Showing posts with label romance covers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label romance covers. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Wacky Wednesday! Thank Heaven for Redundancies!

Some of you may know that a few of weeks ago, I discovered that the diskette containing my second work in progress was missing after my hubby and I played musical computers. Well, I've been tearing the house apart ever since and have looked everywhere possible for the elusive disk without any luck. I've even driven myself into a sciatic nerve attack that has plagued me constantly making life miserable. I've been so obsessed with the missing diskette that I've used the time I should be working on my first work in progress to hunt for the second.

Well, Monday evening, after spending the afternoon moving furniture and looking through everything once more (I can proudly say the computer room is CLEAN!), I was nearly in tears because I knew there was no other place to look. I resigned myself to having to start all over. So while preparing dinner, while eating dinner, and later while doing the dishes, I began mentally mapping out the story in my head. I thought about changes I would make. I even mentally rewrote the prologue when suddenly, as if the characters took over, they hollered at me not to give up. Suddenly, I had a thought. Was it possible to find the file still there on the old computer? Was it possible to restore the system on Windows 98 and perhaps the file? Could the file still be there on the old computer in a redundant file?

Well, I dragged the old computer up from the basement. Suddenly, I was very glad that no one had wanted it, after all. I set it up on the floor in the spare bedroom, turned it on and went to My Documents - EMPTY! Of course, it was empty, I deleted the files. [sigh]
I went to My Computer and clicked on Programs - there I found Microsoft Word. I asked myself cautiously - was it possible that the file was still in there? As if my characters had heard my hesitancy, they gave me a simultaneous "hell yeah!" I clicked on the program. A blank page came up. I opened the list under file - nothing. I opened it fully. There, at the bottom, was the list of the last documents opened. I held my breath, said a quiet prayer,  and clicked on the temporary title for my paranormal work in progress.

IT WAS THERE!!! OMG!! I felt like a huge boulder had been lifted off my shoulders and thrown out the window. I grinned ear to ear, hopped up off the floor - sciatica be damned - ran into the living room and squealed with delight at my hubby - who was asleep on the couch, of course. My Book Was Back!!!

I grabbed an empty disk, saved the file on it, rushed to my computer and loaded it on the hard drive before saving it all snug and tight on the separate hard drive where nothing could touch it until I'm ready to work on it. I swear I could hear my characters cheering - they were all so happy to be back. To think they had been living on the old computer in the basement all these months and I didn't think to check there. Thank Heaven For Redundant Files!!
I even think my sciatica is better now, too! I still don't know where that pesky diskette has gone but right now, I don't care. I have my book back and that's all that matters.
Have you ever lost something and been so desperate to find it that you've turned your world upside down? Did you find it?

Okay, it's Wacky Wednesday and I did want to share my good news with you and because I'm feeling so happy, and relieved, I'm going to give you all a special treat - More ManCandy!

Paul Marron is one of the sexiest men to grace the covers of our beloved Romance Novels so I thought I'd share some of my favorites featuring this gorgeous gift from Heaven. Most of these are available but some are coming soon to a bookshelf near you.
Happy Reading Everyone!!











Whereas HUNGER UNTAMED is one of my faves, truly,
 my absolute favorite Paul Marron cover has got to be:



HOT HOT HOT!!
Thank Heaven for Big Boys!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Unwrapping: 21st Century Romance Covers

     The modern Romance Novel has grown and changed
since a new breed of writer came along in the 1970's. 
As those writers perfected their craft and developed a following
their book covers reflected those changes.
Yet, as we saw from the progression of covers from 1972
through the end of the 1990's, modesty continued to be the call of the times.  
Is it still?

     In case you haven't already noticed, I have an affinity for authors published by
 Avon, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishing ... I can't help it, they know talent. 
They publish wonderful stories using the most talented authors
and their cover art is truly spectacular.
     Avon pioneered modern Romance when they introduced a new breed of romance
writer in the 1970's - Kathleen Woodiwiss, Rosemary Rogers, and Johanna Lindsey to name a few but more have followed and when new genres
were introduced at the turn of the century, it's this reader's opinion that it was then
that the Romance Novel came into its own
and the world of Romance exploded.

     Today, when we look at the bookshelves we see all kinds of covers leading us to all kinds of wonderful stories that take us places we've never before gone in Romance.
Let's take a look at one author's work who began similarly to a pioneer - Johanna Lindsey. Lynsay Sands began writing very young and her first novel, THE DEED - a historical romance, was published in 1997. Since then she has never failed to entertain us and now her romantic comedies span three genres—historical, contemporary, and paranormal. 
Her books are read in more than twelve countries and have been translated into at least six languages. Her covers are just as eclectic ranging from beautiful and serene
 to downright sexy. Her foreign covers would surprise you. 
Shall we take a journey through her covers and unwrap a few? 
Perhaps if you're still nervous about openly reading one,
you'll find a wrapping to suit you along the way.

THE DEED - 1997   Then, Now and in German:



SWEET REVENGE - 2000  Then and in German: 


THE RELUCTANT REFORMER - 2002  Then and in Italian:



WHAT SHE WANTS  -  2002  Then, Now and in German



        THE LOVING DAYLIGHTS (a contemporary romance) - 2003   Then and Now:




 LOVE BITES (Paranormal Romance and lots of fun!) - 2004  Then, Now and in UK:






Tall, Dark & Hungry - 2004   Then, Now and in UK:




     I hope you've noticed that the NOW covers are more sophisticated, artful and possibly sexier. By 2010, Ms Sand's covers were becoming truly artistic in thanks to the incredible cover artists working in the publishing world today.

BORN TO BITE - 2010 is a wonderful example.



Her Historical Romances are beginning to see incredible covers
as well as you might have noticed from the re-issues of
 THE DEED and WHAT SHE WANTS.

Her latest Historical Romance Series 
featuring the Madison Sisters
have been given covers that are truly artwork.

 THE COUNTESS - 2011 and THE HEIRESS - 2011



I hope you've enjoyed Unwrapping Romance Novels from past to present.
Only our imaginations and those of the talented cover artists know
where the next generation of covers will take us but you can obviously see that there is
something for everyone. 

Which style is your favorite? One from the 20th C. or one from the 21st C.?
Or are you like me and love them all?
I would love to hear if you have a favorite cover that you especially think is beyond compare.

Happy Reading Everyone!


                  





Friday, September 30, 2011

Unwrapping: WHO'S THAT ON CATHY MAXWELL'S COVER?

Okay,  we were supposed to discuss the Romance covers that grace our shelves in the 21st Century next but something caught our eye and just couldn't let it pass. We'll discuss the 21st Century covers later.  Right now there's a more pressing issue - has anyone else noticed that occasionally the male models on the covers look somewhat like celebrities?

Two stand out in particular but then maybe it's just wishful thinking.
You can decide.

On Cathy Maxwell's cover, do you see any resemblance to a younger Jon Bon Jovi?

 





On Pamela Palmer's cover, do you see any resemblance to a younger Andy Garcia?




So what do you think? See any resemblances?


Have you noticed any resemblances on other juicy covers?  If you have, share ... please.

Happy Reading and don't worry, still more juicy stuff to come.