And it’s a beauty! (If I do say so myself!) It’s the cover for THE LIES THAT BIND, my November 2010 Bibliophile Mystery. It comes out barely two months from now!
Much of this book takes place at a fictional books arts center in San Francisco that I call Bay Area Book Arts, or BABA, and my cover depicts one cozy corner of BABA.
And pardon me while I gush, but I’m so in love with this room with its wall of beautiful books and its gorgeous view of the Golden Gate Bridge. There's Baba Ram Dass, the cat who lives at BABA, as well as a few clues scattered about. And it’s all as imagined by the brilliant artists at Penguin Books. I’m so lucky to have such a wonderful team working on my book covers.
Here’s the back cover copy …
One bookbinder. One bully. One beau.
Looks like someone has got to go…
When it comes to rare books and antiquities, Brooklyn Wainwright is a master. That's why she has returned home to San Francisco to teach a bookbinding class at Bay Area Book Arts. Unfortunately, BABA director Layla Fontaine is a horrendous host who pitches fits and lords it over her subordinates. With the help of her beau, Derek Stone, Brooklyn manages to put on a brave face and endure.
Unfortunately, someone else is not so forgiving. Layla is found dead from a gunshot wound, and Brooklyn is bound and determined to investigate. But when Layla's past ends up intertwined with Derek's, Brooklyn realizes that the case is much more personal than she thought--and the killer might want to close the book on her for good.
Dare I say it? I love this book! It’s got all my favorite characters: Brooklyn and Derek and Gabriel and Minka and Guru Bob and Mom and Dad, plus a few new ones you haven't met yet, but I think you'll enjoy getting to know them. Plus there’s a lot of San Francisco in this book, which is just about my favorite city in the whole world. There's mystery and romance ... and the occasional dead body, of course. What's a mystery without them?
So … do you ever buy a book based solely on the cover? When was the last time you did so, and what book was it? Who are your favorite ongoing characters in a series, romance or mystery? What city would you most like to read about? And how do you feel about cats in mysteries? :-)
Oh, did I mention that THE LIES THAT BIND is available for pre-order here? :-)
Much of this book takes place at a fictional books arts center in San Francisco that I call Bay Area Book Arts, or BABA, and my cover depicts one cozy corner of BABA.
And pardon me while I gush, but I’m so in love with this room with its wall of beautiful books and its gorgeous view of the Golden Gate Bridge. There's Baba Ram Dass, the cat who lives at BABA, as well as a few clues scattered about. And it’s all as imagined by the brilliant artists at Penguin Books. I’m so lucky to have such a wonderful team working on my book covers.
Here’s the back cover copy …
One bookbinder. One bully. One beau.
Looks like someone has got to go…
When it comes to rare books and antiquities, Brooklyn Wainwright is a master. That's why she has returned home to San Francisco to teach a bookbinding class at Bay Area Book Arts. Unfortunately, BABA director Layla Fontaine is a horrendous host who pitches fits and lords it over her subordinates. With the help of her beau, Derek Stone, Brooklyn manages to put on a brave face and endure.
Unfortunately, someone else is not so forgiving. Layla is found dead from a gunshot wound, and Brooklyn is bound and determined to investigate. But when Layla's past ends up intertwined with Derek's, Brooklyn realizes that the case is much more personal than she thought--and the killer might want to close the book on her for good.
Dare I say it? I love this book! It’s got all my favorite characters: Brooklyn and Derek and Gabriel and Minka and Guru Bob and Mom and Dad, plus a few new ones you haven't met yet, but I think you'll enjoy getting to know them. Plus there’s a lot of San Francisco in this book, which is just about my favorite city in the whole world. There's mystery and romance ... and the occasional dead body, of course. What's a mystery without them?
So … do you ever buy a book based solely on the cover? When was the last time you did so, and what book was it? Who are your favorite ongoing characters in a series, romance or mystery? What city would you most like to read about? And how do you feel about cats in mysteries? :-)
Oh, did I mention that THE LIES THAT BIND is available for pre-order here? :-)
And today I’m giving away an ARC of THE LIES THAT BIND to one random commenter. So comment away!!
57 comments:
Hellooooo!!!!
