This month’s Details magazine has an article on Fabio. Yeah, that Fabio.
Now, your first question probably is: why in the world did someone at Details find Fabio newsworthy in 2008? I hear you. I can’t give you an answer, but I hear you. Your next question likely goes something like this: did anyone ever find him attractive? I can only speak for myself here but, um, no.
My favorite part of the interview goes like this:
Fabio knows full well that even in his prime, he was a joke—a hot-flush fantasy for romance-reading housewives who could pump a bodice ripper’s sales into six figures. But the whole time, he says, he was thinking, Laugh, mock me, I don’t care.
“I was using the industry,” says Fabio, now 48. “I used the fashion industry, the whole business, for money, for chicks, for a lifestyle. But I never let them use me. And now they think I’m still desperate for a job, for work. Like I’ll do anything. I don’t care if I’m never on TV again.”
This leads me to the third and most obvious question: Fabio got chicks with that look? I, for one, refuse to believe that is possible. To me, there is just nothing sexy about his look. There are about 1,000 male models on romance covers who are much more appealing. Make that 5,000…or more.
Of course, I must admit that I’m not one to swoon for the men on romance covers. I love, love, love my cover for YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY and for my upcoming release, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. The men are attractive, but what works for me is coloring and shading, plus the interaction of the couple. I love couple covers that are sexy without being over-the-top.
What about you? Give me your thoughts on male cover models. Comment here and I’ll pick someone from those commenting to win a signed copy of YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY.
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Fabio is not sexy and never has been. I also agree that most of the male cover models now are hot. I love a colorful cover on a book that grabs my attention first. Deep shades are great and enticing. I like couple covers, but lately some of them are getting to racy to have sitting around with my kids. LOL
by Patty L.
on January 23rd, 2008 at 7:32 am
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Actually, he always looked kinda greasy to me. I’m not a huge fan of people on the cover because I like to form what they look like in my head if that makes any sense. I don’t mind them in the instep though.
by Sharmi
on January 23rd, 2008 at 7:52 am
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Fabio has never appealed to me. I think male cover models are nice eye candy but they don’t influence me when buying a book.
by Crystal B.
on January 23rd, 2008 at 8:29 am
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He’s never appealed to me either. But who knows there are women out there who probably did find him hot. There’s no accounting for taste. 
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I agree with you. The covers with couples and shading are more appealing to me.
by Little Lamb Lost
on January 23rd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
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He always looked kinda greasy to me, too. Just once I would like too see people in covers who don’t look too perfect. Like when in the story the guy is supposed to have scars, but in the cover his face is absolutely perfect…
by Minna
on January 23rd, 2008 at 12:24 pm
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Most male cover models are too perfect. Good thing I don’t pick most books by their covers! I prefer a guy who is rugged looking, with just a touch of imperfection. One who looks approachable. Give me a quirky smile, a slight tilt to the head, a sexy wink, and come hither look and I’m all yours!
by DeeAnn
on January 23rd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
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Nah, not really a big Fabio fan. I don’t really like the guys who are that much into themselves. I like my guys to be a little more rugged, not chisled (well except for maybe their 6 pack). Lori Foster’s re-release of Too Much Temptation has a guy that is definately worthy of a second look. Also the cover model for Karen Kelley’s Cosmic Sex. I think it has something to do with the eyes. Fabio always looked like he was looking at himself in a mirror. Kind of the “Zoolander” look.
by Laura J
on January 23rd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
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The only time I found Fabio even close to appealing was when he was showing his comical side on the soap The Bold and The Beautiful. And it wasn’t because of his looks!
I like the male cover models who look better than the guys I see everyday but still give off that every guy quality. I hope that makes some sense!
by Susan
on January 23rd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
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Love the hot cover models. I now see a lot of covers where it’s just the body and the head is cut off. I can appreicate a beautiful body.
by Jane
on January 23rd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
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While I appreciate a great looking guy on the cover, I tend to forget him when I’m reading the book. I have my own image of the hero forming as I read the book.
And Fabio has never done a thing for me. I’ve never been a fan of overly muscular men.
by Sue A.
on January 23rd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
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Ditto with not understanding the appeal of Fabio. My ideal look for a guy would be Tom Selleck during his Magnum days (remember that LOOK). Oh and David James Elliott who played Harm Rabb on JAG. Put either one of those guys on a cover with an open shirt (or no shirt) and I’m going to pick that book up. Yes ma’am.
by Laidybyrd
on January 23rd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
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I don’t pay much attention to covers, except to find who the author is. I had to Google Fabio to find out whe he is.
by Estella
on January 23rd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
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I’m a big fan of the headless body shot. Faces are too often at odds with my imagination, but I can always appreciate rippling pectorals and washboard abs.
