Comments for Kate Dolan http://katedolan.com Author Kate Dolan also writing as K.D. Hays Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:56:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Runaway Mind Train? by Kate http://katedolan.com/kate-dolan/runaway-mind-train/#comment-702 Kate Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:56:27 +0000 http://katedolan.com/?p=942#comment-702 Beautiful, talented, and adored - I think that sums up the appeal of the entire romance genre right there. I remember a friend (who had never read romance) telling me why she liked Twilight so much. It was because the heroine was, just as you said, beautiful and adored. I told her there were a whole bunch of other stories out there like that if she wanted more! Beautiful, talented, and adored – I think that sums up the appeal of the entire romance genre right there. I remember a friend (who had never read romance) telling me why she liked Twilight so much. It was because the heroine was, just as you said, beautiful and adored. I told her there were a whole bunch of other stories out there like that if she wanted more!

]]> Comment on Runaway Mind Train? by Mary http://katedolan.com/kate-dolan/runaway-mind-train/#comment-701 Mary Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:18:47 +0000 http://katedolan.com/?p=942#comment-701 Interestingly, this genre appeals to me, as to both roller coasters and wacky analogies. :-) I think the appeal of the regency period is the stark differences in lifestyle - with just enough familiarity in the created world that we are able to project ourselves into the story along with one(or more) of the characters. What little girl does not at some point in time have fantasies of being a true-born princess, just as young boys dream of being a swashbuckling prince? In true life, odds are we would more likely end up dung-shovelling peasants, but that is certainly not where our imaginations take us, once transferred from our modern reality. In our fantasy and creative world that our hearts and minds create, we become beautiful, talented, and adored. Interestingly, this genre appeals to me, as to both roller coasters and wacky analogies. :-)
I think the appeal of the regency period is the stark differences in lifestyle – with just enough familiarity in the created world that we are able to project ourselves into the story along with one(or more) of the characters. What little girl does not at some point in time have fantasies of being a true-born princess, just as young boys dream of being a swashbuckling prince? In true life, odds are we would more likely end up dung-shovelling peasants, but that is certainly not where our imaginations take us, once transferred from our modern reality. In our fantasy and creative world that our hearts and minds create, we become beautiful, talented, and adored.

]]> Comment on Runaway Mind Train? by Kate http://katedolan.com/kate-dolan/runaway-mind-train/#comment-700 Kate Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:13:21 +0000 http://katedolan.com/?p=942#comment-700 I absolutely agree about enjoying the historical atmosphere. I still just can't figure out what that atmosphere doesn't give me the creeps. I even spend some of my spare time trying to recreate the historic atmosphere at encampments. I'm happy to cook over an open fire but can't stand to cook at home in a kitchen with running water and a gas stove. Go figure! I absolutely agree about enjoying the historical atmosphere. I still just can’t figure out what that atmosphere doesn’t give me the creeps. I even spend some of my spare time trying to recreate the historic atmosphere at encampments. I’m happy to cook over an open fire but can’t stand to cook at home in a kitchen with running water and a gas stove. Go figure!

]]> Comment on Runaway Mind Train? by Diane Wylie http://katedolan.com/kate-dolan/runaway-mind-train/#comment-699 Diane Wylie Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:49:02 +0000 http://katedolan.com/?p=942#comment-699 Hi, Kate. I don't have any earth-shattering words of wisdom to impart here, but I love historical romances too and will pick up one over a contemporary any day. Part of what I love about them is the chance to learn a bit of the history of the time in a very entertaining way. Think about the Outland series by Diana Gabaldon. While these are not romances, they are very popular and I think the reason is that reader can step back in time and find out what it was like without experiencing any of the hardships. I also think the Regency period has its fans because of the romantic notion of Lords and Ladies and beautiful clothing. But whatever the reason and no matter the time period, romances are my number one favorite because I must, must, must have that happy ending! Diane Hi, Kate.

