I was excited to get the cover art mock-up from my publisher via email and simultaneously terrified to open the attachment to actually view the artwork. There was so much anticipation on my part. I’ve looked at hundreds of romance covers over the past few months and kept wondering how mine would be represented to the reading world.

My main concern was the bare chest thing. Not that I don’t enjoy a cover with beautifully bronzed washboard abs and shiny pecs that need their own zip code… but, I didn’t think my book quite fit that feel. It’s a historical romance about King Louis XIV, a man better known for wearing wigs and stockings – and not because he’s a cross dresser, that’s just what males of royal birth and nobility wore in 17th century France. (I am so happy my editor decided to not stick to historical accuracy with the stockings thing when we were making edits. We went with the term breeches. Honestly, how sexy is a guy wearing stockings? Well, I take that back… that could be hot in certain circumstances, just not for this book.)

In the end, there was no attempt at period costuming or a pair of lovers in a passionate embrace in the image. It’s a very understated cover, in my opinion, with an image representative of the Sun King – the same emblem that graces the palace gates of Versailles to this day.

So, with cover art in hand... a promo-ing I go!

Not Advanced Reader's Copy.

I have to say I was extremely thrilled to see my ARC waiting for me in my inbox last week. It was an awesome day after Christmas present. I may have mentioned in a previous post that I had an ebook published years ago, but it involved none of the same levels of detailed information/communication with the publisher I have received with my latest venture. There was disappointment with that first book. Not that I expected a lot of hand-holding. It would have been great for a first time author to have some explanation of how you should promote and market your work. The experience left me disenchanted with the whole writing business. Now, over a decade later, I'm trying again. And, I hope something more comes of it.

So, I get the ARC sent to me, with the request to review one final time. No content edits on this one, what's done is done and any itch to make it better have to be squashed. Just read it (again?!?) and if I spot a typo, an extra punctuation, etc. send it along. I literally went through the book in two days.

Still no cover art, but I hope to have something to share on my web site soon. I do have a blurb that I will probably post. Once the book is actually listed on Amazon for pre-order, I plan to attack/create my author page.

Excited and nervous as hell! God, I hope people like the story. And, if they don't, I hope they aren't too savage in their comments. We shall see. But, I think I can roll with the punches. Life has thrown me harder jabs than this.