In this week’s podcast episode, we’re looking at the glorious ads and features for the May 2015 issue of RT Magazine.
Thank you to Claire A. for this issue, and for some of the backstory!
You can also find all the RTRW content at our category page for Romantic Times Rewind.
If you want to listen and follow along with this entry, we have more detail in the audio, but you can click play and listen and read and absorb all the visual goodness:
This month’s cover features a novel by Susanna Kearsley – who coincidentally has a book out this month!
This cover is the US edition of A Desperate Fortune, but Amanda discovered that on Kearsley’s book page on her website, you can see animations of all the different editions of her cover art – it’s very cool.
Her new book is The King’s Messenger, and so far I am enjoying it a LOT.
We discussed in the Reviews episode that this was PEAK “Put a dog on it” in terms of cover design.
A contemporary romance in 2015? Put a dog on it.
Like, get a load of this Great Dane whose leash is REALLY NOT REAL.
That leash is photoshopped on, and while I have never had nor walked a Great Dane, I am going to guess that you want a real leash, and not a photoshopped one, right?
I mean, look. It’s not even casting a shadow or making an indent into the seersucker:
She’s not even HOLDING THE LEASH.
Resting a hand on the (photoshopped) leash is definitely not going to work when you’re attempting to walk a Great Dane. Male Danes can top out at 175-200 pounds (80-90kg). If that Dane is a full grown male and has decided it’s ocean swim time, or seagull chasing time, or digging a hole and taking a nap time, the leash is not going to stop him, real or not. Those two will end up in the sand or in the drink.
This was also peak “Build a website for your fictional small town” era, and no one did it better than Susan Mallery, who I believe was also the first romance author to have a signature phrase (“Read. Laugh. Love.”) for marketing.
FoolsGoldCA.com now leads to the Fool’s Gold series page – but if you want a peek at the website for the town itself, you have to sign up for the ‘membership’ which is joining the newsletter.
Easy and free?! Serious marketing savvy over there in Fool’s Gold and Mallery-ville.
This photo on the table of contents absolutely cracked me up. Not only was it peak “Put a dog on it,” AND peak “build a website for your fictional small town,” it was peak STEAMPUNK COSPLAY TIME.
And for the RT Convention in 2015, they want you to…
Boobs.
“Break out your cogs and corsets,” sure, but…just the bosom? In the photo? I mean, okay?
So if you’re going back in time to the RT in 2015, remember to break out your cogs, corsets, and bosoms. Got it?
In the last issue, which was October 2000, we talked about how Kathryn Falk and Bertrice Small were very good friends – the nightie picture is unforgettable.
This month, Kathryn is mourning her friend, and included this lovely picture of Kathryn’s wedding, with Bertrice as a bridesmaid:
Amanda is absolutely in love with these bags made by Jane Elissa:
Meanwhile, I recognized the fabric – those muscular men are from fabric designed by Alexander Henry called “Wranglers,” and there are both muscular dudes and pinup girls in many of the designs.
Gothy witch pinup girls?
And here’s a sample of “Wranglers” which according to the selvedge in the picture was released in 2005, so it’s hard to find now.
This has been Fabric Nerd Time with your host, me.
We discussed the possible construction of this blouse for a solid few minutes:
First, that’s Anne Rice. Second, that is 10000% a Rock Star Lestat Blouse. What we couldn’t figure out was: is the neck part separate from the blouse part? Are there separate beaded and festooned cravats out there to go with a ruffly blouse? Or did the blouse already arrive bedazzled?
What does one search for when seeking a similar beaded cravat?
Wait, is that a cravat or an ascot? OR is it a beaded dickie?!
“Beaded Dickies” the new name of my fashion blog, btw. Get ready.
And we’ve got another peak, y’all.
Not only was it peak “Put a dog on it,” AND peak “build a website for your fictional small town,” ANDANDAND Steampunk Cosplay and Corset Time, it was…
UNINTENTIONAL BUTTSECKS COVER ART. On top of a flat rock on a steep hill is the perfect time for some Scottish Jolly Rogering if you know what I mean, and I think that you do.
Also her dress looks like it’s made of denim and I kind of love it.
At first glance, Amanda thought this guy had a problem:
And that problem was that his intestines were leaving his body.
BUT! We have HAT WATCH!
Inspirationals: We give you Hat Envy.
This ad also caught our attention:
Look at that quote up top! It’s Carrie!!
So, to recap we have:
PEAK
- “Put a dog on it”
- “build a website for your fictional small town”
- Steampunk cosplay
- Unintentional Buttsecks cover art
plus one more! It’s 2015. It’s a contemporary romance in a small town with cobblestone sidewalks (those are a bear to shovel). What is the heroine wearing?
Why, a cute top with skinny jeans and flats! It is peak peak skinny jeans and flats era. I bet she has a “going out top,” too.
Neither Amanda nor I liked this ad, because of these shoes:
Cute play on the month, of course, but was anyone wearing those shoes? Did they fall down? We ultimately arrived at the conclusion that the shoes were not being worn by anyone, because that’s a big platform to hold a first position in. To say nothing of balancing while picking up that whip handle.
So, folks, those are the Ads & Features from May 2015!
Remember, if you join the Patreon, you’ll get access to the entire issue as a PDF.
Do you recall peak everything? Did you read any of these books? Do you know where to get a bejeweled and bedazzled cravat ascot dickie?
What do you think? Do you remember any of these books?