Where would You Like to see a Historical Romance set?

[Ausjenny]

Thanks Naomi. For me I don't believe learning ends with leaving school. I have learnt so much (including the metric system starting at the French revolution). I do the church newsletter and use to type reports. I have some of the older ladies give a notice or report and say excuse my writing etc and then say I didn't have much education. they left school at 14 or something. We had a few in the church who did the same but it was interesting. They blame alot on the lack of education but you dont stop learning when you stop school. Mum left school at 14 also it was the done thing but she didn't use it as an excuse. She was a reader which helped with writing etc. I also know others who went to a place like a community college to improve some skills. 2 Ladies at church who were older mums in there 40's went to swimming lessons so they could swim with there children.

I would have loved to study history and If I could have in the higher grades would have studied both American and Australian history. I was always fascinated with the Civil war. I would love to work where I had to do research into history and get paid for it. Cos I would be learning and working at the same time. That or working with a publishing company to promote Christian books would be my ideal job.

I mentioned I love books that make me google info and Naomi your book did that for me so its up there with my top reads for the year.

[Naomi]

Glad you liked the unusual setting, Jenny. :-)

[Jennifer]

Ausjenny wrote: "Naomi wrote: "Wendy wrote: "Naomi wrote: "Interesting. I've read some of Mary Lu Tyndall's War of 1812 stories, but not all. I'm told that the War of 1812 isn't even taught in English schools. Gues..."

As an educator this infuriates me! So not gonna get on my soap box! No child should be told they can't learn something because they are "dumb" ARG!

[Jennifer]

I love the Highland settings and when they do Texas History....well, when it's accurate! We have some cool historical stuff in Texas like the battle of the Alamo, The battle of San Jacinto, One of the few states that can secede, had our own president, been our own country, only state to have our state flag fly at the same level as the American flag, have had 6 state flags, owned by three countries, etc....

[Naomi]

You know, Jennifer, I'm surprised I haven't seen more Mexican/American War and Texas independence type settings for novels. It seems most of those Texas settings are at the end of the 1800s. But there's got to be a lot of other aspects of Texas history to be explored. I'd like to see some of that. As a Yankee, I admit I don't have the first clue about Texas or California history, but they both put up with a lot before they joined the US.

[Ausjenny]

Jennifer and Naomi, thats why I love Lyn Cote's series where she wrote at before the time of the Alamo.
It would be great to see more and your are so right about California history I dont know very much of that either.

[Naomi]

I didn't know Lyn had some pre-Alamo books. :-)

[Deborah]

I'm told that the War of 1812 isn't even taught in English schools. Guess the Brits don't like thinking about the fact they actually lost a naval battle or two. Then again, the Americans never would have won that war, had the English navy not been exhausted from fighting France for 20 years.

I know Americans are taught that the War of 1812 was against the British but here in Canada it was seen as a war to force the northern colonies into the union, which they successfully resisted. Laura Secord, who walked many miles through the Ontario countryside to warn the local militia of an impending American attack is a national heroine.

There's a saying here about the War of 1812: "The Americans say they beat the British. The Canadians say they beat the Americans. The British say, 'What war?'" :) History is definitely a matter of perspective.

[Deborah]

Jenny, it may not be such a bad thing that you didn't get taught history in school. Some teachers can make it so deadly dull that students end up hating it. I developed my love of history from reading historical fiction, which made the past come alive for me. That's what led me to read more nonfiction on certain time periods that interested me. So you're getting a fun, interesting history course now through your reading! I'll bet you get to know way more about certain historical times than many of the so-called 'bright' students who crammed it for exams in school then promptly forgot it. :)

[Ausjenny]

Naomi wrote: "I didn't know Lyn had some pre-Alamo books. :-)"

They are not LIH books but Her Inheritance Forever

The Desires of Her Heart
Her Abundant Joy (Texas: Star of Destiny, Book 3): A Novel

[Ausjenny]

Deborah wrote: "Jenny, it may not be such a bad thing that you didn't get taught history in school. Some teachers can make it so deadly dull that students end up hating it. I developed my love of history from read..."