Anybody remember the romance novel Fabio wrote? I vividly remember his claim that “I know what women want.” My mother bought it out of morbid curiosity, and we passed it back and forth, reading it aloud between gales of uncontrollable laughter.
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I suppose Fabio must have appealed to someones, even if it was mostly the ad execs! I prefer cover models that are attractive without being “perfect” so that I can at least imagine I may possibly meet such a person in the real world!!! Profile shots are great too, so that one can see the attractiveness while leaving something to the imagination. Yes, I really like the cover of YMDMV. Perhaps I will be so lucky as to win a copy of the book too! Have a great day everyone.
by Allison
on January 23rd, 2008 at 3:46 pm
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I agree. I NEVER found Fabio the slightest bit attractive, especially with the long hair. I do not understand how the media can turn someone who is moderately attractive at best into some sort of glorified sex object. Particularly when they have that pouting, pretty boy look. 
In fact, muscled bodies on a cover are much better because that leaves us to imagine the face we want.
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personally i do not like fabio, but I do love looking at the cover models. Where do they find these guys, some are too perfect though
by Karrie Millheim
on January 23rd, 2008 at 5:13 pm
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Fabio never did appeal to me. It’s funny that different models appeal to different people, but who can argue with a great body.
by Joyce
on January 23rd, 2008 at 6:21 pm
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Nope, Fabio never did it for me either. He looks like that one dog, I can’t think of the name of the breed, but I think you all know what I’m talking about. The thing is, there are women out there who find him appealing, whether for his looks or his fame. Think about it - there are women who think Donald Trump is hot too (because of all his money).
As for cover models, well, I have a tiny bit of a crush on Nathan Kamp (the one who’s everywhere). I even have some of my fave covers of his posted at my blog. This might sound silly, but knowing he’s happily married and very strong in his faith makes him more likeable, so it’s easier to see him more as a person instead of just a cover model.
by Stacy ~
on January 23rd, 2008 at 6:52 pm
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I never found Fabio appealing either, but I think he marketed himself well and used the industry to his advantage. Some women found him attractive and helped propel his career. Can’t blame him for that.
I’m not much into the covers with mostly naked men. Or a naked torso. I am a sucker for a goodlooking cowboy - rugged and capable.
by Sandra M
on January 23rd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
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Hi HelenKay,
I agree with the majority, and never found Fabio appealing. I was also growing up during the period he was super popular, so he always was more of a joke to me (if I even thought of him). I think it’s more his name and the “ooo” that seems to follow that made him so popular. It’s hard to find someone appealing when just the mention of their name makes you snicker :-X. At the same time, he *was* successful - so you have to give him that, but in the interview … he’s a has been, and apparently somewhat bitter about it.
For book covers, I also like the interaction between the cover models, and the artwork/photoshopping. I also really like the covers to JR Ward’s books. Sometimes, cover models are nothing like their description - or they just look… funny. (I recently saw one where it was just a male model, and the way they positioned him, and the background used made his head look tiny. Majorly disproportionate to the rest of him. Oops. I admit, I giggled a lot.) I agree with the other comments that its always nice to have some eye candy - so there are some headless hard bodies on covers that make you think “wow, that guy is *hot*!”
by JSL
on January 23rd, 2008 at 8:01 pm
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I prefer book covers where the face of the model is not shown because then I can use my imagination to visualize what the hero looks like. Although, I do like the ruggedly handsome male models over the pretty boy ones. Fabio was definitely not someone that I would swoon over. I do remember the books written by Fabio but I never read any. As a matter of fact, I may have one in my library somewhere but I’m not sure. I guess I was curious to find out how he wrote but never read it.
by Janet
on January 23rd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
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Fabio reminds me of Anold S. - gov. of Calif. - too extreme to be good looking but for the same reason you take a second look lol (sort of like a car wreck) I have always prefered covers that leave some things to your own imagination but not all. I don’t want to see a clear picture of his face or hers for that matter. Covers don’t matter if it’s an author I know but for new to me authors it doesn’t hurt to have it catch your eye.
by catslady
on January 23rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
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I’m with you, Helen. I never understood the Fabio craze, either. I’m sure he’s probably a nice guy, but he never did it for me. I am totally into the tall, dark and handsome type myself, preferably with shorter hair - unless he’s Native American, then the long hair totally does it for me. Case in point, the actor Jay Tavare from Into the West and Unbowed and Adaptation. He looks good no matter the length of his hair, but I must say, longer is better. That is the guy I want to see on my book covers!
