Duchess Sighting

Just as mothers can instantly pick their own children out in a crowded schoolyard, writers, too, are always quick to spot their book covers on store and library shelves. But on CNN?

Well, not quite the cover, but the cover art. Earlier this year, President and Mrs. Obama visited Her Majesty the Queen of England. While most American news coverage seemed breathlessly to concentrate on whether or not the First Lady broke with traditional protocol by daring to touch the queen's shoulder, I'd spotted something far more interesting. From the emails I received, astute readers of my books did, too. There in Buckingham Palace, directly behind Mrs. Obama, was the portrait of Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, that graces the cover of my first historial novel, Duchess.

Three cheers for strong, intelligent women of every era and nationality!