Juno Books

Okay, the right covers are up for TWELVE STEPS FROM DARKNESS and MASTER OF SHADOWS. Also — a pdf of the infamous introduction to BEST NEW PARANORMAL ROMANCE, “What Is Paranorml Romance”, is online. Look under *essays* in the right column.

I’m off to Noo Yawk.

Publishers Weekly has an article on romance marketing research. They must read the blog They also must read SCIFI Magazine. In their Life after Harry Potter article (oh, okay, so EVERYONE is/has done one), they mention Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians fantasy-adventure series and the Charlie Bone titles by Jenny Nimmo which were all in my SCIFI sidebars. The rest of their picks were also for kids, but in my five, I listed three for adults: Novik’s Temeraire series, The Name of the Wind by Patricck Rothfuss and David Anthony Durham’s Acacia.

The entry page has been updated with all the covers…sort of…a few aren’t Stephen’s design. I’ll sub those later (Deceitful Oracle, House of Whispers, Master of Shadows). There’s a “more” page for Matters of the Blood, but the other three “mores” showing just have pages with the cover.

From BookLoons.com:

Debut author Maria Lima has created an intriguing and diverse supernatural society in Matters of the Blood, with a spunky, entertaining lead in Keira Kelly. The story is nicely written and the first person point of view keeps the action totally focused on Keira as she tries to link the mystery surrounding Marty’s death with the secluded ranch killings. There’s also plenty of sexual tension, chemistry and machismo as two love interests vie for Keira’s attention. Along the way Lima introduces more of Keira’s eccentric relatives as well as intriguing speculation concerning Keira’s own burgeoning supernatural talents, which the author will hopefully re-visit in a sequel or two.

From BlogCritics (and a post of the same review at Guilt in Black Panties:

From start to finish Jade Tiger is a page-turning adventure. You have it all: romance, mystery, suspense, travel, and some more adventure, not to mention some edge of your seat action. Once I picked this one up it was hard to put down.

Well, Sean and Stephen are off to WisCon and I’m not. :-p It is just as well that I didn’t plan on going because the last two weeks I’ve not been functioning at 100% (and this job takes 150% functioning) and next Thursday I go to New York for BEA with ALA two weeks later in DC. Much work to be done.
Note the new reviews below…
…and don’t forget to vote in the poll (look in the right column).

From Morsie Reads:

The novel’s backdrop is one of desperate, turbulent times. Europe is still cowed with fear of the Black Death. France and England are embroiled in what would later be known as the Hundred Years’ War. And, with Pope Urban VI reigning in Rome and Pope Clement VII reigning in Avignon, the Church is divided and distrust is rampant….Tied to what seems to be the author’s intended commentary about women’s status (or lack thereof) at that time, what is most horrific about the story is the lack of action by the Church in Avignon…The Church, it seems, would rather lose dozens of innocent souls than risk a loss of power….A Mortal Glamour is a compelling read. Though set in a different era, it is similar to Joanne Harris’ Holy Fools and will appeal to readers who enjoyed that novel.

BlogCritics and also posted on Guilt in Black Panties:

Matters of the Blood is a great page-turner from first-time novelist Maria Lima. Her characters are believable, lively: likeable, or dislikeable in some cases. The interaction is lifelike and often grin-worthy. As of yet there is not a guaranteed continuation of Keria’s story but I will be the first one to pick up one up if it appears.

From Heartstrings:

Maria Lima’s first-person, supernatural thriller, Matters of the Blood, is a dark, seductive, and bitingly humorous debut novel and is a must-read for fans of campy/creepy paranormal fiction. Changelings, werewolves, vampires, and everything preternatural are more than creatures of myth in Keira Kelly‚s shadowy world, and as a result, she is incredibly accepting of their little quirks and eccentricities. More tiresome are the foibles of humans such as her pain-in-the-neck cousin Marty….overall, Lima’s execution of this supernatural “whodunit” is dead on the money. Keira is strong and gutsy and poised to become, well, something even more powerful than she already is…With so much left to explore, and so many intriguing secondary characters, Maria Lima’s Matters of the Blood definitely demands a sequel — or sequels. But not because the plot is left dangling; the mystery of Marty’s death does get solved, and with calculated cunning. I have the feeling that Keira still has some very dark and dangerous developments to deal with, however, and I am curious to see how much she will continue to change. All in all, the thrill and chill factor is certainly there, so this is one paranormal super-thriller you should “bump” to the top of your to-be-read pile.

