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.

Dude, I don't know one artsy woman that doesn't want at least one of those...to be in an artistic couple(cough) VictorNThessaly (cough) (except they are both poets, but, otherwise, you feel me on this, right?) And Victor is going to think I've abandoned writing to embarrass him full-time or something, but they are a good example, in this instance, because, to my knowledge they are not all TedNSyllviaforevah!1!

I find the prohibition on tatoos in romance novels intriguing. We've seen a gradual change in attitude about them on TV and in movies, from actors getting visible tatoos to an entire show about the lives of tatoo artists. So while the visual media is embracing this "counter culture" where the tatoos are actually seen, the non-graphic print media is still holding out despite the fact that no one would even see the tatoo! Even the military hasn't gone so far as banning all tatoos, you just can't have them visible on certain areas of the body.

I think visual media is still treating it as "counter," and as long as it does, a genre as conservative as romance seems to be -- well, I'm not surprised they'll have no part of it.

Tattoos might be more common, but I don't think they're properly acceptable yet.

with a horseshoe tattooed right above his pubic hair.

Yes, but was it pointed up, so the luck wouldn't spill?

Even the military hasn't gone so far as banning all tatoos, you just can't have them visible on certain areas of the body.

Which I guess is part of the whole "Military: we're trying to be professionals, here" image they like to project these days. My stepmother's father, who was a Navy man in WWII, had tattoos all over his forearms, which I believe would be disallowed these days.

(There's a rumor that the Yankees have similar rules, no tattoos that a short-sleeved shirt and trousers can't hide, but I don't know exactly what they would do if they traded for some hot young thing who already has an eagle crest on his wrist tendons, which is why it's just as well Tim Hudson is pitching in Atlanta.)

Tattoos might be more common, but I don't think they're properly acceptable yet

I think you're right there. We see a lot of things within the realm of "art" that still aren't acceptable on the street, like nudity!

I'm wondering, too, is some of the restriction on tattoos is that tattoos have their own story. When someone gets one, there is often a long history involved in it and the editors may be worried that the backstory of the tattoo could take over the story of the "romance." Not totally, but it might interfere in some way, in their minds. Personally, I think it would be a very easy way to toss in some backstory that is more pertinent to the person than fainting at the sight of blond-haired men with green eyes who walk a certain way and look just. like. my. dead. husband. SOB!

To be fair, this whole "no tattoos" thing is just one woman's bias, namely my editor's. I have no idea if other editors would care about them or not.

Musicians and actors are another no-no.

What the FUCKING fuck....?!??!?!?

Again, to be fair, this was an old Harlequin/Silhouette stand, and it might be a thing of the past now. Musicians (and painters, etc.) were thought to be too cerebral, I believe, and actors not particularly trustworthy, because of ... acting, I guess. Kissing other women, maybe? Playing a role? Whatever. Rolls eyes.

My ex-husband is a public artist

Very cool idea, Robin. Thanks! Although maybe the next hero -- I've already changed my mind and decided to make him a carpenter/builder, just to be contrary.

Musicians (and painters, etc.) were thought to be too cerebral

You don't even want to know what I just typed three times and decided to erase without posting.

Really not.

I can't imagine a tattoo requiring that much backstory. I've had many explained to me entirely with variations on three words: young, stupid and drunk. (Not that I have any objection to tattoos in general.)

You don't even want to know what I just typed three times and decided to erase without posting.

Really not.

And that's why a lot of people have a hard time writing for Harlouette, as we shorthanded it at my old office. Their new lines have a bit more breadth, but some of the old taboos were hard to break.

Also, by cerebral I believe the thinking was not hat musicians were necessarily cerebral, but that writing about a guy, say, playing second chair sax for the orchestra was not going to offer as much of a sexy factor as a cowboy roping steers out on the ranch, or a corporate raider...doing whatever it is that corporate raiders do.

Edited for one too many "necessarily"s than was needed.