And now a brief pause . . .
. . . for a commercial announcement. Don’t Look Down will be on sale April 4.
Yes, I know we said May, but St. Martin’s moved it to April. That may seem like a long time to you, but trust me, it’s going to be here in a flash. We now have a cover and a cover photo, and national print and TV advertising, and by the time we were finished scheduling the conferences we were going to be doing in 2006 and talking about the book tour with the fabulous publicity team at SMP, we ended up with over forty cities on the schedule. As Bob said, “We get lives in 2007.” Some of those cities are duplicates—Madison, Wisconsin gets stuck with us twice—but most aren’t, so Bob and I will be sparkling and shining all over the country. Well, I’ll be sparkling and shining. Bob will be taciturn and intriguing. Or something.
In other news, the Crusie-Mayer website goes live on January 1, with contests and excerpts from the book and dossiers on all the characters and photographs of locations in the book and the Crusie-Mayer Blog. Yes, Bob and I are doing a dueling blog for 2006, or at least for the part of it where we’re flogging DLD. This was Bob’s idea, so there’s a good chance he’ll actually blog there, especially if I keep jabbing him. And yes, I’ll keep Argh Ink going, too, because this is MINE MINE MINE and I can talk about anything I want here. Over there, I’ll have to talk about the tour and what’s going on and how I didn’t kill Bob even though the temptation was great and he’ll have to talk about the tour and how he didn’t kill me although he wanted to and knew how to make it look like a natural death. We haven’t discussed what to call it yet—The Gator Blog, maybe?—but we’ll think of something.
In the meantime, here’s the cover:
Why, yes, it is kind of chick lit looking, isn’t it? But when you take the book jacket off, the book itself is printed in camouflage. How cool is that? It was Bob’s idea, and I love it, the whole subliminal message, the hero undercover, romance wrapped around a military thriller. And our incredible editor Jen says that it can be a running motif, so we’re hoping that Agnes and the Hitman will have a cheerful Italian cooking and wedding cover, not quite so chick-litty, over a black book printed with bullet holes. I love this stuff.
Oh, and here’s the author photo SMP picked:
Doesn’t Bob look relaxed and cheerful and cute with his chin on his hands? That would be the beer. About eight hours of it. And I did so hand it to him. Not every one of them, but I handed some of it to him, as did many others. Everybody was sedating the puppy.
And now we return to our regularly scheduled, not quite so exploitive, blog.
Yay! I’ll have to go pre-order my copy right now.
And Bob’s very Colin Firth-y in the photo. He’s even…dare I say…cute!
Yay! I can’t wait for the book!!
Bob is very good looking. And you’re cute, too! I’m a fan of the pink and brown combo.
Can’t wait for the book!!! And the blog!!! I’m excited, can ya tell?
Wonderful photo - except [sorry, the Virgo in me must bring this up] for the lamp cord. A little Photoshop magic?
Sorry, sorry, sorry, I apologize.
I am so looking forward to the book. Even if I have to hide my eyes while I read some parts (to steal a Gin-ism).
I am so excited! The book motif is such a neat idea- that way I can get my dh to read it also!
Based on the pictures you blogged on before, I can definitely see why they picked that one- CUTE!!! (Sorry, Bob)
Looking forward to (hopefully) seeing you in Southern NE!
The book looks great, but your blog is a day ahead…unless you live in another country.
It’s on 5 here in Oregon, so it threw me to see tomorrow’s date already.
Hope you have a great day!
cant wait for that book!
hehehe. any idea when will that be release in the philippines???
ps. great picture!
I know you say that DLD will be out in April, but what you’re talking about is the *official* published DLD.
But you have a copy, and Bob has a copy, and probably other people have copies… why so stingy with the copies?
It’s the Holiday season, and I’ve been good, and I would like a copy, please. Tout suite.
I have purchased many copies of your books. Hard back even. I have red hot Christmas cash in my pocket and will offer it to you. I also have a Horton Hunter Max 200 Crossbow — I think Bob would like it.
//hahaha just kidding thanks.
//Uh, not really.
//If I had Bob-like skillz, could I get my hands on an unofficial copy?? Could I?
//Why do you hate the Holiday season of giving?? Why? Why?
Can I say I love everything without coming across as syncophantic and moronic? Who cares! I love everything!
Ooohh, I LOVE IT! All of it. The cover looks good, I like the idea of making the hardback camoflauge. The author picture is great. You both look like you were having a bit of fun at that point!( Must be the beers.) Congratulations. I will eagerly be waiting for the release.
Sedating the puppy? Not without a 2×4
(sigh) April is such a lovely month. Trees and flowers are awakening from their winter nap, shaking off winter’s doldrums as they begin to to bud and blossom in a vast array of color and life. Small wild creatures stick quivering noses out of burrows and caves to sniff the fresh air as colts and lambs and calves cavort in the new spring grass under their mothers’ watchful eyes. And Bob and Jenny’s newest creation will finally be here for our adoring eyes to read and devour and rejoice over. Aaahh, yes, April is a beautiful month…. Bless you, Jenny and Bob!
yeah!!!!!! i’m so excited i think some of our snow has melted because of it
April 4th! I knew that day looked familiar, it’s my husband’s birthday. I might have to buy a birthday present to celebrate the wonder of his existance and the joy our love brings to me. So, of course I will be buying a book for me.
Me again, anonymous. Apparently when you put in the funny looking verification letter and press the “login and publish” button it does just that. What a suprise. I think I now have a name but I quit the blog sign up process half way through when it asked me to name my blog.
So, how did you decide whose name was going above the “and”? Careful negotiation? Name that girl group competition? Target shooting? Or was it just alphabetical?
By the way, Agnes and the Hitman is a great title. Much better than Shane and the Food Writer. Much, much better.
You’ve made my day!
Jenny you look beautiful and Bob looks *HOT* … please post more Bob pix please…
Ok. They edited out the light and cord for the cover photo.
Jennifer did hand me one beer. A great contribution to the entire ordeal.
For the record, somebody was also putting goop in my hair and using some device on it.
As far as whose name was one place and whose was the other, that never even came up. Because it doesn’t matter.
But I did notice the gator is eating my name and I’m not sure what subliminal message that sends.
And now back to Shane and the Food Critic.
Twice in Madison, eh? I suppose my folks would drop dead of sheer shock if I visited twice in one year, though…
Hi Jennifer,
Kewl photo with puppy! I’m really looking forward to the book. April is a good month because that’s when I cry over my taxes and you and Bob can console me as I sign over the fat check to the fat guy, and I don’t mean Santa. I mean, your book can make me laugh in between my sobs. I hope to catch you at one of your scheduled stops! I’ll even hand the puppy a beer.
I’m sorry, but Bob is not cute. Cute is for little kids, and kittens, and mushy-gushy valentine cards.
Bob is HOT!
Love the pics. Just finished Bet Me and Faking It (not at the same time, though). Loved them both. Going back to the bookstore tomorrow for more Jenny books.
I am telling absolutely EVERYONE to read all of Jenny’s books. Bet Me was my first - caught by the title - and then I had to have all of them. Cannot wait for this one, interesting set-up.
Jenny! You look great! Bob looks human! Jen Maler is AMAZING. And now I’m off to preorder 10 copies.
Perhaps a compromise… The Foodie and the Hitman?