Elisa Santos asked C.W. Gortner:

I have just finished you book on Isabella of Castille - it was my first and i loved it! There is not much about certain countries histories - there is a lot about England, France, Italy perhaps, but then there are a few countries that seem forgotten, when it comes to writte about their historical figures. From your POV as a historical fiction writter, why do you think that happens?

C.W. Gortner Hi Maria, Thanks for your kind words. I'm delighted you enjoyed my book.

Publishers decide which subjects and eras sell best. England is a big draw in the United States, for obvious reasons. Certain eras in France - such as Louis XIV's reign - also get a fair amount of attention, but other eras do not. Italy is tougher to sell because the history is complex and there are fewer "marquee names" as publishers call them, which means recognizable historical characters to the average reader who might not be as well informed about history. Many other countries are not often considered commercial enough. It's not that we, as writers, don't want to write about historical people from these countries or eras, but rather that publishers don't want to acquire them. It's a tough business and writers need to make a living, so we must write what our publishers think will appeal to readers. I wish it weren't so, but, unfortunately, that's how it works.

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