Isabel Sharpe has guest blogged here before, on a Saturday during our craft series, but since I’m such a huge fan of her work (and of her…she’s one of the funniest, most generous and kind women I know) and she has a new book out right now, I asked her to take my spot this Wednesday as I’m still recuperating. Down to half a pain pill a day! (And lots of Motrin.) Thanks, Isabel, for swinging into the jungle!
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Serendipity
I’m about to tell you a secret, shhhhh. On the really wonderful cover of my latest release from Avon/HarperCollins, AS GOOD AS IT GOT, there is a woman lying on the floor with the most adorable dog resting on her stomach. From the second I saw the picture, true love sprang eternal. We had a winner. Not only that, but the image tied in thematically with the cover of my first book, WOMEN ON THE EDGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKTHROUGH, which also has a woman on the floor (apparently that’s what my stories make artists think of, hmmm).
At any rate, I was happy, my editor was happy, my agent was happy, the sales department was happy, the marketing department was happy, everyone was happy! The cover was a wrap.
But then . . . the worm started turning. The ugly truth could not be ignored.
There was no dog in my book.
The story takes place in summertime on the beautiful coast of Maine. My three heroines are at a retreat for “suddenly single” women. Ann’s husband bankrupted them and killed himself rather than face their ruin. Cindy’s serial-cheating husband left her this time. Martha’s married lover had a stroke and is on his deathbed. There are seagulls, lobsters, hummingbirds, mosquitoes . . . no dogs.
Conversations ensued, polls were taken of dog-loving friends, “Book with dog on cover and no dog in story?” The answers were unanimous: Bad, Isabel, Very Bad.
So I went back to the manuscript and put in Max. Max was Cindy’s dog, absolutely devoted to her in all the ways her husband wasn’t (er, most of the ways). The pose on the cover became a metaphor for the peaceful safe life she lost, and became the embodiment of the As Good As It Got concept. Because as great as napping with a pet can be, one does like to aim higher.
In short, my fears were unfounded that the dog would appear as stuck-in-at-the-last-minute as it was. Sweet loyal Max gave further poignancy to Cindy’s character and enriched the book thematically.
What’s more, I think the dog is so cute that when my cats pass on, about the time I plan to move to the Coast of Maine myself (yes, I love Maine!), I am thinking of getting one just like it.
Serendipity!
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Junglers, Julie here…I started AS GOOD AS IT GOT last week and just as I adored WOMAN ON THE EDGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKTHROUGH, this book promises to make me laugh, crazy, scream, cackle, sigh, etc. Do yourself a favor and get a copy of Isabel’s latest single title!
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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Isabel…I enjoyed your Martini Dares (and I have in my TBR pile your other Blaze)….welcome to the jungle!
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Hi Isabel,
Thank you for stopping by the jungle to hang out with us today. I LOVE the cover. So glad you decided to add the dog into the story. I’m a dog person. Dogs Rule!
Julie, glad to hear your pain meds aren’t needed so much now. That’s great. It sounds like you’re well on the way to recovery. :hug2:
Hope everyone is having a terrific day,
Cher
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Welcome to the Jungle Isabel! Very lovely to have you here. My shameful truth is, I was looking at the book “Women on the edge of a nervous breakthrough” but I didn’t have the opportunity to buy it cuz b/f was rushing me out of the store. So first I’d like to apologize for that. But it’s one of the top books on my list to get, which I’ll have by next week. Yay! lol
I think you’re very talented and it is definitely a joy to read your work. I’m sorry, but you mentioned Maine, have you ever been there? I’ve always thought Maine would be such a picture perfect place to live, especially on the coast. Seeing as how I live in Oklahoma, I like to dream. lol
ps. the dog on the cover of As Good As It Got is the cutest! I can’t wait to get a dog! :)
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Good morning! Julie, what a sweet introduction. Yes, please rest and pop pain pills, owwwww. We want you all better.
Katie, glad you enjoyed Martini Dares! We four had so much fun brainstorming that series. I hope it does well so we can do more!
Cher, I’m a cat person, but that dog could seriously convert me. And actually we had a very sweet dog when I was a child. I’m just stretched thin being a single mom and cats are easier.
Alicia, glad you found Women on the Edge and I hope you enjoy it! And to answer your question, yes, I go to Maine every summer. My maternal grandfather bought property on a bay in the 50s when land was affordable, and it’s my favorite place in the world. Every book I’ve set there has been special to me. I highly recommend a visit. It’s so beautiful and peaceful and unspoiled. And most importantly, lobster is cheap.
