I got a box from Harlequin and inside was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen–a Manga version of my 2001 Temptation, INSATIABLE. I couldn’t wait for today’s blog post so I could show it to all of you!
Not all of it, of course. That would take up much too much bandwidth. But a few pages.
First: The Cover
Very romantic, yes?
Now, it’s been years since I’ve written this book and I make it a general rule to never read my own work once it is published. I will only be annoyed by mistakes or frustrated by sentences I could probably have written better (despite the fact that I edit until I’m blue in the face). Anyway, as it has been at least ten years since I wrote the book, I don’t remember very much about it. This was a fabulous visual reminder! And whoever the artist is most definitely read my book from cover to cover! Wish I knew who it was!
The story starts with the hero, Dominick LaRocca. He runs an Italian food conglomerate that uses recipes of his two grandmothers, Nana Rose and Nana Fae (who were named for my aunts.) They decide they’ve had enough of his single-man status and since he’s such a hunk-o-rama, they take a picture of him when he’s shirtless and put it on their most popular pasta sauce, along with label text that tells the world’s single ladies that he’s available.
See? GREAT detail. The opening scene takes place at a Food Expo in Chicago–one I’ve actually been to and let me tell you, the artist captured it perfectly!
After my heroine, a security guard, saves his butt from a mad crowd of hysterical women, he hires her to be his personal bodyguard and pretend to be his fiance so that all the women who are throwing themselves at him will go away. I love how the artist showed her at home packing…because the pets are there! Her dog, Maurice, and her cat, Tabitha II. (Did I mention her name is Samantha? Yes, it’s a running joke in the series…)
See the dog and the cat? The cool New Orleans neighborhood street…which is, by the way, EXACTLY the way the street looks (I did my research!) This artist also did fantastic pictures of the Superdome, the Hyatt Regency and Samantha’s mother’s Garden District house, which I’ll show you in a bit.
Speaking of Samantha’s mother (who is named, of course, Endora), she is a well-known psychic. Using her skills, she sends her daughter a package to the hotel room where she’s staying with Nick. Inside is a ring, a generous supply of condoms…and I think perfume. I can’t remember. Anyway, while he’s taking a shower, a woman breaks into the room and into the shower and Samantha has to save him while dressed only in her underwear. I love how they did this scene (which was intended to be action-packed, but also funny. I think the artist captured both!)
This fifth panel…well, to be honest, I’m not entirely sure what’s going on because there are children in the picture. I don’t usually put children in my books, so I have no idea who these two moppets are. (Does anyone remember???) But I love the representation of Sam’s mother as a gorgeous Gypsy type and I adore the background with the house.
I could go on and on, showing you all every single page. I love this book like nobody’s business for reasons I can’t even explain…except that maybe INSATIABLE was a very personal book for me because it was the first time I’d really used my own family experiences to write a book. (Though the grandmothers were named for my aunts, they were actually based on my own grandmothers).
In the end, after resolving conflicts I don’t entirely remember, Dominick ends up bringing groceries to Samantha’s house and cooking for her. Look:
Wasn’t that fun? I’m in such a great mood reliving this book, I’m giving away a copy of NEW ORLEANS NIGHTS, which is the re-release of INSATIABLE and it’s companion book, PURE CHANCE, which is Samantha’s sister’s story. Her name…Serena. Of course. I’ve got the book in the envelope right here…so there should be no delay in my mailing it out. For once.
Just post a comment!
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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Wow, pretty amazing. I remember when Harlequin did those covers. Not really my thing, but I thought they were cool, and visually stunning.
Great walk down memory lane :)
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So awesome!!!
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totally cool!!!
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I remember those stories! I have New Orleans Nights and loved the book. I don’t remember the kids either but something is tickling my brain about nieces. I’ll have to go find the book and re-read it!!
I’m not big on Manga- I find the characters just to off putting to keep my attention- however it looks like the artist really did read the book, which is unusual in itself!! And they did a great job on it.
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That is so cool! I love all the details.
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That’s so cool! Kids in a romance book…that’s probably one of the ones with the ‘yellow’ on them (I can’t remember the line, they always have kids, puppies, etc on them) not a blaze type book.
Awesome!
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Cool illustrations!
Tami B
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That is so awesome!
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That is so cool Julie. I don’t remember kids in the story either, but it has been a few years since I read it. Might have to look for it when I get home tonight.
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Awesome, sounds good!
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This Magna definitely calls for the “happy dance.”
