MORGAN KANE 1975 – 1997
KISS
HOLLYWOOD GOOD-BY – Anita Loos, Ballantine 24447, 1975. For anyone not
familiar with Morgan’s long career, there was suddenly a dynamic cover artist
skyrocketing across bookstore racks in 1975 & 1976. Morgan returned to
painted covers with an eye-catching technique that garnered a lot of
attention. For some of us it started with this cover and its sister, A GIRL
LIKE I.
NADINE
– Geoffrey Bocca, Ballantine 24578, 1975.
A GIRL LIKE I –
Anita Loos, Ballantine 24653, 1975. |
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HEFNER – Frank
Brady, Ballantine 24662, 1975. Morgan Kane’s comical cover for a biography of
Hugh Hefner was, appropriately, a foldout.
THE
KUNG FU EXERCISE BOOK – Michael Minick, Bantam X8558, 1975. Photo cover. An
experiment in conveying motion using still photography. |
THE
FRONT RUNNER – Patricia Nell Warren, Bantam X8712, 1975. Reprinted as 10802.
Also used on UK Corgi 10286.
THE
FEMALE MAN – Joanna Russ, Bantam Q8765, 1975. Trying to imagine any other
artist giving us all five of these last five covers. |
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NATURAL BEAUTY
SECRETS – Deborah Rutledge, Berkley Z2762, 1975.
THE GREEK – Pierre
Rey, Berkley T2771, 1975. Pastiche.
THE PROSECUTOR – P.R.
van Zyl, Berkley Z2775, 1975. |
McQUAID – Shepard
Rifkin, Berkley Z2841, 1975. Photo cover.
THE
SENSUOUS SUMMER – William Bostock, Berkley D2897, 1975. A beautiful cover for
an unreadable piece of tripe.
THE
GIRLS OF NEVADA – Gabriel R. Vogliotti, Fawcett Crest C2595, 1975. Not found
in Kane’s proof files, but Jeff Kane has confirmed these props from his
father’s studio. (There’s that WAITING FOR WINTER statue.) |
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HOT TO TROT – John
Lahr, Fawcett Crest Q2654, 1975. Kane’s homage to Gustav Klimt for the 1970s.
NO NIGHT WITHOUT
STARS – Andre Norton, Fawcett Crest 2-3264, 1975.
IN THE HOUR BEFORE
MIDNIGHT – Jack Higgins, Fawcett Gold Medal P3355, 1975. Reprinted as 1-3954. - VG $5.
AN
AFFAIR OF STRANGERS – John Crosby, Warner 59-910, 1975. Kane painted two
covers for this book and Warner used both of them. The second printing, with
his other cover, appeared just one year later. (See Warner 89-280, 1976.)
MIAMI GOLDEN BOY –
Herbert Kastle, Avon 29397, 1976. There is a better-known cover for this
book, Avon W253, by Robert McGinnis. This Morgan Kane wraparound photo cover
is fairly obscure. |
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NIGHT OF TEARS –
John Kimbro,
Ballantine 24814,
1976. Photo cover.
THE SWING – Edmund
Schiddel, Bantam Y2224, 1976. Photo cover.
THE
DEALER – Max Collins, Berkley D3259, 1976. Photo cover. Later reprinted by
Hard Case Crime as QUARRY’S DEAL by Max Allan Collins. |
TWO
MUCH – Donald E. Westlake, Fawcett Crest X2750, 1976. Morgan Kane painted the
twins in the nude, then the pink fuzz bikinis were applied to each cover.
Somebody asked me if I thought this was sleaze or art. I think it is art, and
I think Botticelli and Courbet would have understood the artist’s success. |
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TWO
MUCH is Westlake’s comic romp about a man who meets two beautiful blonde
twins and falls in love with both of them. Unable to choose one over the
other, he invents a second personality and pretends to be his own twin
brother. Each brother can then romance one of the blondes. That is, if he can
just keep everything straight and make sure both brothers are never supposed
to be in the same room at the same time. We don’t see the word “zany” on a
book cover too often, but it fits TWO MUCH well. |
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AMERICAN MADE –
Shylah Boyd, Fawcett Crest C2861, 1976. Photo cover.
BROTHERS
KEEPERS – Donald E. Westlake, Fawcett Crest 2-2962, 1976. Cut-out cover. Both
the front and interior cover are shown here.
Brother
Benedict leaves his Manhattan monastery and travels to Puerto Rico, where all
sorts of un-brotherly things keep happening. |
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THIN
ICE – Gary Cartwright, Fawcett Gold Medal X3441, 1976. Morgan Kane’s first
painting for THIN ICE, shown here courtesy of Jeff Kane, was changed for the
published book, probably at the request of the art director. The hockey
player remains, but the woman is now almost nude.
BLOW-DRY
– Nathan Butler, Fawcett Gold Medal Q3513, 1976. A swirling confection of
surrealistic hair with a phallic hair dryer, BLOW-DRY shows Morgan Kane at
the top of his game.