Hi Kate, you know it's funny that your post should be about book covers, or should I say, coincidental? kismet? fate? I was just thinking (literally) before I clicked on today's blog how I'm just a total sucker for a book cover, especially of a good book cover. I've been known to buy books just because I've loved the cover and lived to love it ... and also lived to regret it. Even with all my previous experiences with book covers, I just can't seem to get past a good book cover. Your new book cover rocks.
Congratulations Daz enjoy GR
Hi Kate ... I have bought books based on the cover but these days most books are what I read about on the blogs so don't have to wonder what to buy..... I do like series and have read your other books and look forward to reading this one and catching up with the characters..... I don't mind where the stories take place as I can use my imagination to picture the places and pets add something extra as well
Wow, Kate, another fab book of yours to read! I'm over the moon! And I adore the covers - I think this might be the nicest one yet and that's saying something. Yay, you!
Congrats on the lovely cover, Kate. I have never bought a book based on its cover alone. I can't get enough of Stephanie Laurens' Cynster family or Bastion Club members. I love San Francisco, it's such a beautiful city. I also enjoy books set in NY, Vegas and New Orleans.
I rarely buy a book because of the cover but I have done so. The one I remember is Kathryne Kennedy's Enchanting the Lady. For some reason that cover really appealed to me.
Yours is gorgeous - congratulations!
My favorite ongoing characters? There are so many! I love Eve and Roarke in J.D. Robb's series, Derek, Brooklyn, and her eccentric and hilarious mom, Stephanie Plum (Janet Evanovich), Goldie the Caterer (Diane Mott Davidson), Amelia Peabody and Emerson (Elizabeth Peters), Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld, Christine Feehan's Carpathians, ... lol, I guess I should stop.
City - Not sure I have a favorite except I love to read stories set in places in which I'm familiar like Baltimore or D.C. It's fun to identify or share a memory of a place.
But I also like to learn about new places I haven't experienced. My friend, Anastasia, wrote a wonderful post about her visit to Nepal on the Romance Roundtable yesterday.
And I love cats period so they are a fun addition to any story!
Kate, I love your books and can't wait to visit again with Brooklyn and all your wonderful characters in THE LIES THAT BIND! November seems like such a long wait!
Yay! Can't wait for the next Bibliophile Mystery!
I don't usually but I bought Stephen Hunt's The Court of the Air because of the cover(well, the synopsis was interesting too but I may have been slightly hypnotised by the cover design). Not only was it pretty but the dust jacket was a nice textured paper and the endpapers had little gold stars. *pets pretty book* Heh heh!
Uh, if I answered the question about my favourite ongoing characters, it'd be an essay so I'll skip that one. I haven't any favourite cities but I very much enjoy books that are set in Canada or the UK. Cats in mysteries are a good thing. :)
Daz - You nabbed him! Congratulations
Kate - I absolutely love this cover. I think it's the best yet, and that's saying a lot because you've had some beauties.
Not sure I'd buy a book solely on the cover, but I will pick a book off the shelf and take a closer look at it if the cover catches my eye. This one would.
I like any city if it's an intregal part of the book, and cats and mysteries...well, they definitely go together.
I never buy a book based solely on the cover! It makes me take a closer look and check out blurb, though.
My favorite ongoing characters are Eve and Roarke in the in Death series.
Donna, imagine my surprise to see that he was unclaimed! :-) I've got him helping with the typing. I noticed that he's been partying a lot and hanging out with some pretty funky people. I figure it's about time he stopped being so slack. LOL
Thanks barb. It's nice to have him visit ... and put to work. *ahem*
Gotta love that cover, and I know I am going to love the book. I haven't bought a book strictly on the cover but the cover has often got my attention so I would look closer at the book. Yours is going to look lovely sitting on the shelf, tempting peeps to look a little closer.
Well done Daz enjoy your day with him
Kate
I love this cover it is beautiful and I can't wait to read this next installment whoo hoo. I don't think I have ever bought a book soley on the cover art although that is what makes me pick it up and read the blurb on the back and then decide to but it although I buy most of my books online and buy them from recomendations and auto buy authors (which you are) I loved your desire book that I recently finished (I did send an email) favourite characters from an ongoing series I have to say Brooklyn and Derek at the moment. As for a City any City for me because I haven't travelled much the author takes me there and as for animals I love them in stories they add lot to a story I think
Have Fun
Helen
Congrats Kate! All the covers in this series have been Fab!
