Images to Use for my blog?

[Adria Reyes]

I would like to make a header for my blog to make it more visually appealing. I want to use some of my favorite authors' books but I'm afraid to violate one or more of the hundreds of rules out there. Can someone tell me if I can use book covers or if not, where I can find free images (stock) that might pass as covers to romance novels? I doubt I'm the only person who'd like to know the answers to these questions.

Thanks,

Adria

www.book-haven.blogspot.com

[TheBookGazer.Blogspot.com]

No sorry, you cant use any authors book as part of your header...Its considered copyright.  And No you cant use stcok-free or royalty free images of books, because most likely the person who posted those images, does not own the right to post them.

I got my header from these guys: http://lightningstudios.wordpress.com/  http://platinumgfx.wordpress.com/

I did my Editors Article Button myself.  

[Adria Reyes]

Thanks for letting me know, I was almost certain that I couldn't use book covers. Now I just need to find some stock images of books or people to use. I prefer creating my own headers. I paid so much money for Photoshop it's a shame not to use it.

Thanks again for your help.

[TheBookGazer.Blogspot.com]

[Grace]

If you do a Google search you can look up public domain images.  I ended up making my own header though to avoid having to worry about it.

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Books Without Any Pictures

[Adria Reyes]

I actually went to DeviantArt and a lot of people provide stock images that are very useful. I found a few to use with the artist's permission. Hopefully it will come out like I'm picturing it.

[Jennifer Kitchens]

Try taking pictures of things you own.  AKA - you're own bookshelf, etc.  Not getting up close and personal with the books, but perhaps a stack where only the bindings show, or something like that.  Or open books - cool effect but no one really knows what book you're looking at.  Just a thought.

[Steve Theme]

Technically, the others are correct, covers are copyrighted. But I’ve never heard of an author/publisher suing anyone for providing free publicity. In fact if you use their cover, and let the author/publisher know, which is a good idea, they may even send you an ARC of the author’s next book. As long as you aren’t making money off of the image it’s extremely unlikely anything negative will happen.

At the worst they send a cease and desist order and you just take down the image. No one is going to pay a lawyer $300/hour to pursue legal recourse against you, unless you become a really big wheel and are making money without giving them a cut. I’ve seen blogs post book covers a background art many times and have never heard of legal trouble ensuing. Let common sense be your guide.

[Adria Reyes]

Thanks, I hadn't thought of talking to the authors first. I'll go ahead and contact them and see if it's alright before I go through the trouble of photo shopping dozens of stock photos.