Last week, as I was driving home from a book store, I heard a GEICO commercial on the radio, "GEICO has more staying power than a romance novel cover model".
Oh, GEICO, you don't know romance readers!
GEICO is an acronym for Government Employees Insurance Company. It spends millions on advertising; many of its commercials are humorous and somewhat irrelevent to car insurance. GEICO was founded by Leo Goodwin after working for USAA, an insurance company founded by (and for) military officers. Goodwin applied USAA's business model to GEICO, thus demonstrating the military's staying power.
GEICO is an acronym for Government Employees Insurance Company. It spends millions on advertising; many of its commercials are humorous and somewhat irrelevent to car insurance. GEICO was founded by Leo Goodwin after working for USAA, an insurance company founded by (and for) military officers. Goodwin applied USAA's business model to GEICO, thus demonstrating the military's staying power.
GEICO may poke fun of romance cover models ... yet military heroes dominate them. In fact, several reservists are cover models, including Jeremy R. He attended the SOS America Military Tribute last year at the RT Booklovers Convention. Jeremy is currently deployed to Djibouti, Africa. Thank you, Jeremy, for your service!
Image by Kimberly Rocha
GEICO has employed several spokesmen in its advertising campaigns, including Maxwell the Pig. He's confident in what he can do with GEICO apps, even as he vacations on the beach. Romanceland has its own Maxwell - Cathy Maxwell, the beloved author of historical romance from Avon Books. What's not to admire about an author who believes "loving well is the greatest adventure of all." Cathy penned 31 novels and contributed to five anthologies - now that's staying power. Most of her cover models are heroines ... perhaps the heroines are inspired by Cathy's can do atttitude. Did I mention that Cathy is a Navy veteran? Thank you, Cathy, for your service!
One of my favorite GEICO commercials features a camel wandering through an office asking, "What day is it? Hump day!" I've never ridden a camel ... but romance author Diana Cosby reenlisted in the Navy atop a dromedary! Ultimately, Diana retired as a Navy Chief and I share chief humor,
Real Chiefs believe that in the Navy every day is a holiday, every meal is a feast, every payday is a lottery and every muster is a family reunion.
How's that for staying power? In her second career, Diana penned 9 medieval romance novels with more to come. Thank you, Diana, for your service!
Book 32 is available May 31, 2016
One of my favorite GEICO commercials features a camel wandering through an office asking, "What day is it? Hump day!" I've never ridden a camel ... but romance author Diana Cosby reenlisted in the Navy atop a dromedary! Ultimately, Diana retired as a Navy Chief and I share chief humor,
Real Chiefs believe that in the Navy every day is a holiday, every meal is a feast, every payday is a lottery and every muster is a family reunion.
How's that for staying power? In her second career, Diana penned 9 medieval romance novels with more to come. Thank you, Diana, for your service!
Diana Cosby, left, reenlists in Tangiers
I hum along to the GEICO's commercial with New York hip hop duo, Salt-N-Pepa, singing "Push It" to the businessman in the elevator, the pregnant couple at Lamaze class, and the exasperated dad mowing his yard. Romanceland has its own "push it" duo - Kimberly R. (right, below) and Janet R. (left). Kimberly is the founder of Book Obsessed Chicks blog, book club, and annual BBQ (link). Janet is a dedicated reader who has never met a romance conference she didn't love. Together, they are an enthusiastic pair who have recommended so many keepers to me. They have also faithfully supported military families through SOS America. Thanks, Kimberly and Janet, for your infectious smiles!
Do you have a favorite GEICO commercial? Or a favorite cover model? One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, January 30, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 31.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