I do pick up a book to check it out because of a cover, but I usually need more to buy!
Can't wait to read the latest!
Congrats, Kate! It's another gorgeous cover! I love this series and am so excited that I only have a little over two months to wait until the next book is released! :)
I've never bought a book based on the cover alone but an intriguing cover will entice me to pick up a book I may have overlooked and read the back cover blurb. That's how I discovered Robyn Carr and Kristan Higgins.
Daz, congrats on nabbing the GR today!
Congrats on the cover, Kate! It's gorgeous as usual. Penguin has been giving you the best covers.
On to your questions, I don't buy a book strictly for its cover. I usually buy based on recommendations if it's a new author. My favorite ongoing characters would have to be Stephanie Plum and the gang.
And a cat in any story is all right by me :)
Wow, love the book cover. This is definitely eye catching. With all the different items displayed, you know the book is going to be full of suspense and intrigue. Wishing you all the best with it and looking forward to reading it.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Cool cover, Kate! Congrats!
I'm here, and so wowed by all the early congratulations! Thank you so much. I'm traveling today. Just finished up plot group, which was, as always, a blast. Energizing and enervating all at once.
Daz, woo hoo on taking home the GR! Thank you so much for your congrats. I am sooo happy with my new cover!!!!! Squeeeeeee!!!!
Barb, That's very interesting to know that you choose your books based on the blogs you read. It's nice to know that blogging can be effective in getting people intrigued about our books.
Anna, I know! And I love that our covers are color-coordinated. :) That golden yellow is so eye-catching, isn't it?
Jane, Thank you! Oooh, I love Stephanie Laurens' cover on A Secret Love. It's so simple and evocative.
I'll be back again in a while to respond to more comments. See you soon!
I don't know that I've bought a book solely based on its cover, but an attractive cover such as this one would definitely get my interest. One that did so was Leann Sweeney's The Cat, The Quilt, and the Corpse, which should also give you some idea of my opinion of cats in mysteries -- I love them! I've read all of your Bibliophile Mysteries to date, and can't wait for this one!
Kate, I love this cover its a feast for the eyes. I really love your books as well. Mom had me laughing so hard last book I cried. I don't buy books based on covers, but I love looking at the ones in the Romance section with the guy barechested with sword in hand ;) Hey,its the simple things in life. Can't wait till November!
Jeri Hoag Buena Park, CA
Daz, congrats on the rooster! Don't be afraid to keep him busy.
Kate, you have fabulous covers. I love this one, too.
My favorite continuing characters? I assume you mean besides Brooklyn and her yummy Derek. So I would pick Eve Dallas and Roarke.
Also on the list, Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane.
I've never bought a book solely because of the cover. I do pick them up to check out because of the covers. Meagan McKinney's A Man To Slay Dragons (RS, released several years ago) had a beautiful foil dragon on a white cover, and I particularly remember being struck by that one.
Beautiful cover, Kate. Congrats on your new release.
The cover on books definitely grab my attention, but I usually check to back to help determine if I read the book.
I just finished She's Gone Country by Jane Porter. I have enjoyed all her books. The characters keep appearing in all books.
I'm back!
Laurie, I just checked out Enchanting a Lady, and it really is an intriguing cover. It makes me think of fairy tales, and I would definitely pick it up for a second look. You've named some of my favorite recurring characters, too. I'm honored that Brooklyn and Derek (and Brooklyn's mom) made your list!
Pissenlit, LOL on petting the pretty book! As a bibliophile, I do that often.
Donna, you're so right about cats and mysteries going together. Dogs would roll in the clues and make the mystery impossible to solve!
Minna, That's what covers do for me, too. There is so much to look at in a bookstore. If a cover manages to catch my eye and get me to pause and pick up the book, then it's done its job. BTW, I love Eve and Roarke, too. I love the way neither backs down from an argument.
