I used to adore that magazine and looked forward to receiving it and opening its pages as a child. My favorite part was looking for the objects in the hidden picture game. It brought back memories when I received an email from Amazon telling me my product ad couldn't run because the cover of my book wasn't in keeping with its guidelines.
It read: Your ad titled "The Devil I Love: A Contemporary Gothic Romance (Book 2)" does not comply with our current Creative Acceptance Policies for the following reasons:
Your ad contains unsuitable content. This may include provocative content, such as: sexual innuendo, suggestive poses, exposure of sensitive areas, or images that draw undue attention to intimate body parts in a sexual way. Please review section 6.5 Sexually suggestive content under Book Advertising Guidelines and Acceptance Policies and update your ad.
When I read the policy in detail, I found the following:
The following are prohibited in all ads:
o Ads that draw undue attention to body parts, such as breasts or buttocks.
o Depictions of minors in sexual situations.
o Fully visible intimate body parts such as genitals, female breasts, and buttocks.
o Ads may feature semi-revealing attire (models showing bare skin without revealing any intimate parts or showing contours or simulation of sensitive areas) if modest and relevant to the product or service promoted. For example, an image of a woman in a bikini may be used to promote bikinis, but the same image cannot be used to promote a car because a woman in a bikini is not relevant to a vehicle.
o Images of suggestive undressing, such as pulling down a bra strap or underwear.
o Models in sexual lingerie such as stockings, suspenders or paraphernalia such as whips and chains.
o Provocative embraces or embraces in a provocative setting such as in a shower or on a bed.
o Sexually suggestive poses emulating a sexual position or alluding to sexual activity, whether clothed or unclothed such as the parting of the legs or the accentuation of the hip, along with amorous or sexually passionate facial expressions.
o Sexual innuendo in text, image, or video.
My first response was WTF. I don't see it. My book cover depicts a lovely photograph of a woman in her wedding dress shot from the back, in the woods. Then, I looked closer to see what they were fixating on. It had to be something.
Can you see what Amazon found questionable and suggestive on the cover?
If you said her hand reveals her rear, you are correct.
I have to agree that it does begin to expose a sensitive area. If you've ever been spanked, you know this. Still, considering our book covers are reduced to the size of postage stamps when you advertise on Amazon, it seems inconsequential. However, the bottom line is that Amazon spells it all out, and I am responsible for noticing it. I didn't notice that her hand bunches up the fabric enough to reveal her buttocks, and that’s a no-no.
What did Kay see?
I saw a woman trying to keep her dress from getting mud on it. Silly me, and the garter (not her bum) wrapped around her upper thigh. An object that women throw at weddings to their unmarried friends and relatives after they are married. I found this a plus and symbolic.
What did the cover artist, Consuelo Parra think:
"Hi Kay, I'm surprised by this! It seems incredible to me that any human mind can see that there is something sexual in that image, I am surprised by this concept of Amazon's rules, I don't see that it infringes anything illegal, especially in an image that has nothing sexual about it, absolutely the world is crazy! (That some corrupted mind can think like that.)"
Yes, Consuelo, people do see what they want to see. Still, it is more likely a machine is initially looking at our images before anyone is even involved. Ultimately, it comes down to clearly defined rules that can be interpreted by someone or a group of people in various ways. I had a choice on how to respond. To keep the cover the way it is and not run ads for this particular book. After all, there are other places to run ads (Facebook, Bookbub, Google); truthfully, Amazon is a tiny part of my advertising budget. The cover should not be a problem elsewhere, it is already running on one platform with no problem. I could have also appealed Amazon's decision, change the cover entirely or had the artist alter the current cover to make it conform to their standards.
Because I love the current cover and its response has been good, I asked the artist to alter it. This is the modified cover:
Now I know I have to look at the cover with a more critical eye. Even a simple thing like a beautiful book cover can come back and be a problem. Thankfully, when you work with professionals, you can return to them and get the help you need to fix the problem. The artist, Consuelo Parra, was kind enough to have it back to me in a day. The altered cover looks even cleaner. The buttocks are covered, yet I still see the rocks through the fabric of the dress, but they aren't as intrusive.
I thought all would be well, but after submitting it again, it was rejected for the same reason. After chatting online with someone from Amazon, I appealed because the person could not give me any specific reason it was rejected. In my appeal, I wrote: “Although I’m not selling a wedding dress, I’m selling a romance novel; therefore, a woman in her wedding dress in the woods seems in keeping with a romance book and the story. It is something a reader would expect to see. This dress is no more risqué than any other wedding dress a woman might wear.” Twenty-four hours later, I received this email from Amazon:
Hello from Amazon Advertiser Support,
We have reviewed the query and found that the campaign is compliant with Amazon Advertising's guidelines. Hence, we have re-moderated the ad. Please note that it may take up to 24-48 hours to reflect in the dashboard.
It took me a minute to realize that Amazon had approved the ad. I didn’t understand the word re-moderated.
I may never know the exact reason; it was rejected the second time. It could have been the skin-to-clothing ratio, but that is a guess on my part. Like many things involving Amazon it may remain a mystery.
Please share the covers you've had trouble with. Believe me, there is no shame here.
There are quite a few interesting workshops coming up, so I thought I’d share:
Contract Negotiation for Writers with Gwyn McNamee and W.D. Drames: Sunday, February 25th at 5 PM ET/2 PM PT (live session will be recorded)
Using Character to Drive Story with Julie Artz: Wednesday, March 27th at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT (live session will be recorded)
March 1 - 31
Those Who Forget the Past: Using Backstory to Enhance Your Novel
Cynthia Owens
March 1 - 31
Power Up Your Prose
Zara West
March 9 - 4 PM EST / 3 PM CST / 2 PM MST / 1 PM PST
A Look from the Other POV: How to See Diversity from the Other Side
Eilis Flynn
April 1 - 30
Mastering Character Arcs
Peter Andrews
I am happy (and relieved) that you second effort was successful. Kudos also to Consuelo Parra.
As I've mentioned on several threads, I ran afoul of censorship for a far more egregious violation: submitting in digital format material that was already selling in paperback. Mea culpa. [NB: This was NOT on Amazon, but during attempts to publish "wide."] Be thankful that you were dealing with a person. I had to lock horns with an algorithm and then with a person who would not even consider the possibility that the algorithms were wrong. [They are apparently divine programs whose verdicts come straight from Mt. Sinai.]
Yes, Amazon can be difficult but I have been very lucky when dealing with getting answers and help lately. I've had quite a few situations where I've needed help and I've gotten it, but it is still horrible when stuff happens and you are left scratching your head..