To Whom It May Concern,

I like the color pink.  Get over it.  I no longer want to hear criticism regarding books with the color pink on the covers.  So what.  I’m going to read the damn thing anyway.  I’m NOT going to read some book with a scary picture on the cover (unless the cover can be removed), but I will most assuredly NOT skip over a book because there is lots of pretty pink on the cover. In fact, my initial response may even be “ohhh- pretty!” with a hint of glee in my voice as I skip my way to the register.  

And for the record, I have been on this planet for 42 years.  

Wham and neon pushed pink off the radar for me when I was in high school.  Plus, Mary Kay Caddies were everywhere, and it just felt wrong.  I still cringe when I see one of those Mary Kay cars.  

I couldn’t openly admit my love for pink in college.  I was majoring in International Studies with a minor in Psychology.  I was going to go to law school and become a lobbyist for women and children.  It was the 80s.  Shoulder pads and royal blue were necessary if you wanted to be considered a serious player among the boys, uh, men those days.

And then I had a baby girl in the 90s and it should have been all about the pink.  Except, it’s not practical having your Diva in Training in pretty pink everyday when she thinks that her job is to find (or create) the biggest messes for her mother to clean up.  These messes often involved food, finger paints, and lots of dirt.  I didn’t want to waste the pink.  Who would see it anyway under all of that kiddie filth anyway?

Now, pink surrounds me.  I have a pink trench coat (I love it when it rains), a pink umbrella, pink iPod cover (because The Man didn’t think to purchase the iPod in pink), pink leather handbags, and a pair of badass pink boots (that I rarely wear because they are sky-high, but they are still bad as hell).  There’s more, but you get the point.

I was in Milwaukee with The Man last summer visiting his home and decided that I could not leave Wisconsin without a pink Green Bay  cap.  And there were none to be found in the city.  He found it on eBay the night before we left and it arrived in Charleston a couple of days after we returned home.  It’s my favorite pink purchase from 2008. Of course, getting The Man to understand why I seldom wear it is another story.

What’s the big deal with me and pink?  

It simply makes me happy.  My wardrobe consists of lots of khaki, white, browns, and black.  Pink is pretty much the only color I will add to an ensemble.  I like to keep it simple.  

So, Mr. Publishers, if you want this 40something to notice your book, put some pink on it.  And make sure the pages inside appeal to intelligent, funny, sensitive women.  It’s sure to be a hit.