Even
if he had only created these past five covers, he would be legendary. |
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THE
BEDROOM SET – David Rogers, Fawcett Gold Medal Q3528, 1976. Photo cover. In
the swinging seventies, DEEP THROAT was a hit movie and mainstream publishers
like Gold Medal showed threesomes in bed on the covers of their paperbacks.
THE
BEST SELLERS – Stephen Lewis, Fawcett Gold Medal 1-3538, 1976. The cut-out
cover opens to a two-sided mixed media collage with photos and paintings all
by the same artist. The pensive doctor is a self-portrait.
Both
the front and two-page interior covers are shown here. |
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VERY
FRIENDLY SKIES (Warner 78-915) and DOING WHAT WE DO BEST (Warner 78-916) –
Jan Kendrick, 1976. Fly The Trans-Globe Girls #1 and #2 of 2. |
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PEOPLE
READING – Dr. Ernst G. Beier & Evans G. Valens, Warner 89-082, 1976. Front
and inside covers shown.
“Cover
design by Gene Light. Cover art by Morgan Kane.” This stepback was later
replaced by Warner 93-642, which had a different cover.
AN
AFFAIR OF STRANGERS – John Crosby, Warner 89-280, 1976. Reprints Warner
59-910 with new cover by the same artist. The cover art from the first
edition appears on the back cover of this second edition. |
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AFTER THE DREAM
–Charles Kaufman, Avon 01105, 1977.
MERCY – Joyce
Maciver, Avon 31096, 1977. Photo.
HOLLYWOOD IS A
FOUR-LETTER TOWN – James Bacon, Avon 33399, 1977. Photo. |
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A
JEST OF GOD – Margaret Laurence, Bantam 10400-4, 1977.
As
it says on the cover, this book was the basis of the Joanne Woodward movie
RACHEL RACHEL. |
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HOSTAGE
TO THE DEVIL – Malachi Martin, Bantam 10408-X, 1977. The inside cover (not
shown) gives us the title and author. |
MORTAL STAKES –
Robert B. Parker, Berkley 03311, 1977. Photo cover.
A KILLING FOR
CHARITY – Arthur Kaplan, Berkley 03357, 1977. Photo cover.
LOVE-MAKING
– Carole Altman, Berkley 03383, 1977. Photo. Compare to THE SHORT YEAR, 1968
Signet. |
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THE
STATUETTE – Jane Wald & Kathleen Wakefield, Condor 6, 1977.
Cover
proof shows front and back photos.
THE
LAZY MAN’S GUIDE TO PHYSICAL FITNESS – Kenneth D. Rose MD with Jack Dies
Martin, Condor 12, 1977. Photo cover. Condor was a short-lived company and
Morgan Kane did only these two covers for them. |
THE DANCE OF LOVE
– Daniel B. Dodson, Fawcett Crest 2-3110, 1977. VG $7.
MARSANNE –
Virginia Coffman, Fawcett Crest 2-3373, 1977. VG $7.
WRAITHS OF TIME –
Andre Norton, Fawcett Crest 2-3532, 1977. |
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HAD WILD JACK FOR A LOVER – Meredith Marsh, Fawcett Crest 2-3822, 1977. Photo.
THE
MARAUDERS – Gordon D. Shirreffs, Fawcett Gold Medal 1-3723, 1977. Sticker on back, wear good $4.
THE
FLORIAN SIGNET – Harriet Esmond, Fawcett Gold Medal 1-3743, 1977. Good $4.
MAMELLE,
THE GODDESS - Nathan Butler, Fawcett Gold Medal 1-3773, 1977. Pseudonym of
Jerry Sohl.
DISCOTHEQUE
– Steven Gaines, Fawcett Gold Medal 1-3813, 1977. Photo cover. Scarce.
LEGEND
OF THE DAMNED - Gordon D. Shirreffs, Fawcett Gold Medal 1-3846, 1977. Good $4.
THE
TEXAN WOMEN – Corinne Johnston, Jove B4395, 1977. Ink on spine, poor $2. |
LOVE SONG – Adam
Kennedy, Signet E7535, 1977. VG $5.
TELL ME EVERYTHING
– Marie Brenner, Signet J7685, 1977.
SAVING THE QUEEN –
William F. Buckley, Jr, Warner 89-164, 1977.
Cut-out with
interior cover shown.
NIGHTFALL – John
Crosby, Warner 89-354, 1977.
JADE – Lynn Devon,
Fawcett Gold Medal 1-3941, 1978. Wow. Good $7.
THE WOMAN WHO
DARED – Richard Erdoes, Fawcett Gold Medal 1-3975, 1978. VG $10. |
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CAPTAIN CUTLASS –
Gordon D. Shirreffs, Fawcett Gold Medal 1-4001, 1978. Good back clipped $3.
DREAMS
TO COME – Melanie Ward, Jove B4474, 1978. Sticker on spine, good $5.
Morgan
Kane’s painting for DREAMS TO COME is shown above, courtesy of Jeff Kane. And
here is how much of it they used for the published book. About 1/8 of the
available cover space was used for the cover art. The placement of the small
image confirms it must have been designed for a planned stepback that was not
used. |
MISTRESS
OF THE STREETS – Richard Sumner, Jove Y4487, 1978. VG $5.
