tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post1300279125196898412..comments2024-03-22T05:18:29.555-04:00Comments on Romance Bandits: To Virgin or not to VirginLoucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217492654108300014noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-58658777314556914392011-05-24T05:58:42.294-04:002011-05-24T05:58:42.294-04:00LilMissMolly - as I mentioned to Louisa, my apolog...LilMissMolly - as I mentioned to Louisa, my apologies for the late response. We lost power last night (but at least it meant I got to go to bed early...what else can you do?) I've been resetting all the clocks this morning.<br /><br />Interesting observation about the difference in heroine age between romance and thrillers. This must be a function of the market. I remember hearing a well known editor speaking at a convention who said that most readers of romance know how it feels to be 20. Not all readers know how it feels to be 40. Therefore, to reach the biggest share of the market in an industry where the reader identifies with the heroine - they want a younger heroine. <br /><br />That said - as an older woman myself - I'd prefer to read a book with an older more experienced heroine. Thrillers or the mystery market might be something to pursue. I'll have to keep that in mind if Berkley decides they've had enough of me (grin) - Hope that doesn't happen any time soon, though.Donna MacMeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310857800824141312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-48079857628242781972011-05-24T05:51:34.751-04:002011-05-24T05:51:34.751-04:00Hi Louisa -
Sorry for the late response - we lost...Hi Louisa -<br /><br />Sorry for the late response - we lost power last night in the storms. Though it was part of the storm front that spun off that awful tornado in Missouri, we just got the high wind and some brief rain .<br /><br />I'm pleased and surprised that most respondants are so flexible. Basically, if the story is good and the character works - go with it.Donna MacMeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310857800824141312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-41117800074966591052011-05-23T22:38:23.605-04:002011-05-23T22:38:23.605-04:00I love being asked this question! For the most par...I love being asked this question! For the most part, I like more grown up women and those who might have lost a husband early in life or was in a loveless marriage until his untimely demise (I will rarely read a story that has an extra-marital affair). <br /><br />I can see why many historical fiction stories have virgins as the heroines tend to be young. Thrillers tend to have older more mature women and fewer virgins.<br /><br />Regardless of genre, I truly despise virgins having the big "O" as that is so unrealistic. I really liked how Catherine Coulter dealt with it in Ryder Sherbrooke's story, where it was painful for the first few times but Sophie grew to appreciate it. :)LilMissMollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05847160970054624743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-70220486119071607862011-05-23T22:05:19.495-04:002011-05-23T22:05:19.495-04:00The GR is back in Hawaii! He is no dummy!
Donna...The GR is back in Hawaii! He is no dummy! <br /><br /><br />Donna, Shadow is gorgeous! What a lucky girl she is to have such a great new home! <br /><br /><br />I think I am with everyone else. If the virginity makes sense in context and is keeping with the heroine's character great. If her not being a virgin is what it takes to make her more real I have no problem with that either. There are so many possibilities when writing a virginal heroine and just as many when one is writing an experienced one.Louisa Cornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12971924594129471055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-63725512148734413072011-05-23T21:32:33.585-04:002011-05-23T21:32:33.585-04:00Nancy -
I find it so interesting that things have...Nancy -<br /><br />I find it so interesting that things have shifted 180 degrees in 100 years. There's reasons for it of course, but makes you wonder how things will look in the next 100 years.Donna MacMeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310857800824141312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-68777057492286602542011-05-23T20:11:43.622-04:002011-05-23T20:11:43.622-04:00Donna, you asked whether I made choices about the ...Donna, you asked whether I made choices about the heroine's virginity based on genre. I had to think about it for a minute. I've written both regular and paranormal historicals. They produce a tie between experienced and not, two of each.<br /><br />Of my three contemporary heroines, none is a virgin. <br /><br />I think a virgin heroine in her mid-twenties, in a contemporary, non-Inspirational, needs some explanation while her more experienced cousins do not. In historicals, the explanation is on the other foot because there was an expectation of virginity with any never-married woman.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13705259501965011703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-37120633614164328652011-05-23T17:56:43.942-04:002011-05-23T17:56:43.942-04:00Nancy - Teehee, you would. This book actually has...Nancy - Teehee, you would. This book actually has boom in it...and coffins - lots of coffins.<br /><br />Okay - back to virgins, non-virgins - you've written both historical and contemporary. Did you differentiate based on genre? <br /><br />While my current WIP involves a virgin, I think I'm going to have to write that bawdy widow book because I'm thinking I may be getting in a rut.Donna MacMeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310857800824141312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-21374614475772631462011-05-23T17:30:54.411-04:002011-05-23T17:30:54.411-04:00Kim, congrats on the bird!
