Historical Fictionistas discussion
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Ancient History (Old Threads)
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2016- Introductions
Hi, I am from Sydney, Australia. I love historical fiction and am trying to read more widely so really looking forward to the discussions and recommendations here. I am an author working on my second historical novel.
Welcome, Cindy! This is an active and engaged group; hope you enjoy it!
Hi, I've been a reader of HF for some time. I love medieval English history. I often find it hard to get a good balance of politics, character and action in HF books.I have just released my first HF novel and am already writing more! I draw inspiration from real history and characters of people. I'm an analyst by trade and how lots of people's decisions can affect the world fascinates me.
Hi all can't remember if I've ever made a introductory post at all on this forum, I have lurked for a while. I've recently found my love of reading again and my taste in books has definitely changed. It uses to be auto biographies and true crime books. But I'm building slowly a collection of historic fiction which I cannot put down, I own some booksBy bernard cornwell, angus donald, conn igguldenn, giles kristian. And I'm looking for more books by others and the same authors and I'm looking forward to interacting with other members.
Hi all,I'm hoping to find this group very useful for some research and advice, thanks :)
Larisa
Hello. My name is Jan Cline. I love, love history and I write historical fiction for the inspirational market. I especially love American history, WW2 era in particular. I've traveled quite a bit and always hit all the historical spots, museums, etc. Researching for my novels is something I love to do and it gives me an excuse to visit historical places! I look forward to reading some of the discussions already in place.
Welcome, Jan! I agree with you, the research is the fun part. I enjoy it so much I hardly ever write! Since you write inspirational books focused around the WWII era, I wonder if the novels of Emilie Loring have ever come your way? She was a romance writer who essentially wrote a novel a year from the 1920s to the 1970s. Her work is not explicitly inspirational but is deeply informed by faith and values. She had a great ear for the slang and mores of the times she wrote about. You might want to seek out her WWII era novels for details.
Hello Jan, My name is Robert Walker. American History, particularly the Revolutionary War and WWII eras are my main interests. I especially enjoy the Stephen Ambrose books.When I walked into that American Cemetery in Normandy I broke down and cried like a baby. Except for the birth of my children and the loss of my close family members, it was the most emotional experience of my life.
Visiting any of the national monuments or national cemeteries listing the names of fallen soldiers is a very emotion experience.
Welcome to all of you new members. I write fictional history of the American west and contemporary romance. After I read Across the Wide Missouri and the Journals of Lewis and Clark, I fell for western history. Recently, I've added WW11 to my reading interests and am completely baffled by the thinking of German Nazis. My latest book I'm writing is about that time period, but it is hard to drag myself away from research to doing the writing.
I spent a lot of time in "The 5K Zone." explaining the motivationss of Germans who bought into the Nazi doctrine.
Is this a book by you. If so, where do I find it?
I did write the book. It is on Amazon and the web site is www.5kzone.com. There are several professional reviews there also.
Hi everyone. I'm Sarah and I write historical fiction set in the 1920s, with a speculative twist.I've just self-published my fist book last March... I still feel weird knowing there is a book with my name on it out there.
I've been researching 1920s America for my stories for the last six years, but this year I'll start researching 1920s Europe for a new project.
I love the 1920s because they feel a lot like our times. Lots of shocking changes were happening and people felt both excited and scared for that. When I write the 1920s, I feel as if I'm actually writing about our own times, at least with regard to the feelings.
I've been on Goodreads for a couple of years, but I've never really partecipated int he community. I'm trying to change this.
Agreeing with Cathy! I actually had to put a personal limit on to my responces, otherwise I'm sure I'd post on nearly every thread. :)
Hi Sarah, I'm like you, not too active on Goodreads. Good luck with your book. I have four books out, two historical and two contemporary romances and I'm working on a book set in the l930's so I've had to do a lot of research.
Hello everyone, I am Marie. I am crazy about history and travel. I live in the USA and have visited 24 countries on 5 continents so far, hoping to see everywhere in my lifetime. Most of my travel is focused on historical buildings and sites. I love ancient history as well as medieval England to present day. Anyone is welcome to add me as a friend if you'd like :) and you are also welcome to message me with your historical fiction book for review if you think it is something that I would like.
I have written a historical fiction/psychological fiction series set in 1915 America, contrasting the lives of the rich and poor, Davenport House. It has been way too much fun for me to write. There was so much happening in America during these exciting times.
I enjoy reading Civil War, WWI, and WWII. I love Jane Austen, Gone With the Wind, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables. All of your stories sound so interesting! Looking forward to being more involved in this group :).
Marie wrote: "Hello everyone, I am Marie. I am crazy about history and travel. I live in the USA and have visited 24 countries on 5 continents so far, hoping to see everywhere in my lifetime. Most of my travel i..."Welcome, Marie! You sound like a very upbeat, fun person. Happy to have you as a new friend!
