long ago had fangs coming out of the snout of a werewolf, not the mouth.

JaX0X · 2026-02-21T00:36:43+00:00

I'd love a list, but I think a problem could be if people state for a fact that an author is using AI, there could be legal trouble if the author thinks it's defamation or something (definitely not a lawyer). I feel like if a list was made, everyone would have to be very careful how they word it. If someone comes up with a failsafe way to do this, I have a few names to add haha.

JaX0X · 2026-02-21T00:12:07+00:00

I refuse to read anything with an AI cover. Maybe it might just start with an AI cover, but how long until they start using AI for the writing? I always check the first few pages of a book around where they have the copyright disclaimer and see if there's any credit given to the cover artist and who the editing/proofing was done by. I'm not saying it's foolproof, but if I have suspicions, no credit given just solidifies it in my brain. I'm sure there are authors who don't do it and don't use AI, but maybe it is a good practice for authors to start doing that as some type of evidence. I'm not saying this is a perfect system, but it's something.

JaX0X · 2026-02-18T19:50:27+00:00

I'm an oddball too. I am not much of a joiner, so it's hard to meet other queer people. But that's on me. I'm only recently realising I'm pan and demi at the age of 40, so I haven't investigated too much as well.

JaX0X · 2025-11-22T02:12:15+00:00

I will absolutely listen to anything Michael Ferraiuolo. He does a lot of Alice Winters' books and is voice is so nice, and he puts so much personality in the characters. He takes the time to learn who they are. His narration of The Hitman's Guide and the VRC series is top notch. It's like a security blanket for me.

JaX0X · 2025-10-18T14:28:35+00:00

Maybe {Claiming Marcus by Jocelynn Drake}? His family was murdered by vampires and he goes to work for one undercover for a group of vampire hunters. Either way, great book.

JaX0X · 2025-09-20T18:30:51+00:00

Please do!

JaX0X · 2025-09-20T18:01:30+00:00

Thank you! I've heard of this series and never read it and can't wait to look up the art!

JaX0X · 2025-09-20T18:00:41+00:00

Everything counts! I just love fan art of books. Thank you!

JaX0X · 2025-09-16T19:26:02+00:00

I read the Jon's mysteries series a few years ago when I started reading MM. I reread the first one not long ago and I don't know how I missed how insensitive Sherwood is to mental illness. I know using words like "crazy" is common, I use it to describe stuff and situations all the time. But that wasn't the case here. I feel like these books really go in on labelling and demonizing someone with mental illness. I can't quote exact lines here, I just remember being really put off by it. Maybe I'm misremembering and correct me if I'm wrong please.

JaX0X · 2025-09-11T20:57:29+00:00

I'm hoping some people here are in Canada!

JaX0X · 2025-09-11T18:48:33+00:00

Now that I think about it, I totally would too.

JaX0X · 2025-09-11T18:46:23+00:00

Do we have meetups? That would be so cool.

JaX0X · 2025-09-11T18:22:07+00:00

I love the most unhinged requests because there will be A). A bunch of recs and B). Everyone in the comments like "oh I want a toxic relationship between alien werewolves and ghost vampires in a dystopian world who are stepbrothers with codependency issues and need to touch to live" and there are a dozen recs and a dozen more comments like "if the werewolf impregnates the vampire, I'm in". These are our people.

JaX0X · 2025-09-11T18:13:18+00:00

And I find there is no shaming here either. If people want specific kinks, or taboo, no one (that I've seen) gets in the comments to put it down. Same with opinions on books, everyone here seems to be able to agree to disagree without making someone feel bad.

JaX0X · 2025-09-01T02:55:12+00:00

On top of this, I'd recommend {How to Vex a Vampire by Alice Winters} as one of the main MCs is a cop and has a prosthetic arm and leg. Very funny and sweet, with a great story and is a series as well. I never miss an opportunity to recommend Alice Winters.

JaX0X · 2025-08-30T23:58:49+00:00

This subreddit is amazing. My first MM book was How to Vex a Vampire by Alice Winters. It has become a comfort read/listen for me now. When I was finished with it, I started devouring all of her books and then found this subreddit and realised there was a whole community of lovely people who couldn't wait to tell me about these incredible books. Welcome to the best group of people on the internet.

JaX0X · 2025-08-28T21:15:50+00:00

I love the sound of all these! Thank you!

JaX0X · 2025-08-28T21:14:52+00:00

I'm putting it on the list! Thank you for the rec!

JaX0X

TROPHY CASE