Donna, what a cute kit...Kim, congrats on the bird!<br /><br />Donna, what a cute kittie. I bet you're having a lot of fun with her.<br /><br />Interesting question about heroines. I don't really care what the heroine's history is. I care more about how (and whether) that history affects her.<br /><br />I'm so looking forward to this book!Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13705259501965011703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-26427840437907300162011-05-23T16:45:58.458-04:002011-05-23T16:45:58.458-04:00Christina - Hmmm... I wouldn't say liberating...Christina - Hmmm... I wouldn't say liberating. It might have been if her limited experience was a good one - but as it wasn't, so the hero had to work doubly hard to coax her into giving it another shot. Hadn't thought of it till now, but in two of my books, the hero assumed my heroine wasn't a virgin because of her actions, but she was. Maybe it's time to try a bawdy widow book - that might be fun!Donna MacMeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310857800824141312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-31106483496653381962011-05-23T16:40:56.508-04:002011-05-23T16:40:56.508-04:00Suzanna - Well then it sounds like an especially g...Suzanna - Well then it sounds like an especially good read! Yes - I'd think she would be annoyed with him when he returns and now he'll have to woo his way back into her bed. Very nice!Donna MacMeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310857800824141312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-61779177923440452612011-05-23T16:25:01.145-04:002011-05-23T16:25:01.145-04:00Donna, the funny thing about MWP featuring in that...Donna, the funny thing about MWP featuring in that is that she ISN'T a virgin and it's a major part of the plot that she isn't (although my hero spends quite a bit of time assuming she is!).Anna Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06695579361323275316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-27615224667120742172011-05-23T16:24:29.706-04:002011-05-23T16:24:29.706-04:00Hi Donna, ooh, I'm looking forward to another ...Hi Donna, ooh, I'm looking forward to another Donna Macmeans historical! <br /><br />Interesting question. I prefer to write non-virgin heroines myself and have no trouble at all reading them. Did you find it a little liberating to write a non-virgin this time?Christina Brookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11408660886747542063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-1790728014964124212011-05-23T16:09:43.675-04:002011-05-23T16:09:43.675-04:00It should be interesting to see how the author han...<i>It should be interesting to see how the author handles the consequences. Does she now become promiscuous as her widowed status might allow? Or does she fall back on her virgin upbringing and shy away from sex? That could be an interesting read! </i><br /><br />Well, the author is me, in this case. :-) She's going to end up quickly in a marriage of convenience to a friend of her late husband's, who marries her partly at his dying friend's request (so she won't be left destitute) and partly to have a reliable live-in caretaker for his aging, ailing mother while he's off having an adventurous military career spanning three continents. By the time he finally comes home, she's righteously frustrated and annoyed with him.Susanna Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16149293228696867804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-74202493841740889632011-05-23T15:30:58.984-04:002011-05-23T15:30:58.984-04:00Anna - Well - I admit discovering romances fairly ...Anna - Well - I admit discovering romances fairly late in life. But once I'd discovered them and thought I might try my hand at one, I took the suggested reading list that appeared in the back of Kathryn Falk's how-to essays and went to a used book store and bought as many as I could find - historicals, categories, contemporaries, a little magic and a few light weight suspenses - seems serious "edge of your seat" suspense romances didn't come along till later. Of all those older romances that I read, I don't think any of the historicals had experienced heroines - so yeah - you're a trail blazer to me (grin).Donna MacMeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310857800824141312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-62777860849223541572011-05-23T15:25:26.096-04:002011-05-23T15:25:26.096-04:00Anna - LOL on doing a virgin. Heck your heroine h...Anna - LOL on doing a virgin. Heck your heroine has done one of those as well (grin). Yes - I was surprised by your cover so predominately on google images. They weren't all your covers, just Midnight's Passion. But it was there something like five times. I think I saw maybe two covers from others - but they weren't nearly as distinctive as the gorgeous purple and red. Not sure how that happens - appearing on google images. I was expecting to see pictures of Snow White (grin).Donna MacMeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310857800824141312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-47756904883745403472011-05-23T15:21:11.638-04:002011-05-23T15:21:11.638-04:00Susanna - So now she's a near virgin as well. ...Susanna - So now she's a near virgin as well. Poor dear, how frustrating! It should be interesting to see how the author