Rink Rat

A few years ago at the Romance Writers of America convention, Harlequin gave out the convention bags. They have pictures of Harlequin covers on them, including some vintage books. I love my bag. Anyway, I noticed a hockey book on the Harlequin bag. I looked it up online and now have in my hot little hands a copy of Rink Rat (copyright 1951).

As a Harlequin author who wrote a hockey dad book, I was intrigued. I have to share a few tidbits.

1. From the back cover: Look behind the scenes of professional hockey...into the dressing rooms.

Okay. What? Really? I'm so in for that. (Except, I've been in the car with a hockey bag before and I really believe a hockey locker room must...well...reek. Maybe that's why we're just looking and not actually going behind the scenes.)

2. More from the back cover: Why did the young man from the back streets of a prairie town fight his way to the very top and then...but that's the story.

Back cover copy is a bit less obvious these days, but I like this direct approach.

3. One more from the back cover: Against the background of the fastest game on earth is laid an ADULT story

The caps are really on the cover, just like that. It's code, right?

4. Serendipity: The heroine in my hockey dad book is named Clare. Mr. MacMillan's heroine is named Claire. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? (Those caps are mine.)

5. Okay, here are the first few sentences: Cave Durrell was born in Spadina City, Saskatchewan. His mother died early and his father, hitherto considered a man most likely to succeed (he being both personable and brilliant) was so broken up by it he sought surcease in looking upon the wine when it was red, white, brown or just any convenient color.

Hitherto? Surcease? Nice. I like the way the back story is coming out gradually.

I will read more and keep you posted on Cave's doings. (I'd keep you posted on the dad and the wine he looks upon, but he dies in the next paragraph.)

P.S. Harlequin has some of the vintage covers for sale on notebooks and other merchandise. I like the Doctor Scott notebook because it mentions the author's previous book, Nurse Ellen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Scrivener

Image
Last year, I started using Scrivener as my primary writing software. I wrote this blog before the new version of Scrivener came out. I have the new version and it's great. Most of what I said here is still applicable. Scrivener is a robust, powerful software program designed specifically for writers. Sounds great, right? Even better? It's cheap. Only $40.00. You can download a test copy or buy it direct from the website . Here are some things I like about Scrivener. 1. The main window includes (from left to right) a working outline, a writing area, and labeling tools all in one view.     The outline is on the left. You can change the titles of sections, move things, and expand or collapse the outline all while you have your manuscript open in the main window. I create a file for each scene because that provides more flexibility when reorganizing. Here's a closer look. (The outline is really just notes to myself about the scene. They wouldn't make much sense to
Read more

Mommy, where do books come from?

Image
"Mommy, where do books come from?" "Well, dear, if they're Harlequin books, it's likely they come from the warehouse in Buffalo, New York." "A book warehouse? What's that?" Glad you asked... A few weeks ago I had the enormous pleasure of participating in the Harlequin Customer Service Representative Appreciation day. It was a fascinating day, meeting the customer service representatives and touring the Harlequin distribution center. First thing I saw when I pulled in? Geese. Okay, that wasn't interesting. But the very next thing I saw was an eighteen-wheeler with the Harlequin logo on the side. That was totally cool. Too bad I forgot to take a picture. Next time. When I met with the customer service representatives I was delighted to bring them gifts. Thanks to the generosity of the other Superromance authors, I had piles of signed books, bookmarks, pens, and other small presents. I'd also collected signed book covers and made them into
Read more

Calling All Big Books: It's a Contest!

A friend went to see Salman Rushdie speak at Cornell last week. She mentioned that he advised the writers in the audience to write shorter books. According to Mr. Rushdie, you get paid the same amount of money for shorter books and can write more of them. To this I say, "Whah!" I love long books. Long, good books. Long, deliciously written good books with characters I can really care about. I'm looking at you, Miss Scarlet O'Hara. I don't need to go into the reasons for this. A quick, top of the list survey would include "lazy" and "cheap." Those aren't the only reasons, though, I swear. I like to settle in and enjoy a time and place and people. My astrological sign might be a factor in this--we Aquarians prefer a few special people rather than hordes of acquaintances. Huh. Anyway!! Recommend a long book! Who knows a good one? I'm rereading a favorite right now but I have a coupon for Borders burning a hole in my pocket. I'll send a
Read more