Reader lets us know how industry practice developed

[Carol Irvin]

Please read this. It makes total sense. I can't believe I never figured
this out!

Carol

> In a message dated 5/6/99 1:27:24 PM EST, ca...@staff.uiuc.edu writes:
>
> > I read through your article on Laurie Likes Books web site. I can't
> > quote an exact source -- this is just what I remember from discussion on
> > lists past -- but the women on covers, especially clinch, weren't
> > originally designed with any reader in mind. Back in the day,
publishers
> > tried to figure out a way to get the overwhelming male majority of book
> > store buyers (i.e. pros who acquire books (stock) for stores to sell) to
> > pick up romance novels, let alone consider buying them. The result? The
> > half-clad female. I don't know if the primary need is still there today
> > with the market share romance has, but the tradition continues.
> >
> > Nina C. Davis
> > Champaign, IL
> >
>