Character List? In BR Door Stopper Books:

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

How do you feel about those big "door-stopper books" that have lots of characters? Is it easier for the read if the front has a "character list?" I find I do like that,sometimes half way threw a book I will forget a certain character and their role in the story as Im focusing on the main characters.
I love Rebecca Brandwyne as she does this in most of her older books.Do you know of any other author's that do this?

[[deleted user]]

I think I've seen that in a few Bertrice Small books as well. It's definitely helpful when the story keeps hopping around to different subplots.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Karla (Mossy Love Grotto) wrote: "I think I've seen that in a few Bertrice Small books as well. It's definitely helpful when the story keeps hopping around to different subplots."

Really? I dont recall her ever doing that..then again I havent read all of them..her newer or older ones?

[[deleted user]]

IIRC Blaze Wyndham had it. But not 100% sure about that. But it's not something that she always did.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

*goes to check copy* Damn your good girl! :D

[[deleted user]]

Sweet! You know when I last read that one? 1997 AT LEAST! My memory's not total crap! :D

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Karla (Mossy Love Grotto) wrote: "Sweet! You know when I last read that one? 1997 AT LEAST! My memory's not total crap! :D"

See..there ya go!When your an ol'fart like me then you can use CRS like me :)

[[deleted user]]

I remember the IMPORTANT stuff, obviously. :D

[Mermarie]

Tempted by Virginia Henley! I know, I'm still some pages from completing this hormonal mess, but characters name cameos after a long absence, and I'm all..who're you again? lol

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Mermarie wrote: "Tempted by Virginia Henley! I know, I'm still some pages from completing this hormonal mess, but characters name cameos after a long absence, and I'm all..who're you ag..."

Dont you hate that? I think when that happens for me,the story just isnt grabbing me or the author has put too many characters in the story..looses me :/

[Wendy, Lady Evelyn Quince]

Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "How do you feel about those big "door-stopper books" that have lots of characters? Is it easier for the read if the front has a "character list?" I find I do like that,sometimes half way threw a bo..."

I loved the cast of characters in RB's books. In fact, I think her romance novels were designed better than any other's; from the Elaine Duillo covers, the Cast of Characters, the opening poem, the prologue, the novel set up into books or parts,the epilogue, and best of all, a photo on the back cover a RB dressed as her heroine. How awesome was that?

Valerie Sherwood didn't have a character lists, but she did have those dedications to her cats in every novel. She also broke the stories up into almost Shakespearean Books and Parts, but I wasn't as crazy about her poetry as Brandewyne's.

There were others who had character lists, although I can't recall which ones, but I did appreciate them!

Then there were the authors with the epic glossaries in the back, usually Celt or Native Romances. A few words ok, but pages and pages were too much.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Yes RB was(and still is) one of my favorite authors for those reasons alone Wendy.I loved the character list,the Prologue,the Epilogue,just the whole set up of her books (yes as well as the back)was nicely done. I dont suppose authors today have as much choices on how their books are set up now. VS another favorite of mine,she also had a style of her own that never failed to draw me in & keep me there.
Yeah..I remember some of those books that have Native/celt "words" or "meanings" in the back & I only looked at those when I couldnt figure out what was being said. But I love the RB style and wish it was used more in romance books,but there dosent seem to be "door-stoppers" romance's like the past today does there?

[[deleted user]]

Speaking of RB, I just noticed yesterday that Duillo reused a version of her cover art for Rose of Rapture on the back of Bertrice Small's The Spitfire. I think that's the first time I've noticed Duillo recycling something.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Karla (Mossy Love Grotto) wrote: "Speaking of RB, I just noticed yesterday that Duillo reused a version of her cover art for Rose of Rapture on the back of Bertrice Small's The Spitfire. I think that's..."

Im flicking back and forth here Karla..you mean the same cover models?