Dianna, Thank you! I hope so. I adore the gold on the spine of The Lies that Bind.
This sounds fabulous, Kate! And you're right, that's an awesome cover. I loved San Francisco when I visited there, so I'm looking forward to reading this.
As far as buying a book for the cover, I can't say I've done that. But there have been books I might have missed if the cover hadn't made me pick it up and read the back. The most recent one I did this for was Fallen by Lauren Kate. Gorgeous cover.
Helen, You're right! Books can transport us to places we never would've visited otherwise. That said, I hope that The Lies that Bind might inspire you to visit San Fran in person.
Thank you for celebrating with me, Deb!
PJ, Yes, a cover can make us take a closer look at an author who is new to us. I'm convinced that the cover of Homicide in Hardcover gets some of the credit for the book making the New York Times list. As it was my first book, readers had no idea who I was.
Christie, I love Stephanie Plum! Lulu is a riot, and I love the way that Evanovich has made opposing teams of her readers: Team Joe and Team Ranger.
Thank you, Mason! With a profile picture like yours, I'm guessing you love the cat on my cover! :D
Thank you, Linda!
Thank you, Jane! I'm so glad you're looking forward to The Lies that Bind. I know I shouldn't wish my life away, but I wish November 2 would get here in a hurry!
Jeri, nothing wrong with a little eye candy on a cover!
By the way, everyone, if you want a laugh, go check out my Facebook page. A friend Photoshopped me into my book cover, and I'm using it for my new profile picture. While you're there, I hope you'll click the Like button!
Congrats on the truly gorgeous cover, Kate. I eagerly await Bibliophile book #3. I have so enjoyed the first two.
As for continuing series, I'm always looking forward to the next of Margaret Maron's Deborah Knott series and C. S. Harris's Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries. As for romance, I can't wait to read the next book in Anne Gracie's Devil Riders series and the second of Kate Moore's Jones brothers books, both due in October. And ever since Julia Quinn said her next book will feature a Smythe-Smith heroine from the famous "musical" family of the Bridgerton books, I've been beyond eager to read that one.
Nancy, Thank you!!!! I do love my new cover, and I love that we celebrate these milestones with each other.
I'm about to blow your mind... I just looked up A Man to Slay Dragons, and it was released 14 years ago, in 1996. It is a gorgeous color. The dragon is eye-catching, and I love the font they used for her name and the title.
Thank you, runner! I saw the cover of She's Gone Country last week, and I loved it. It made me think of summer in a small town, and I think a lot of readers will pick up the book because of that emotional reaction.
Trish, OMG, yes, the cover of Fallen is amazing. I think they'll tap into the Twilight crowd with that cover.
Janga, That Julia Quinn Smythe-Smith book is getting a lot of buzz. I suspect the secondary characters (the family) will have readers laughing out loud.
Ooh gorgeous cover, Kate - so excited - can't wait for this new book to hit the shelves!
Love series, love cats *g*. I have a huge soft spot for Carole Nelson Douglas' Midnight Louie series.
Don't usually buy a book based on its cover, but have been known to wait to buy a book until I was in the US because I preferred the US cover to the UK one. *g*
Anna, oh, that's too funny! Transatlantic book buying. I've seen some pretty scrumptious UK covers, too. Maybe we should work out a cultural exchange program. (Or programme.)
Hey Kate!! Love, love, LOVE the new book cover! But I'm loving the fact that I don't have to wait a whole year for this book to come out!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!
I have bought books base solely because of the book cover. Check out the cover of Francis Ray's new book, It Had To Be You. Franics is a chapter mate, but I bought this book base on the cover! And while I buy JR Ward no matter what, her second to last book, Lover Avenged...yep, that was a cover to buy for!!
I never buy a book based on a cover.
My favourite ongoing characters are:
Eve Duncan & Joe Quinn
Jamie & Claire Fraser (Diana Gabaldon)
Elena & Clay (Shelley Armstrong)
Sean Dillon(Jack Higgins)
I prefer that the books I read aren't set in a city.
I love your covers, Kate. They all look like you can walk right into them, and what's more, like they're places you *want* to walk into!