First
volume of the Nell Gwynne trilogy. Cover artist for the other two volumes
unknown. The top painting was offered at auction in 2014 and so can now be
seen on many internet art sites as “Two Cavaliers with Harlot”.
Jove
04703, see 1979.
THE
HUNTERS – Clark Howard, Jove Y4710, 1978. Photo cover. VG $5.
SEASON
IN PURGATORY – Thomas Keneally, Jove Y4721, 1978. Australian Keneally is the
author of SCHINDLER’S LIST. |
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LONGARM
#1 – Tabor Evans, Jove A4750, Oct 1978. Kane’s signature is on the back
cover. All Kane’s Longarm covers are wraparounds. I’ve tried to note the
re-uses of cover art when known to me but this becomes near impossible with
the Longarms, many of which were reprinted with new book numbers and prices.
Tabor Evans was a house name, used here first by Lou Cameron.
LONGARM
#2: LONGARM ON THE BORDER – Tabor Evans, Jove A4795, Nov 1978. Marshal
“Longarm” Long in Texas. House name used here by Melvin Marshall.
LONGARM
#3: LONGARM AND THE AVENGING ANGELS – Evans, Jove A4791, Dec 1978. William C.
Knott. |
THE
LADY SERENA – Jeanne Duval, Signet E8163, 1978. This is Morgan’s cover proof
of SERENA, shown here courtesy of Jeff Kane. Sometime between the printing of
this proof and the publication of the book, the title was corrected to THE
LADY SERENA.
KRAMER
VERSUS KRAMER – Avery Corman, Signet E8282, 1978. There are countless copies
of this book out there, almost all of them movie tie-ins. But there was also
a pre-movie first paperback edition with a gold cover, shown here. And inside
was a stepback cover painting signed M. Kane. VG $10. |
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SALON
– J.F. Farber, Signet J8346, 1978.
I,
VICTORIA – Sam Dodson, Fawcett Gold Medal 1-4152, 1979. Photo.
GOSSIP
– Marc Olden, Fawcett Gold Medal 1-4260, 1979. Four photos.
RED
SNOW – Oliver Lange, Jove 04703, 1979.
LONGARM
#4: LONGARM AND THE WENDIGO – Tabor Evans, Jove A4751, Jan 1979.
LONGARM
#5: LONGARM IN THE INDIAN NATION – Evans, Jove M4796, Feb 1979. Wraparound
shows Morgan’s signature on back. |
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LONGARM #6:
LONGARM AND THE LOGGERS – Evans, Jove M4792, Mar 1979.
#7: LONGARM AND
THE HIGHGRADERS – Evans, Jove M4752, Apr 1979. Good $5.
#8: LONGARM AND
THE NESTERS – Evans, Jove M4797, May 1979.
#9: LONGARM AND
THE HATCHET MEN – Evans, Jove M4793, Jun 1979.
#10: LONGARM AND
THE MOLLY MAGUIRES – Evans, Jove M4753, Jul 1979. At first, Lou Cameron
wrote every third Longarm. So he wrote #1, 4, 7 and 10. Good $5. |
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LONGARM #11:
LONGARM AND THE TEXAS RANGERS – Evans, Jove M4798, Aug 1979.
#12:
LONGARM IN LINCOLN COUNTY – Evans, Jove M4794, Sep 1979. William C. Knott
wrote #3, 6, 9 and 12. Later books in the series were written by James
Reasoner, Harry Whittington and others. And Lou Cameron continued writing
them for at least 25 years. |
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THE DANCER –
Leland Cooley, Signet E8651, 1979. VG $5.
NORTH DALLAS FORTY
– Peter Gent, Signet E8906, 1979. Movie tie-in uses the Morgan Kane poster
art. VG $5.
STUDIO – Thomas
Maremaa, Playboy 16528, 1980. Photo.
Hiatus
Morgan
Kane took some time off to care for his dying wife. Except for a single 1982
Berkley, his name did not appear on any book covers until 1983. Most of the
work he did during this period was for movie posters. |
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DESIGNS
– Richard Horn, Berkley 05234, 1982. An interesting variation on the
mirror-image cover. Poor $2.
ONCE
IS NOT ENOUGH – Jacqueline Susann, Bantam T4933, Feb 1983. ($1.50). Re-used
on Y8000 ($1.95). Morgan Kane’s cover statue for the 1973 hardcover was re-used
for this paperback. It was used again on a 1997 Grove Press paperback (not
shown).
THOUGH
HEARTS RESIST – Meg Hudson, Harlequin 70064, 1983. Super Romance 64. |
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SARINA – Francine
Rivers, Jove 07366, 1983.
Jove chose to use
only a small part of Morgan Kane’s painting (not shown). |
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BITTERLEAF
– Lisa Gregory, Jove 06333, 1983. The always-adapting Mr. Kane became a
premiere romance cover artist in the 1980s. Good $4. |
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HIGH
ROAD TO CHINA – Jon Cleary, Warner 31178, 1983. Morgan Kane’s movie poster
art was used for the movie tie-in paperback cover.
