And here are two new covers for A Lady of Persuasion-- the Indonesian and the Thai.
What I find so interesting is that they're wildly different covers, but the artists seem to have tried to keep the same color scheme from the book's original cover. Or maybe that's just coincidence?
I understand (from a Russian reader) that the Russian title translates loosely to, "Why a Lovelace Gets Married." To which I asked, "Um... What's a lovelace?" A scoundrel or rake, she tells me. So there you go! A very appropriate title, actually.
Speaking of great foreign titles, the German edition of Surrender of a Siren releases next Monday! Its title? "Hurricane of Love." (I confess, I can't type that without hearing it as 'Hurricane of Luuurve.')
To any German readers who might wander by... Ein herzliches Dankeschön! (Crossing fingers I got that right. I don't speak German! Correct me if it's wrong, please.)
Foreign editions are just the most exciting things. It's so amazing to think that people in Russia and Indonesia and Germany and Slovakia are all reading a book that I wrote. *pinches self*
I spent much of the last week at the RT Booklovers' Convention in L.A., and it was a fabulous conference. What a busy few days! I, of course, always forget to take pictures - especially ones with me in them - so I'm linking to a few posted on various blogs, and I hope those folks don't mind.
Wednesday, I participated in a few panel workshops, then attended Avon's Romance Live event. We had some technical challenges, but I'm told something like 800 people stuck with us and watched the chat! Pictured, from left to right: Katharine Ashe, Cathy Maxwell, Sophia Nash, publicist Pam Spengler-Jaffee, editor Erika Tsang, me, and Elizabeth Boyle. What an amazing group--I'd doubt it really happened, if I didn't have this picture to prove it.
Photo linked from
Thursday, I hosted Purple Prose Taboo with friends and fellow authors and . A raucous good time was had by all!
Photo linked from
Also on Thursday, I was honored to accept the RT Reviewers Choice award for Best Regency-Set Historical, forOne Dance with a Duke. And no, I didn't take a picture. But when I got home yesterday, the darelings reenacted the award ceremony with a toy pink microphone that makes applause sounds. The actual awards ceremony was wonderful--I especially enjoyed the inspiring speeches from the career achievement award recipients, including Robyn Carr, Catherine Coulter, and Lisa Kleypas.
Of course, the highlight of conference for me is always the book signing. It's so exciting to meet readers in person and see all my own favorite authors in one room. Over 300 authors participated in the Book Fair on Saturday! Here I am, at my table.
Photo linked from
And this was SO exciting--
My romance trading card made the front page of the LA Times "Calendar" section! Kudos to for starting such a fun idea, and thanks to for giving the reporter my card for the picture. You can read the whole article online
That's just a fraction of the fun times - I could go on and on about the meet-ups with reader, blogger, and author friends, the workshops, and and the RT mixers and events.
If you were there at RT, attended the book fair, or even watched the livestream broadcast - thank you so much for making RT special. I'd be tempted to take to my bed for days to recover--but it's Spring Break for the darelings. No rest for the wicked!
Don't miss this! Tonight, at 9 PM Eastern, 6 PM Pacific -- six Avon historical romance authors live-streaming questions and answers. You can watch it and order personalized books .
From the latest announcement...
If you are a romance fan, but you can’t make it to the RT Booklovers Convention in Los Angeles next week, join your favorite authors online for a virtual chat and booksigning, broadcast live from the Avalon Ballroom at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in L.A.!
Log here on April 6, at 6 pm PT (9 pm ET). We’re going for a historical salon theme. Granted, I don’t think that our bestselling participants Katharine Ashe, Elizabeth Boyle, Tessa Dare, Sophie Jordan, Cathy Maxwell and Sophia Nash will come in hoop skirts or kirtles, but they’ll be dazzling nonetheless! And you’ll have a chance to buy personalized copies of their newest titles, and selected backlist, via Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore.
So, grab a glass of wine, make sure to snag yourself something sweet, and join us for a romantic interlude where we talk about our enduring passion for historical romance with these beloved authors!
Despite having no actual visual arts talent of my own, I love art and am fascinated by artists. I adored writing an artist heroine in Surrender of a Siren, and giving Sophia all the artistic talent I wish I had, but don't.
This week, I am the very happy beneficiary of some prodigious artistic talent!
