In other word, the publisher is a judgmental fogey and I bet the 18-34s would think your book FG.Being 4 years outside that demographic, and only a handful of years behind the Baby Boomer women, I think that easily goes past the age 49.
I go online sometimes, but everyone's spelling is really bad. It's... depressing.
Tara ,'Get It Done'
The Great Write Way, Chapter Two: Twice upon a time...
A place for Buffistas to discuss, beta and otherwise deal and dish on their non-fan fiction projects.
Topic!Cindy - Sep 21, 2005 5:19:37 am PDT #4113 of 10001
What is even happening?
erikaj - Sep 21, 2005 5:25:28 am PDT #4114 of 10001
Always Anti-fascist!
Okay...my bad. See why statistics get messed up sometimes. Anyway, the publisher can come in from 1964 now...he's probably just heard about the cigarettes the jazz musicians are smoking, too. So, it's hard to Cinderella with tattoo guy. Is that the only fantasy there is?
Amy - Sep 21, 2005 5:57:16 am PDT #4115 of 10001
Because books.
Roamnce has all kinds of "rules". No sports guys, for one. Yet Susan Elizabeth Phillips wrote a couple of bestsellers with football players.
Musicians and actors are another no-no.
But this is why chick lit caught on, I think -- younger readers want a little more variety and realism. Romance heroines can never *ever* smoke a cigarette (the horror!), but chick lit heroines can, for instance.
Also, it's not so much my publisher as my editor who objected, and she also happens to be a very good friend. I love her to death, but her idea of sexy and mine aren't always the same. And I really feel like telling her that no matter what she thinks about a particular hero, readers aren't always going to share her squicks *or* her turn-ons.
Susan W. - Sep 21, 2005 5:58:48 am PDT #4116 of 10001
Good Trouble and Righteous Fights
That's just lame, Amy.
t tries to convince plot bunnies to veer a little more toward the historical fiction hutch
Susan W. - Sep 21, 2005 6:01:54 am PDT #4117 of 10001
Good Trouble and Righteous Fights
Though I have to admit that one failing of realism in my not-quite-a-WIP anymore is that Jack doesn't smoke. Very unrealistic for him not to. But my father just died of lung cancer, dammit. I just can't put a pipe in my hero's hand.
Nutty - Sep 21, 2005 6:16:54 am PDT #4118 of 10001
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."
No sports guys, for one.
That way lie groupies, is the thinking I bet. Which, yeah, fair cop. I suspect published romance is not a fan of groupies.
Romance heroines can never *ever* smoke a cigarette
In the annals of people who have never seen Now, Voyager (1942). Helloooo, nurse! Sexiest cigarette evar, and I haven't smoked a cigarette in my life.
Lyra Jane - Sep 21, 2005 6:20:06 am PDT #4119 of 10001
Up with the sun
Romance has all kinds of "rules". No sports guys, for one. Yet Susan Elizabeth Phillips wrote a couple of bestsellers with football players.
Musicians and actors are another no-no.
That's whack. My fantasy guy would be a tattooed musician (and, in fact, my husband is one, though he also has a boring corporate job.)
This is probably why I don't read romance novels.
Scrappy - Sep 21, 2005 6:32:29 am PDT #4120 of 10001
Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
My ex-husband is a public artist [link]
This means he gets to be all artist-y with drawing and making models and stuff, then all professional with appearing before city boards, then all buildy with climbing on structures and welding shit up with jeans and a t-shirt on. It was lots of fun hanging out in that world plus he was brilliant and fun (also fucked up, hence the no longer being married). It might give you more scope than the average architect or artist you would be stuck with.
deborah grabien - Sep 21, 2005 6:47:13 am PDT #4121 of 10001
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.
Roamnce has all kinds of "rules". No sports guys, for one. Yet Susan Elizabeth Phillips wrote a couple of bestsellers with football players.
I remember Betsy lending me one in which the hero was a professional hockey goalie with a horseshoe tattooed right above his pubic hair. I don't remember much else about the book, but the tat and the hockey descriptions made me happy as hell.
Musicians and actors are another no-no.
What the FUCKING fuck....?!??!?!?
Topic!Cindy - Sep 21, 2005 7:05:48 am PDT #4122 of 10001
What is even happening?
Roamnce has all kinds of "rules". No sports guys, for one. Yet Susan Elizabeth Phillips wrote a couple of bestsellers with football players.
Musicians and actors are another no-no.
Talk about your untapped markets.