Question #1
“They” say the historical romance is making a comeback. From what I can tell, the newest historical romances to be buzzed about are sexier than the historicals of just a few years ago. Do you think sex is selling historicals? Why or why not?
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January 16th, 2007 at 4:37 am
Hi Sylvia,
I think that the sex scenes are just more detailed than before and some new words are used. I don’t think that it is the sex that sells them.
January 16th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Hi Sylvia. I don’t think sex is what sells the historicals. For me, it is more about the story than the sex.
January 16th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
i think it is just udpated sex scences but it will always be popular to me.
January 16th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
I think it’s a combination of everything that makes them popular. Going back in time is comforting when the present is so volatile. Add beautiful descriptions, sexier interaction between the hero and heroine and it’s a good combination.
January 16th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
It could be the sex selling the historicals in some cases but for me it is the type of story and the location, etc. that sells it.
January 16th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
I read mostly contemps so I cannot say really. But I guess it has to be a combo of both. Storyline has to be good of course with strong characters and the sex to spice it up. A lot of people I know love historicals, so they still must be popular.
January 17th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Yes their is sex in the historical romances that I have read, but htat isn’t what interests me the most. It’s usually the storyline and different locations in the book itself. The characters also have to be intriguing and inspiring to keep me interested in the book.
January 18th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
The historical authors I always liked best such as Virginia Henley and Robin Schone were never shy about descriptive love scenes and they were always popular. I just think there are more authors who write the more explicit scenes now then, say 5 years ago. Maybe it is the sex that accounts for the upswing in sales. However, I thought they have always been pretty popular…although maybe not as “hot” sales-wise as they were say 10 or 15 years ago. Back then, I read almost nothing but historicals. I still think if the story is not absorbing and captivates the reader, it doesn’t matter how much sex is involved or how hot it is.
January 22nd, 2007 at 11:28 am
Yes I do think there is alot of sex now but it doesn’t bother me at all. I enjoy reading more of the storyline’s. I love reading the blurbs to learn more about the storylines.
Hugssss
Linda.H.
January 22nd, 2007 at 12:02 pm
As mentioned by others their have been authors who wrote very spicy scenes in historicals in the past. I like the way it is no longer described in overly purple prose but it would also jar if the language used was overly modern.
Readers are seeming to lean towards spicier offerings but it is all of the details of the time period being written about that make a historical fascinating for me.
January 22nd, 2007 at 7:12 pm
I don’t think sex sells a book. Good writing sells a book. I love a hot sexy romance in any story, no matter the genre. However, if the plotting, character development and pacing are not done well, I will not be interested in the story, no matter how much sex is in the story. Personally, I love historical novels. There can never be enough well written historical romances for me.
January 23rd, 2007 at 1:07 pm
I like erotica also so the sex scenes that are in books now doesn’t bother me. I started to read Erotica in 2006. My first erotica read was by Sierra Dafoe and now I am addicted and I love Allure author’s
My favorite author is Cathryn Fox love her books. Her Pleasure series are *HOT* and a must read. I can’t wait for Alluring Tales to come out that is the next book I look forward to reading in 2007. Sylvia your book The Stranger I Married sounds really good I look forward to reading that as well 
I would really love to have a copy of your book Sex On Holiday love the cover and the story sounds wonderful.
Hugssss
Linda.H.
January 28th, 2007 at 10:22 am
For me it is the plot, characters, settings, mystery/suspense that determines if I will buy a book.
January 29th, 2007 at 6:34 am
I think that everything goes in cycles… right now paranormal’s, historical’s and erotica’s are hot!! I have to agree that historicals are coming back. I have 8-10 on my TBR Pile!! Including: Victoria Alexander, Leslie La Foy, Kathryn Caskie, Jillian Hunter, Julianne Mac Lean, Julia Quinn, Sabrina Jeffries and Lisa Kleypas.
Sex sells everything in our society: cars, shavers, Nascar, sports….cheerleaders, cigarettes, beer, alcoholic beverages. So why not books!!
I’ve always loved historicals and I didn’t even realize that I had embraced them so enthusiastically! I started out with Catherine Coulture and Judith McNaught. They had sex scenes back then too. Maybe the heroines are looking for and expecting more affection/love/action/sex in todays historicals, but ,I think that just reflects what todays women want in their own everyday lives.
January 31st, 2007 at 11:52 pm
Wow!! Thank you, all! I’ve loved reading your comments. I agree that great sex won’t make up for a book lacking in every other respect.
Angie,
Email me at sylvia@sylviaday.com with a title from my backlist and I’ll send it to you.
Linda,
Isn’t Cathy wonderful? All the Allure gals are great! I’m so honored to be among them.
Laurie,
Lisa Kleypas is my favorite author! I’m so looking forward to reading SUGAR DADDY. I can’t wait to see what she does with a contemporary.
hugs,
Sylvia
February 1st, 2007 at 12:06 pm
wtg angie