Book Releases

Holding On (Colorado High Country #6) —
The Colorado High Country series returns with Conrad and Kenzie's story.

A hero barely holding on…

Harrison Conrad returned to Scarlet Springs from Nepal, the sole survivor of a freak accident on Mt. Everest. Shattered and grieving for his friends, he vows never to climb again and retreats into a bottle of whiskey—until Kenzie Morgan shows up at his door with a tiny puppy asking for his help. He’s the last person in the world she should ask to foster this little furball. He’s barely capable of managing his own life right now, let alone caring for a helpless, adorable, fluffy puppy. But Conrad has always had a thing for Kenzie with her bright smile and sweet curves. One look into her pleading blue eyes, and he can’t say no.

The woman who won’t let him fall…

Kenzie Morgan’s life went to the dogs years ago. A successful search dog trainer and kennel owner, she gets her fill of adventure volunteering for the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. The only thing missing from her busy life is love. It’s not easy finding Mr. Right in a small mountain town, especially when she’s unwilling to date climbers. She long ago swore never again to fall for a guy who might one day leave her for a rock. When Conrad returns from a climbing trip haunted by the catastrophe that killed his best friend, Kenzie can see he’s hurting and wants to help. She just might have the perfect way to bring him back to the world of the living. But friendship quickly turns into something more—and now she’s risking her heart to heal his.

In ebook and soon in print!


About Me

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I grew up in Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, then lived in Denmark and traveled throughout Europe before coming back to Colorado. I have two adult sons, whom I cherish. I started my writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor of two different papers. Along the way, my team and I won numerous state and several national awards, including the National Journalism Award for Public Service. In 2011, I was awarded the Keeper of the Flame Lifetime Achievement Award for Journalism. Now I write historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense.

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Seductive Musings

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

This just in: The new cover for UNTAMED 2.0




I am in love!

I just got this cover from my editor at Berkley Sensation (Penguin USA). As you can see, it’s for the re-released version of Untamed. And I shrieked when I saw it because, there in the background, are the ramparts of Fort Ticonderoga (Fort Carillon), where much of the story takes place.

I am so happy I could sprout wings and fly!

This editor is the same one who brought you Jed Hill on the cover of Breaking Point and who went out of her way to make sure the new covers for the MacKinnon’s Rangers series were historically accurate (no tipis!). Her name is Cindy, and she flat-out freaking rocks.

Say it with me: Thank you, Cindy!!!

Thanks to the production team at Berkley, too. I owe them all a beer. Maybe one of these days I’ll get to New York and be able to deliver on that promise.

I turned the edited version of Untamed in this morning, together with “The Ballad of Morgan MacKinnon,” which will go in the book this time. As some of you know — and some of you don’t — Untamed had 25 pages of content cut out to fit the original publisher’s arbitrary maximum page count. They kept shrinking the size of their books — smaller books = more books per box = lower paper, printing and shipping costs — and I kept paying the price for that because I write long stories. (My contracts say the books need to be no fewer than 90,000 words; almost all of my books exceed 115,000 words, which is one reason it takes me longer to write them. There are more pages.)

For the re-released version, which will be out in January, we went back to the original untouched manuscript. Those 25 pages are in the book, which has a different edit this time, too. I’d forgotten until I was doing copy edits on the manuscript this weekend that the villain dies in a completely different way in the original version. (Talk about making huge changes to a story! Ouch!) I was so excited, because I much prefer it.

Untamed got a starred review from Publishers Weekly when it first came out, but it’s never quite had the buzz that Surrender did, and I think that’s in part because those 25 pages were cut. I have discovered in editing my older manuscripts that I don’t put unnecessary stuff in, so when you take stuff out, you’re changing the emotional tone of the story. As I read Untamed, I actually really liked it. And, as my Home Team can attest, I don’t say that very often.

So I feel very good about Surrender 2.0 and Untamed 2.0 and can’t wait to share them with you! Today, at least, I get to share this freaking awesome cover.

And here’s some photos from Fort Ticonderoga that my son and mother took when we visited for research purposed back in Autumn 2008.


You can still see the remnant of the French lines in the forest around the fort.

Here’s a view from the upper level of the fort looking down toward Lake Champlain with the La Chute River (plays a role in the story) and Rattlesnake Mountain (where the Rangers spy on the French) just out of the photo to the viewer’s right.

This is close to the view from the cover of the book. To your right would be the lake (and ahead of you, as well, because Fort Ti is on a peninsula) and Rattlesnake Mountain. The other photos of the lake were taken from up there.

A closeup of a cannon with Rattlesnake Mountain in the back. Up there, hidden among the trees, the MacKinnon Brothers are spyin’ on the French with their Mahican brother beside them....

Thanks for reading! I just wanted to share my excitement.

(P.S. Who has figured out that I’m just a big history nerd masquerading as a romance novelist?)

11 comments:

Here, here. Thank you Cindy!

The cover is gorgeous & I can't wait to read the new material. I'm excited to read them as you meant for them to be! I know we all go on & on about the I-Team but I love your historicals just as much! Everything you write is amazing! Thank you Cindy for the cover & thank you Pamela for the words behind the cover!

Ronlyn said...

WONDERFUL cover! I love it!

Cindy is da'bomb!

I just noticed the warrior braid. Cindy really pays attention to the details. God, I'm still over the moon about this.

Thanks, Kristie! Thanks, Tonya! Thanks, Ronlyn!

Of course, you know what's next, right Kristie, dear? I'll give you a hint... It starts with the word "Ride." ;-)

Mandy Reekie Wong said...

I love seeing the original research pics. Makes me appreciate the cover all the more--which rocks by the way! The pics will help me visualize! Also, I know I am probably not alone in saying that I love that your books are longer. Your detail is always amazing. I tell my friends that they are sexy and romantic with a very intelligent story.

The new cover is gorgeous! Thank you Cindy!

Ellie C said...

Cover looks great! I've not had the opportunity to visit that part of the country, but as one history nerd to another, thanks for the historical and geographical accuracy.

landin said...

Oh my goodness,this has to be the best cover of a book I've ever seen! I think we all should give Cindy a big collective kiss!

I can't wait to get this book,it's got the kind of cover I'll want to display,awesome job!

The new cover rocks, and so does Cindy! I'm looking forward to those extra pages about my favourite MacKinnon. Personally, though I loved Surrender, I enjoyed Untamed more, not just because of Morrgan but because of the story and the depth of emotion between Morgan and Amalie. You just keep getting better.

I think I have mentioned to you on FB how much I love your books. I rcvd my autographed copy today and am just thrilled with it. Thank you (and your son)again. Now...the new cover, I love it and am excited to hear that Untamed 2.0 has had material previously edited out added back into it. Would I be over doing it by getting a third copy? ;o)
Love you blog and your books!
Betty

Oh, I love that cover!!! Very nice! Congratulations on having someone on your team who really IS on your team!

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