THE
BEST OF FRIENDS – Nomi Berger, Charter 05488, 1984.
FALCON CREST –
Patrick Mann, Dell 12437, 1984. TV tie-in. |
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THE MAGNIFICENT
DREAM – Day Taylor, Dell 15424, 1984. Front and back covers shown. VG $5.
THE RAINBOW SEASON
– Lisa Gregory, Jove 07923, 1984. |
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Morgan Kane’s painting for THE
POINT TEAM (image courtesy of Jeff Kane).
THE
POINT TEAM – J.B. Hadley, Warner 30930, 1984. Cover designer Gene Light used
only a piece of Morgan Kane’s painting (shown here). Army helmets were then
added to two of the soldiers. VG $5. |
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SANDS
OF GOLD – Day Taylor, Dell 17585, 1985. Showing here the front half of a wraparound. |
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TO
BURN AGAIN BRIGHTLY – Joyce Verrette, Dell 58669, 1985. Re-used on UK
Troubadour Futura in 1986 (not shown). Wraparound.
THE
ROOTS OF LOVE was a five-volume set of young adult books written by Stuart
Buchan. Although related, each novel also stands as a separate story. Morgan
Kane created wraparound covers for all five books. Set of 5, VG $20
#1:
TENDER BEGINNINGS – Stuart Buchan, Dell 98602, 1985.
#2.
RESTLESS NIGHTS - Buchan, Dell 97414, 1985.
#3.
FORBIDDEN LONGINGS - Buchan, Dell 92675, 1985. |
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THE
ROOTS OF LOVE #4: BITTER PROMISES – Stuart Buchan, Dell 90621, 1985. Although
not signed like other volumes in the set, Jeff Kane has the original art. The
house and fence are out on Long Island and appear in other Morgan Kane
paintings and photos.
For
THE ROOTS OF LOVE #5 see 1986.
LIGHT
AND SHADOW – Lisa Gregory, Jove 08182, 1985. On 1960s & 70s covers, the
women were often nude. But the 80s introduced a new legion of book buyers,
and it was now the man who was stark naked on covers like this. VG $5. |
THE GOLDEN CHANCE
– Jayne Ann Krentz, Pocket 67623, 1985.
VIPER SQUAD: POINT
TEAM #2 – J.B. Hadley, Warner 32329, 1985.
THE GODCHILDREN –
Sharon Pape, Charter 29450, 1986. Photo. |
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THE ROSE AND THE
SWORD – Sandra Paretti, Dell 57710, 1986.
THE ROOTS OF LOVE
#5: FLAMES FROM THE ASHES – Stuart Buchan, Dell 92602, 1986.
HEARTLINES:
#3: STOLEN KISSES
– Barbara Jacobs, Dell 97734. 1986. Photo.
#4: FRIENDS AND
RIVALS – Mary Hooper, Dell 92660, 1986. Photo.
#5. ISLAND
ENCOUNTER – Ann de Gale, Dell 94026, 1986. Photo.
#6: FOLLOW THAT
DREAM – Mary Hooper, Dell 92644, 1986. Photo. |
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HEARTLINES #8:
DANNY’S GIRL – Pam Lyons, Dell 91830, 1986. Photo.
LAURALEE
– Linda Lael Miller, Pocket 60049, 1986. The first of Kane’s seven Linda Lael
Miller covers for Pocket. VG $5.
Two
variants seen: first printing above. Later printings like the 4th shown here
use part of the art with a new border and credit: “Cover illustration
copyright 1986 by Morgan Kane. Cover border copyright 1990 by Marlene Moore.”
This version was reprinted in 2010, so a then-94-year-old Morgan Kane could
have gone into his local bookstore and found his cover art still on the
shelves. |
THE IRISH BRIDE –
Mary Mayer Holmes, Popular Library 20171, 1986. VG $5.
Copyright
page credit: “Cover painting by Morgan Kane”.
Sometimes
seen listed as Warner 20171, because Warner Books, which had previously
purchased Paperback Library, also bought Popular Library in 1982.
Morgan
Kane’s art for COBRA STRIKE, courtesy of Jeff Kane.
COBRA
STRIKE: POINT TEAM #3 – J.B. Hadley, Warner 32783, 1986. |
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THE TIGER’S WOMAN
–Celeste De Blasis, Dell 11820, 1987. VG $5.
PASSION’S FOLLY –
Lori Copeland, Dell 16818, 1987. Candlelight Ecstasy Romance #497.
HEARTLINES #9: A
BOY CALLED SIMON – Pam Lyons, Dell 91094, 1987. Photo. VG $5. |
THE
ILLYRIAN ADVENTURE – Lloyd Alexander, Dell Laurel Leaf 94018, 1987. VG $5.