Must go pick up child from activity (repeat 4 times a day—when does school start again?)
Isabel
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Well it’s definitely on my list of must see places. :)
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That’s a great story about how the dog got into the book, Isabel. It’s great when things work out that way. Like Katie, I enjoyed the Martini Dares series. It was a lot of fun.
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Welcome, Isabel! So sorry we didn’t get this uploaded bright and early. WE seem to be Word Press challenged lately! Glad to have you back!
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Good Morning Isabel! I’m glad that you added Max to the story- it doesn’t seem right to me when the cover of a book doesn’t match the story. Like when the cover shows a beautiful longhaired blonde goddess and the heroine is really a redhead with a short spiky pixie cut. I haven’t had the pleasure of reading your books yet but I will definitely add your latest to my list… the one that gets started after my kids go back to school and the season of parental punishment ends
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Isabel…more martini dares, more martini dares!
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Welcome to the Jungle, Isabel. I read the Blaze books so I’ve read a number of your books. Thanks for entertaining us.
My confession! I was not aware that you had books that are not H/S, I’ll be looking for them next time I’m at the bookstore.
Julie, glad you are down on the pain meds. Keeping healing and getting better. :hug2:
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Welcome to the Jungle Isabel! I loved the Martini Dares series. Love how the dog got into As Good As It Got. I’ll have to look for that when I go book shopping this weekend.
Julie, glad you are feeling so much better.
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Karin, thanks for the nice words, good to know Martini Dares got around! I had a standalone Blaze out a couple of months after that one, called Indulge Me, about a woman who wants to go wild, then leave town, and the man who soooo wants her to stay. Just FYI.
Carly, thanks for the welcome!
Anna D, LOL on parental punishment! Some people look forward to summer. I look forward to September . . .
Donna, my association with Avon/HarperCollins is relatively recent. My first book for them came out in 2007 (Women on the Edge of a Nervous Breakthrough). Then this one, As Good As It Got. But I’ve been with Harlequin since 2000.
Liza, thanks for the welcome! Hope you enjoy the book.
Now I must attempt to work while my kids interrupt me every twenty seconds. Maybe I’ll just ditch them and go to the library. Or send THEM to the library . . .
Isabel
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Isabel…I can totally relate about the kids interrupting….
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Isabel–we’re so glad to have you here!!!
I love your cover story. Sounds like the dog error turned out to be a big huge plus. It looks just beautiful and sounds like another fabulous read! I also loved Women on the edge…will be on the lookout for this newest one whenever I get somewhere near civilization again.
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The book sounds great and I love the idea of the dog. Very glad you decided to add it rather than change the cover.
Since I’ll be at the BnN tonight, I’m going to look for it.
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Hi, Leslie and Vicki! Vicki, I love the cover, too, so adding the dog seemed the only option.
Leslie, don’t hurry back to civilization. Wherever you are I’m sure it’s much more fun. And thanks for the nice words re: Women on the Edge!
Okay, I am really having a hard time writing comments for this blog because I can’t stop noticing the little blue emoticon producing copious amounts of vomit right above this window I’m typing at.
ew.
Isabel
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Great cover. Love the dog!
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Hi Isabel – The book sounds great. I love the cover with the dog.
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Count me in! Love that cute dog on the cover!
Thanks for blogging with us today!
Pat Cochran
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Hi, Estella, acdaisy and Pat! it’s great to be here, and glad you like the cover!
I am so not in the mood to write today that I am cleaning my house. How sad is that?
Very.
Isabel
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Isabel, thanks so much for guest blogging today! I apologize for the glitch that kept our early morning readers from getting a new blog…totally my fault. We updated WordPress and there is still a learning curve, especially for those of us taking pharmaceuticals…even in small quantities. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)
Great blog…great covers. I love the dog! And Maine is one state I’ve always wanted to visit…in summer time. Preferably with llamas. (Inside joke for Isabel.)
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Llamas!
Julie, i enjoyed the jungle very much, thanks for inviting me, and don’t worry about the early morning glitch, it was still a great party.
Isabel
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What a lovely story! I’ve never heard of an author changing her book to match the cover.
In Maine, do they really say “ayuh” like the characters in Stephen King books?
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Jill, ayuh, they absolutely do! It’s a great accent. Much nicer than the one around here (Milwaukee) to my ears.
Isabel