I think you are right Deborah. I was thinking last night back in the early 90's we didnt' have the ease to research we do know. I think some of the earlier writers took alot of liberties with overseas countries because they thought no one would notice. One that comes to mind is Lori Wick. While I Loved her books the book Every Storm has a small part set in Australia and it was so wrong. She had a naval base set in North Queensland but about 2 hours from Sydney its so wrong. (its more like 24 hours away). Also her book set in the Czech republic I have heard from a friend who is very familiar with the customs, etc said there are alot of errors and the same with some of the ones set in england. I still loved the books but the errors annoyed me.
Now I think I would be even more annoying as we have the internet and can google something. I did this recently when I thought something seemed wrong only to learn some facts I didn't know. I have googled for more info on things like the Negro fort, war of 1812 etc just to learn more. I am not sure I would keep reading a book or books if they are way off now like I use to.
I dont mind if facts are changed for a fiction story as long as they have the note to readers from the author stating what they changed and the correct info. Lyn did this in her Texas series.

[Jennifer]

Ausjenny wrote: "Jennifer and Naomi, thats why I love Lyn Cote's series where she wrote at before the time of the Alamo.
It would be great to see more and your are so right about California history I dont know ver..."

Yup, Lyn is good about Texas History. Very few people do write about it. I guess because the south gets forgotten with some of it's history. IDK

[Naomi]

Deborah wrote: "I'm told that the War of 1812 isn't even taught in English schools. Guess the Brits don't like thinking about the fact they actually lost a naval battle or two. Then again, the Americans never woul..."

Debra, I never knew that about the War of 1812 and Canada. Isn't it interesting how national perspective changes so much? I really think the War of 1812 meant different things to even Americans. It wasn't very popular along the Great Lakes corridor, where there was a lot of trading between America and Canada. Along the Eastern Seaboard, it was more popular, as eastern towns kept getting their young men impressed into the British Navy.

Laura Secord sounds like a really interesting woman though. :-)

[[deleted user]]

Cheryl wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Ausjenny wrote: "thanks Deborah, I love the Scarlet Pimpernel. Love the way he was portrayed as a typical aristocrat but was actually a very intelligent man who did care about somet..."

Cheryl wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Ausjenny wrote: "thanks Deborah, I love the Scarlet Pimpernel. Love the way he was portrayed as a typical aristocrat but was actually a very intelligent man who did care about somet..."

I love the Scarlet Pimpernel! I like the Leslie Howard/Merle Oberon movie the best.

I enjoyed Naomi's book set during the French Revolution.

I would like to see a novel set during the War Between the States where a Confederate is the GOOD GUY! I'm a Southerner and I'm really tired of my ancestors being stereotyped. Maybe I'll have to write it myself :)

I like medievals, I like those set in England and Scotland the best. I like the old west era here in the US too. I'd like to see some historicals in Egypt and the Middle East too.

[Carissa]

I love the early Colonial period as well as the frontier period, but I get tired or reading books were the author makes the Native Americans out to be the bad guys all the time.

Which is why I love Laura Frantz's books she tires to find a balance to see both sides. Sometimes the settlers are the hero's sometimes it's the Native American that it is the hero.

[Lyn]

Jennifer wrote: "I love the Highland settings and when they do Texas History....well, when it's accurate! We have some cool historical stuff in Texas like the battle of the Alamo, The battle of San Jacinto, One of ..."

My TX Star of Destiny series that Jenny mentioned tackles all those events 1821-1847. A fabulously rich tapestry of major historic events.

[Naomi]

Sounds like a good series, Lyn. I had no idea you'd written one like that. :-)

[Lyn]

Well, I enjoyed the period--it had everything!