Devon wrote: "Hi all, I'm Devon and I live in California. I just joined goodreads, and as a history major, I thought this would be a good group to join :) I enjoy studying ancient history, Asian history and the ..."Welcome, Devon!!
Hello, to the ether versions of yourselves—hope to get to know some of the real versions of you soon. I’m José Anastasis the author of the recently self-published eBook “Star Invasions.” The obvious genre to put "Star Invasions" in would be Sci-Fi; yet, "Star Invasions" is so much more. Even it's: "An edgy, mysterious Sci-Fi adventure with non-stop action..." —DOES NOT do it justice as a description. The actual story narrative crosses into many genres, including Political Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Suspense, Mystery, & others. Possibly the best concise critique thus far is; “Star Invasions” inspired one anonymous reader to evaluate this new literary work in this fashion: “Mysterious, captivating and suspenseful. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. Wonderful and magical story!”
Henry VII was the last English King to win his crown in battle. He did so at the battle of Bosworth field in 1485, defeating King Richard III. My book The colours of our petals takes you on the dangerous journey of Henry Tudor. He was for years a penniless exile but became the most powerful man in England and the originator of the Tudor dynasty.
Hi,I'm Barbara - I read almost all genres, but historical fiction is something that I've always enjoyed.
Hi, Barbara! Welcome to the group. :) Hope you find lots of new authors and new books to read!
Hello, I am Joe from spfld. ma. , glad to be here talking about HF.Just getting started and any advice is welcome. I hope everyone has a great day!
Sarah wrote: "Happy Friday. My first posting in this group. Hopefully I will find more Northern California history fanatics here. The early days of my home state intrigue me and it is reflected in my writing. I'..."Hi I am from Ma. and do genealogy, many of my ancestors went out to California to "strike it rich" and most met their demise. It sure must have been a rough country out there. nice to meet you
Hi there! I enjoy reading a broad range of fiction, including novels based on actual historic events or people, but know little about the 'historical fiction' genre. I recently read Robert Harris's An Officer and a Spy and really enjoyed it. I'm excited to see what suggestions and recommendations you all have to offer! I am also an author and my second book deals (in part) with the treatment of homosexuals and Jewish artists in WWII. I recently posted on my Goodreads blog about a number of very interesting non-fiction books I used when researching it. It's the most recent blog post on my Goodreads profile page (interesting & obscure WWII references). Take care!
My novel. "The 5K Zone," fits your preference for fiction based on historical events. Ethnic German expulsion from the WWII Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia) is the backdrop for the escape and reporting of atrocities committed against Germans by Peter Ackerman and Trudi Kehle.
Hello I'm Brina from Ohio formerly Chicago. I love history and read a fair amount of historical fiction, especially American and Latin American, so I am excited to be here. I see you are reading The Hummingbird's Daughter. I just read another of Urrea's books, Into the Beautiful North, so I hope to participate in the discussion.
Hello everyone. My name is Mirta. I was born in Argentina, raised in the USA- well, mostly raised in the USA; I was a Pan Am brat :-) My dad worked for Pan American Airlines and of course, the fringe benefits allowed us to fly back and forth across the continents to visit "The Argentina Family". I'm a second generation Argentine, my grandparents were Russian immigrants. All this traveling and multiculturalism, cultivated an interest in history and genealogy from an early age. I am an avid novel reader; Historical Fiction being my prime interest. Elizabeth Gaskell, the Bronte sisters, Daphne du Maurier... of course, Jane Austen, are my favs. Recently, I discovered Libi Astaire and was delighted to read several of her books which combine British Historical Fiction with Judaism. Currently, I am reading Daniel Deronda and am astounded that I had missed it before! I am a mother of three grown children, happily married 32 years, employed in a government agency (ugh!) and the author of two self-published books- a Creative Non Fiction and a Historical/Speculative Fiction. I look forward to many inspiring conversations in this group and hope that I might prove to be worthy of inspiring you as well!
Gosh - so many posts to catch up on. I never took the time to introduce myself: History has been my favorite subject for as long as I can remember, all the way to grade school. So, it's no wonder that is what I like to read and write about. My novels take place in 1900-1910 and during the Great Depression. I'm drawn to stories about the American West and Southwest but enjoy reading anything well written. I'm currently reading At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen.
Hello! I am a huge fan of historical fiction-- both reading and writing it! I've been selling short stories for several years now in several romance genres, but I love writing Regency! I'm also the author of the historical romance, "Bargain for a Bride," which is the first story I've ever personal published. Catherine Coulter's historical romances are some of my favorites, as they are witty and have great heroines. I'm also a big Jane Austen fan, and I've been a fan of historical fiction since I was a child of ten when I read Jane Eyre.
