Saturday, December 4, 2010

Welcome our guest- Kaily Hart

Please welcome our guest, the incredibly talented Kaily Hart who will be sharing her views on TATTS. Super sexy??? Hm. Guess it just depends. Read what Kaily has to say on the matter.


TATTOOS



I’m fascinated with tattoos. Just flat out fascinated. Of course, there’s tattoos and then there’s…tattoos J. There’s not much else that gets my attention more fully than a hot guy sporting a tasteful bit of ink. Does he have them anywhere else, like…somewhere I can’t see them? When did he get them? All together or over time? Why did he get them and what do they signify, if anything? Does he know how damn sexy they make him look? Probably, huh? And the writer’s mind is off, building scenarios and possibilities and yeah…weaving fantasies. And if you’re thinking what I consider ‘tasteful’?



Something like this…





not this J





That leaves a lot in between that kind of has to be assessed on a case by case basis and if you’re wondering..nope, I don’t have any tattoos. But I probably would if I could. I know exactly what it’d be like too. I’ve been known to search the internet for designs (all in the name of research, of course J) and have a pretty good idea. I’d pick something discreet, small, meaningful or symbolic, as well as something pleasing to look at. But I can’t. You see, I have a severe needle phobia ::takes a deep breath::. There I said it. It’s not like I haven’t had my share over the years—I have—I just can’t voluntarily sign myself up for having a million tiny needles every second. Okay, that’s probably an exaggeration, but it’s still A LOT, okay? Plus, there’s the real fear factor, not just of the needle itself, but of the high degree of probability that the tattoo artist would start and I’d chicken out after the fact. Who wants to have a partial design of something tattooed on their body for the rest of their lives LOL? I have enough “I love Lucy” moments as it is. Anyway, it’s funny and embarrassing, but whenever we’re up in Orlando at Disney with the kids? I always get a ‘tramp stamp’ at one of those temporary tattoo places LOL. Shhh, don’t tell anyone, all right?



Maybe one day I’ll find the courage from somewhere. In the meantime...I’ve pretty much discovered that the next best thing to having a tattoo is having the characters in my books have them. It has to fit the character and story above all else, but I think there’s a great deal of opportunity to build aspects of a character through a ‘quirk’ or an attribute like this. It’s fun to answer the questions I posed above for a character and it can become an interesting story element, another layer of the onion. I’ve got a few stories in the works where the heroes have tattoos. Adds another hotness factor to an alpha already doing okay in that department, but what the heck?



So…tell me what YOU think. Do YOU like tattoos? Do you like to read about heroes who have them? Heroines? Hot or not? Skank or swank?



Web – www.kailyhart.com

Blog - http://kailyhart.blogspot.com/

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/kaily.hart

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30 comments:

Regina Carlysle said...

Thank you, thank you for visiting us today, Kaily. I have to say I like a tatt on a guy as long as the whole concept isn't over done. Something tribal on the arm or hip is okay but NO OVERKILL. Too much of a good thing is just tacky. And that second guy? Kind of serial-killerish looking. LOL. I am NOT a fan of tatts on the ladies though I know they're popular.

Kaily Hart said...

Thank you, Ladies for having me here today and special thanks to Regina for coordinating! I agree about not too much of a good thing. Tattoos on women? I've seen some beautiful designs. Not something I'd go for personally, but I can still appreciate them. If I had one (or more), they'd be for "special eyes only" :). Can't wait to hear what everyone else thinks!!

Tess MacKall said...

I am terrified of needles too, Kaily. But a few years back, I decided I'd wanted a tattoo long enough. I was at Myrtle Beach where there is this strip mall that is loaded with tattoo shops. My sister wanted a tattoo and I went along out of curiosity.

Well, the guys at the shop were just ultra nice, very friendly, and I felt comfortable with them. So after I watched my sister get hers--all the while with my nose scrunched up, worry lines in my forehead, just feeling those needles, etc--I decided to take the plunge.

