When I first saw an advertisement in Shelf Awareness for Rebecca Dean’s debut, PALACE CIRCLE, with a huge quote from Nora Roberts saying that anyone who liked Philippa Gregory would also like this book, I was intrigued. Even more so when I started reading what the book was about – a Virginian heiress who marries an English viscount and the story of their lives and their daughters up through the Second World War. I have to say I wasn’t too convinced it was anything like Philippa Gregory at that point. So I emailed the publicist for an ARC, not imagining I’d actually get one. To my surprise, it arrived in the mail last week.
We all know the typical rules for historical romance – stay before 1900, be wary of exotic settings (as an editor I love them, but it’s a rare book that readers will embrace too), and keep the focus on your main characters. PALACE CIRCLE is issued in trade as historical fiction, so it has a little more leeway. But even so, it’s broken every single rule. It’s set 1911-40, half of it is in Egypt, and the book is broken into five parts with five different characters’ points of view. Not too surprising that the publisher is so heavily touting a familiar comparison from one of the leading voices in romance.
I found myself wondering how the heck they’re going to convince readers to pick up this book. Obviously they’ve got a big ARC campaign going, hoping to build word-of-mouth buzz. And I notice the cover has changed significantly from the ARC to the final:
The different style of dress is not only more vibrant but to me also more reminescent of the 19th century than 20th. Which I’m sure isn’t a bad thing in the eye of marketers. And at least the front cover lines and the back copy make the setting clear. (Though very little–if any–of the book was “at court.”)
I highly applaud authors and publishers who are willing to take risks and go outside the boundaries typically confined to “what sells.” I really hope this works for everyone. PALACE CIRCLE will be released March 24 by Broadway Books, part of Random House.
What is it that makes you pick up a book outside the norm, either an author you don’t know or a period of time you’re not as familiar with? How do you feel about the different cover treatments (minus my shoddy photography on the first)?
March 9, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Hi Leah!
Just found your blog and am enjoying it – thank you!
I had to think about this one – what makes me try something new. I couldn’t put my finger on any one particular trait. For me, it’s restlessness that inspires me to try something different.
I’m an avid reader of paranormal and futuristic romances (which means I love LoveSpell) but lately, so many have started to sound the same I find the restlessness (boredom?) creeping in so am looking for something different. What I really like are stories where I go to exotic locations of the past (Ancient Egypt and the Maya being my fav) and learn about them while enjoying the characters.
That being said, despite it being pretty, this cover alone would not inspire me to pick up the book – it’s too much like a historical romance which I don’t read. Neither would the title – it tells me nothing about the story.
I’d actually have to read the blurb and when I saw that it’s set part in Egypt, they might have me. Now that you’ve blogged about it, I’m interested in picking it up to check it out. So, that’s word of mouth more than anything.
Mind coming back and telling us what you thought after reading it?
March 10, 2009 at 9:45 am
I think this book sounds pretty interesting. I miss the sweeping sagas that used to be so popular and this sounds like one of those stories. The issue is how reluctant I’d feel about moving past the original love story, which sounds really fun and passionate. I’ll probably wait a bit to hear what people (readers) say about it. But if it’s long, I might buy it anyway. I like a book that will last me a while.
Also, I think the 2nd cover is much much better. The gown in the 1st is way too wimpy and sissy.
March 13, 2009 at 8:22 am
I’m noticing a trend in the CBA market regarding historical fiction. The old rule of “no historicals before 1900” is going away and being broken more and more. There are a lot of successful inspirational romances set between 1900 – 1945 out on the shelves right now. Julie Lessman’s “A Passion Most Pure” comes to mind as well as several of Robin Lee Hatcher’s books.
The reason I think this is happening is because we are now coming into an era in the 21st century when 1900 is over a hundred years ago. The generations of that time are gone. Many of us remember grandparents talking about that time period, but we didn’t live it, and it’s interesting to upcoming generations.
I think the next ten years is going to show a shift in this direction, especially as we mark the 100 years of the Titantic in 2012, and other events like the women’s vote in 2020.
My agent is encouraging me to write a 1929 book I pitched to him and I think it’s because it’s different. Most books between 1900-1945 are about three things: WWI, WWII, and the Great Depression-which is a huge topic of discussion right now considering our current economy. But is about a different historical event that took place besides those things, so it’s different, and interesting.
I’d like to see more books in this time frame. It makes me feel like I’m reconnecting with my grandmother again. I bet a lot of folks might feel that way.
Love the topic of this post.
March 13, 2009 at 3:35 pm
[…] those who asked whether I enjoyed Rebecca Dean’s PALACE CIRCLE, the answer is yes. I had a horrible head cold last weekened and spent all Saturday on the couch […]