Okay, here’s the terrible secret that is gonna let Chloe Neill stomp me today:
My name is Jessa Slade. I write romance novels and I’m a prude. *hangs head in shame*
When my very first book SEDUCED BY SHADOWS (Marked Souls #1) came out, my editor sent me the cover mockup with a proud ta-da! And my reaction? “You mean ta-tas?” The hero had… egads, NIPPLAGE!
Admittedly, the story was set in Chicago in the middle of winter, and for some reason, my otherwise street-smart hero had forgot to put on a shirt under his rockin’ leather jacket. So obviously he was a bit chilled. But my goodness!
I tentatively suggested maybe we should close his coat a bit, cuz — you know… NIPPLAGE! Graciously conceding to the paranoid writer, the cover artist Photoshopped some proper decency.
But afterward, I came to see (once I blinked the high beams out of my eye) that maybe I was, well, a hypocrite. After all, my grandmother pointed out, do you know what’s INSIDE those covers?!? That’s where the real titillation — so to speak — was happening!
So here I am, officially apologizing for all the giggling and blushing I did back when I was a virgin. A virgin AUTHOR, you pervs! I said screw it (literally and figuratively) and when I came out with THE DARKEST NIGHT (Marked Souls #4.5) set in the very deepest depths of a Chicago winter, I didn’t even give my poor hero a damn coat at all! And it’s snowing!
We all gotta suffer for our art, hero boy, and learn to love the romp.
Because for all the trash talk we romance writers and readers endure about the man-titty covers (and flexed delts and bicep bulges and side boob)…
…we know what REALLY matters is the heart that beats behind the man-titty. It’s big and strong and the lovin’ goes on forever.
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AXQ-XAe7tbA/Ue1Pop8L5II/AAAAAAAAImY/RfIKQbQ3ESM/s1600/JessaSlade.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]
Jessa Slade writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy romance and science fiction romance. Basically, anything with woo-woo and woo-hoo! The third book in her Steel Born series—and her first werewolf book!—MATED BY MOONLIGHT, is out now, and Steel Born #4 DARK PRINCE’S DESIRE will be out in November.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
[tabs slidertype=”left tabs” auto=”yes”] [tabcontainer] [tabtext]Dark Hunter’s Touch[/tabtext] [tabtext]A Little Night Muse[/tabtext] [tabtext]Mated by Moonlight[/tabtext] [/tabcontainer] [tabcontent] [tab]
Yearning to be free, Imogene has fled the idleness and cruelty of the phae court to hide in the sunlit realm of humans. When the Dark Hunters find her—and they will—she will face the Queen’s wrath.
But she is tired of running, and after a chance encounter with a seductively handsome stranger named Vaile, Imogene embraces the earthly passions within her, if only for one night. But has she fallen for a man—or an illusion?
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Convicted of treason, Adelyn has been banished to the sunlit realm of humans—a fate worse than death for a musetta who exists only to inspire other phae. To reverse her exile, she must find a pair of lovers who have fled the court and return them to face the Queen’s wrath. But once in the mortal realm, she meets a man who unveils her hidden desires…
When Josh Reimer discovers an ethereal beauty at a cabin near his ranch, he decides the neighborly thing to do is take her in. Adelyn inspires a passion unlike anything he’s ever known and he vows not to lose the magic they’ve found together—even if that means she must choose between her home and their love.
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As the latest in a long line of female Alphas, Merrilee Delemont lives by the code be strong always. While she will never forsake her duty to her pack, she sometimes longs for a mate to share her life with. At least she’s found someone to share her bed: Beck Villanova, leader of the neighboring wolf pack.
Their red-hot attraction and struggle for dominance leads to wild sex, but any chance of a real relationship goes up in smoke. Until phae invaders threaten the peace of their remote valley, forcing Merrille and Beck to finally decide which is more important: vying for power, or a passionate partnership that could change their lives forever.
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Check out Chloe Neill’s Stomp post then vote!
STOMP or ROMP
Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!
Can’t believe you wanted to close the jacket lol. I love that type of cover with a particular fondness for bare chested highlanders with big swords!
Irene
Irene, I KNOW! I was so innocent back then. I’m come a long way, baby 😉
So glad you saw the light! LOL
Natalie, yes. It’s easier to see the light in the high beams 🙂
LOL! NIPPLAGE is how you tell the difference between a ROMP book and a STOMP book.
Jennifer, ha, stomp books have women who would NEVER agree to such nipplage!
I love covers with a sexy hero bare chested. Love the eye candy 🙂
June, I am not ashamed to admit I’ve purchased books just cuz I wanted pretty pix for my bookshelf!
a guy who works out
I’ve never in real life hung out with a truly ripped guy. I feel like for the sake of my writing — and for your sake, as readers — I really need to do that research. I think I can even write it off on my taxes 😉
I have a hard time putting sexy covers on my books. So I guess I’m still a cover virgin! Great covers btw!
Paty, you and I could start a support group for reluctantly reforming cover-UP artists 🙂
I could go into an elaborate explanation…..but really, it’s all about a hot guy with awesome abs!
Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
elizabeth @ bookattict . com
From what I understand, getting ripped abs is one of the hardest parts of working out. Maybe that’s why it’s so impressive 🙂
I don’t mind a bit of skin. I love interesting back drops too.
By “back drop” do you mean backside? 😉 Cuz those are fun, I think.
I love when the characters are on the cover!
Thanks for the chance to win!
It’s always fun to see what a cover designer comes up with. Also, nerve-wracking. I’m waiting for the cover of my next Steel Born story and I’m biting my nails!
Oddly, I dont care much about showing abs and stuff. I actually prefer to have a man and a woman in the throes of passion on the front. Woman pressed against the man. I like those the most.
LOL I had no idea you were once a prude! LOL Fun post Jessa!!!
Lisa
I don’t care what is on the cover as long what ever it is matches what is in the book.
I love when there’s a hot guy on the cover !
i love book covers that have hot guys with no shirt on! they don’t really need to be overly steamy either. it can just be a great shot of a muscular back with a nice background- its just eye catching