Historical Writers and Readers

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Comment by Nike Chillemi on May 22, 2009 at 5:46am

Ashley,

Isn't it funny (but not unexpected) how guys get totally different things out of a book than we do. Most of the guys I've talked to focus on the action or adventure part of the book.

Among secular suspense novelists, I've noticed that romance seems to be unrequited romance. The hero is always getting dumped. I've seen some of that too with male Christian suspense writers, or the protagonist is married and the romance angle is comfy, but not boiling. However, the action is there.

Comment by Ashley Ludwig on May 19, 2009 at 2:02pm

John,

I had a long conversation with a male reader of mine this morning regarding my historical, inspirational romance set in Arizona of the 1870s. All or Nothing has a mystery and romance, and he focused on the mystery and the characters. The things he took away from the story were vastly different than things his wife got out of the story.

GREAT covers, by the way. :)

~Ashley

Comment by John Desjarlais on March 30, 2009 at 6:38pm

Looks like I'm one of 3 fellas in the group. Is it becaue most 'historicals' are really 'historical romances'? Just wondering.

I'm writing mysteries these days, but started by writing historicals. "The Throne of Tara" is based on the thrilling true story of Columba of Iona, the hot-headed Irish monk who went to war over a book and, in remorse over the 3,000 men slain, exiled himself among the savage Picts of Scotland where he dueled the druids, miracles versus magic. It's a great story I stumbled across when writing a documentary on church history and thought 'this would make a great adventure novel.' I thought it would also be an apt way to comment on the rising interest in the culture about new-agey nature religions (similar to the druids).

My second historical, "Relics," was also meant as a men's adventure but the publisher marketed it as a medieval romance, complete with a flowery cover. Ack! Is there romance in it? Sure - but the novel isn't a 'romance.'

You can check out the covers (including the flowery one) and blurbs at my site, www.johndesjarlais.com

I've got another historical on a back burner, set in Roman Britain. I'll get to it after I finish a couple more mysteries, I think.

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Comment by dan on March 11, 2009 at 1:26pm

Hello. I loved history so much I got my BA in it. History is teeming with stories to be told. My problem with CBA is you get a sanitized version of history. Its full of human nastiness and sometimes virtue that would do everyone good to understand. I think Christians are just as guilty in reviewing history as secularists.

I learned a great saying about studying history from my college professor, 'just quit worrying about what is right or wrong and just learn what IS'. Of course we reserve the right to make final judgements on what our personal opinions are but we miss so much when we approach history, be it in fiction or academics when we start with a moral premise and conclude with the same one we started with.

Comment by Tom Dulaney on February 8, 2009 at 4:54am

Hi all. I love historical fiction and am currently writing a novel set in 1777.

Chris and Christianne, twins living in Chester County, west of Philadelphia, are drawn into the conflict as British Gen. Howe leads 18,000 soldiers into the county to crush G. Washington and his rebels.

For the British, who should have won easily before Washington had a chance to escape to winter camp at Valley Forge, certain victory evaporated for mysterious reasons (that part is factual.)

1777: Forefathers is the working title. It puts the real human drama back into the telling of the story of the revolution the founded our country. It also proposes the most likely reason for the mysterious failure of the British to capitalize on battle after battle.

Read a chapter or two (no cost of course) at:
http://www.tomdulaney.net/barefootarmy.html

Send comments and critiques to tomdulaney@comcast.net

Comment by Karen Cogan on January 3, 2009 at 10:36pm

I read and write historical fiction (for Avalon Books and The Wild Rose Press. Please check out my site.
Karen

Comment by Carla Capshaw on August 15, 2008 at 12:45am

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