Why Feet Week?

I’ve been asked more than once if I have a foot fetish. (I don’t, for the record.) When I started putting feet on the book covers, it just sort of happened.

When we did the photo shoot for Throwaway, the shot that became the cover jumped out at everyone as “the one.” When it came time to release Ties That Bind, I had an image in my head of the shot I wanted, and it just so happened to be of Kate holding a purple shoe, obviously barefoot.

The next two books were the same, the image I had in my head of what the cover should be simply happened to contain feet. By that point, though, I realized I had kind of a theme going.

Even though it’s an accidental theme, I think it works for the books. All my heroines are strong women who are at a turning point in their lives – they’re facing that moment when they decide who they really are, when they find or embrace their true identity.

I also like the feet theme because it tells you a little about the heroine without giving away too much. It gives the reader a glimpse of who she is without putting an absolute picture in the reader’s head. I’ve always hated when the image on the front cover of the book doesn’t mesh with the image I have of a character. It messes with me. Maybe I’m weird in that, but I wanted to allow my readers the possibility of letting their own imaginations fill in the blanks.

Of course, another reason for sticking with the feet theme on my covers is that, at this point, it’s become sort of a game, thinking up ways to represent books well with feet as a central theme. A game that probably drives my poor book manager (also a Heather) nuts, but she loves me, so she plays along.

Heather is such a good sport, she even suggested today’s prize: free shoes!

Today is your last chance to answer my question to win! Remember, you can enter once per day.

Here’s the question: Are you a boots or heels kind of girl?  The winner from today’s contest will a $50 gift card to DSW!

To enter, tweet one of the below messages:

I’m most comfortable in my boots. Tell @Heathers_mark if you love heels or boots & enter to win $50 for DSW  http://hhuffman.webfactional.com/?p=737

I’m most comfortable in my heels. Tell @Heathers_mark if you love heels or boots & enter to win $50 for DSW  http://hhuffman.webfactional.com/?p=737

Stay tuned – the winners will be revealed on Friday!