This
is such a perfect cover for the first entry in a series of young adult books
about Vesper Holly, described as a female Indiana Jones. I just can’t
understand why they did not continue to use Morgan Kane for the other books
in the series. With its classic composition, shadowy sailors and brilliant
colors, it looks like somebody discovered a lost N.C. Wyeth illustration in 1987. |
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HEARTLINES
#10: LOVE AROUND THE CORNER – Pam Lyons, Dell 94726, 1987. Photo.
Morgan
Kane’s late 80s covers seem to be a mix of then-popular, now-dated teen photo
covers and incandescent, still breathtaking, standard-lifting painted romance
covers for authors like Linda Lael Miller and Julie Garwood. |
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A PERFECT GEM –
Lynn Erickson, Harlequin Superromance 276, 1987. Front and back cover.
GRAVEN IMAGE – Ann
Paris, Pocket 62191, 1987. VG $5.
WANTON
ANGEL – Linda Lael Miller, Pocket 62197, 1987. Reprinted as 70633 in 1990
with part of the art in new border format (both covers shown here). The
border is supplied by a different artist. Interesting to compare this
truncated cover art to the tempestuous original painting, shown below it. |
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DEAD ON TARGET:
THE HARDY BOYS CASEFILES #1 – Franklin W. Dixon, Pocket 62558, 1987. House
name.
EVIL, INC.: THE
HARDY BOYS CASEFILES #2 – Franklin W. Dixon, Pocket 62559, 1987.
OBSIDIAN – Dianne
Day, Pocket 63990, 1987. |
FIREFLY
– Linda Hilton, Pageant 00723, 1988.
MOONFIRE
Linda Lael Miller, Pocket 62198, 1988. Reprinted as Pocket 70636 with border
design (not shown).
SOMETHING
WONDERFUL – Judith McNaught, Pocket 63779, 1988. Stepback. VG $5.
ARROWHEART
– Ann Paris, Pocket 63838, 1988.
BLACK
BRIDGE TO CHINA – Nancy Martin, Pocket 63841, 1988. |
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THE
LION’S LADY – Julie Garwood, Pocket 64360, 1988. The secret of this amazing
look: actual fabric applied to the painting.
AMAZON
LILY – Theresa Weir, Pocket 64906, 1988. A lusty adventure story with a
lusty, adventurous cover. Spine damage $5.
DOUBLE
CROSSING: NANCY DREW & HARDY BOYS SUPER MYSTERY #1 – Carolyn Keene,
Pocket 64917, 1988. House name.
THE
WHITE RAVEN – Mary Mayer Holmes, Popular Library 20660, 1988.
DIAMOND
FIRE - Helen Mittermeyer, Dell 20260, 1989. The artist’s technique to convey the
passion of his couples: the man’s lips touching her skin. |
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WAYFARING STRANGER
– Jackie Black, Dell 20335, 1989.
SIREN SONG –
Kathryn Kramer, Dell 20391, 1989.
SILKEN
BONDAGE – Nan Ryan, Dell 20464, 1989. Front cover and inside cover shown. The
front was “stepped back” to let buyers know there was more sensuous cover art
waiting for them just under that cover. The hardcover book club edition,
shown next, revealed even more of the painting. There are foreign editions of
this art shown on the internet. |
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A
KINGDOM OF DREAMS – Judith McNaught, Pocket 63780, 1989. The cover says
“Historical Romance”. Morgan Kane would quickly excel at providing stepback
covers, the inside cover art paintings, often two pages across, that were
sometimes too racy for the front cover. This one has a photo front cover
by someone else, others just had text. NOTE: None of those covers will be
shown on this list unless Morgan Kane art was also used on the front. Morgan Kane’s stepback for A KINGDOM OF DREAMS - VG $5: |
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A TOKEN OF JEWELS
– Diane Cory, Pocket 64365, 1989.
ANGELFIRE
– Linda Lael Miller, Pocket 65263, 1989. Wraparound art. Later a small
portion was used for a reprint with borders. Both of those covers are shown
here, along with Morgan Kane’s painting for the wraparound art.
Shadows
and light, flowers and neck nuzzling in the hay. Words from the cover:
hottest, heat, powerful emotions, fire, passion, possessed, satisfied. He
captured them all. |
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ANY
DAY NOW – Elizabeth Quinn, Pocket 65893, 1989.
THE
BRIDE – Julie Garwood, Pocket 67005, 1989. Kane achieved this effect by
combing lace, jewels and oil paint to create something new and spellbinding.
SAVAGE
TIDES – Mary Mayer Holmes, Popular Library 20884, 1989.
FOOL
ME ONCE – Lori Copeland, Dell 20564, 1990. Stepback. VG $5.
SUN
GOD – Nan Ryan – Dell 20603, 1990. Stepback. I think they have done a better
job integrating the UPC code and ISBN on this one. The dark hole is for the
cut-out on the front, shown below. |
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SUN GOD – front
cover. The stepback art was also used on a book club hardcover (not shown).
IN THE CARDS –
Julie Meyers, Harlequin Superromance 396, 1990. Cover proof courtesy of Jeff
Kane.
MY DARLING MELISSA
– Linda Lael Miller, Pocket 65264, 1990. Reprinted as Pocket 71771, the
reprint is the edition shown here.