From Curled Up with a Good Book:

What really stands out about these stories is the impressive array of writing styles. Many romance novels have little literary merit, but the contributions to this anthology are written with great attention to detail and some delightful turns of phrase. I particularly highlight “Calypso in Berlin” here…”The Hard Stuff”…In some ways, I would have enjoyed reading this without the paranormal aspect, as the topic of the man and his injuries was so well-written — although then it could not have been included in this collection!…This is an excellent book for those who wish to find talented authors in the overcrowded paranormal romance genre. Each story has a writing style markedly better than much of the other available writing in the genre, and it’s an excellent introduction to these authors for those looking for new things to read.

Two quite different opinions on RAGS & OLD IRON, although both urge you to read it.
The Horror Reader writes:

…Romance?…Imagine my surprise when I not only enjoyed this novel, but found myself swept away. I could kick myself for not reading it sooner….This novel is dark, enticing, thrilling. The writing is crisp, the characters are engaging (all the better when they are exposed to horror), and some seriously nasty events occur before this sucker finds its conclusion….I cannot recommend this book enough. Give it a read; you won’t be disappointed.

And from Bookfetish:

…we find ourselves thrown for one loop after another on a hilarious rollercoaster ride. It is like an accident where you want to look away but you can NOT pull your gaze from it. This book is truly horrible but with its very original story, it is indeed a great read. It took a lot to force myself to put it down…In all honesty I would recommend it to anyone who wishes to venture into this unique romantic tale with a disclaimer to not take it seriously. It looks like Shannon has seen too many hentai pornos with tentacle rape because this story is definetly a cross between that and the tell-tale heart by Poe. She holds nothing back touching on topics such as supernatural rape, gay and lesbian tendencies, interracial sex, ageless passions and religious battles. The only thing missing is a midget and an enchanted kitchen sink.

The Authors Guild has their panties in a wad over an alleged change to Simon & Schusters boilerplate contract.

First off, I haven’t SEEN the contract language. I assume the Author’s Guild has, but unless you’ve read it yourself, I’d say common sense would be to avoid commenting on the contract itself. I certainly won’t do so.

Second, the headline of the AG’s actual release says (rather tellingly): “Simon & Schuster APPEARS To Be Seeking A Permanent Stake In Authors’ Copyrights” (emphasis mine). They don’t seem to be so sure themselves about what it is they are protesting, do they?

Finally…Hello? In the publishing world, a “boilerplate contract” means a “standard” contract. You’ll find the term “boilerplate” means different things in different legal contexts, but I think here we can assume that what is meant is a standard contract the publisher is *offering*. An author can accept it as it is, or s/he can *negotiate*. That’s why the Authors Guild, for example, offers Negotiation Tips for Nine Typical Clauses.

As an agent, I assume a contract is meant to be negotiated. It may be fine as offered. It may not. My client and his project may have specific rights that must be protected or compensated that other authors don’t.

* * *

A publisher once offered me an employment contract that was, well, lacking in a basic understanding of the publishing industry. I countered their offer with suggested language of my own (on the informal advice of a legal friend). They never responded. I finally got hold of them and they said they were no longer interested in hiring me.

I can understand their ignorance, especially since I suspect their legal counsel had little to no knowledge of publishing. But that it never occurred to these folks that the idea of *offering* a contract mean *negotiation* was inherent to the agreement process was a little scary. (Scarier still if that was their lawyer’s concept!)