by Margay
on January 23rd, 2008 at 10:14 pm
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love real looking men, that i might atacully get to meet. cause most of them, there was no way i would ever even seesome one that looked like that
i didnt get fabio either, and im reall happy to know iw asnt the only one 
cause i thought somethink was wrong with me, lol
by tami
on January 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 pm
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I like Nathan Kamp too! Is he the one on Beware a Scots Revenge? I think I drooled over that cover. The stepback image, I mean. Fabio’s not my style but neither are the washboard abs and bulging pecs. I can appreciate a fit male body like any other woman but something about a guy who looks like he spends too much time at the gym (and in front of the mirror) turns me off…
I agree with HelenKay about couple covers. Sensual and understated works better for me than clinch-y cliche.
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I’m not into “muscle bound” men: body builders, models, atheletes etc … they actully look totally unnatural to me and actually turn me off. I do go for guys that are in shape …no belly flab or over weight.
For male models they don’t have to be handsome , but attractive either face or body. I too like Nathan Kamp.
I just checked out my TBR pile almost all have women on the covers or scenery.
For example; women:
Carly Phillips (X my Heart & SWK)
Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James has the guy covered also An Affair at Midnight lady on the cover,
Jacquie D’alessandro( Sleepless at Midnight & Confessions at Midnight),
Christine Dodd’s Trouble inHigh Heels & Tongue in Chic(Woman’s feet & back).
Donna MacMeans women in a dress. The Education of Mrs Brimley,
Geralyn Dawson The Outlaw( woman in a wedding dress).
Scenery:
Susan Wiggs “Summer on Willow Lake” & “Dockside”
Julie Orto;on has a fake scene “Just Perfect & Too Perfect”.
Debbie MaComber’s Christmas Wishes has a Christmas scene.
Amazingly!!! the only book on my TBR with a male exposed HIS BACK!! is Sari Robbi’s “When Seducing a Spy”!!
Is this a new trend ?? I hadn’t even noticed!!
by Laurie G
on January 24th, 2008 at 5:19 am
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i do love it.
by kim h
on January 24th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
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Back in the day, when Fabio was at his height of popularity, my best friend had a huge crush on him. I used to tease her constantly. She even had an autographed poster of him!! 
He had a decent body, but there was something off-putting about the shape of his head/face..whatever…that just didn’t do it for me.
I like a man to look like a real man..one you could possibly see on the street.. without feeling embarrassed for him because you just know people are pointing and staring. (and not in a good way!)
by Angie-la
on January 24th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
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I am 100% with the majority here that I never found Fabio attractive. I didn’t care for his accent either. To me he seemed to act so fake, just my opinion. I do love artistic covers with colors. If there is a hot looking guy on the cover they draw me like a magnet. Usually I buy books by the excerpts and reviews I read on the computer. I have a ton of favorite blog sites!
I have a lot of books that have different shots of men, side views, front views, body only showing, a foot showing, and even just a shot of his back side. It is funny how the cover artists portray the characters of the book.
I have a question for you Helen,
Have all your covers depicted the characters of your story as you saw them?
by Michele L.
on January 24th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
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I don’t think that Fabio was a hot or good looking guy…maybe it is his long hair. I think the male cover models with dark short hair are hot.
by Amelia
on January 25th, 2008 at 1:21 am
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I do have to say this for Fabio, though—Regardless of what I think of his physical appearance or my perception that he disdains the industry that made him a celebrity, he is the only cover model I know by name and would recognize if I saw him on the street.
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I never cared for Fabio either. Whenever his name comes up alls I think about is that bird hitting his face on the roller coaster. I love the models now. There are some yummy ones on Karen Monings and Sherrilyn Kenyon’s book to name a few.
by Dena
on January 27th, 2008 at 10:12 am
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Hee! Fabio! Sorry, HelenKay–Fabio and some of the other cover models make me giggle, and not really in a “wow, swoon” kind of way 
I do sometimes like some eye candy on the covers, but as some other commenters have mentioned, I prefer ones with the couple interacting. Or I’m OK with the scenic ones or those that have more of a hint of a setting or ?? Actually, I’m pretty easy when it comes to covers–I don’t like ones that distract me because they’re too reminiscent of “bodice rippers” 
by Fedora
on January 27th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
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Fabio has never done anything for me. He looks a little too fake. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy looking at a toned muscular body, who wouldn’t, but his personality appears to be a dud. I know the cover of the book is usually the selling point, as it is the first thing your eye goes to. I personally alway read the back or the prologue to see if I will be interested in story.
by Lynn R.
on January 28th, 2008 at 9:23 am