GUARDIAN ANGEL –
Julie Garwood, Pocket 67006, 1990. VG $5.
WILLOW
- Linda Lael Miller, Pocket 70631, 1990. VG $5.
FLETCHER’S WOMAN –
Linda Lael Miller, Pocket 70632, 1990. Reprints the Tapestry first edition,
which had different cover art by Harry Bennett. |
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HONOR’S
SPLENDOR – Julie Garwood, Pocket 73782, 1990.
A
LASTING FIRE – Beverly Byrne – Bantam Fanfare 28815, 1991. Stepback.
HEAVEN
SENT – Pamela Morsi, Bantam 28944, 1991. When reprinted as Bantam 76192 in
1998, the art was reduced. Both covers are shown here. M. Kane signature is
very faint above the man’s shoulder.
WIND
DANCER – Iris Johansen Bantam 28855, 1991. Stepback. The publisher used only
the top part of Morgan’s painting. VG $5. |
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STORM
WINDS – Iris Johansen, Bantam 29032, 1991. Stepback.
ANGEL
IN MARBLE – Elaine Coffman, Dell 20530, 1991. Stepback.
THE LEGEND OF LOVE
– Nan Ryan, Dell 20604, 1991. Cover cameo and stepback. Also used for book
club hardcover (not shown). |
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SWEET HANNAH ROSE
– Lori Copeland, Dell 20842, 1991. Stepback. VG $5.
THE BLACK ROSE –
Christina Skye, Dell 20923, 1991. Many of the Dell romances of this period
had companion hardcover book club editions. The jacket for THE BLACK ROSE is
shown here.
THROUGH A DARK
MIST – Marsha Canham, Dell 20611, 1991. Stepback. Good $4.
Historical romance
readers preferred their men naked right down to their dimples. Morgan Kane
understood the rules of the game: look for a thrusting phallic symbol on most
of his steamy stepbacks.
Dell’s numbering
is deceptive, it looks kind of orderly and then it isn’t. So 20611, which
should have come before the last two books numerically, was published after
them in Nov 1991. 20612 is dated 1992 and 20613 came out in 1994. Since this
is a chronological list, we are ignoring the numbers and showing each book in
the order of publication instead. |
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MOON
DREAMS – Patricia Rice, Onyx 40232, 1991. VG $5.
Detail
of back cover art. This is a wraparound cover, and with the naked man and
thrusting sword it looks like it was originally intended to be a stepback. |
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THE
GIFT – Julie Garwood – Pocket 70250, 1991. Julie Garwood and Morgan Kane made
a formidable team. This was the final Pocket Book pairing this bestselling
author with this great artist. He did a lot of fine covers, but his paintings
for Julie Garwood’s books, the others combining fabric and paint and this one
designed by Pocket’s art department like a gift, were all truly
extraordinary. This art was also used on the Pocket hardcover book club
edition. |
MORE THAN JUST A
NIGHT – Connie Rinehold, Dell 21195, 1992. Wraparound not shown here.
FOREVER ASHLEY –
Lori Copeland, Dell 20807, 1992. Stepback. Poor $2. |
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UNDER THE DESERT
MOON – Marsha Canham, Dell 20612, 1992.
Stepback.
NOBODY’S
ANGEL – Karen Robards, Dell 20829, 1992. NOBODY’S ANGEL has two stepback
paintings under the front cover, both by Morgan Kane. The same flowers link
both paintings. |
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Above: the second
stepback for NOBODY’S ANGEL.
In
the 1960s Morgan Kane had been a master of the photo cover. In the 1970s he
created memorable images of sexy women. And in the 1980s and 90s he became a leading
romance cover artist.
SANTANA ROSE –
Olga Bicos, Dell 21152, 1992. |
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WRITTEN
IN THE STARS – Nan Ryan, Dell 21072, 1992. Cover cameo and stepback.
Sometimes
a cut-out on the front cover would reveal the stepback art below. On other
covers, like this one, there is instead an “imitation cut-out”, a small image
previewing the larger painting within. |
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A
LIFETIME OF HEAVEN – Nan Ryan, Dell 21075, 1993. Stepback. VG $5.
On
many of these books, like this one, the faces of the two lovers are repeated
on a small cameo on the spine. (not shown)
Dell
got double duty out of many stepback paintings by using them also for the
dust jackets of book club editions of their romances. This is how the art was
adapted for the Dell hardcover. |
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LETTERS
FROM A STRANGER – Connie Rinehold, Dell 21402, 1993. VG $5.
Bas-relief
cover design. |
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TAPESTRY
– Maura Seger, Harper 08018, 1993. Good $9.
Morgan
Kane had experimented with using swaths of actual fabric to give his colorful
covers the illusion of texture. He used that technique on several memorable
Julie Garwood Pockets like GUARDIAN ANGEL and THE LION’S LADY. But he reached
some kind of zenith with TAPESTRY for Harper Monogram, wrapping fabric across
his canvas and combining it with paint to create four pages of art: back
cover, front cover, and the two-page stepback as shown here. |
This painting on Morgan Kane’s
website was captioned “not used”. I think it was an early draft for TAPESTRY –
the lovers are in nearly the same position, she has flowers in her hair, and a
rich fabric has been applied to the canvas.