I don’t have any earth-shattering words of wisdom to impart here, but I love historical romances too and will pick up one over a contemporary any day. Part of what I love about them is the chance to learn a bit of the history of the time in a very entertaining way. Think about the Outland series by Diana Gabaldon. While these are not romances, they are very popular and I think the reason is that reader can step back in time and find out what it was like without experiencing any of the hardships.

I also think the Regency period has its fans because of the romantic notion of Lords and Ladies and beautiful clothing. But whatever the reason and no matter the time period, romances are my number one favorite because I must, must, must have that happy ending!

Diane

]]> Comment on Have women gotten sluttier over time? Or do romances just make it seem that way?…. by Kate http://katedolan.com/featured/have-women-got-sluttier-over-time-or-do-romances-just-make-it-seem-that-way/#comment-698 Kate Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:03:53 +0000 http://katedolan.com/?p=926#comment-698 I like the idea of Laura and Almanzo fan fiction! I re-read the book about their first year of marriage shortly after I got married and found it much different than when I'd read it as a girl. I'm sure they had a very interesting relationship! I like the idea of Laura and Almanzo fan fiction! I re-read the book about their first year of marriage shortly after I got married and found it much different than when I’d read it as a girl. I’m sure they had a very interesting relationship!

]]> Comment on Have women gotten sluttier over time? Or do romances just make it seem that way?…. by Kate http://katedolan.com/featured/have-women-got-sluttier-over-time-or-do-romances-just-make-it-seem-that-way/#comment-697 Kate Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:34:38 +0000 http://katedolan.com/?p=926#comment-697 You are certainly right that sex sells and books have changed a lot. My question I guess is whether people have changed much. I think the heroines used to be more chaste than real life women. Now I'm wondering whether they are more sex-obsessed than real life women, or whether they've just barely caught up. I can only speak for myself. So it is truly interesting to read others' perspectives on this. Thanks for sharing! You are certainly right that sex sells and books have changed a lot. My question I guess is whether people have changed much. I think the heroines used to be more chaste than real life women. Now I’m wondering whether they are more sex-obsessed than real life women, or whether they’ve just barely caught up. I can only speak for myself. So it is truly interesting to read others’ perspectives on this. Thanks for sharing!

]]> Comment on Have women gotten sluttier over time? Or do romances just make it seem that way?…. by Monica http://katedolan.com/featured/have-women-got-sluttier-over-time-or-do-romances-just-make-it-seem-that-way/#comment-696 Monica Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:13:40 +0000 http://katedolan.com/?p=926#comment-696 It's just the fact that reading tastes have changed. Sex sells. I was a voracious reader when younger and then adulthood happened and between work, marriage, children and home ownership, I didn't have much time to read. When I finally had a empty nest and only worked part time, I started reading again and was slightly shocked when my favorite Regency romance genre had the heroine "melting" in the hero's arms and giving up her "virtue" so easily. I read Georgette Heyer when I was young. I think everything changed around the time Rosemary Rodgers wrote "Sweet Savage Love.(1980's?)" Or maybe Kathleen Woodiwiss was the first. Anyway, I think things started to loosen up when those books became bestsellers. mcv111 at hotmail(dot)com It’s just the fact that reading tastes have changed. Sex sells.
I was a voracious reader when younger and then adulthood happened and between work, marriage, children and home ownership, I didn’t have much time to read. When I finally had a empty nest and only worked part time, I started reading again and was slightly shocked when my favorite Regency romance genre had the heroine “melting” in the hero’s arms and giving up her “virtue” so easily. I read Georgette Heyer when I was young. I think everything changed around the time Rosemary Rodgers wrote “Sweet Savage Love.(1980′s?)” Or maybe Kathleen Woodiwiss was the first. Anyway, I think things started to loosen up when those books became bestsellers.
mcv111 at hotmail(dot)com

]]> Comment on Have women gotten sluttier over time? Or do romances just make it seem that way?…. by Jaime http://katedolan.com/featured/have-women-got-sluttier-over-time-or-do-romances-just-make-it-seem-that-way/#comment-695 Jaime Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:18:02 +0000 http://katedolan.com/?p=926#comment-695 What books are you reading? I must not have ventured into those historical romances recently. In all seriousness, though, I think it's because there are so many warped views on what sex is, what it isn't, what it means, what it doesn't mean, etc, that we are getting this effect in books. Until people can have real conversations about sex and even start agreeing on what it means, you'll have this 'sex sells' attitude amongst authors as well as in many other areas. What is repressed comes back to haunt us in other ways. If society doesn't make changes, I won't be surprised to see even more sex in more books. What books are you reading? I must not have ventured into those historical romances recently.

