Well, almost....
A long time ago in a galaxy called California, I wrote a book for Silhouette Desire called Midsummer Madness. That would be the cover, there at the left.
Midsummer Madness is the story of shy, plain Juliet Huddleston who vowed to make her next thirty years more exciting than the first. Julie didn't fool around once she set that goal. She learned to get up and speak in front of large groups. She took over the job of directing her small town's summer pageant. She bought herself a fast red sports car. And best of all, she got a little heat going with the town hunk, Cody McIntyre.
Yeah, yeah. I know. About the girl on the cover. Too gorgeous by half--well, except for those jeans. You know it's 1992 when the waistband hits halfway up the ribcage. The guy's not bad. Tom Cruise circa ALL THE RIGHT MOVES. Anyone remember that one? Okay. RISKY BUSINESS. Tom Cruise circa RISKY BUSINESS. Is he helping her down from the fence--or boosting her up there? I guess we'll never know. In any case, they're both having a fine time.
I was okay with this cover, as I recall. Coulda been worse. And the book itself was my first RITA finalist. Was I thrilled to make the finals? Oh, you bet!
But the years have passed. And frumpy-to-fabulous Julie and her hunky hero went from North American retail through stints in the UK, Canada and Australia. Then on to translations into Dutch and Swedish, German and Polish. Into Italian and Turkish and Spanish. The couple have been read in the Czech republic and Belgium. Strangely, I notice as I look over my royalty statements, Julie and Cody have never been to Japan. Surprising, as my books sell well in Japan.
Then came the slow fade. The royalties trickled off. Other than a brief flare-up in Costco in 2002, in a Trade Paperback anthology with a lovely Jayne Ann Krentz story and a fine tale by Lynne Graham, Julie and Cody were out of print and only available at selected local used book stores.
Until now. September 2007.
With all-new and totally faboo packaging, Julie and Cody are back on the stands. Oh, I do love their new look. He is major hot and she looks shy and sweet and hungry for all the love and pleasure and fun she's missed up till now. You can pick them up at B&N or Amazon. Or visit my website and read more about them.
Here's to you, Julie and Cody. May you live on and on through the years, through reprint after reprint.
So, everyone. What do you think? Do you like Julie and Cody's new look as much as I do? Or do you prefer the original cover?
14 comments:
Call me old-fashioned, but I like the old cover better (probably because I have the book at home). Not that I don't like the new cover, but the other one is an old friend.
Yep, I like the newer one, but mostly only because it's not so much of a drawing cover. I don't think I'm a big fan of them. LOL :)
Lois
Wow - this is a great topic for discussion. I didn't think I would have an opinion, but.... I'm glad you gave a synopsis because each book cover gave me a different interpretation of the story. And depending on the mood I'm in, one could appeal over the other.
The first cover had bolder colors, the poses were bolder, the title said it all. Then I looked at the second cover and it's mellow, sexy, but toned down. No brazen attitudes by the characters. Even the design around the title gave a feminine romantic elegance.
Today I'd probably go mellow with the second cover.
Michelle
Dev, not old fashioned in the least. And what author wouldn't be thrilled to hear you have one of her books at home, saved for over a decade, one of your "old friends?" I love that. Thank you!
Lois, I'm with you. As a rule, if there are characters, I prefer a photo-type image.
Michelle, love your interpretation of what the two covers evoke. I do as a rule like bolder colors, but for this book, the "mellower" cover works better for me. The characters just seem so much more like the characters as I pictured them when I wrote the book.
And may I just add, what thoughtful and interesting responses.
I prefer the old one... sorry!
I don't really like the ones that are too random and don't say mucha bout the story... but your new cover is as nice as the old one ;)
Nathalie, hi! Nothing to be sorry about. I like that you prefer the old one. And I'm interested in what works for readers..and what doesn't.
Lily, well, how kewl is that? Two good covers. I'm happy. :)
I have got to say I like the new cover. They look hot here, the other one is kind of sweet. I like my stuff hot and sweaty!
Love the new one!
Laura K, hot and sweaty, exactly. I love how she's almost...demure. And yet the mercury is rising high!
Tam, me, too! But I think I already said that. LOL
I like the new one. It's a bit more mysterious, softer and sweeter. The older one is more flirtatious and bold... and I tend to be drawn to characters who have a bit more of the quiet strength than the bold loud brazen-ness.
Hey, JC. Mysterious. You're right. It is, isn't it? There's a whole subtext of stuff that seems to be going on in that cover. I can see her shyness, and his care with her. In the book, he's always been her hero and her protector, though until now he's never thought of her in that special way...
I prefer the old one. I wouldn't pick the new one up as I'd assume it wasn't something I'd like.
Nell, I do love to get everyone's take on this. Seems kind of split almost 50/50 between those preferring the old cover and those loving the new. :)
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