Maybe it is the team building businessgal in me but I love, love, love reading the dedication pages in romance novels.
Well, I guess I should say dedications because many publishers no longer devote a special page to them. Harlequin Historicals, for example, likes to sneak them onto the page listing the author’s other works or the author’s notes page or I’ve even found them at the back of books. I had to search for Elizabeth Rolls‘ intriguing dedication to Joanna Maitland in Lord Braybrook’s Penniless Bride (Joanna Maitland sounds like she’s a blast – I’ve read a few hilarious dedications to her).
But the fact that the dedications are hidden makes them all the more… real… I guess the word is. They aren’t being used as marketing tools. They’re more like private messages between the authors and the recipients. Providing a cover quote may benefit both authors but doing the work that prompts a dedication? Unseen with no expectation of a return.
The dedication doesn’t have to be to a ‘famous’ person to be enjoyable. I love reading about proud moms, book carrying dads, long suffering spouses, easily embarrassed kids, martini drinking best friends, and manuscript eating terriers. I don’t need to know names or personal stuff. I simply like knowing that the author is surrounded by love and is passing it along in her or his novels.
(I do gleam some interesting tidbits. In Sally MacKenzie’s The Naked Earl, I found out Sally MacKenzie has that rare relative, a romance reading dad. Maybe that’s why her heroes are so unique.)
Then there are the reader dedications, especially for stories long in coming. When A Lover’s Kiss came out, Margaret Moore’s long awaited sequel to Kiss Me Quick, after a four year wait, she dedicated it to the readers who asked (again and again and again) for Drury’s story. I crowed with delight when I saw that, waving the book under my hubby’s nose. “See,” I told him, tapping the page. “She dedicated it to me.” ‘Course he then pointed out that my name was not ‘all those’ (dang voice of reason).
Although a dedication isn’t a selling point for me, I hesitate a bit when I see there’s no dedication. That, to me, is a little bit sad. I want to give the author a big hug and tell her I believe in her.
Am I the only one reading book dedications? Readers, whom would you dedicate a novel to? Writers, how do you decide whom to dedicate a novel to? (The issue I have – I have a cast of thousands to thank)
No related posts.
I’ve had two books dedicated to me. Does that count? Ilona Andrews mentioned me in her first two novels, Magic Bites and Magic Burns. I know it left me feeling pretty darn special!
Wow, two books! That IS special! Are you her critique partner or a supportive friend or were you inspiration for a character or…?
One of my writing goals in life is to have a book dedicated to me. I think that would be too cool.
We found each other online in a writer’s group, and by the time Ilona made it to novel publication, I was the only member of the original group still with her.
Oh, yes, I always read them. It makes the whole experience more ‘real’ to me. Make any sense?
Makes sense to me. Maybe because they are such a slice of real.
So do you know whom you’ll dedicate your first published novel to, Kimber An?
Great topic Kimber! I love the dedication page. Even with the most anticipated book, it’s the first thing I go for when I crack open a new read. And you’re absolutely right, it’s not for marketing, but the author’s chance to make send a personal message to the people who have helped make the book special to him/her.
Maybe it’s boring, but I always dedicate my books the same way.
I always read your dedication page, J.K. I love the ‘For xxx, Always.’ So meaningful and SO tying into your Immortal series.
Already have. It’s just not officially published.
‘This novel is dedicated to my daughter, the desire for whom inspired it, and to my husband, her daddy, who restored my faith in fairytales.’
Aw, that’s a beautiful dedication
Awww… that is SO sweet. My hubby doesn’t read my novels (he’s not a big reader) but he does read the dedication page to make sure he’s still on it (grinning). I consider us writing partners (though he doesn’t write, he DOES do so much support work). Since his name is not on the cover, I put it on the dedication page.
Great post. I agree, I love dedications! I don’t know why. Sometimes I feel a little nosy reading them but they really tell me a lot sometimes, about what went into the book, and also the kind of person an author is. Sometimes the dedication says more about an author than the bio and picture.
Yep, that’s what I like about them too. Like I’m party to ’secret’. LOL
BTW… LOVED your post on angry kisses and balancing angst with sweetness. Such a difficult thing to do.
I do read dedications and acknowledgements. I was sorely disappointed when the acks were left out of my first novel; I put them on my website, finally. Lucikly, the dedication made it in, and that was the most important thing for me.
My first sold novel was dedicated to one of my dearest friends, who sometimes has more faith in me than I do.
Ahhh… The Duchess, Her Maid, The Groom And Their Lover, that is on my TBR pile. I heard it rocks.
Victoria, you write spicy. Do you think a little more about your dedications? Would you dedicate a book to someone who wouldn’t read (or maybe appreciate) your genre?