Hey, it's NOT like you think. Really, it's not. And start with something very small. I did. I have a small butterfly on my leg just above my ankle area. Very pretty. And I was sooo proud of the fact that I did it.

I want to go back and get honeysuckle vines to go along with the butterfly too. But haven't been back to the beach in a while. But I'm going this May or early June and I'll be stopping in that shop to have those vines added. I've already decided that.

Trust me. You'll get through it and be glad you did. Just go in some of those shops and check it all out first. See where you feel most comfortable. That's what my sis and I did before she'd do it. And I'm glad we chose a shop that made us feel comfortable.

Jadette Paige said...

I'm so with you on this one, Kaily. Honestly, I wouldn't want one on me (too many wrinkles, hate to think a piece would be hidden behind something and it'd mess up the whole thing. :D) but I have stopped guys who have awesome tatts just to see the design. Not sure if it's the artist in me or because I find them so sexy on a guy.

Natalie Dae said...

Hi Kaily!

What Tess said. I hate needles too, but it isn't like that with a tattoo. I have two tatts. Couldn't care less if people think they are tramp stamps. I like them. Would get another too.

:o)

Fedora said...

Hi, Kaily! I'm OK with tattoos but agree with you all on less sometimes being more with permanent skin decorations :) They CAN look really good, but somewhat in moderation. And I'm not a needle fan so I can't see myself getting one. Plus, I really don't want any more reminders as I age of how I'm getting older/saggier ;) As for reading about heroes and heroines with tatts, that can be fun--bring 'em on :)

Kaily Hart said...

Tess, that makes me feel SO much better! That's exactly how i feel. I'd love to get one to surprise my husband. He'd freak. In a good way :). You have me thinking I should at least go to the next step... BTW, we got to Mryrtle Beach each year. Fun place!

Jadette, yeah, I guess thinking about how they'll age should be a factor LOL.

Natalie, I have heard people say when you get one you rarely stop there.

Fichen, I'm not so worried about the age thing. I could be the coolest person at the retirement home one day!

Delilah Devlin said...

I Love tattoos! I got my first during a family reunion. My mother's 70th birthday had just passed and 5 of the women, Mom, me, and 3 SILs went to Hot Springs to Redbeard's to get ours done. A bonding thing. Mom got a great big dragon on the top of her foot (where she can see the sucker!) and I had pansies from my foot running up my ankle. My next tattoo was another bonding thing, mother-daughter. We both got pretty wristlets.

Our is a rather conservative family (other than the erotica author in their midst), so we really, really feel naughty about our tatts.

Evie Balos said...

Maybe I'm a bit traditional in a few ways--and I stress "few" but I'm not too keen on tatts. I can handle one tasteful, unusual, small design on a guy's body, but definitely not a mural, lol. A cop I once dated wanted to have his old army insignia tattooed on his arm...and I thought that was cool because it meant something to him.

There's also the issue of saggy, wrinkled skin as a person ages. I think you have to be selective where you place it. :-)


Evie

Anonymous said...

I love tats, on men and women. I've got about a dozen myself, all of which mean something to me (you'll never see me going into a shop and choosing a piece of flash off the wall). I'd have full sleeves if I still lived in Florida, where my artist lives (so important to find a good artist you trust). As it is, I just get a new one whenever I go down to visit.

I'm not in the least concerned what the tats will look like when I get older. We age, we wrinkle. La-dee-dah. Whatever. :)

Oh, and Kaily, you can probably get through it. But as most artists will tell you, don't listen when someone says it doesn't hurt. It does. After all, you're causing your body trauma. How *much* it hurts depends on your tolerance for pain. But when it's done, you've got a permanent, meaningful piece of art on your body.

And you'll be dying for more. Lol! They're like drugs...you look forward to your next hit. :)

Anne Rainey said...