Amber wrote: "Hello! I am a huge fan of historical fiction-- both reading and writing it! I've been selling short stories for several years now in several romance genres, but I love writing Regency! I'm also the..."hi Amber sounds like you are a busy writer, wishing you the best of luck in all your endevours
Brina wrote: "Hello I'm Brina from Ohio formerly Chicago. I love history and read a fair amount of historical fiction, especially American and Latin American, so I am excited to be here. I see you are reading Th..."hi Brina I just saw the hummingbirds daughter advertised somewhere how is it so far?
Karen wrote: "Gosh - so many posts to catch up on. I never took the time to introduce myself: History has been my favorite subject for as long as I can remember, all the way to grade school. So, it's no wonder t..."Hi, Karen. I'm currently reading a book you might like, Upton Sinclair's "Oil!" set in California during the early 20th century oil boom. Lots of interesting descriptive detail about that time and place. The film "There Will Be Blood" was very loosely based on this novel.
Gary
Oil!
Thanks for the heads-up, Gary. I saw the movie "There Will Be Blood" but haven't read the book. I grew up in an oil boom town south of Houston....my grandfather moved his large family there to work at the old Humble Oil Refinery - helped build it in fact. A fascinating subject - how Oil shaped so many lives.
Hello! I'm Val, from Winnipeg, MB, Canada. I'm an avid reader and a huge fan of historical fiction. I belong to a couple book clubs which have broadened the spectrum of books I read, but still I believe I need more historical fiction in my life - and more recommendations!
I'm looking forward to participating in the discussions here, and finding new favourite authors.
Val - do you have a favorite region or time frame for the fiction you like?
Hi Karen! I've read mostly European and Latin American-based fiction, and tend to gravitate towards the Roman empire, the Middle Ages, or the Renaissance. I'm open to reading books about other regions, and the older (time frame), the better!
Hmmmm. I'm most familiar with American history fiction, the southwest, etc. Don't feel I can make suggestions.
That's fine - I've seen several interesting mentions on this thread already, as well as the current and previous polls. I like the diversity of everyone's interests here, it definitely enriches this group.
Hi everybody,I am an author, and my name is Uta Christensen.
My first book, my father’s memoir was published in Germany in 2005. The memoir was written in German for the benefit of my father who never learned to speak or read English. My second novel, "Bed of Roses, Bed of Thorns", was published in the US in 2009. My third book, "Tough as Fine Silk, Escape from Beijing", was published in 2012 and my fourth book "Caught: Surviving the Turbulent River of Life" was also published in the US in December 2014
All my novels are based on true stories.
I'd like to get more reviews for my books. If someone is interested in doing a honest review of one of my books, I'll be happy to send more information
Thanks,
Uta
Hi everybody,I am an author, and my name is Uta Christensen.
My first book, my father’s memoir was published in Germany in 2005. The memoir was written in German for the benefit of my father who never learned to speak or read English. My second novel, "Bed of Roses, Bed of Thorns", was published in the US in 2009. My third book, "Tough as Fine Silk, Escape from Beijing", was published in 2012 and my fourth book "Caught: Surviving the Turbulent River of Life" was also published in the US in December 2014
All my novels are based on true stories.
I'd like to get more reviews for my books. If someone is interested in doing a honest review of one of my books, I'll be happy to send more information
Thanks,
Uta
Greetings! My name is Rebecca, and I live in New Jersey. I joined Goodreads in 2014, but have mostly used it to keep track of books I want to read. I've never gotten involved in the community aspect, but I came across this group in a search for historical fiction recommendations. I think I first became interested in historical fiction in elementary school, when I discovered the Royal Diaries kids series. Tudor England is probably my favorite era. I love Philippa Gregory, and her books have expanded my interest going further back in England's history. I also like novels set during the American Revolution and Civil War told from women's point of view.
Hello, my name is Margaret. I'm an Australian reader and author. I mentioned 'reader' first because I was a reader for decades before I ever thought of trying to write. My tastes in literature tend towards historical romance, mainly the classics. My own efforts at 'historical' are of more recent times - especially the 1950's. Thank you for accepting me into this group.
Hey, Margaret. Glad to see an Aussie here. I traveled your country extensively about 8 years ago - loved it, wanted to stay but couldn't work out all the issues. I write historical novels, most placed in the American Southwest - 1900 to 1910, the mid 1930s and now working on a World War II novel. The story's location, oddly enough, is the Texas coast.
Hello all, historical fiction is one of my personal favourite genres in literature. I'm looking to meet UK-based historical fans, but honestly am open to speaking with anyone!
Greetings from the Mississippi Gulf Coast! Just joined, and was so happy to learn about this site! I was a history major in college, have always loved history (especially European, Medieval era), and am now an author of historical fiction. I look forward to learning more about this group and its perceptions and opinions on good historical fiction. As they say, historical fiction is stranger than pure fiction= which doesn't come as close to the truth!
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I'll read just about anything, but mysteries and historical fiction may be favorites. I get really excited when I can combine the two..."
Try Victoria Thompson, Jacqueline Winspear