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Cool!
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The Manga version is so cool.
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Super job on the pictures. I love the story and I think I read it as some of the things you mention sound so familar but since I read so much I am sorry I don’t remember!! Even if I have read it I wouldn’t mind reading again.
Since at the time that Temptation was published I got them all every month I must have read it!
Thanks for sharing with us. I’ve never read any of the Manga books.
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i would love to read these books…also a big fan of bewitched…..
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That is really neat.
I didn’t know they did romance books in manga form. I know my kids years ago were into the manga stories.
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Very cool. My daughter is an artist and her nickname is anime for her drawings (last year of college but she’s done it most her life and won some nice awards and has sold some work and works with another artist and has another job in the field). Anyway, she knows how to draw these types of characters – really can be quite an art form and I’ve read and watched many Manga books and movies. It really is a big thing with the younger crowd so big congrats on your book version.
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That is so neat having it turned into Manga!!! I did not realize they turned romance novels into Manga… very very neat!
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Talk about beyond awesome!! This is so stinking neat! Any idea if they are going to release it in English?
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That IS the coolest thing ever!!! I’m so jealous. My youngest daughter is totally into Manga and she’d flip if one of my books was translated into a Manga version!
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Manga has been a big part in our lives for some while, granddaughter
Ashley was so taken with Sailor Moon as a preteen and her interest
just grew and grew. So much so that she is entering her sophomore
year in college with a major in Japanese Studies. We’re excited over
the fact that her junior year will be spent as a foreign exchange stu-
dent in Tokyo. Question: is this manga version of your book available
on the HQN site?
Pat Cochran
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So cool. Will they be doing a version in english??
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I am not into Manga but that’s the coolest thing ever, Julie! I could almost get into it just for your books alone.
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Very Cool!
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Since I’m fairly new to the romance genre, I missed Insatiable the first time around. Now I’ve got to go find a copy! As a native of south Louisiana, I loved the NO city scenes you posted. The manga is too cool. Congrats.
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Very cool Julie! Insatiable was my favorite of all your Blazes, how perfect that this is the book they chose to turn Manga!
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Sometimes manga is just the coolest. Congrats!
Now, if only there were a manga version of “Madame Bovary” when I was in school, I might have finish reading it (instead of relying on Cliff Notes).
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That is so cool! Love it!
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That’s so cool to look at. I can’t take my eyes off of it!
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Hey Jules, that is pretty cool. Just reading the little descriptives you used to explain the book, made quite an impression on me. I have these books on my search for your backlist. Hopefully I am lucky enough to win.
Thank you for explaining what a manga is too. The first time I heard that word, I was like…what the heck, but now I know…graphic novel…kinda like anime. At least, that’s how I will think of it. I hope you had a wonderful day. Will check back later.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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That is so awesome!!! Manga has become a very big trend in a very short time. Congratulations!!! :-)
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Oh my gosh! I love it! Do you know if they will ever release in english? I have a thing for manga as it happens – and I love HQ — so that would be truly the best combo ever lol!
Congrats on it!!
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How totally awesome!
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I have to say I always think that kind of stuff is pretty fricken neat. (can I say Fricken?) anyway, I love Mills and Boon versions and foreign language versions…don’t ask me why but it has that cool and different factor for me….lol
BTW…Serena is my nieces name, she was named for me, her middle name is my middle name while her older sister has my sister Denise’s middle name…can you tell who our pets our? LMAO
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Wow, that IS totally cool! I love the whole manga romance!
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I’m a little confused by the manga. I read this on my email and thought it sounded so funny I should look at the pics that went with it.Now I’m just wondering why it isn’t a normal style book.I was totally gonna try to buy it online like right now, but not so much anymore.I’m happy that everyone else seems to like it,it’s just not my cup of tea.
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omg, i
it!
lol
i took japanese in school as my foreign language but the kanji was never my strong point; maybe i can be ambitious & try reading it parallel with the english version for geeky fun
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This is awesome–and definitely a cool way to tap a different market! (I have many students positively obsessed with manga…)
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I love it when a cover matches the book. It’s really important to me as a reader. I always look back at the cover when I’m through with a book to see how good a job they did. That’s Awesome. I’m so happy for you!
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Very nice. The artwork makes me wish I could read japanese so I can get more of the story.
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This is great!! Will it be released in English?
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I hope it will translated to English so i can understand the story
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That is totally cool! Congrats!
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I’ve never seen a Manga version in person, but it looks awesome.