They evidently didn’t even feel it necessary to pick up a phone and say, “Sorry, take the contract or leave it.”

In retrospect, I guess maybe that wasn’t the best place for me to work after all. Eh?

* * *

Maybe S&S *is* Sinister & Satanic in their Evil Intent to Take Advantage of Innocent Authors. Or not.

The Authors Guild is a Good Thing and it seeks to Help People. But I also think that they may want to remember their own advice about *negotiating* a contract.

BOTTOM LINE: The out-of-print clause in any contract has been something to take special note of for a number of years now. You and your agent should know this. Other majors already have similar clauses. The AG even recommends this.

[I know of at least one author whose book(s?) was (were) with a major New York publisher appears to is already being kept “in print” via POD without their knowledge. (Well, the author knows now because I told the author.) I imagine this is not an isolated incident. In this case, it probably benefits the author.]

What can you actually DO to protect yourself? Do you NEED protection? Those are interesting questions that do not have the same answer for everyone.

Publishing, to anyone with a knowledge of *real* business, is not much of a business. The New York Times ran an article Sunday that explains a bit about how absurd it all is.

US publishing has antiquated economic model that pushes publishers to generate a small number of blockbuster hits…but no one really knows why a book sells well or doesn’t, so picking those blockbusters is mostly guesswork. Thus publishers ship an ever-increasing number of books to stores, hoping to hit the jackpot and, stores are sending an ever-increasing number back. More than one-third of adult hardcover books that publishers edit, print, distribute and market are returned.

This is a business where you manufacture a product, send it to the retailer, and, if the product doesn’t sell, the retailer sends it back for full credit.

And it is a business with a shrinking number of consumers. According to a 2004 National Endowment for the Arts survey, only 56.6 percent of adults had read any book at all in the 12 months through the end of 2002, down from 60.9 percent a decade earlier. And the amount of time devoted to books has declined, too: according to a report by Veronis Suhler Stevenson, a private equity firm serving the media industry, Americans will spend an average of 106 hours reading books this year, down from 123 hours a person in 1996.

Yet about 170,000 titles — new and reprinted — will be published this year. The Little Merry Sunshine versions of this is: “Oh! More books and more people getting published! Isn’t that grand?”

Well, no, it isn’t. All those books vie with one another for attention and shelf space and, over all, fewer books get sold.

One detail the NYTimes article brings up is the lack of demographic data and consumer-based input. This lack often comes up in discussions of genre. “Who reads horror?…or science fiction…or fantasy…?” No one knows because no one has ever invested the money in finding out.

Anyone who was really interested could probably pull data from somewhere about what I buy from week to week at the grocery store. (Way too much Dr Pepper…) Whenever I use that little plastic card to get my discount or have a check accepted, those numbers flow into that ever-accumulating mass of consumer data.

But books? Not only is there no high-tech data-gathering, there’s no effort to ASK readers what they buy, what they want to see more (or less) of, what they like or dislike, why they chose a certain book…

The single exception is in the romance genre, as the NYTimes article states: “An exception is the consumer research gathered by the Romance Writers of America, a writers’ association that publishes a regular market study of romance readers. It reports survey information on, for example, demographics, what respondents are reading, where they are getting the books and how often, and what kind of covers attract them. Romance authors and publicists use the information to create promotional campaigns.”

(Why don’t other writers orgs do this? Because they don’t have over 6000 members ans cannot afford to do it. Romance is also singular in claiming to listen and respond to readers. But it is also the only genre dominated by a near-monopoly publisher.)

Some contend feedback via blog, message boards, online communities, Amazon, etc. could be used to ascertain what book buyers wanted and why they wanted it. Has the Internet has made a difference in this? I don’t think it has. The “loudest voices” are “heard” rather than a typical cross section. Popularity can be manufactured. If anything, I think the opinions heard, at least among genre readers, may be atypical. Many authors have gotten the impression, for instance, there is a much larger market for their backlist than there really is. There’s been considerable online muttering among ex-fans of Laurell K Hamilton who swear they will no longer buy her books because they don’t care for the direction the author has taken. Yet her book sales are still mounting rather than flagging. What does that mean?

