Love Inspired Historicals discussion
First Ever Reverse Q&A
"I like Gilbert Morris's Series"Ausjenny, I LOVE Gilbert Morris's books! He even wrote a romance for Heartsong Presents, back in the day. I was so sad when he passed away.
"name one of them Sue?"Dorothy, you're cracking me up!!!
"I love history"Ausjenny, we didn't have many history classes when I was in school. But I always loved it and I'm glad too that we can learn from historical novels!
Christina wrote: ""I also read a lot of vintage novels and get used to how people spoke."Hannah, I think we have a lot in common. :) I learned to write historical dialogue from reading Grace Livingston Hill novels..."
Yes...I've noticed older expressions hang around a lot longer in rural areas.
"I like reading historical books to learn about the little things that I probably didn't learn in history class as a kid so for me, the historical setting should be as accurate as possible."Thanks, June! Good to know!
Good morning all! Thanks to the late-comers who read through and answered all of the questions! Believe me, I'm taking notes. : )One thing I want to clear up... I was JOKING when I said should I name a cowboy Sue. "A Boy Named Sue" was a popular country western song many years ago. : )
I'm REALLY happy that every one of you who responded to my first question said you would definitely be interested in reading a book set in pre-revolution America. I have one almost finished--now to find it a home.
One struggle I've had during all my years of writing for LIH was getting the hero and heroine together in the first four or five pages...definitely during the first chapter. I like to lead up to their meeting, so, here's my next question for you all:
Do you want the hero and heroine together immediately? Or do you like a bit of lead-in that gives you a hint of why the hero and heroine are in this particular place/situation?
"I love when the author is dedicated to historical accuracy"So do I, Sam! :)
"I've noticed older expressions hang around a lot longer in rural areas." Hannah, that's so true. And not only the words, but they way they form sentences. They had a completely different way of speaking back then.
Quirky cats...? I'll think about that. I had a cat when I was young that thought he was a dog. But if I wrote him into a book would you believe it? Or would you think, cats don't act like that?
Mod
One thing I want to clear up... I was JOKING when I said should I ..."
That's a question I want to hear answered! The historical I will finish and publish myself this year is very different. The hero and heroine don't meet till the end of chapter 3. It takes me 3 chapters just to get them in the same place--she's a Eastern lady and he's a half-breed son with his Osage mother's family--Washington DC to eastern Kansas in 1810!
Andrea wrote: "Sherri wrote: "As a reader, what are your favorite types of historic heroes? Soldiers, spies, cowboys, ranchers...etc. etc....."Sherri,
I love all types of heroes. I don't like them to treat wom..."
Andrea, thanks for the chuckle this morning! I like a man who bathes too!
That leads me to wonder what you think of the current trend toward men with a couple day's growth of beard (whiskers) on the covers. Not that long ago, I couldn't get a model with that look on the cover. I was sure surprised to see the man sported a light growth of whiskers on the cover of my current release. Realistically, men who worked outdoors (cowboys, farmers, lumberjacks, etc.) back in the 1800s didn't get a shave every day. Do you prefer gritty reality on the cover or a more stylized/romantic image?
Sam wrote: "Christina wrote: "Good morning from southern Indiana! Thanks for stopping by. It's fun to read everybody's questions and answers!My question for you:
Do you enjoy strong accuracy of historical s..."
Yes, I really enjoy stories that have a strong accuracy of historical facts. I often look up things while I am reading them.
Ausjenny wrote: "Louise wrote: "Hi, Ladies. I just arrived. Loved all the questions and answers! My question is about point of view. Do you like a fairly even telling of the story through the heroine's and hero's..."
Yes, I enjoy all the POV's. I really like a wide range of books, so I enjoy all the differences and the authors' different styles.
June wrote: "Eva wrote: "Hi all!!!Great questions and answers!!!
Here's another one:
Do you have a preference for stand alone books or do you like books to be in a series?"
Eva, I like books that can be stand..."
I like both stand-alone and books in series. Although sometimes in the stand-alones, I wish I could hear more about certain characters.
Dorothy wrote: "Good morning all! Thanks to the late-comers who read through and answered all of the questions! Believe me, I'm taking notes. : )One thing I want to clear up... I was JOKING when I said should I ..."
It can take awhile for the hero and heroine together. I do not mind having to work to get them to the same place.
Ausjenny wrote: "Karen wrote: "I'm enjoying reading everyone's answers! Is there one story aspect that always hooks your interest? For me, I'm a sucker for stranded stories. If you have a hero and heroine stranded ..."It's fun to read about the hero and heroine stuck together, especially if they already don't like each other. I also like friends-to-romance stories, so that's an instant hook for me.
Do you feel there is any time period or type of story that is currently under-represented?
Federal period, definitely (period between adoption of the Constitution and years leading up to the Civil War, roughly 1780s-1840s)....there are some fascinating things about this period (including those Rumford fireplaces we've been talking about!!) and it seems like most of this time period's literature is very focused on frontier.I love 1812 stories and haven't found a lot of those.