First example, this lovely new design at Tessadare.com. Frauke of just knocked it out of the park. Look at the file I sent her for inspiration...
I knew it was way too busy to use as a pattern on the site, but I loved the colors and feel. She just totally took that and made it a website, didn't she? So talented.
And then, can we take a moment to ooh and ahh over my new cover?
Here's how the art looks, on its own:
Some people like to say that all romance novels look the same, and there's no thought whatsoever put into matching the cover with the contents of the book.
Those people (in this case, at least), would be dead wrong. So much thought and work went into this cover, on the part of my editor, the art director, and the artist - I'm so grateful to all of them! They really thought about the book, and it shows. The book is a fun, sexy, emotional struggle of wills...a Regency-set a battle of the sexes, if you will. And this pose was carefully staged to get that across. Just who is surrendering to whom, eh? I especially love that her eyes are open, and his are closed. I told my editor that I love clinch covers (it's the truth), but I like them best when the woman looks like an active, equal participant. My heroines always do their fair share of the ravishing.
Siiigh, at all that lush, gorgeous texture on her gown. Plus, their hair and eye colors are perfect. The heroine model even looks tall, which Susanna is. And yes, Bram's shoulders are indeed that fine.
Now I'll admit... At no time in the book do they roll around on a purple bed. But in one scene, she does wear a violet silk gown! Close enough.
And here's how the cover will look in stores:
You can see this version has two exciting additions. One is that beautiful bronze stripe down the right-hand side, which not only perfectly matches the shade of the heroine's hair, but is indicative of my very first stepback. (Q: How do I feel about that bronze stripe? A: FILLED WITH GLEE.)
Also, you'll see there is a special label for the "K.I.S.S and Teal" campaign -- every September book from Avon will carry this seal, which indicates Avon's partnership with the . It's a great campaign for a very important women's health issue, and I'm honored that my book is a part of it. I'll be posting more about it here on the site as the time draws near.
It's probably obvious, I adore my new website and my new cover, and I'm just so glad that people more talented than I designed them both. Thank you, Croco and Avon!
Sometime in the next few days, the site will have a bit of downtime - so my wonderful web designer, Frauke Spanuth of CrocoDesigns, can give it a new, fresh look. I hope everyone loves the new design as much as I do!
update:
The winning bidder on my book video was none other than ! I am soooo unbearably excited to make a video for her. It's TOP SECRET for now. But in the meantime, please know that Maya is an amazingly generous person, in addition to being an incredibly talented author. Thank you so much to all the bloggers who offered to post the video when it's finished - I guarantee, we're going to have something entertaining for you!
Congratulations to everyone to donated, bid, and helped with the auction. I hope the proceeds are some help to Fatin and her children as they move forward from this terrible tragedy.
I'm so excited to be headed for the in LA next week. I'll be on three different panels, signing at the giant book fair, and also attending the Reviewers' Choice awards ceremony--where I'll be honored to accept the Best Regency Romance award for One Dance with a Duke!
And even if you can't be at RT, don't forget about Romance Live! Next Wednesday, 9ET/6PT.
From the press release:
For romance fans who can’t make it to the RT Booklovers Convention in Los Angeles next week, Avon Books is broadcasting six beloved authors online for a virtual chat and booksigning, broadcast live from the Avalon Ballroom at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in L.A.!
Featured among the participating New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors are: Katharine Ashe, Elizabeth Boyle, Tessa Dare, Sophie Jordan, Cathy Maxwell and Sophia Nash.
Date/Time:
April 6, 2011
6 pm PT; 9 pm ET
This is the fifth live-streaming event brought to fans by Avon Books. Our most recent “online signing” from Turn the Page Bookstore in Boonsboro MD featured authors such as Nora Roberts and Jeaniene Frost, and was enjoyed by more than 1500 romance fans around the world via Livestream. Attendees travelled (virtually) from as far as Germany, Kenya, India, Pakistan, Ireland, Nigeria and Tunisia!
Participants can watch online at , and order personalized copies at the Mysterious Galaxy website ().
So yes, it's even a virtual booksigning! You can order personalized copies from any of the authors, and we'll sign them there before they're shipped to you.
A scoundrel or rake, she tells me. So there you go! A very appropriate title, actually.
My heroines always do their fair share of the ravishing. 