And what if publishers gathered information? Maybe they really don’t want to know. As that article tells you, publishing involves a lot of gut instinct. Every bestseller is a bestseller for a different reason. There are factors that up the odds, but nothing is a sure bet. Would “audience response” have predicted Harry Potter? If there is one thing “everyone knows” and has “known” for more than thirty years it is that vampire novels are not in demand. Could polls have shown there was a demand for a series of books about a psychic waitress?

What if it purple bookcovers had proven high appeal? Would most books suddenly have purple covers? Would purple covers be effective if most covers were purple? If cowboy-mystery novels were shown to be hot among 18-35 year-old males would publishers demand so many cowboy-mysteries the market would be flooded and thus killed?

Publishing has always had the tendency to jump on a bandwagon. That’s about as close as the industry gets to survey-and-respond. Following a trend is usually condemned, but it is always done. It is often done with a certain amount of success, then it stops being successful and everyone jumps off that bandwagon and on to the next. Meanwhile, the “next big thing” is seldom predicted and often unanticipated.

Books aren’t widgets. Predicting what widgets will appeal to the largest number of consumers may have validity, but I’m not sure that it works with books. Buying a book is more emotion than science. You grow up thinking your ideal mate is tall, blond, and well-educated; then you fall in love with a short brunette with a GED. Or you find a tall, blond professor and discover after a few pages…I mean dates…she’s not at all what you wanted. After a few more blondes disappoint, you start looking for a redhead.

* * *
Nevertheless, in the interests of science. We present the Juno Books Poll! (See the sidebar to the right.) Participate! View the results! Be part of a new initiative to discover consumer taste! Spread the word!

The Kansas City Star talks to authors Jennifer Weiner and Laura Moriarty and the idea that men abandoned fiction comes up along with the feeling female authors remain marginalized even though “the book industry has become something of a woman’s world.” As Moriarty puts it: “When I go into a bookstore and I want to find my book, it’s usually with women’s fiction. Why is that? When Lord of the Flies isn’t filed as men’s fiction? Or Moby-Dick? I enjoy reading about men. I read Heart of Darkness. But is there a ghetto of women’s fiction? You start to think . . . there’s a big conspiracy of marketing.”

Moriarty has a point, however it is interesting she chose two dead guys to illustrate it. After all, dead women like Jane Austen and Emily Bronte, are “fiction”, too. Even more interesting is that Moby-Dick, Lord of the Flies, and Heart of Darkness are horror stories.

Only two writers made Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world this year. (There are 22 in the ‘artists and entertainer’ category.) One is David Mitchell (look him up yourself) the other is Nora Roberts, of whom Andrea Sachs (Times “publishing reporter”) wrote:

Nora Roberts is to love as Masters and
Johnson are to sex. As the world’s leading romance writer, she has
inspected, dissected, deconstructed, explored, explained and extolled
the passions of the human heart since 1981. Millions of devoted
(primarily, but not exclusively, female) readers have had their fantasy
lives shaped by her work; she can make romance seem fresh and hopeful
every time. And there have been many, many times. At 56, she makes her
fellow authors look like slackers, having written 175 novels, the
majority of them best sellers. There are nearly 300 million copies of
her books in print. Befitting her career choice, Roberts fell in love
with and married a carpenter who went to do some work on her house. And
they lived happily ever after. The end.

I couldn’t find a bigger image of this book cover, although the publisher has a little flash show of it you can play with here. (BTW, I worked for the first publisher ever to use those 360 degree book views. They went out of business in nine months.) But…

What IS this cover? What is she wearing? It looks like newspaper. What is this girl doing? It appears she has the cramps and is showing us where while wearing a tin can on her wrist. And, seriously, when I saw this in an ad in Publishers Weekly, I really thought, at first glance, it was titled “Call of the Strumpet”.