Also, regional...there isn't a ton of stuff set in New England between the Revolution and WW2. I enjoy Delia Parr's works, but haven't found a lot of other authors dealing with similar areas/time periods.
Christine wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Sherri wrote: "As a reader, what are your favorite types of historic heroes? Soldiers, spies, cowboys, ranchers...etc. etc....."Sherri,
I love all types of heroes. I don't like th..."
I don't personally care for scruffy guys; I'd rather see a full beard. But that's just preference....
I also prefer covers that show people in a setting, rather than just focused on one person's face...I like to see the styles and the scenery (outdoors or indoors) as well, rather than the traditional romance cover focused on one or two people.
Karen wrote: "Laura AKA Loves 2 Read Romance wrote: "Morning Everyone! Wow we are up early this morning and ready to go! Ok my answers to the questions: What is your favorite place and era to read about?
I lo..."
I really like to read any era, including contemporary, depending on my mood or on the book just released.
Patty wrote: "Hi Everyone,My question is this--would you like to read fictional accounts of famous women you've never heard of like the women in Hidden Figures? I love history and have found dozens of women who..."
My answer is YES! I like to read fictional accounts of women I've heard of and of women I have never heard of, because I end up looking them up to learn more about them.
Dorothy wrote: "WELCOME TO THE FIRST EVER REVERSE Q&A!!!!Good morning, all! Well, actually it's late Sunday night here in WNY, but I can't wait any longer. I'm excited about this special event! I think it's goin..."
Would you buy a book set in pre-revolution colonial America? Yes! I loved Roanoke by Angela Hunt!
Sherri wrote: "As a reader, what are your favorite types of historic heroes? Soldiers, spies, cowboys, ranchers...etc. etc....."I know that I'm not very helpful, but I would say yes to all of these. I like variety.
Janet wrote: "As a writer, I think books and movies may have glamorized the Civil War, a terrible time in our country's history. But then, I'm not sure if readers want all the realities of any historical era. My..."The truth of the Civil War era always draws me. We have a few stories that were passed down in our family, and I find them fascinating. I prefer that authors don't glamorize any era.
Lyn wrote: "Dorothy wrote: "Good morning all! Thanks to the late-comers who read through and answered all of the questions! Believe me, I'm taking notes. : )One thing I want to clear up... I was JOKING when ..."
Lyn, in my second Steeple Hill Book Joy for Mourning (2005) the hero and heroine didn't meet until I, believe, it was the fifth chapter. The editors never said a word or asked me to change it. But, romance readers who have learned to expect an immediate meeting were a little off-put by it.
So, ladies, again...do you want the hero and heroine to be together immediately or is a lead-in of their stories acceptable?
Christina wrote: "Melinda, thanks for your response! I know of one other LI author who writes Mississippi settings: my friend and Mississippi resident Lorraine Beatty. Hers are contemporary, though, and set in a fic..."My husband has roots in Mississippi, so I always enjoy reading books set in Mississippi.
Louise wrote: "Dorothy wrote: "I'm going to copy Louise and repeat one of my questions. I think it got buried. If I wrote a cowboy series...let's say four cowboy heroes... Are there any names you feel have been..."
I guess I don't mind what the cowboys are named. Maybe some are overused, but it doesn't bother me.
Ausjenny wrote: "My next question is: What is your favorite type of heroine? Do you like them strong? sweet but feisty? wounded and defensive? pampered, spoiled and forced to grow? One I haven't thought of... : ) ..."
Again, I like a variety of heroines or of heroes. Variety is the spice of life, right?!
Ausjenny wrote: "Christina wrote: "Hello from Kansas! I am loving the questions and answers.I am currently watching my grand and it got me to thinking.
How do you feel about secret babies and ready-made familie..."
I don't especially like secret babies, because I don't like secrets kept from a spouse. But I actually do have a great great grandmother who raised a baby (Bertha) that the other relatives thought was from a rich banker. She was ready to tell the secret on her deathbed, but only to Bertha who was now a grown up. However, Bertha didn't get to the deathbed in time. Quite a story, huh? I've actually spent some time to see if I could trace her, but to no luck. I think all her records were sealed.
Ausjenny wrote: "Christina wrote: "Hello from Kansas! I am loving the questions and answers.I am currently watching my grand and it got me to thinking.
How do you feel about secret babies and ready-made familie..."
Ready-made families don't bother me. I like to see the children finally have a mom or dad.
Dorothy wrote: "I'm going to copy Louise and repeat one of my questions. I think it got buried. If I wrote a cowboy series...let's say four cowboy heroes... Are there any names you feel have been overused to the..."
Yes, I like cowboys with tough names, but not necessarily short names.
