Mara asked C.W. Gortner:

LOVE your books. I read The Last Queen when it first came out and have read everything since. You have mentioned that you might expand your book subjects more, except publishers prefer "marquee names" Yet, Michelle Moran wrote about India's Rebel Queen and Margaret George wrote about Nero. Do you think publishers are realizing that there is a greater market than the Tudor era? You have the following...

C.W. Gortner Thank you for your question and for your praise! Lovely to hear.

I think there's always been a market in historical fiction beyond the Tudors. For example, all of my stand-alone novels are about women who aren't Tudors, spanning eras from the early 15th century to the 20th century. And my Spymaster trilogy, while set in the Tudor era, features a fictional male lead character. But in general, historical fiction comprises a much smaller market share than other genres, and is therefore more prone to restrictions based on the subject's perceived marquee value. One or two books may break the mold, but unless they're huge bestsellers, it won't necessarily persuade publishers to take further risks on unknown historical personages. I've written about famous women who aren't often covered in fiction; I always attempt to find a character who can appeal to the publisher and also be fresh to my readers. My next novel is about Empress Maria Feodorovna, the mother of Tsar Nicholas II, and she's never been featured before in full biographical novel.

However, I've had my publishers turn down a few ideas in the past, because the character was deemed "not well-known enough." It happens. I sometimes disagree with the publisher's stance, but the market right now is very difficult for books and for historical fiction, in particular. The Tudor boom has faded and so, many publishers are acquiring less historical fiction across the board. The genre often undergoes these up-and-down cycles, and I'm fortunate indeed that I can still publish books in the current environment. I'd love to write about more obscure subjects, but in the end, I need the publisher to want to take that risk. Until then, I'll do the best I can to find subjects that meet both their and my criteria. It's not easy. That said, I've had the luck to write and sell novels set in different countries and eras. I'm not restricted to the Tudors or another dynasty as my sole focus. Which is perfect for me, as I tend to be promiscuous in my historical interests.

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