[[deleted user]]

The same pose and picture. If I had a scanner that worked, I'd show you the back cover of Spitfire. Will do that tomorrow at work.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Karla (Mossy Love Grotto) wrote: "The same pose and picture. If I had a scanner that worked, I'd show you the back cover of Spitfire. Will do that tomorrow at work."

I look forward to seeing that:)

[[deleted user]]

I decided to snap a picture of it. :P Same models as on the cover of Rose of Rapture in a slightly different post. Makes me think Duillo reused an alternate version she made. Dude has the same clothes.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Oh my gosh! Look at that! You are so right..do you think it was her choice? I mean cuts cost to just do the same picture just another verison..very interesting..you have a good eye for these. I know today they dont try to hide using the same picture ,just walk down the romance section..they are all the same. Thanks Karla..love those covers:)

[Mermarie]

They seemingly changed their clothes, and maybe allowed to his hair to grow a little bit..but they're definitely the same people! I find it utterly satisfying--how can you pose for hours on end like this, without completing the kiss? LOL GIMME SOME SUGAR BABY! lol

[Wendy, Lady Evelyn Quince]

And look how great Brandewyne looked posing as the heroine on the back of Rose of Rapture:

[Wendy, Lady Evelyn Quince]

Karla (Mossy Love Grotto) wrote: "I decided to snap a picture of it. :P Same models as on the cover of Rose of Rapture in a slightly different post. Makes me think Duillo reused an alternate version she made. Dude has the same clo..."

I prefer the Rose of Rapture cover to the "re-mix" version on the back of The Spitfire.

Heck I prefer all of Duillo's covers to any of Rebecca Brandewyne's reissues. I mean, compare this original:

to this:


Or this:

to this:


(Sorry for the sloppy formatting, but it's really not my forte.) Anyway, I know for a fact I've seen those re-issue covers on other books, so it's surprising Duillo (who I really respect as an artist)ever reused her images on another book.

[Mermarie]

I have a question for you ladies--once you've uncovered more images of the models plastered over novels in question--do you associate the other novel covers they've done, or person with that novel itself? I am not liking these new covers being released. I could have photoshop'd myself better, posed with my hunky, dishwater blonde mop. LOL

Even so, I know some models are notorious for multiple covers--but do you depict them more appropriate or adequate for your favorite books? Such as to say, "Oh..this is REALLY him. He's so believable here!"

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Your right Wendy those newer covers dont even come close to those older covers, they are nice but somehow those older covers have ...magic in them. And I loved it when RB posed on the back covers to match the Heroine(thanks for posting a picture)I love Duillo's art work,she use to have a site you could go to to see her work but I cant find it anymore does anyone know if she still does?

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Mermarie wrote: "I have a question for you ladies--once you've uncovered more images of the models plastered over novels in question--do you associate the other novel covers they've done, or person with that novel ..."

I dont know about anyone else,but I dont like the newer covers and if I have the older version Im certainly not going to purchase the newer one. And If I dont have the book anymore III search one out in the older cover..to me they are old friends Ive had for years,if we have parted ways Im not going to replace with a "fresher" face III keep the memories thanks :)

[[deleted user]]

Mermarie wrote: "Even so, I know some models are notorious for multiple covers--but do you depict them more appropriate or adequate for your favorite books? Such as to say, "Oh..this is REALLY him. He's so believable here!""

Speaking for myself, even though I love Fabio for the cheese factor I got tired of seeing his face on nearly every cover. Same with John DeSalvo. Nathan Kamp is getting pretty damn ubiquitous as well.



See, I'm sure you recognize him now. However, his pretteh factor hasn't worn out his welcome with me...yet.

But when I started collecting the old BRs, there were some faces that kept popping up and luckily Elaine Gignilliat ID'd them on her website: Alain Jarry, Norbert Tomas, Tom Ferris, Roni Margolis. She talks about them here.

