Sadly David Selby had come to expect this at most casting calls.

Sorry, I have had distractions, both worldly and other-worldly, that have kept me from my sworn mission of spreading the word about the art of Women Running From Houses.

Using Quentin's "Staircase Through Time" I plan to remedy the situation over the next few days. Make sure to check out my future-past posts.

Thanks to all of you who have voiced concern and sent their sympathies.

Olivia, the Tormented

Olivia the Tormented by Katheryn Kimbrough
published by Popular Library
Copyright 1976

Sage of the Phenwick Women
OLIVIA,
THE TORMENTED

is one of the spellbinding novels in the greatest
series of gothic romances ever conceived -
THE SAGO OF THE PHENWICK WOMEN.
You won't want to miss the others,
exclusively in Popular Library editions.

The ghostly spirit of Augusta Phenwick predicted that
the future bride of handsome, virile Joshua Phenwick
would be named Olivia - but now Joshua was forced to
choose between three incredibly tempting women who
bore that name. One was lovely, aristocratic Olivia
Loring. One was the captivating actress, Olivia Prit-
chard. And one was the breathtaking Italian noble-
woman, Olivia di Luca.

One of these women would make marriage a paradise.
One would make it a hell. One could well turn it into
a grave. But until the terrifying night in an ancient Eng-
lish manor when their true natures were unmasked, each
was a creature of menacing mystery, as against a glit-
tering background of high society and satanic intrigue,
the eeriest and most spellbinding chapter of the Phen-
wick saga mounted to its shattering climax ...

If it were me, I would rule out the chic that would make marriage hell. And the one who would, more than likely, turn it into a grave would definitely be out of the running. So, once again, where is the dilemma? Do men never use logic when picking a woman? Does nothing matter but looks? I mean really, I don't care how good looking a man is, if he is threatening me with a bottle of acid, I'm not going to find him hot.

The Dark Shore

The Dark Shore by Susan Howatch
published by Fawcett Books
Copyright 1965

The Dark
Shore

The anonymous voice from the past
whispered into the receiver, "Welcome
home, Mr. Towers. Does your financée
know how you killed your first wife ten
years ago?"

Soon after Sarah moved into her new home
as the bride of charming, enigmatic Jon
Towers, some instinct warned her to run
for her life. Too many "accidents" were
beginning to plague her.

Sarah knew only that her husband's first
wife had plunged to her death from a
nearby cliff, under mysterious and ques-
tionable circumstances. Now someone was
trying to kill Sarah.

So, newlywed Sarah has an inside voice telling her to run. Could it be that some part of her knows that her "charming" new husband had something to do with his first wife's death? Could it be that Jon's home titters on the edge of a cliff. Could it be that she couldn't possible get cell service out there?

The fact is you can't put a biker-chick in white heels and a maxi skirt and expect her to be happy.

Dark Carnival

Dark Carnival by Maysie Greig
Cover Art by Lou Marchetti
published by Pyramid Books
Copyright 1950

CHATEAU OF DEATH

The imposing form of Chateau Trione rose ominously
above a cold, lifeless cliff from which, too recently, a
young girl had plunged mysteriously to her death.

Shirley had come to the medieval chateau at the invita-
tion of her good friend Robert, Count de Revenau. She
had come to recuperate from a broken engagement, to
loll on the sun-drenched sands of the Riveriera and to lose
herself in the gaiety of Carnival time in Nice.

What had she to do with a terrible tragedy that belonged
to the past? Now - with new love so near - why did she
find herself inextricable drawn to the cliffs ... to mystery
... to death? (all very good questions)

Wow, Lou Marchetti did a great job on this cover. It just screams Italian film dubbed in English. How appropriate. Awesome.

Born in Italy in the 1920's, Lou Marchetti grew up in United States, becoming a freelance illustrator and portrait painter. His illustrations graced the covers of numerous romance and pulp novels and magazines. His art was risqué, beautiful and truly memorable. There are many links to information on his art, including this one where there are posted image of his oil painting by his granddaughter

.

I want this book!



When he had run through the men in the boat, he had to look elsewhere.



Another fabulous piece!



Um ... I've interrupted you.

The Stranger at the Gate

The Stranger at the Gate by Jospehine Edgar
published by Pocket Books
Copyright 1973

Forbidden Legacy

As she drew nearer the great hall, Sarah
fought back the fear and dark memories that
had made her a stranger at its gates. Six years
ago she had been a baronet's daughter, and this
had been her home. Now, sixteen and father-
less, she was an actress begging her aunt, Lady
Sefton, to take her back.

But her aunt drove her away with the bitter
words that Sarah was not a Sefton, and worse,
that her true father was unknown.

Cruelly hurt, Sarah vowed there would come
a day of reckoning - when Lady Sefton would
be humbled and Sarah would again rule her
ancestral mansion.

It seems to me that Lady Sefton was justified is not really liking Sarah. Firstly, she is sixteen. No one can get along with a sixteen year old. Secondly, she is an actress and teenage actresses tend to be a bit self-centered. Add that to the fact that she is a power hunger bastard and I would have driven here away too.

Now publishing is an expensive business and so is marketing. There is a story that goes around in the industry of a man who says he wastes half of the money he spends on market but he just doesn't know which half. Well Pocket Books was too smart for that. If they were going to press anyway, they were going to sell a little ad space. And if they were going to sell ad space, they wanted to make sure it worked for their target audience.

Who was their target audience? Well, let just say they covered all their bases.



The young.



The middle aged.



The old.

True marketing genius.