Relative Point From BSA Nora Roberts
I wanted to addendum this to the previous post, but figured it was long enough as it is. I saw Nora Roberts make a very relative point in a comment over at Karenknowsbest:
I was reading reviews over at Black Expressions this morning and noticed the cover of Millenia Black's The Great Betrayal. I have a copy on its way to me, so haven't read it yet, but this is supposedly the story of a white family right? All white characters? So why is Black Expressions (still?) using this cover?
Has anybody visiting read The Great Betrayal yet? What did your cover look like? From the acid some of the BE reviewers are spitting, it appears the characters are indeed white. I'll post an update when my copy arrives from Barnes & Noble (their .jpeg doesn't have the couple on it.)
At least Millenia's complaint raises the issue of the negative impact of the wrong cover being sent to various places. I don't think this is very good for Penguin's defense, whatever it may be. Talk about misleading! Talk about pissed off readers! They're already ripping it to shreds on Black Expressions because the cover leads you to believe one thing, but when you read it....it's nothing of the kind. And as Nora points out---the author will be the one to take the heat for "disappointing and annoying" readers. Poor Millenia.
Updated 1/16/07
Just got an email that the book cover has been updated........now it looks like this.......think my blog had anything to do with it? Nah, more than likely the lawsuit.
I received my copy and it doesn't have the AA models on the cover. I plan to try and start the book by the weekend. I'll post my thoughts once I've finish.
"I tend to doubt many writers--unless they have big muscles--have any particular say in how the publisher labels the book.....
But I just can't see Sally Author, selling her first or second book to Publisher X being consulted about the label. But it will be Sally who takes the heat from the annoyed reader if that labeling isn't correct.
The reader plunks down her bucks for a book, and settles down to read it with certain expectations due to where it was shelved, how it was packaged, how it was labeled and marketed. If those expectations aren't met--particularly any of the key expectations in genre--books and IPAQS fly. Sally has disappointed and annoyed the reader."
(Nora Roberts)
I was reading reviews over at Black Expressions this morning and noticed the cover of Millenia Black's The Great Betrayal. I have a copy on its way to me, so haven't read it yet, but this is supposedly the story of a white family right? All white characters? So why is Black Expressions (still?) using this cover?
Has anybody visiting read The Great Betrayal yet? What did your cover look like? From the acid some of the BE reviewers are spitting, it appears the characters are indeed white. I'll post an update when my copy arrives from Barnes & Noble (their .jpeg doesn't have the couple on it.)
At least Millenia's complaint raises the issue of the negative impact of the wrong cover being sent to various places. I don't think this is very good for Penguin's defense, whatever it may be. Talk about misleading! Talk about pissed off readers! They're already ripping it to shreds on Black Expressions because the cover leads you to believe one thing, but when you read it....it's nothing of the kind. And as Nora points out---the author will be the one to take the heat for "disappointing and annoying" readers. Poor Millenia.
Updated 1/16/07
Just got an email that the book cover has been updated........now it looks like this.......think my blog had anything to do with it? Nah, more than likely the lawsuit.I received my copy and it doesn't have the AA models on the cover. I plan to try and start the book by the weekend. I'll post my thoughts once I've finish.
posted by Bestselling Author, Pontif. at 1/10/2007
8 Comments:
I bought the book from Amazon, it didn't have the pics, just the bed. I think it was a great book, very well-written. Too bad all the controversy over race surrounds it.
I brought the book from Black Expressions and the cover consist of only the bed and no people. If those who posted their opinion of the book also received the same book cover that I received then I can still understand their assumption that the characters were going to black. This is based on all the fact that nearly all the other books that are sold at the Black Expressions site feature black characters.
Great job BSA.
Thats a good point because I look at the cover for one and then the synposis before I purchase a book.
I would have been very disappointed to see this cover and realized the story is indeed a misrepresentation of its cover.
After looking at this cover you presented here I'm left with the assumption that the storyline represents a black couple (something I would read based upon my preference of reading books written by black authors, depicing black characters).
Nora Roberts, made a very valid point... in the end it's the writer who is left dealing with annoyed readers, resulting in a lack of sales for future books written by that particular author.
What a publishing blunder, or was it intentionally? Who knows... shame on them if thats the case.
Shame on them indeed if it was deliberate.....I can see why they would do it...it's all about the packaging and they want that AA market at all costs.
Have you finished reading the book? If so, what are your thoughts on it?
No! Unfortunately it's been sitting on my night table neglected because I've been too exhausted to read anything before bed. I have promised myself to start it this weekend, though. I'm really eager to check it out.
Will keep you posted, I promise.
I just finished the book. I enjoyed The Great Pretender, but after reading this one I must say I have a new appreciation for Millenia's talent. The Great Betrayal is an excellent book with crippling grief and betrayal at the core. The main character Leslie Cavanaugh broke my heart, I really felt the pain of her loss throughout the entire book and it's written in such a way that you can forgive the choices she made because of it. Clever story!
It saddens me that Millenia's career may well be over because she chose to fight this battle. She really is an excellent talent. I sincerely hope things work out for her and she can continue in her career as a writer. There's no doubt she has what it takes to be a BSA with a huge following.
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