Anyway, they're old skool pretteh, so I don't mind seeing them as the characters when I read. My brain finds it easier to impose them on characters than Fabio.

I've been meaning for forever to do a post on these old cover models on the blog with pictures and stuff, but I've never found the time and image collecting willpower. :-\

[Mermarie]

Hey, who are the male/female models on the Zebras? I mean, the actual ones on the shiny sticker label, too.



Or do they exist at all? See, one of the books I cannot recall the title of, has both of them plastered overtop it, too. Lol

Karla: If you never find the time, lemme know, and we can post a section here for it. It would be a good category to also act as a sub-category for our member's artwork. :)

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Yes Karla, that face and John's I swear if you walk around in the romance section they are both on all the covers! Maybe different hair length,color ect..but still the same face sometimes even the same pose! Come on bring back the artist's! *sigh* But even when the same model was used on the older covers it wasnt as easy to spot,maybe because more was going on in the background as well whereas the books today its mostly just the two characters (if we are lucky to see both on the cover)and not much else for backdrop.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Good question Mermarie..Karla the expert might know..I love this cover have the book too :)
Edit: just to make a note about it ever notice on alot of these books the male usually has a funny mouth shape? like its distorted*pucker-me-up* and the woman has tons of eye shadow/make up on?

[[deleted user]]

When covers were done as paintings rather than photos, the models were the same but looked different since there is that human error/interpretation element. I've got several Gignilliat covers with Tom Ferris and he looks a bit different because of facial hair or the angle, not like the "Oh look, there's Fabio again" kind of instant recognition.

Mermarie, I have no idea who Pino used as models. AFAIK, Gignilliat is the only artist I've come across who has ID'd her models.

[Mermarie]

Here's a recognizable model I've noticed on numerous novels!

http://www.johndesalvo.com/gallery.html


Edit: I realize this would be monumental work, lol. But definitely a project we should team up for.

[[deleted user]]

Ol' John DeSalvo is the bane of poor Sandi's existence. :D

[Mermarie]

I can see why. o.-' Dear lawds, tonsils sweating. Lol

I jus' don't see an easy way of categorizing all of those models/publishers/covers at the present. Hopefully, with the bodice-ripper age revival, we'll see more recovery of these lost gems.

I found another author who went from 90's Zebrafire paperback to Kindle. I wonder if she's altered/edited anything. For the life of me, I remember little to nothin' but the witchery & Salem's immaculate press gang.

Bewitching Kisses by Rainy Kirkland

Ugh, I detest this Dark Shadows version of the cover, as opposed to the Zebra Heartfire's sultry wonderland!





Due to the slavery deal and stuff, I wonder if I should add it to our Kindle list.....ponderance. I'm also curious to see whether or not the newer version has been prim and powdered for our tickle-me-Elmo generation readers. lol

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Karla (Mossy Love Grotto) wrote: "Ol' John DeSalvo is the bane of poor Sandi's existence. :D"

AAAHHHHH!! Iv'e been seeing it for 30 years!!! A well used man at that :D

[[deleted user]]

One word for that new cover: ugh.

Pretty covers make me slap down the $$$ in the UBS. These ebook covers make me look for a price tag of "FREE" before I'll even bother with 99% of them. :-\

[Mermarie]

Yeah, I was glancing through the http://www.fictiondb.com site, and realized--the Lovegram's seem to have a prettier cover, too. More fantasy/escapism based. Lol Whoever told me awhile back, to sort through Zebra's on that site, is a doll. I hadn't realized I must register in-order to view the 'covers'... LOL. These fancy contraptions elude me.

*Drunk on prettiful colors & glitzy wonderment. lol This site is fantastical!

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Karla (Mossy Love Grotto) wrote: "One word for that new cover: ugh.

Pretty covers make me slap down the $$$ in the UBS. These ebook covers make me look for a price tag of "FREE" before I'll even bother with 99% of them. :-\"

Im with you 100% on that Karla :)