COVERS...

...are are sometimes a joy, often a heartbreak to the author who has a vivid image in her head, not pictures exactly, but more a feelng of how a book should look.

We have been known to moan -- yes, honestly! -- to one another.

Usually, the response is, but it's lovely, because we can't see inside the author's head, only the outsiders view - the reader's view.  But, because we've been there, we do understand the pain.

For once in my life, I have absolutely no complaints about a cover;  I hoping you're going to overlook my whinge about the lack of purple hair a few weeks!  I've got over it - it was easy enough because I never expected it in the first place.  

I have now have all three covers for my ESCAPE AROUND THE WORLD book, A WEDDING AT LEOPARD TREE LODGE - it's rare for me to have an Australian cover this early but I have the lovely Bronwyn Jameson to thank for that. She got hold of this one early to go with an article appearing in the RWAus magazine in May.

I'm so delighted with all of them, that I've lined them all up in a row and I'm going to ask you which you like best and why.  What does it for you?  What image pulls you in? 

Oh, and while I'm here, I should mention that I've just blogged about this book here Drop by and leave a comment and you might win a copy!

COLORADO AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

I've finally run down the full list of shortlisted books for the Colorado Award of Excellence. Great to see author buddies Annie West, Bronwyn Jameson, Holly Jacobs and Brenda Novak in the line-up. Good luck to everyone!


Short Contemporary

Wedded in a Whirlwind ~ Liz Fielding
Editor Bryony Green, Harlequin

The Daddy Dilemma ~ Karen Rose Smith
Editor Tina Colombo, Silhouette

The Tycoon’s One Night Revenge ~ Bronwyn Jameson
Editor Diana Ventimiglia, Silhouette

The Billionaire’s Bought Mistress ~ Annie West
Editor Suzanne Clarke, Harlequin

And Baby Makes Four ~ Mary J. Forbes
Editor Susan Litman, Silhouette


Long Contemporary

Once Upon a Thanksgiving ~ Holly Jacobs
Editor Kathryn Lye, Harlequin

Another Man’s Baby ~ Kay Stockham
Editor Wanda Ottewell, Harlequin

No Place Like Home ~ Margaret Watson
Editor Victoria Curran, Harlequin

The Secret Soldier ~ Jennifer Morey
Editor Natashya Wilson, Harlequin

A Perfect Stranger ~ Terry McLaughlin
Editor Laura Shin, Harlequin


Single Title

Accidentally Yours ~ Susan Mallery
Editor Tara Parsons, Harlequin

Sweet Spot ~ Susan Mallery
Editor Tara Parsons, Harlequin

Addicted to Love ~ Lori Wilde
Editor Michele Bidelspach, Grand Central Publishing/Forever

Windswept ~ Ann Macela
Editor Helen Rosburg, Medallion Press, Inc.

Red-Hot and Royal ~ Susanna Carr
Editor Anne Bohner, NAL/Signet Eclipse

Romantic Suspense

Watch Me ~ Brenda Novak
Editor Paula Eykelhof, Harlequin/MIRA

Stop Me ~ Brenda Novak
Editor Paula Eykelhof, Harlequin/MIRA

Phantom in the Night ~ Dianna Love and Sherrilyn Kenyon
Editor Lauren McKenna, Pocket

Trial by Fire ~ Jo Davis
Editor Tracy Bernstein, NAL/Signet Eclipse

Under Fire ~ Beth Cornelison
Editor Bethany Morgan, Samhain Publishing


Spicy Romance

Unleashed ~ Lori Borrill
Editor Kathryn Lye, Harlequin

Risque Business ~ Tawny Weber
Editor Brenda Chin, Harlequin

Sex, Straight Up ~ Kathleen O’Reilly
Editor Kathryn Lye, Harlequin

Shaken and Stirred ~ Kathleen O’Reilly
Editor Kathryn Lye, Harlequin

Hot Silk ~ Sharon Page
Editor Hilary Sares, Kensington Aphrodisia


Paranormal/Time Travel/Fantasy/Futuristic

Kiss of Fire ~ Deborah Cooke
Editor Kara Cesare, NAL Eclipse

Talgorian Prophecy ~ Ariana Dupre
Editor Helen Woodall, Cerridwen Press

Enchanting the Lady ~ Kathryne Kennedy
Editor Leah Hultenschmidt, Dorchester Love Spell

In Twilight’s Shadow ~ Patti O’Shea
Editor Heather Osborn, TOR Books

Heart Fate ~ Robin D. Owens
Editor Cindy Hwang, Berkley Sensation


Mainstream w/Romantic Elements

Alibi in High Heels ~ Gemma Halliday
Editor Leah Hultenschmidt, Dorchester

Making It Turning Thirty-Twelve ~ Sandy James
Editor Amanda Hilton, Bookstrand

Knock Em Dead ~ Rhonda Pollero
Editor Audrey LaFehr, Kensington Books

Don’t Hex with Texas ~ Shanna Swendson
Editor Liz Scheier, Ballantine Books


Inspirational

The Perfect Life ~ Robin Lee Hatcher
Editor Ami McConnell, Thomas Nelson

Wagered Heart ~ Robin Lee Hatcher
Editor Sue Brower, Zondervan

My Heart Remembers ~ Kim Vogel Sawyer
Editor Charlene Patterson, Bethany House

Beyond the Night ~ Marlo Schalesky
Editor Julee Schwarzburg, Multnomah Books

For Pete’s Sake ~ Linda Windsor
Editor Cynthia DiTiberio, Harper One, Avon Inspire


Historical

The Rebel and the Lady ~ Kathryn Albright
Editor Jenny Hutton, Harlequin Historicals

Siren’s Song ~ Trish Albright
Editor Leah Hultenschmidt, Dorchester Publishing/Leisure Books

Distracting the Duchess ~ Emily Bryan
Editor Leah Hultenschmidt, Dorchester Publishing/Leisure Books

The Mistress Diaries ~ Julianne MacLean
Editor Erika Tsang, Avon Books

The Kiss ~ Sophia Nash
Editor Lyssa Keusch, Avon/Harper Collins