tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26423737.post2877994495622477071..comments2007-12-06T22:43:55.743ZNatasha Oakleynoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26423737.post-65692361131074447832007-12-06T22:43:00.000Z2007-12-06T22:43:00.000Z<B>The editor is Jonathan Harker....</B><BR/><BR/>So glad to hear he kept his day job!talpiannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978075304795724185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26423737.post-70987982586487906802007-12-06T20:21:00.000Z2007-12-06T20:21:00.000ZCongratulations to Abby Green for expressing her joy of writing romance so wonderfully.<BR/>If anyone's interested in arming themselves with info to use when the media come knocking in the coming year, there are some good articles, including Anne Gracie's Myths about Romance, on the Romance Writer's of Australia website, www.romanceaustralia.com .Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03077064170686768953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26423737.post-61177837241978616372007-12-06T18:10:00.000Z2007-12-06T18:10:00.000ZThe joyful thing about JB's rant is that the highly intelligent Guardian readers who already love M&B will simply raise an eyebrow and reach for their latest book and spent the evening with their feet up, enjoying the fantasy. <BR/>And maybe one or two who've never looked at one will try one to find out for themselves. Because they're intelligent, modern woman. Like our heroines.Liz Fieldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464889663853976327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26423737.post-30993668831292081102007-12-06T14:45:00.000Z2007-12-06T14:45:00.000ZJulie Bindel is an idiot. As a lesbian she cannot give an unbiased opinion on a heterosexual romance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26423737.post-23216704891394896462007-12-06T13:02:00.000Z2007-12-06T13:02:00.000ZI'm a feminist and I write hot, humorous romances with strong heroes and heroines who are equal partners in life, whether or not they play power games in bed. And I feel sorry for people like Ms. Bindel who are missing out on great reads due to their ignorance of the romance genre. And Ms. Bindel is obviously putting her personal likes and dislikes before the true meaning of feminism -- the right to make our own choices. While I don't read a lot of Presents (since I gravitate more toward Harlequin Blazes), I totally support a reader's right to choose the type of story she wants to read. If Ms. Bindel had her way, the only books published would be the ones she likes to read, which is ludricrous. I hope her comments have the opposite effect from the one she intended by bringing new readers to Mills & Boons, who might try the books out of curiosity and then fall in love with them.<BR/>-- Marcia James<BR/>www.MarciaJames.netMarcia Jamesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26423737.post-36101092780947596652007-12-06T04:09:00.000Z2007-12-06T04:09:00.000ZWow, great post, Natasha.<BR/><BR/>She actually got that article published? Amazing.Lee Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00456232550554737082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26423737.post-6756057183367543632007-12-05T23:11:00.000Z2007-12-05T23:11:00.000ZNatasha, I'm spluttering along with you. What I find so incredible is this gem: "This is how the rape fantasies so integral to the plot have been able to persist." Ummm... WTF? Bindel read 20 books over 15 YEARS AGO! Where the hell are the rape fantasies in today's modern romance? Oh, and this one: "This is what heterosexual romantic fiction promotes - the sexual submission of women to men." What a load of bollocks - romance novels are about love, respect, overcoming odds, honor, monogamy and forgiveness, as well as escapism. This woman must be rabidly against marriage and long term commitment, then. And if relationship stories are so bad for you and suck so much, then everyone who enjoys a good romantic movie is obviously contributing to the opression of women.<BR/><BR/>Paula x<BR/>http://www.paularoe.com<BR/>http://www.diamonds-downunder.com~ Paula Roe ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/13540937055235807673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26423737.post-4057729476112581432007-12-05T19:58:00.000Z2007-12-05T19:58:00.000ZGreat defense on Daisy's part! As for Julie Bindel's comments... I agree with everything everyone else has said. It's ludicrous to think you can quote what someone said in 1966 and think it is still relevant and applicable today--would you do that in any other field? Science? Art? Music? The fact that she admits she hasn't read any in 15 years says it all, really. Must get back to work now--I have a terrible temptation to scour the internet for views on romance and it really just isn't worth it. Congrats again Daisy!!<BR/><BR/>xKateKate Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430037634763307748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26423737.post-31843329077604911252007-12-05T19:34:00.000Z2007-12-05T19:34:00.000ZYes, Natasha, thanks for reposting the story! And terrific job, Daisy. Way to go you!!<BR/><BR/>As for Ms. Bindel, I cannot understand why, as a feminist, she'd try to control what women are allowed to read and dream about. Contrary to what she apparently believes, we are strong-minded enough to choose our own fun and pleasure, thank you very much!Jennie Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05391854333105140789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26423737.post-76662983141007717442007-12-05T17:20:00.000Z2007-12-05T17:20:00.000ZNatasha<BR/>Thanks so much for quoting the article. The link Kate Walker gave me had gone defunct. I totally agree with you. How daft to expect anyone to believe a person who read 20 books eons ago and now claims to have a definitive opinion on the whole genre or at least all the offerings of one publisher. <BR/><BR/>And kudos to Daisy aka Abby Green for her very articulate essay on reading and writing romance fiction. Hear, hear!Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com