BTW…LOVE the cover for Moonlight Mistress.
I love my covers, too–I wrote fan mail to the art director!
For the Spice books, it never occurred to me to dedicate it to someone who wouldn’t read it. If I’d thought about it, I think I would have done the same. For both books, the dedication seemed obvious to me partway through the manuscript. Both were to the person who spent the most time keeping me going throughout the writing process, which required that they be okay with what I was writing.
It feels like giving someone an intensely personal gift, and you hope they will understand how much they mean to you.
I love dedications and make a habit of reading them before I read the book. Of course, my hubbie thinks this is weird because why should I care who the author thanks.
As an aspiring author I know that my first book (if ever published) will be dedicated to my hubbie and kids. They have put up with a lot of late nights, no dinner and dirty clothes because I wanted to finish a scene or chapter. They deserve more than I do for all that they put up with. LOL
Patty, amen about supportive hubbies (not fortunate to have kids to appreciate). It truly is a partnership, isn’t it?
And your stories WILL be published! (I can’t comment on which one ’cause my first completed manuscript was a mess). I believe in you! Write, write, write, submit it, submit it, submit it!
I totally read them (dedications and acknowledgments) !!!
LOL Some of them are long and crazy though. I don’t get the point of thanking the neighbor’s dog though I actually meant to thank my neighbor’s cat in one (*sigh* Miss you Clyde!)
As a writer, I always thank my writer friends and CP’s–not for pimpage but because because they’re good to me, I usually thank my kids (LOL) and once I thanked my dad. I usually base it on whatever is going on in my life while I’m writing the book. I’ve also been thanked in acknowledgments and I feel very honored.
Ames,
Oh, man, I’d love to read a dedication to a neighbor’s cat. That would be so much fun. (Though my neighbor’s cat is a bloodthirsty thing, leaving dead birds on my front steps – much to the mailman’s delight).
BTW… Hittin’ It had me at hit man. I love hit man heroes. Wowsers. (Waiting impatiently for it to get listed on Fictionwise)
hehe thanks Kimber!!! The cat in Nailed was actually based on the neighbor’s cat. He used to come visit us quite regularly before he ran off.
LOL In my second book, I included a dedication to Shadow, a cat I met while traveling, since he was the inspiration for the cat in the book.
Is that Enticed, Kathleen?
(Resisting the dedicating a spicy novel to a cat jokes)
I love reading dedications. Like someone already noted, it satisfies my curiosity. A good novel carries you away to a different place, different reality – but that dedication gives the reader a little peak into the author’s real life. Sort of like attending a dinner party and rifling through your hostess’ medicine cabinet.
Not that I would do such a thing….
Best dedication I’ve ever read? Lone Eagle by Danielle Steel, which she dedicates to all of her children. I swear, I teared up. Loathed the book with the passion of a thousand burning suns, but remember the dedication quite fondly. Go figure.
Wendy, I’m going to parties with YOU!
I love looking in other people’s carts at the grocery store. I make up all sorts of stories about why they’re buying that whip cream and nothing else.
‘Course my hubby came home last night with two grocery bags full of bananas and that’s it. I would have loved to see the check out girl’s face!
I love reading the dedications and even the acknowledgements. It makes it seem more personal to me.
I don’t think I’ve ever had a book dedicated to me, but I my name is in the liner notes of a local band’s cd. I was thrilled when I saw that.
Ohhh… were you a roadie, Michelle? Other kids wanted to be rockstars, I wanted to be a roadie. Something about setting up all that electrical equipment.
Hey, did Harmony come out in print yet? With the other 4 novellas?
Nope, not a roadie. Just a good friend. My best friend’s husband’s band. LOL
And, yes, on Harmony. Came out in May in print. Woohoo!
With Karen Erickson, L. Shannon, Antonia Pearce, and Leila Brown. Thanks for asking! 
Kimber, your wish is granted! It will be my pleasure and delight to dedicate THE HIGHLANDER’S KISS to you.
Margaret, don’t mess with this Margaret Moore fan girl. I’m in a fragile emotional state.
Well, okay, I’ve never been fragile a day in my life but still, don’t tease!
I too love reading the dedications/thanks pages. Thanking people, remembering that we all need a network of love and support says a great deal about the kind of person the author is. I aim to thank my own posse of peeps one day.
See… if a self-confessed pathological introvert has a posse of peeps to thank, everyone does!
LOL
I like that…pathological introvert.
I think that sums up almost all writers.
LOL It will be a very small p.o.p. to thank…
And yeah, that description could definitely be applied to at least 75% of the world’s writing population.
(Have to leave myself some room for error).
I’m late to reply, but I’m not teasing. I’m delighted to do it!