A fun way to show off old and new stepback cover art is to post them on “Stepback Saturdays” on bookish Instagram or Bookstagram. Using #stepbacksaturday bookish Instagrammers upload pictures of cover art.
Historical Romance Review: Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey
In Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey, her popular Malory series romance, ex-pirate James Malory meets his match in Georgina, an American girl disguised as his cabin boy! 5 stars
Stepback Covers Part V: 1990s Stepbacks
By 1990 every established publishing house was rethinking the way they did cover art. The stepback was starting to mean something special. Rising stars–both authors and artists–would combine for a winning combination, and no publisher could ignore that.
Stepback Covers Part IV: 1980s Romance Stepbacks
Throughout the 1980s, romance publishers would use various tricks to catch prospective buyers’ eyes: embossing, foil lettering, bright colors, explicit embraces, big-named artists, superstar cover models, and more. Nevertheless, the stepback was not commonly utilized until the mid-1980s.
Covers of the Week #48: George Ziel
For the week of Monday, March 7, 2022, to Sunday, March 13, 2022, we’re showing off the exquisite artwork of cover illustrator George Ziel.
Stepback Covers Part III: The First Stepback in Romance
I’ve searched around to find which was the first mainstream paperback romance to use a genuine stepback cover. I’m not 100% sure but it looks like Pocket Books published it in 1979.
Stepback Covers Part II: The History of the Stepback
The history of stepback covers goes back to the early-to-mid-20th century. Bantam, Warner, and Pocket Books would be among the first paperback publishers to use this innovative cover design in the 1970s.
Category Romance Review: Moon Witch by Anne Mather
Harlequin Presents #38 Moon Witch by Anne Mather In this vintage romance, a much older man falls for his younger ward. It’s an uncomfortable, but compelling read. 3.5 Stars
Different Books, Same Cover #1
Publishers often re-use artwork to save money or time. We found quite a few examples of different romance books with the same or similar cover art.
Stepback Covers Are Back & Why We Love Them
Conversations about romance covers always draw strong opinions. Are they a source of cringe or are they a form of art? The stepback cover has been popular in the genre for over 35 years. One reason for that is due to discretion. With stepbacks, you can have your clinch and eat it, too.