All four panels of TAPESTRY in one
image.
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ENTWINED – Lynda
La Plante, William Morrow hardcover in dust jacket, 1993. Hardcover only.
Most of the
hardcovers with Morgan Kane art had paperback versions. This is an exception.
This painting was
shown on his website as “Tiger & Twins”. |
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THE MOON RIDER –
Virginia Lynn, Bantam Fanfare 29693, 1994. VG $10.
Oil
and fabric attached to the canvas. Constantly exploring new ideas,
continually pushing the envelope of standard book cover art, Morgan Kane
surpassed all others with his incredible fabric designs for books like THE
MOON RIDER. |
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RELENTLESS –
Patricia Potter, Bantam 56226, 1994. Stepback.
A man, a woman…
and a mouse? |
From Morgan Kane’s website – his
painting for IN THE SHADOW OF MIDNIGHT (1994).
IN
THE SHADOW OF MIDNIGHT – Marsha Canham, Dell 20613, 1994. Stepback. The
complete painting above offers a clearer look at his thrusting sword.
CAPRICE – Laura Parker, Dell
21238, 1994. VG $5.
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HEARTSTRINGS
– Rebecca Paisley, Dell 21650, 1994.
UNSPOKEN
VOWS – Connie Rinehold, Dell 21358, Jan 1995. Now 78 years old, Morgan Kane
was creating new paintings just as bright and beautiful as any of his
contemporary romance artists of any age.
UNSPOKEN
VOWS is a great cover. But on his website, Morgan later showed the whole wraparound
painting that Dell managed to cover almost all of in the busy wraparound
shown above.
THE
INHERITANCE – Joan Johnston, Dell 21759, 1995. Stepback. VG $5. |
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IMPETUOUS
– Laura Parker, Dell 21527, 1995. VG $5.
STRAIGHT
FOR THE HEART – Marsha Canham, Dell 21786, 1995. Stepback. One of Marsha
Canham’s dedications in this book is “to my brilliant illustrator, Morgan
Kane.” This was Kane’s fourth stepback for Marsha Canham. |
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THE PRINCE OF CUPS
– Gayle Feyrer, Dell 21777, 1995. Cover and stepback. |
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RUNAWAY
– Heather Graham, Dell 21688, 1995. Stepback. VG $5.
RUNAWAY
is unique among Kane’s stepbacks because while most of them have simple
designs on their covers, RUNAWAY has a wraparound painting signed by a
different artist, Vincent McIndoe. That cover painting (not shown here) is
better seen on the hardcover edition from Delacorte. M. Kane has signed the
stepback art. I believe this was his final stepback. |
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McMASTERS
– Lee Morgan, Jove 11632, 1995. Somebody at Jove must have remembered Morgan
Kane designed the first art for their LONGARM series, because they brought
him back in 1995 to do cover art for their new Western series McMASTERS
(“From the Creators of LONGARM!”). Lee Morgan was a house name used by
several writers. Giles Tippette wrote the first book. |
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McMASTERS
#2: SILVER CREEK SHOWDOWN – Lee Morgan, Jove 11682, 1995. The second book in
the set is my favorite, and the reason is easily explained. The house name
Lee Morgan was used here by one of the all-time greats in the world of
Western series fiction, James Reasoner. As Thomas McNulty wrote on his
informative McMASTERS blog, “James Reasoner always delivers.” You can count
on it.
McMASTERS
#3: PLUNDER VALLEY – Morgan, Jove 11731, 1995.
McMASTERS
#4: BIG .70 – Morgan, Jove 11765, 1995. |
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FOREVER
AND A DAY – Connie Rinehold, Dell 21359, 1996. On the dedication page, Connie
Rinehold wrote: “To Morgan Kane – for painting so well what I see in my
imagination. I love my covers, every one!” Morgan painted all four of her
Dell covers. VG $5.
McMASTERS
#5: MEXICAN STANDOFF – Lee Morgan, Jove 11808, 1996. Signed above a bare
back.
McMASTERS
#6: VIOLENT SUNDAY – Morgan, Jove 11842, 1996. |
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NOT BEFORE
MARRIAGE! – Sandra Steffen, Silhouette 1061, 1996. One of his most humorous
covers. |
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ALMOST
TO THE ALTAR – Neesa Hart, Silhouette 1080, 1996. This does not look like a
Morgan Kane male to me, but his signature is found on the cover proof. All of
these Silhouettes were reprinted numerous times: in the UK, as Harlequin
Treasury editions, and for Kindle. |
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CITY
GIRLS NEED NOT APPLY – Rita Rainville, Silhouette 1056, 1997.
Jeff
Kane: “My dad had closed his studio and apartment at 500 E. 77th St. in NYC and moved to North Carolina after my mom died and he spent most of
the 80's and 90's down there near where my sister was living. After she
passed away in 1997 he moved up to Morristown, NJ to be near where I worked.