This was for my son’s campaign for senior class president. He made T-shirts. The campaign was a great success, he was elected by a landslide. I was disappointed that no Secret Service guys showed up, though. I thought they’s be handy to take out trash, do yardwork, clean the house, fix the plumbing and such. No such luck…

Hello to the Euryale who posted!

I think I was somewhat naive when it came to assuming people would know who Euryale and her sisters were in Greek mythology. Okay, so maybe you wouldn’t know Euryale or Stheno, but Medusa? Or “gorgon”? How couldn’t you know?

But, on the other hand, I’ve always been a myth-freak and even though I went to high school in Oklahoma, I had an opportunity to take a class in mythology in high school. I doubt if many schools offer such elective nowadays. Of course, I went to school in an era closer to ancient times…

I didn’t realize there was a USS Euryale, although I knew of a USS Medusa. She was a a fleet repair ship stationed at Pearl Harbor on 7 Dec 1949. During the attack she helped down two Japanese planes and sink a midget submarine as well as gave assistance to many vessels. After the action, the Medusa then went back to performing her duties as a repair ship. (Yes, I looked the details up.)

The USS Euryale was, however, the better-known ship. A submarine tender, acquired by the the Navy and commissioned in December 1943, Euryale supported submarines in the southwestern Pacific area and Guam then, based at Sasebo, Japan, helped prepare Japanese submarines for disposal. (Yes, there’s a Web site!)

Considering the names’ meanings in Greek, these are good names for ships. Medusa means “protectress” and “Euryale” means “far-roaming”. I looked to see if there was a USS Stheno (the third of the Gorgon sisters) and, even though her name means “forceful”, it appears no US naval craft has borne her name. The was, however, a navy tugboat named “Gorgona”. (”Gorgos”=”terrible” in ancient Greek.)

If you’d like to know how to pronounce “Euryale”, here’s a link to a .wav file from yourdictionary.com.

Sorry, I got a little behind on posting reviews, so there are a lot. They happen to be posted in order of publication (most recent first), but that also means MATTERS OF THE BLOOD is “first” below. These are our first reviews coming in and I think it is fair to say that you’ll rarely find reviews as spectacular as these. (Although there’s some close to this for some of the books below.)

Let me get to the nitty-gritty: if you are looking for a fresh new voice in paranormals, someone comparable to Charlaine Harris, but still unique and new — MATTERS OF THE BLOOD by Maria Lima is the book for you.

We are at a small disadvantage with this novel. It was previously published by a very small press that went out of business. Now, this version is much better than that edition, but the book still is, technically, a re-print. Because of that, we cannot get reviews in the big professional magazines.

But reviews are not the best way to sell books anyway; the best way is word-of-mouth (real or virtual). Yup. You reading a book you love and then raving about it, that’s what sells books. If you love kickassitude paranormals — this just might be one you’ll rave about.

Bookfetish:

Sheila says…
Authors take note: Matters of the Blood is everything a paranormal novel should be. It has a deep (and baffling) mystery, plenty of action, tantalizing romance, a plot thick with twists and turns, and a unique locale as the story’s backdrop….Lima’s fresh writing style is unlike anything I’ve read in this genre, and it took a little while to adjust to my new surroundings. Once I was hooked though, I couldn’t help but fall in love….
This is an absolutely spectacular addition to the paranormal landscape, and I’m praying on bended knee for a sequel. Novels of this caliber are few and far between, so stop sitting in front of your computer reading this and get yourself a copy!
EvilPoet says…
Keep this author on your watch list. She’ll be going places and fast. I can’t wait for the sequels, and pray that she will continue expanding on the rich history and personalities of the characters. All in all, this is one of the best titles that I have read in a long time. It’s a classy, teasing tale riddled with intrigue and paranormal bliss.