[Elizabeth]

Deborah wrote: "I'm told that the War of 1812 isn't even taught in English schools. Guess the Brits don't like thinking about the fact they actually lost a naval battle or two. Then again, the Americans never woul..."

Deborah wrote: "I'm told that the War of 1812 isn't even taught in English schools. Guess the Brits don't like thinking about the fact they actually lost a naval battle or two. Then again, the Americans never woul..."

I had never heard that saying and never knew that Candians see it differently than we do in the U.S. Interesting!

[Deborah]

Laura Secord sounds like a really interesting woman though. :-)

She has a chocolate company named after her! You don't get much higher honors than that. :-D

http://www.laurasecord.ca/history/

[Elizabeth]

That's an interesting link about Laura Secord. I knew that I knew less about the War of 1812 than I did about the U.S. Revolutionary War and our Civil War, but I thought I knew a fair amount about it. Obviously, I still have a lot to learn! I'm glad I read this discussion.

[Jennifer]

Lyn wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "I love the Highland settings and when they do Texas History....well, when it's accurate! We have some cool historical stuff in Texas like the battle of the Alamo, The battle of San..."

I've read the first in the series, just haven't gotten the others! lol Have to get them! I think I started reading it in the middle of a move and then the moving took over!

[Lyn]

Moves can do that. Especially if the book gets buried under something.

[Kimberly]

I'd like to see some set in Canada, Africa, Australia and New Zealand more. I think they're a bit of an untapped market and the places are obviously rich in history perfect for love stories to be set.

[Lyn]

I agree Kimberly. Also I think LIH has a broad range of locations that other publishers have overlooked such as Africa--I loved Debbie Kaufman's The Doctor's Mission.

[[deleted user]]

Patty wrote: "My settings are mainly in the South--Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina. But I will share I might head north and over the deep blue sea soon--I recently found out that one of my great grand..."

You don't have to head north for that. My great four times grandfather was born and raised in what is now TN, then was NC, and was a spy for the Americans during the Revolution, his brother was General John Sevier of the American Army....plenty of action to be set in VA/NC/SC/GA.

I still would love to see books set in the War Between the States era, or just after, with Southern heroes. I guess I'll have to write them :)

I LOVE the idea of Canadian mountie stories, I remember reading Mrs. Mike in 5th grade and falling in love with Mounties and the wild wilderness of Canada.

I'd like to see some stories set up on Lake Superior, there is so much there historically---the wrecks, the Life Saving Service that became the Coast Guard, the light houses, the weather.

[Deborah]

I guess I'll have to write them :)

Melinda, one of the best pieces of advice I read about writing when I started out was, "Write the kind of story you want to read but can never find."

I believe it was from Jennifer Blake.

[Ausjenny]

Deborah thats interesting. thats my name. but I know there is an author or two called Jennifer Blake which are not me!!!!!!!!

[[deleted user]]

Deborah wrote: "I guess I'll have to write them :)

Melinda, one of the best pieces of advice I read about writing when I started out was, "Write the kind of story you want to read but can never find."

I believe..."

I'll have to follow that! :) Thank you. I will most certainly try just that!

[Deborah]

Deborah thats interesting. thats my name. but I know there is an author or two called Jennifer Blake which are not me!!!!!!!!

Besides you, the Jennifer Blake I'm most familiar with is from Louisiana. She is a bestselling author of historical romance, most recently The Three Graces series for MIRA.

[Ausjenny]

Deborah shes the one who I found first when googling, (I bet we have a different second name). I only get Jennifer for offical things.

[Kimberly]

Lyn wrote: "I agree Kimberly. Also I think LIH has a broad range of locations that other publishers have overlooked such as Africa--I loved Debbie Kaufman's The Doctor's Mission."

I have The Doctor's Mission on my TBR list, I'm glad to hear it's so good. I'll have to buy it soon.

[Lyn]

Kimberly, You won't be disappointed. It's Debbie's first book. What a debut!