handles the consequences. Does she now become promiscuous as her widowed status might allow? Or does she fall back on her virgin upbringing and shy away from sex? That could be an interesting read!Donna MacMeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310857800824141312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-57953517685594289322011-05-23T15:16:04.036-04:002011-05-23T15:16:04.036-04:00Aww...Thank you Terri ! I tend to agree with you ...Aww...Thank you Terri ! I tend to agree with you about contemporaries, although there was a time that wasn't necessarily true. I wonder when it changed? I remember even in the 80s the heroines of all the various genres were virgins. Of course, paranormals weren't as big then as they are now...and paranormal heroines may have a whole different set of values relating to sexual activity based on their world. I wonder if that had something to do with the shift, or if it is all reflection of today's values. I suspect the latter but I wonder exactly when it switched.Donna MacMeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310857800824141312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-88350906242956117502011-05-23T15:11:40.002-04:002011-05-23T15:11:40.002-04:00Interesting, Donna. I'm not quite sure I'm...Interesting, Donna. I'm not quite sure I'm quite the trailblazer you say but it's lovely of you to think that! Even way back when the books weren't explicit, I can remember reading quite a lot of widows. Girls with QUITE as much experience as Olivia maybe not! ;-)Anna Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06695579361323275316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-22839259871908384672011-05-23T15:08:12.330-04:002011-05-23T15:08:12.330-04:00Pat, just a tinge? LOL! I'm having fun with my...Pat, just a tinge? LOL! I'm having fun with my virgin right now. Actually that doesn't sound right either! Donna, what are you getting us into? You naughty wench!Anna Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06695579361323275316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-62841120806685296952011-05-23T15:07:01.325-04:002011-05-23T15:07:01.325-04:00P226 - Not see, I thought the title would pull you...P226 - Not see, I thought the title would pull you out of hiding, but I didn't plan on spewing Diet Coke on my laptop at your response (big grin). Quite the diplomat, you are.Donna MacMeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310857800824141312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-92092772939126570282011-05-23T15:06:34.226-04:002011-05-23T15:06:34.226-04:00Donna, how funny! Mind you, Charis in COS was a vi...Donna, how funny! Mind you, Charis in COS was a virgin, so I've done one. Hmm, doing a virgin doesn't sound quite right, does it?Anna Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06695579361323275316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-22870729068822721522011-05-23T15:05:42.694-04:002011-05-23T15:05:42.694-04:00Pat - Love that tinge of darkness that Anna does s...Pat - Love that tinge of darkness that Anna does so well. Not sure I could handle women with a past half so well. My heroine will be pleased that this isn't an area of concern. (grin)Donna MacMeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310857800824141312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-86765717958635036312011-05-23T14:59:12.947-04:002011-05-23T14:59:12.947-04:00To me, it's more important that the heroine...<i>To me, it's more important that the heroine's virginity (or lack-of-virginity) makes sense to their situation and is in keeping with their character. </i><br /><br />Yes, this.<br /><br />I've just started a historical manuscript where the heroine isn't a virgin because she's a widow...but the poor thing is widowed pnly a fortnight into her first marriage, just after she and her first husband got past the awkward newbie fumbling stage to really having fun in bed (she'd been a virgin, he a near-virgin).Susanna Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16149293228696867804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-24072142305367024032011-05-23T14:53:38.358-04:002011-05-23T14:53:38.358-04:00Trish - Yours seems to be the consensus of the gr...Trish - Yours seems to be the consensus of the group. I recall a long article last year in the RWR. Not sure what it said, but I remeber it wsa several pages. Now I'm wondering how they filled several pages!Donna MacMeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310857800824141312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-58339591706089406142011-05-23T14:41:02.954-04:002011-05-23T14:41:02.954-04:00I agree with most of what's been mentioned. I ...I agree with most of what's been mentioned. I can handle a non-virgin in historicals provided why she isn't a virgin is well explained. Not a fan of the any historical miss jumping into bed with a man without having some kind of realization of the consequences - not just pregnancy or disease but her place in society and her future. <br /><br />For some reason, I have a hard time with virgins in contemporaries. The author has to really make me believe it for me to buy it. And it also depends on the age/background of the heroine.<br /><br />I'm sure you've pulled it off beautifully, Donna, you always do.Terri Osburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.com