Accent:

Lima’s Matters of the Blood is a seductive gem, with a soul of darkness that’s as soft and sensuous as black velvet. Readers will find themselves buying into all of it, from Keira’s evolution, to her 2000-year-old brother, to the dishy neighborhood vampire who is nothing like any blood-sucker you’ve ever read before. Lima’s voice is mature and commanding, especially remarkable for a first novel, with just the slightest trace of “otherness,” evidence that this butt-kicking protagonist isn’t like you and me. Author Dana Cameron has written of it: “Maria Lima writes hot action and spicy romance with a biting sense of humor, all deep in the heart of Texas. You’ll be sucked in.” I sure was.

[Click on image to buy direct.]

Bookfetish:

As with previous releases from the relatively new imprint Juno, this book is a stunner. Much like a steaming espresso, it’s a great shot of really hot, really tight fiction poured into small package that packs a hard punch. And I must say, it’s about damn time we heard something from this sector. Faery fiction is always flooding out of places like the British Isles and France. Even Asia and the Viking-lands have their own faery stories, but it’s rare to hear anything from the Native American side. I truly enjoyed this piece, as I have with most of the Juno selections, and I’m hoping that a sequel is released as one is truly needed.

Heartstrings:

Eva Swan’s fantasy novel, The Bone Whistle, is uncommonly rich in color, culture and imagination. With its soaring, descriptive prose and fey-like plot developments, it is easy to get caught up in Swan’s mystical, anything-is-possible storyline.
The Indian lore and underlining spirituality of Eva Swan’s novel, moreover, is engrossing and joyous and strangely captivating. Everything has a color, a texture, a meaning beyond the ordinary and/or obvious….The Bone Whistle is a hauntingly layered read; one that will sing to a reader’s imagination, whisper of the powerful pull between people and places, and softly extol the virtues of an open mind and an open heart.

BlogCritics

The Bone Whistle moves along quickly and is packed with action until the last page. Darly is a likeable heroine, but there are other characters that steal the novel. Mni, a wanaghi who appears as a small human girl or a large bird, is a great character and her mischievous ways liven up the book.

Confessions of a Literary Persuasion:

Author Eva Swan has crafted a lovely fantasy story. I loved the inclusions of Native American legends into the plot. These themes, are explained extremely well, for those not familiar with them without being to simplistic sounding. This is Eva Swan’s first novel, and is a strong debut into the romantic fantasy genre.

Guilt in Black Panties:

The Bone Whistle moves along quickly and is packed with action until the last page. Darly is a likeable heroine, but there are other characters that steal the novel. Mni, a wanaghi who appears as a small human girl or a large bird, is a great character and her mischievous ways liven up the book.

[Click image to buy direct.]

Bookfetish:

…this book takes place in a completely off-world setting. As with any fantasy novel it can be a little difficult to make the transition, especially when faced with “new” words and ideas but the author succeeds beautifully. The characters are written with a depth and feeling that is lacking from many fantasy novels. I liked the pacing of the plot as it kept me reading to see what would happen next. I’m quite looking forward to the next book. The author has opened up several fronts that will need to be explored at length and I can’t wait to continue the adventure.

[Click image to buy direct.]

Round Table Reviews:

Ms. Walker succeeds in showing the two sides of the coin of faith - selfless and self serving - as she showcases the paths of Veldor and Bron. This is a short novel that packs a big punch, but because of the graphic love scenes it is best enjoyed by adults only.


Pythian Cafe:

The Strangeling is a short fantasy novel that is packed with vivid details and a precise amount of action. Walker writes the story with impact and the story is a superbly crafted erotic fantasy. The characters are well developed with detail and the author manages to tie the characters together well.

Bookloons [Read the entire review and you will discover the reviewer didn’t care for the book, but still had these positive things to say]:

Walker blends fantasy romance with a high degree of sensuality, and the love scenes are very erotic….The Strangeling is an interesting short novel…

BlogCritics:

A significant portion of this book is the erotic relationship between Maerose and Bron as he helps her unlock her magic. Though the book is short, the way the relationship evolves is natural without seeming forced or pushed too far.
The Strangeling, fast-paced and action-packed, is the kind of book you will sit down and read in one setting. You are quickly caught up in the characters and the story. Maerose is a very modern woman in a rustic setting and Bron the perfect hero, while Veldor and his gray eyes make for the perfect villain.

