Heather sent me a pile of links to epic covers awhile back, and I realized, as I was looking at them for about the fifth time, we haven't discussed the TRUE COLOR OF ROMANCE in awhile.
That would be fuchsia, if you're curious. Only because of this site have I memorized how to spell “fuchsia.” It used to be one of those words I could never get right on the first try – but now, it's all good, mostly because of old skool romance covers. Fuchsia is named for the fuchsia flower, which I happen to love a lot for hanging baskets, but the color itself I love even MORE.
And fuchsia is one of those colors we don't see much of anymore. Covers that are redone for reissues are rarely replete with the fuchsia. For example:
Oh, yeah. That's some fuchsia. The dress, the backdrop, even the hero's hair is echoing a little bit of the fuchsia.
The new cover is Not the Fuchsia:
Which do you like better? I'm all about the fuchsia, though I know that cover on the shelf wouldn't work with all it's fuchesty.
What, more fuchsia? Oh, yeah. Heather found ALL the best fuchsia.
FUCHSIA and a CURLY MULLET?! I need to go to bed now, becuase there's no way the day can get any better than Fuchsia + Curly Mullet.
And Sweet Holy Soul Glo, that's about the curliest mullet I've ever seen. (And good golly, no wonder he hasn't lifted her up – her hair must weigh six stone.)
Anyway, back in the day, fuchsia was everywhere. EVERYWHERE.
When Fuchia was in Egypt's Laaaaaaaand! Egypt was fuchia and populated with very fair women and pink-haired Fabio? I had no idea!
Also: this book is about Anqet and Count Seth. I don't think I could love a hero name more than “Count Seth.”
This image is from the Fabio fanclub website, which is about the best fuchia and mantitty repository ever assembled.
The Goodreads review stars for this book seem very complimentary, so I'm curious about it. But I confess, I like the original cover much better than the Subtle Bejeweled Peen cover.
Not nearly enough fuchsia in that cover. So, what's your favorite fuchsia cover from days of yore? Share share!
It’s probably not as severe as these, but one that stands out in my collection is Beloved Wife, by Lynda Trent. There’s a lot of pink, purple, and red hair.
I’m not into Westerns / pioneer romances, but I remember really enjoying it back in high school. (My early romance novel days.)
In Italian would that be fook ya or fookeeya?
Old school painted romance covers were about at level with speculative high fantasy, they were all about adventure, swords and people with ridiculous hairstyles.
Big fuchsia flowers and The Love I Could Not Bring Out in the Open—- BACK DOOR LOVE: Young Romance
I think I just fell a wee bit in love with you.
Wow. The guy on that Anne Stuart book really looks like Rufus Sewell, except with a mullet. Even Rufus Sewell does not look good with The Mullet.
Nobody can resist the Hammett Mullet of Awesome.
Wow, even the ships in the bay are fuschia! Like a colonial version of Operation Petticoat.
Elizabeth Hoyt’s latest novel is more evidence that fuschia is still alive and kicking.
I was also thinking Rufus Sewell! Specifically in A Knight’s Tale.
That curly mullet guy’s face looks a little like Adomar in “A Knight’s Tale.”
I like the “subtle” fuchsia (even though it is right there it took me three tries to spell it!) on the cover of Flora Speer’s A Love Beyond Time. The only book I can think of, from when I first started reading Romance (at 11 years old) that didn’t have fuchsia on the cover was Julie Garwood’s The Secret, and the old Halequins with the orange stripes at the top. At the time I was also really into Piers Anthony’s Xanth novels and even those did not escape the fuchsia!
I totally didn’t read anyone else’s comments! Allison right above me had the exact same thought I did!
Great Minds think like me!
I have super curly hair and the only way to comb it is when it is wet and I have used copious amounts of conditioner or olive oil!
For anyone who may have difficulty with the spelling after walking away from this discussion: Fuchsia was on a list of potential spelling bee words when my daughter was competing back in junior high. We came up with little tricks to remember the confusing parts. So, for example, if fuchsia (fuschia?? fushcia??) was one of your school’s colors, you obviously went to a C-colorful H-high S-school = F U C H S I A.
No one does old skool like Virginia Henley. Awash in fuchsia and the opening line is ‘What a beautiful cock!’
(In fact I think the ‘tasteful’ re-do is a entire cover of fuchsia coloured mist and a vague outline of a ship in the corner.)
This thread made me remember one of my first absolute favourite romances – “Jasmine on the Wind” by Mallory Dorn Hart. I have re-read it countless times. And some of the cover versions are definitely fuchsia galore:
I forgot that one! It’s been at the front of one of my bookcase for nearly twelve years, and I keep meaning to read it.
I think the fuchsia went here.
Inspired to write time travel comedy romance . . .
Back to the Fuschia!
Virginia Henley and Hannah Howell both have numerous covers of old-skool fuchsia glory. HH’s “Silver Flame” is especially pink. I adore the cover of the “Heart of the Falcon” by Suzanne Robinson. So glad that my finds are still entertaining you! I love working in a used book store. 🙂
I’m really digging the mullets.
is it me or does the fuchsia mullet sort of look like Rufus Sewell in a bad halloween wig? It would be better if the wig were fuchsia of course.
I was curious about Romance (read SEX) novels in high school, and my best friend and I finally giggled ourselves into buying one. The one we picked was, of course, blazing in fuchsia glory. Behold! “Fascination” by Stella Cameron. And it is a real WTFer, too. If you find it in a book sale or at your library, grab that fuchsia and hold on for a wacky ride. (Fuchsia is not used in the previous sentence as a euphemism for man-titty in spite of the way this cover looks.) To this day, I cannot resist a little fuchsia. Stop that giggling.
http://isbn.abebooks.com/mz/41…
WOW! Fuchsia AND silver hair? LOL!