KAY THOMAS, Day 24, Month of Romantic Suspense [ Edited ]

[KayThomas_Auth…]

Hi Mary!

It’s great to meet you. Thanks for stopping by. I’ll look forward to seeing you on Facebook and Twitter. Oh yes, those Black Stallion books. I adored them. It’s interesting to me how much books become a part of you when you are child. I would check that first one out and reread it from time to time as a young teen. I can still picture the library copy in my head. It had a red cover. I suppose it was my first “comfort read.”

[KayThomas_Auth…]

becke_davis said:

What about your covers? I think they're great, but do you like them? I know some authors who say the guys on their covers are nothing like the way they picture the heroes. Do you have input in who the models are? Or the guys in the book trailers? I'm always curious about how much input the authors have.

I love my covers! I have been very fortunate. Harlequin’s art department has done a terrific job on all mine. While you don’t have input on the specific model, you do fill out a very detailed Art Fact Sheet describing him. Sometimes the art department “gets” him and sometimes they don’t. All of my covers have been “spot on” to my descriptions.

The most interesting thing concerning that was in BULLETPROOF TEXAS. My hero was an ex-Park Ranger. I was concerned the cover would have him in a uniform despite his EX status. I shouldn’t have worried. On the cover he’s not wearing a shirt at all…so everybody’s happy.

Book trailers I pay for myself, so I have “total control.” (Okay, I just had to write that sentence to see how ridiculous it looked.) In theory I have control over the trailers, in reality there are some limitations. But with trailers I do pick the model pictures from stock that I buy the rights to use. Same for the music and we go from there. I like to wait on the cover though if we have time, so I can get kinda close with my trailer model. 

[KayThomas_Auth…]

becke_davis wrote:

Kay, you've really been generous with your time today. I feel bad you had so much trouble signing in, but it's been really fun visiting with you!

This is your thread now, and you can come back and update it any time you want. Come back and tell us when you have new releases, new book trailers, B&N book signings, guest blogs or anything of interest. I've asked the tech dept. to put "Author" instead of "New User" by your name, so hopefully that will change soon.

Thank you so much for joining us - and it's a date for RWA National in NYC, 2011!!

_____

Becke, it's been my pleasure. I’ve had a terrific time. Thank you for having me and for asking such interesting questions. (Although I think you may now know more than you ever wanted to about whose voices I hear in my head!)

Best wishes to you and all your family with those weddings this summer and fall. I’ll look forward to seeing you in New York. We can start prepping our husbands now for that shopping trip.

Thanks to everyone who posted. You made me feel special today. I appreciate it and I’ll definitely be back to visit and to give you more “bulletproof scoop” as the occasion arises.

May your days be filled with good friends, good fortune, good health and good books!

Take care,

,

Kay

KayThomas.net

[mary_kennedy]

My white noise machine died and I need to get a new one! It's very relaxing--I used to set it to "ocean waves." When I first started working in advertising, I worked for a rock radio station in Nashville, with rock music blaring through the offices. Distracting at first, but I quickly got used to it, and somehow managed to tune it out. But ocean waves are the best...brings back happy memories of beach vacations.   

[mary_kennedy]

I love Castle! A friend told me about the show and I Tivo it. I was trying to think of similarities between Castle and Simon Baker on the Mentalist. Both are quirky (and hunky) characters. Love their dialogue and the interplay with the cast members.

[dhaupt]

Thanks Kay it was a pleasure meeting you here and I'll be sure to be in touch when I've read one of the books mentioned. I know I'll love it.

[becke_davis]

---

KayThomas_Author wrote:

becke_davis said:

What about your covers? I think they're great, but do you like them? I know some authors who say the guys on their covers are nothing like the way they picture the heroes. Do you have input in who the models are? Or the guys in the book trailers? I'm always curious about how much input the authors have.

I love my covers! I have been very fortunate. Harlequin’s art department has done a terrific job on all mine. While you don’t have input on the specific model, you do fill out a very detailed Art Fact Sheet describing him. Sometimes the art department “gets” him and sometimes they don’t. All of my covers have been “spot on” to my descriptions.

The most interesting thing concerning that was in BULLETPROOF TEXAS. My hero was an ex-Park Ranger. I was concerned the cover would have him in a uniform despite his EX status. I shouldn’t have worried. On the cover he’s not wearing a shirt at all…so everybody’s happy.

Book trailers I pay for myself, so I have “total control.” (Okay, I just had to write that sentence to see how ridiculous it looked.) In theory I have control over the trailers, in reality there are some limitations. But with trailers I do pick the model pictures from stock that I buy the rights to use. Same for the music and we go from there. I like to wait on the cover though if we have time, so I can get kinda close with my trailer model. 

Thanks so much for explaining this. I think a lot of readers are curious about this process.

---

[becke_davis]

Thanks so much, Kay - come visit us again soon!