[Click image to buy direct.]

Guilt in Black Panties [Great blog title, eh?] & BlogCritics::

Beyond the Hedge is well written and engrossing. I was caught up in the romance that blossomed between Jennifer and Jeremy as well as the fantasy aspect of it. I loved the idea that you could have a normal life and then suddenly be cast into some fantastical situation.

Yet Another Book Review

Roby James’ message in this book examines a sensitive issue for women. It asks whether independence and a successful career is enough. Does the lack of an intimate relationship matter? For James’ character, the lack of family certainly does, but an intimate relationship with a man? She didn’t think one was necessary, or did she? The book puts Jennifer in a position where she must choose. It does not allow her to have it all. Can women have it all? Do they have to choose? Does time and place make a difference?

A breezy, beautiful, and charming tale.

[Click image to buy direct.]

BookLoons:

“…the story is suspenseful and creepy – just what a good horror novel should be.”

Confessions of a Literary Persuasion:

Rags and Old Iron takes readers on a journey from Arizona to Florida, and pulls the mystical and magical into modern life. I was impressed with how full the plot was without being overwhelming. The story resonates with magic, romance, and a sense of impossible things come to life.

[Click image to buy direct.]

BlogCritics:

Best New Paranormal Romance is more than just romance. These stories will move you, make you smile, or send a thrill down your spine.

[Click image to buy direct!]

DARK MAIDEN author Norma Lehr has a new Web site: normalehr.com.

Quality Book Reviews has an Interview with Saskia Walker (THE STRANGELING and UNVEILING THE SORCERESS).

My son, Mark, is getting married in August. Allyson, the bride, put this cute Web site together. (You’ll discover two more handsome sons as groomsmen.) This is the ringbearer, Malcolm, my…uh…”grand-dog.”

(The link is fixed now!)

[click image for larger view]

The credit for the existence of THIS gorgeous cover goes to Stephen Segal. We’ve all loved this art of Tim Lantz’s, like, forever. (It is called “Raven Heart”.) But what would it work for? (I wanted it to be a “dark love”-theme original anthology cover. THAT, however, is entirely a fantasy at this point.)

If you can recall (the little icon is still on the “home” page, which WILL be updated . . .soon) the original art work for BEST NEW ROMANTIC FANTASY 2 (aka Best New Paranormal Ramnace 2), was a lady in a peacock mask with peacock feathers foreground. Sean and I picked this out long time ago thinking, “Oh, peacock feathers!” (Juno’s logo is a peacock feather, one of the goddess Juno’s symbols.) But when Stephen actually started working with it…there were problems. The art just didn’t fit into the cover space well. Then we realized the colors were not all that strong for a cover. I got a bit antsy because the lady is a little anemic-looking and skinny, and, well, possibly a little glum…not exactly “romantic fantasy”…

None of which made it any less cool as ART. But as a cover, it was a little less cool.

Stephen tried another piece of Lantzian art which Sean wasn’t fond of of. Then, at the last minute, he said, “Why not…?”

Why not, indeed!

I’ll be blogging more later today, but for now…

1) For those who have asked, Euryale will be available in about three weeks.
2) Yes, I know the Web site is out of date. Matters of the Blood has been out for a month…
3) We are probably going to have several books come out rather closely together: Euryale, Best New Romantic Fantasy, and Twelve Steps from Darkness.

Saskia Walker clued us in on this photo online. We don’t know Kate Douglas — this is her, her picture, and on her Web site — but she seems to be a nice person who is currently writing a paranormal erotica series for Kensington She also went to thr RTimesCon. If you look to the left in this photo, you’ll see some Carol Nelson Douglas’s display with the DANCES WITH WEREWOLVES cover and the DWW/Chasing Silver teasers. If anyone else took photos with Juno Books or authors in them, let us know!