Hi Kaily! Thanks for visiting us here today! :)

I love the arm tattoo on a guy, or one on the back, like across the shoulders. Or one on the chest, that's sexy. But all over, no way. Not my thing. :)

Elizabeth Black said...

No tats here, although if I were to get one I'd get an oroboros (the snake eating its tail) above my ankle.

I have a strong urge to play chess on the guy's head in your second photograph. ;)

Anastasia V. Pergakis said...

I am obsessed with tattoos! I have five of them myself with plans for more! In fact, I have a design for a full back piece, that I think will be epic!

In writing, I actually feel disappointed if my characters don't have tatts! LOL But, you're right it does have to fit the character and the story. I actually was going to write a post about this next week and share pics of my tatts too!

Kaily Hart said...

Hey Delilah, I love the idea of bonding over tattoos. Very cool.

Evie, I'm not worried so much about the sagging skin, but I think if you're going to put something on your body that will be permanent, you have to think long and hard about it's placement for sure :).

Hi, Kelli! 'About' a dozen? You mean, you're not sure :)? I've always wondered when someone has multiple and some build on others, how you actually 'count' them. Yeah, I figured when someone claims it doesn't hurt it has to be just wrong and pain tolerance? Well, I've had 4 kids (including twins) and a tummy tuck, so I know something about *that*. It's just the whole needle thing... Who can rationally explain a phobia? Sigh...

Anne, I'm with you!

Elizabeth, sounds like you've thought about it. I've actually gone so far as to play around with a design that uses the initials of my kid's names. It would be awesome!

Anastasia, I'd love to see pics!

kittykelly28 said...

I love yummy yummy tats on a guy. I even find them hot on women (I may not swing that way but they are nice to look at too!). I an terrified on needles too but I took the plunge and got a tattoo on my foot. I LOVE it! It's a symbol for my son and my love of music. I got it on the top of my foot and I'm not going to lie it hurt. I'd love music notes or stars behind my ear but I don't think I could handle that! :)

Kelly
kittykelly28 @ hotmail.com

Nikki Logan said...

Such a great topic, Kaily. It takes a lot to wipe a hot, shirtless, reclining guy from my memory but -- OMG -- that chequers guy does it. Why...just why??

I'm a keloid scarrer so no tats for me sadly. I'd def have one otherwise. I live vicariously through my present heroine who has a tribal eagle at the bottom of her spine.

Actually her hero has one to -- a symbol from his military service.

To me if you're going to brand something on you forever then it's gotta mean something good.

Kaily Hart said...

Hey, Kelly. Yeah, I'd have to think the top of the foot would hurt, but it has incredible significance for you and that's just incredible.

Hi, Nikki, how are you? Yes, I think a tattoo has to have some form of meaning, but I know women who've gotten tattoos based on a picture they picked when they went to get one. It was more about jsut getting a tattoo, not so much about what it signified specifically. And if they're okay with that? Then I guess that's all that matters.

Sherry said...

I love reading about tattoos on the hero's in books as long as they are tastefully done. I don't care a lot for the sleeves or total body tats but a nice tribal or one on the back or the chest is nice. The same with women as long as they are not over done. I have a couple on my chest of wolves that with most things that I wear can be hidden.

sstrode@scrtc.com

The Scarf Princess said...

I agree with you wholeheartedly on tats! Love them, but not everywhere....no walking billboard please. They're just sexy when wrapped around biceps or on a pec. I'd love to get one since I think they look uber cool, but they sag over time and as an 80-year-old I don't want some unidentifiable blob on my body.

joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I love tats! My two fav celebs have several and I would love to explore them. EWG

If I ever to where I can save the money up I'll be getting one. It won't be huge, but it will be noticeable. :0)

booklover0226 said...

Hello, Kaily.

I have a tattoo and love it. I have a two toned ankh over my left breast. I don't like pain so I rubbed a tube of Anbesol on it about an hour before I got the tattoo. It actually worked, too. I didn't feel pain but a stinging sensation.

