1. What was the first book you remember reading? Can you describe the cover on the book and did you like the cover?

Suz: The first book (chapter book!) I remember reading was HERE COMES THE BUS by Carolyn Keene, and I do remember that there was a big yellow school bus on the cover. My older sister got it from the school library (I was in preschool at the time), and I remember being really upset that she returned it before I finished it – and no one in my family believed that I was actually reading it! I think I was three… I remember the heft of the book and the way it felt in my hands more than I remember being struck by the cover.

2. Have you ever purchased a book because of the cover alone? If yes, which one and why?

Suz: Actually yes! It was the novel tie-in to the movie SLOW HAND LUKE, starring Paul Newman. I was thirteen and bought the book at Mammoth Mart (seriously!) because Paul was on the cover.

4. Who gave you your first break in publishing?

Suz: Kismet Meteor – My first published book was the last book they published. (Note: Don’t be surprised when a line of category romances called “Meteor” does the crash and burn thing…)

5. What was your first published book and what did the cover look like? Did you love it or hate it and why?

Suz: That book, published by Meteor Kismet, was called FUTURE PERFECT. (Their title – mine was BED AND BREAKFAST.) The cover was lovely, because it was a cover, and my name was on it! I totally loved it. LOL! (I have the artwork up on my website.)

Suz: I think it’s probably ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT. The cover depicts Boston’s South End in wintertime. And I think I love it so much because I love the book, which features Jules Cassidy and Robin Chadwick’s wedding. It’s a special one for me.

Random House, 2007

7. What has been your least favorite cover from all of your releases and why?

Suz: That would be GET LUCKY – one of my category romances from my Tall, Dark & Dangerous series about Navy SEAL Team Ten, published by Silhouette Intimate Moments.

The book is about Luke “Lucky” O’Donlon, who is THE most handsome man in a SEAL team of very good looking men. And yet the cover artist put the Pillsbury Doughboy on the cover. Seriously, he was popping out of his dress whites. And he was disproportionate. He had stubby little legs and hot dog fingers. Not exactly dreamboat material.

The heroine in the book refers to him as “Ken-doll perfect.” That was a little frustrating, but pretty hilarious. I was able to get readers laughing with me. I kept saying, “You know how authors always claim they have the worst cover EVER? Well, I really do. You’ve got to come to my website to check this puppy out…”

10. Do you have a current or upcoming release to share with Cover Cafe? Please give us the details and a peek at the cover, too!

Suz: My next hardcover from Ballantine Books, HOT PURSUIT, will be in bookstores on July 28th – which is the same date as the paperback reissue of OTHERWISE ENGAGED, a book that was first published years ago by Bantam Loveswept. (Both books have great covers!)

HOT PURSUIT is the 15th installment in my ongoing Troubleshooters series.

In this book, Alyssa (and Sam) tangle with a serial killer known as “the Dentist.” Jules and Robin play a part, as do Navy SEALs Izzy Zanella, Jay Lopez and Danny Gillman. The book is set in New York City, and the cover is a rather nice depiction of the Manhattan skyline.