I love the cover and yes to the cat question lol. A cover gets me to pick up the book (such as yours) and then I read the blurb too. Other than getting to hear about my own city (Pittsburgh), I'm open to anywhere. It's fun to know the place but you learn so much when you don't.
Congrats on having such a wonderful cover!
I also love your choice of name for a SF cat, Baba Ram Dass.
I may have bought books based on solely the covers in the past but I don't remember which ones off the top of my head.
As for what cities I'd like to read about, I'm not particular as I've been to quite a few and would love to visit them again.
Cats are good in a mystery (I love Lilian Jackson Braun's The Cat Who series) as are dogs.
cories119[at]yahoo.com
Love the cover, Kate! I've never bought a book solely on the cover, but I've most definitely picked one up because it had an eye-catching cover.
My favorite ongoing characters are Eve and Roarke---yummy Roarke!---in J.D. Robb's "In Death" series. There's actually a cat in the series, too. :-)
Wow Daz ! Nice nab of the GR !!
Kate, I LOVE this cover, but then I love all of your covers! Can't wait to read this one. It sounds like so much fun (well, except for the dead gal, but hey! SOMEBODY has to die!) And the cast in this series is one of my very favorites. I love any chance I get to visit with them!
I have bought a few books based on the cover. Lisa Kleypas's Devil in Winter, believe it or not. I had never read one of her books and I saw this cover - country house, snowy English scene, and I picked it up. Sebastian St. Vincent is STILL one of my favorite heroes EVAH!
I have to say the entire Wallflower series cast are favorites of mine.
And Sebastian St. Cyr, Hero, Kate and all the gang from the C.S. Harris series are definitely some of my all time favorites.
Oh and the MacKenzie brothers in Jennifer Ashley's series are wonderful. Such a diverse group of men who fight and love like real brothers do. Great series!
Hi Kate!
Love your new cover and the cat looks like my cat. I used to buy books because of the nice covers, but I've read too many books where the cover's been misleading. However, a nice cover will always catch my eye and I'll pick up the book and read the blurb on the back. I'd say London, with all of its history, is my favorite locale for a book. Congrats!
Thank you so much, Suzanne!!!! Your post is so enthusiastic, you make me feel like dancing all over again, the way I did when I first saw my cover.
And speaking of eye candy... WOW, you're right. It Had to Be You by Francis Ray does have a great cover.
Thank you, Esri! This cover really does make me want to curl up in the corner of that room. Except for the guns and the broken glass, of course.
catslady, I think I could've guessed how you would answer the cat question. LOL!!!!
Thank you, Corie! I love to read about a variety of cities, too, whether I've been there or not. Buying a book is cheaper than airfare!
Gannon, There are a lot of Eve and Roarke fans here (including me). They are such terrific characters. Their relationship dynamic is so much fun. I love that Roarke is the sentimental one, but he's getting Eve there.
Louisa, yes, somebody has to die. And I wish the characters would stop complaining about it when it's their turn. LOL!
Pink, Oh good call! I love to read books set in London, whether historical or contemporary. One of the great cities of the world. And of course, you know about my soft spot for Edinburgh.
Hi, Kate,
I have to list Anna Campbell's
books first of all, then Aunty
Cindy's, your Bibliophile books,
& then most historical romances.
Pat Cochran
Gorgeous cover, Kate! I'm looking forward to reading it!
It is a beautiful book cover, but I've never bought a book for it's cover. Not that I can remember anyway. I think my favorite book characters are Eve and Roarke from J.D.Robb's In Death series, I can't get enough of them. As far as settings go, I like just about anywhere, but New York, San Francisco, New Orleans and Chicago are interesting to me because I've never been there before.
Thanks, Pat! I'm delighted I made your list.
Becke, thank you!!!
Linda, thanks for stopping by! I love Eve and Roarke, too!
I absolutely love your covers!! And I buy cover mysteries based on their covers all the time. One of my favorites is The Veiled Deception.
Oooh, Gillian! That is a great cover. It instantly fills your mind with stories.
That is a beautiful cover, and I would buy it for that reason alone -- wish I lived there! LOL
The story sounds great too, so I'm sure I'll be buying it. :)
Donna
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