Anyway, if a hero or heroine has a tattoo, that's fine with me.

I don't like "all over" tattoos like the in this post and I don't care for sleeves too much either.

Thanks,
Tracey D

Kaily Hart said...

Hi, Sherry. Wow, wolves, huh? Sounds really interesting.

Joder, I don't know...as an 80 year old would you even care at that point :)? You'd be the coolest one at bingo!

Connie, yeah some of my favorite eye candy have tattoos. A huge % of celebs have them these days.

Tracey, thanks for the tip. I'll have to look that up!

RobinV said...

I would love to have a tatt....just have to talk hubby into it. I do like the books where the man has a tattoo...nothing to dramatic.
RobinV
hitonafarms@hotmail.com

Zina said...

I like tattoos but yeah not when they're like the second guy. Makes me want to fell their muscles.
Zina

Rula Sinara said...

I'd love to get one. Just a small, tasteful one on my ankle. I see it as jewelry. But, like you, I have needle phobia. One of these days I'll do it! I still have to decide what the picture will be.

I think they're hot on heroes too. My current hero has one on his arm, and he has a story behind it.

Kaily Hart said...

Robin, yeah books with tattooed heroes are some of my favorites.

Zina, next time I see a hot guy with a tattoo on his arm, I'll ask if I can feel it :).

Rula, you'd look awesome with a tattoo on your ankle. Wonder if they have tattoo parlors in NY? I've 'heard' it's a great bonding experience ;)

Jane said...

I think it would be cool to have a tattoo, but not sure if I can handle the pain. I like tattoos of small flowers or ancient characters that have meaning.

Vicky CK said...

Oh, boy. Ok, my sister started getting tats when she turned 21 & gets one every year or two on her b-day (claims they all are meaningful, don't ask me). About 5 or 6 years back (around the time it became legal here in OK), we were both around each other when she was talking about going to get one with a friend for her b-day, even though couple months late...

I had thought about getting one, a very meaningful symbol for me, the year before when I turned 30. But my hubby's BF's wife beat me to it with a simular image turned into a tramp stamp! So I nixed that. Now here my sister was talking about doing this when we both had time & could do it here at home. Seemed almost ment to be.

Kaily, I also have a phobia of needles. This is VERY odd, since I am a type 1 diabetic (ie 3 shots a day! You do what you have to do to survive). One of the big things to realize is that the pain is different depending on where you get the tat. Over bone hurts the worse! And someplace like on the side of your back where I got mine was not bad at all. Talking to someone who has had several done, or someone who does them would help a lot.

I ended up getting mine first that day. The whole time my sister kept say: "I can't believe your doing this!" LOL! My little sister still sees me as the quiet nerd! She really should know better.

I have a Blue Rose-bud on the left side of my back. It is covered by almost all clothing, so no one knows that I have a tatoo that I don't want to know (like my very straight-laced In-Laws). But my nerdy hubby still gets a kick out of it ;D

I have had an urge to get one other tat, but it is also someting very meaningful. And it has been more than 5 years and I only think about it on ocation. So you can get just one if that has you worried. And there a plenty of places that one doesn't have to worry about sagging, ladies.

vickykerr[at]sbcglobal.net

Kaily Hart said...

Hey, Jane, yeah small and meaningful sounds just about right for me too?

Vicky, thanks so much for sharing your story. Makes me feel better and perhaps another step closer :)? Sorry to hear about you being diabetic, but I can relate. During my last pregnancy I had diabetes. I didn't have to do insulin, but I had to test my blood 4 times a day! With a needle!!! Having a phobia with needles, it was a nightmare. My hands shook so much each time I had to do it, even after 4 months. I still shudder. You're right, you can do what you need to to survive. Perhaps I should try and convince myself I NEED a tattoo LOL? Take care!

Unknown said...

I like a few tatoos. The first guy is sexy! The washboard belly is soooo hot!!! The second guy looks nasty, way too many tatoos.