Periodically I get these non-descript packages from my editor and I always know what they are: Foreign Language editions. Oh, goody! What language is this going to be in and what will they do to the cover? I find the covers almost as interesting as the title translations.

Look at these wonderful renditions of This Rake of Mine:

japanrake

This Rake of Mine, Japanese Edition

This Rake of Mine, Dutch edition

This Rake of Mine, Dutch edition

I have to admit that when I opened the package yesterday with this Dutch version, I thought for a moment they’d inserted a vampire into the book. Just kidding!

This Rake of Mine, Czech edition

This Rake of Mine, Czech edition

Actually I love how each edition reflects a different aspect of the plot. In the Japanese edition, it gets that Jane Eyre treatment, with the lonely house on the hill, which is very much the shadowy sort of look I had in mind as I conjured up Jack’s house, Thistledown Park. Then in the Dutch version, they capture the lonely sea cliffs and the pirate/smuggler aspect of the plot—love this clinch on the cliffs, vampire notions aside. And then the Czechs go for that wonderful detailed gown, that I love so much, as well as the flowers—a nice touch from the end when the girls gather them for Malcolm. Very interesting how with one book, three translations, each can go in such diverse directions.

Yes, when these packages arrive, I just shake my head in wonder. Copies of my books all over the world, and wonderful readers as well! I know this because I look at my website statistics to see where my visitors are coming from—and in the last month, readers, the curious, the diehard fans have dropped by from 95 different countries and territories. 95?! In just the last 30 days?! It blows me away. I never imagined, ever, when I started writing that my books would have such a reach. I just hoped my local Barnes & Noble would carry them.

Actually, I’m still hoping for that one. They have a shelf for local authors, but I don’t rise to being local enough—despite living only five minutes from the store. Terry Brooks, yes. Susan Anderson, yes. (Apparently, according to the snooty manager, Susan Anderson doesn’t write romance—and don’t forget to hold your nose up a bit when you say that horrid word. Romance.) That used to bug the pants off me, but now I don’t care. I’ve got readers in Benin, Belarus, and the Maldives. Take that, you lowly local shelf.

4 Comments

  1. terri

    95 countries in 30 days, only a really good book can do that, written by a talented author. This is so awesome. The covers are wonderful and yes, I also love the different flare on each one.

    I can’t believe the B&N manager differentiates romance as being not a book or written by an author. Yeesh!

  2. Melissa Mc

    Very cool! I love foreign editions. So happy readers around the globe are discovering you!

  3. sheryl

    thats interesting, i never realized they changed the covers, duh. i liked the dutch version,very sexy

  4. Lexi

    It is so neat to see the foreign language editions- I love that Japanese cover!

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