Will and Kate publishing frenzy
With everything from comic books to bodice rippers, publishers are hoping to cash in on Will and Kate's big day.
The comic book version of the 8-year royal romance "presents both William and Kate as two well-rounded and grounded individuals," says its publisher. "It's a great love story.”
As Will and Kate anticipate wedding bells on Friday, publishers in the US and UK are looking forward to another sound – Ka-Ching!
The royal wedding has inspired a royal rush of Will-and-Kate-themed literature, from classic photo books and biographies to Will-and-Kate-inspired comic books and, yes, bodice rippers.
First there was the wave of insta-books that hit the shelves late last year when Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement. The Sun’s royal correspondent James Clench finished his book, “William & Kate: A Royal Love Story,” in about 48 hours.
Also part of the insta-wave were “William and Kate: Celebrating a Royal Engagement,” by Robin Nunn, and “William and Kate: A Royal Love Story,” by Christopher Andersen.
So last year.
Fervent royals fans caught up in royal wedding fever will want to snap up the new comic book based on the lives of Will and Kate, due to hit shelves Wednesday. “The Royals: Prince William & Kate Middleton,” serves up a comic version of their eight-year romance.
“The closer the wedding day comes, the greater the excitement for the book,” said Darren G. Davis, president of Bluewater, the comic publisher, to a UK paper. “What I like about this issue is it presents both William and Kate as two well-rounded and grounded individuals. It's a great love story.”
The comic book features a sketched portrait of William and Kate, wearing the most famous engagement ring in the world, the 18-carat sapphire and diamond ring once worn by Princess Diana.
The 32-page comic book, written by CW Cooke and illustrated by Pablo Martinena, retails for $3.99 and a special 40-page collector’s edition is $7.99
That’s not it, folks. The good people at Harlequin and Avon Impulse have published entire lines of royal-themed bodice rippers sure to steam up your bookshelf. (We suspect they’ll be a big sell among the hordes of Prince Will groupies disappointed that the subject of their admiration is now truly off limits.)
The romance novellas are actually short e-books downloadable for only $1.99 each, a perfect late-night treat to enjoy as you await the royal wedding early Friday morning.
The Harlequin novellas, which are between 10,000 and 15,000 words, are based on actual royal marriages and historically researched. The Avon Impulse romance novellas, some of which were written in less than a month, place fictional characters in real-life royal weddings.
The romance novellas sport such titles as “Scandal of the Year,” and “Be Mine Tonight.”
Blushing yet? There’s more.
Here’s a toothsome morsel from Terri Brisbin’s “What the Duchess Wants,” featuring Eleanor of Aquitane and a future Henry II:
“Henry held her close and slid his hands around to her back, possessing her mouth and letting her taste of his desire for her. He wanted to touch more of her and began to caress the curve of her hip. Just when he would have moved his hand up, a loud knock came on the door and Eleanor jumped back, putting distance between them.”
We’re guessing Will and Kate are probably thanking their lucky stars that they haven’t landed in a bodice ripper…yet.
Husna Haq is a Monitor correspondent.