Janet wrote: "What draws you to stories, the truth of the time period or a more idealized version of the nitty-gritty realities?"The truth of the time period. I'm not saying I desire every gritty detail of the time included in the book, but I read historicals because I want to see how the time period effected the character's lives and what it was like. I get a little frustrated with historicals that seem more based on movies than actual research or which could be set at any time, just with different clothing.
Louise wrote: "Ladies, I'm going to repeat my question because I think it got buried in all of this lovely conversation.Do you like animals in our stories? Everything from cat and dogs, horses and cows, exotic ..."
Yes, I like animals in the stories, because animals are a big part of real life.
Christine wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Sherri wrote: "As a reader, what are your favorite types of historic heroes? Soldiers, spies, cowboys, ranchers...etc. etc....."Sherri,
I love all types of heroes. I don't like th..."
I don't mind the whiskered look. It was real life.
My husband sports the look sometimes, but I like him better clean shaven.
Limited internet access is NOT fun! I hope to catch up later.
Shannon wrote: "I am curious...what makes the 1880's westerns so appealing?"I agree with others, that it's appealing because of the freedom and because of the more open spaces.
Dorothy wrote: "So, my question...do you check an historical fact if you think it's wrong?"You may have only been asking Hannah, but I like historical accuracy so I'll answer, too. Generally, yes, because it bugs me. If the author has clearly done their research on other matters, I might let it pass because I assume they're right. If I don't know where I could quickly check the fact, I might feel dubious (especially if other things were wrong) but let it pass. But I love history, so I like looking things up. I'd love it if an author did use that refrigerator tidbit and put the explanation in the back so I could learn that information, too. I like it when historical authors tell what was true (but you might not believe it) and what they fudged on to make the story work.
Dorothy wrote: "So, my question...do you check an historical fact if you think it's wrong?"Sometimes I do check what I think is glaringly wrong! But I also check the history just to learn more about parts that really interest me. I check towns, etc. to see if they are real.
Good morning everyone! Sorry to be late to the party! I was cracking up at the historical facts people think are wrong tidbits, because I have that happen from time to time as well. And I do a lot of research!! I think part of it is that there are different sources that sometimes contradict each other. I went on a tour of a local historic house, and I knew more than the tour guide, who had a lot of the history wrong! (That's what happens when you hire a teen boy who just needs a job and doesn't love history!)
My question is whether or not you follow your favorite authors across genres? If a historical author writes contemporary, would you read the contemporary or just the historical?
Dorothy wrote: "Good morning all! Thanks to the late-comers who read through and answered all of the questions! Believe me, I'm taking notes. : )One thing I want to clear up... I was JOKING when I said should I ..."
Do you want the hero and heroine to be together immediately or is a lead-in of their stories acceptable?
I like a lead-in of their stories rather than them being together immediately. It helps me understand their character (and background) more easily.
Dorothy wrote: "Do you want the hero and heroine together immediately? Or do you like a bit of lead-in that gives you a hint of why the hero and heroine are in this particular place/situation?"I like to get to know the hero and heroine a bit before they get together. I mean sometimes it can be ok, if they meet right at the beginning of the book, but sometimes it makes it feel rushed!
Christine wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Do you prefer gritty reality on the cover or a more stylized/romantic image?"Reality is fine with me :)
Christine wrote: "Do you feel there is any time period or type of story that is currently under-represented?"I think there is a whole lot of historical books set in the US and in Western Europe (mostly England), but there is very few options set in other countries.
Also, I really like Medieval times, and I don't see many books set in that time.
Christina wrote: ""Colonial chimneys are big enough to stage an escape, but antebellum ones might be only a few inches wide...so to give a Civil War soldier a chimney to climb, it would have to be an old house at th..."I found this tidbit quite interesting! One of my favorite stories from my husband's ancestors in Mississippi is that of finding a soldier hiding under one of their beds!
Danica wrote: "My question is whether or not you follow your favorite authors across genres? If a historical author writes contemporary, would you read the contemporary or just the historical? ."I do, I love to see authors explore different genres :D
Danica wrote: "Good morning everyone! Sorry to be late to the party! I was cracking up at the historical facts people think are wrong tidbits, because I have that happen from time to time as well. And I do a lo..."
Yes, Danica, I follow my favorite authors across genres. I have found that I like their writing, regardless of genre.
Christine wrote: "Do you feel there is any time period or type of story that is currently under-represented?"Because I read a variety, I sometimes go looking for various time periods. I can usually find what I want to read, so it doesn't seem to be under-represented. But I also read many old Victorian novels.
Danica wrote: "Good morning everyone! Sorry to be late to the party! I was cracking up at the historical facts people think are wrong tidbits, because I have that happen from time to time as well. And I do a lo..."
I am willing to follow an author across genres. Sometimes it works for me and sometimes not but I always try several of the author's books in a different genre before I say no.
Love Inspired Historicals
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Barbara, I love those details too. Researching them is part of what makes writing so much fun! And reading those details is a great way to learn something new while having fun. :)