In all seriousness, though, I think it’s because there are so many warped views on what sex is, what it isn’t, what it means, what it doesn’t mean, etc, that we are getting this effect in books. Until people can have real conversations about sex and even start agreeing on what it means, you’ll have this ‘sex sells’ attitude amongst authors as well as in many other areas.

What is repressed comes back to haunt us in other ways. If society doesn’t make changes, I won’t be surprised to see even more sex in more books.

]]> Comment on Have women gotten sluttier over time? Or do romances just make it seem that way?…. by Cheryl Malandrinos http://katedolan.com/featured/have-women-got-sluttier-over-time-or-do-romances-just-make-it-seem-that-way/#comment-694 Cheryl Malandrinos Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:37:42 +0000 http://katedolan.com/?p=926#comment-694 Society has changed what is acceptable, so while there were then and always will be those who push the envelope, our view of those people has changed. I want you to imagine this, and I can't even believe I am admitting it, but I used to write spicy Little House on the Prairie stories. :O I know. They were based upon the TV show, not the books, and they came about because TV's Laura and Almanzo gave off about as much heat as a damp sheet. Now, Melissa Gilbert was under 18 at the time, so it's not a surprise, but Charles and Caroline had a lot of chemistry, so why wouldn't their daughter and her husband? TV viewers in the 70's and 80's would never have accepted it. I wanted to portray with my fanfiction, however, that Almanzo and Laura were very much in love and that they were attracted to each other as a young married couple. Take Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, which aired in the 1990's, and you see lots of passion there. Granted, Jane Seymour and Joe Lando were very much adults, but this was considered a family show, and yet Michaela and Sully were very passionate, as were other townsfolk--married or not. At this point, I think I'm going in reverse. So disgusted by how sex is jammed down the throats of even kids, I don't have a desire to read these types of romances as much as I used to. I'll go for the sweet ones. Great post, Kate. Cheryl ccmal(at)charter(dot)net Society has changed what is acceptable, so while there were then and always will be those who push the envelope, our view of those people has changed. I want you to imagine this, and I can’t even believe I am admitting it, but I used to write spicy Little House on the Prairie stories. :O I know. They were based upon the TV show, not the books, and they came about because TV’s Laura and Almanzo gave off about as much heat as a damp sheet. Now, Melissa Gilbert was under 18 at the time, so it’s not a surprise, but Charles and Caroline had a lot of chemistry, so why wouldn’t their daughter and her husband? TV viewers in the 70′s and 80′s would never have accepted it. I wanted to portray with my fanfiction, however, that Almanzo and Laura were very much in love and that they were attracted to each other as a young married couple.

Take Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, which aired in the 1990′s, and you see lots of passion there. Granted, Jane Seymour and Joe Lando were very much adults, but this was considered a family show, and yet Michaela and Sully were very passionate, as were other townsfolk–married or not.

At this point, I think I’m going in reverse. So disgusted by how sex is jammed down the throats of even kids, I don’t have a desire to read these types of romances as much as I used to. I’ll go for the sweet ones.

Great post, Kate.

Cheryl
ccmal(at)charter(dot)net

]]> Comment on Have women gotten sluttier over time? Or do romances just make it seem that way?…. by Mayra Calvani http://katedolan.com/featured/have-women-got-sluttier-over-time-or-do-romances-just-make-it-seem-that-way/#comment-693 Mayra Calvani Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:57:48 +0000 http://katedolan.com/?p=926#comment-693 Great article, Kate! It's amazing how the level of romance has changed over the years! Great article, Kate! It’s amazing how the level of romance has changed over the years!

]]>