I know he was doing some work after that, but he wanted to do some fine art
and he concentrated much of his time doing that and researching galleries in
NYC to display his work.” |
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VALENTINE’S
CHILD – Natalie Bishop, Silhouette 1086, 1997.
Jeff
Kane remembers:
“He was very picky with what galleries he was interested in
and was quite frustrated because the galleries were displaying work he called
"crap". What they displayed was little more than paint splashed on
a canvas. I think a lot of the paperback publishers were then using a lot of type,
or covers put together using computer software, so there wasn't a lot of work
to be had by the artists. My dad had a website at that time and was able to
sell some of his fine art through that.” |
THE
READY-MADE FAMILY – Laurie Paige, Silhouette 1114, 1997. Ending his long
career as an illustrator on a high note.
Jeff Kane :
“My dad grew up in a relatively poor family. When he became
successful the people he knew back then told him he was lucky. His
reply was always, "Yes, and the harder I work the luckier I get."” |
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Unknown
You
have an opportunity to contribute to this site if you are aware of any Morgan
Kane book covers not shown here. And if you can name the book that any of the
following images was used for.
“Unknown
Soldier” On his website, Morgan Kane noted that he sold this book cover
illustration to Simon & Schuster, the parent company of Pocket Books. But
we can’t find a Pocket with this cover. Yet. |
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“Boy
& Raccoons” On his website, Morgan noted that he sold this painting to
Ballantine Books. Have you seen this book?
Morgan
Kane’s files include some color slides of his work. This next one looks like
one of his magazine illustrations. But he wrote “Signet” on the slide. |
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ILLUSTRATION
FAMILY: KAY KANE
Kay
Kane was, like her husband, Cleveland Institute of Art Class of 1942. This is
a first checklist of her covers, including a sample of the paperback cover
art she painted for publishers like Bantam, Jove, Dell and Fawcett.
THE
TRYST – Grace Livingston Hill,
Bantam
N8155, 1975. Multiple printings, later reprinted as Bantam 20189 in 1982.
>
THE GAMBLING MAN -
Catherine Cookson, Bantam 02749, 1975. |
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FARO’S
DAUGHTER – Georgette Heyer, Bantam F2210 (02210), 1976.
FANNY
McBRIDE – Catherine Cookson, Bantam 02686, 1976.
YOUNG
PIONEERS – Rose Wilder Lane, McGraw-Hill hardcover, 1976.
YOUNG
PIONEERS – Lane, Bantam 02792, 1976. Cover re-used from the 1976 McGraw-Hill
hardcover. >
Reprinted
as Bantam 20173 in 1981.
THE
DEVIL AND MARY ANN – Catherine Cookson, Bantam 02899, 1977. |
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^DANGEROUS
CLIMATE – Diana Gaines, Bantam 10760, 1977. This cover was published in
multiple color choices – blue and red have also been seen. The small cover reproduction
does not do justice to Kay Kane’s original painting, shown here courtesy of
Jeff Kane.
THEODORA
– Caroline Arnett, Fawcett Crest 2-3347, 1977.
<GLENDOWER
COUNTRY – Martha Rofheart, Bantam 08854, 1978. |
PASSION’S PAWN –
Annabella, Dell 06937, 1978.
LOVE’S DEFIANT
PRISONER – Patricia Phillips, Jove Y4375, 1978.>
LOVE’S SWEET
ILLUSION – Suzanne Roberts, Dell 14638, 1979. Candlelight Romance 525. |
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THE
WAR ON VILLA STREET – Harry Mazer, Dell 99062, 1979.>
Dell Laurel Leaf
had some colorful painted covers on their Young Adult novels.
THE GAMESTER –
Elizabeth Chater, Fawcett Coventry 50047, 1980.
Coventry
Romance 43. |
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<MIRANDA
– Leonora Blythe, Fawcett Coventry 50048, 1980.
Coventry
Romance 44.
THE
NOMAD HARP – Elizabeth Neff Walker, Fawcett Coventry 50070, 1980. Coventry
Romance 52.
LETTY
BARLOW – Joan Mellow, Fawcett Coventry 50082, 1980.
Coventry
Romance 61.
DEBT
OF LOVE – Rachelle Edwards, Fawcett Coventry 50108, 1980.
Coventry
Romance 71. |
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<THE WANTON
FIRES – Meriol Trevor, Fawcett Coventry 50195, 1981. Coventry Romance 94.
TWIST OF CHANCE –
Elisabeth Carey, Fawcett Coventry 50169, 1981. Coventry Romance 102. |
JEFF KANE
In
the late 70s, with painting in his blood from both parents, Jeff
Kane also did a few paperback covers. Jeff is the first to admit he was “not
in the same league with my dad”, but very few artists were. This is THE LADY
ROTHSCHILD – Samantha Lester, Dell 15495, 1978.
Candlelight
Regency Special 255. |
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THE BAD BARON’S
DAUGHTER – Laura London, Dell 10735, 1978.
Candlelight
Regency Special 255. |
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