Historical
by Susan W on March 24th, 2009, 4:17pm
"Dramatic in scope, enjoy tales from chivalrous knights, roguish rakes and rugged cattlemen to impetuous heiresses, unconventional ladies and defiant bluestockings. These rich and vivid romances will capture your imagination."
'Super' or simply 'Historical' ... let us know all your musings on the series here...
New Voices
Thank you again - the New Voices competition is a great idea. It also gives me a deadline to work towards!Â
Best wishes
Write from your heart
Jayne --
It is also something I am passionate about. Some times, aspiring writers get it into their heads that there are only certain time periods which are worthy of being published. The guidelines say any. The editors do truly mean that. So really focus on making that story the most romantic one you can and allow your passion for the time period to shine through.
The New Voices competition which starts on 13 September 2011 might be something to aim for.
Michelle S
PS
I do hope you enjoy To Marry A Matchmaker, I had great fun writing it.
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
Thank you for your message
Dear Michelle,
Thank you very much for taking the time to reply to my question, it's really nice to hear from a published author! I think I need to go away and think about this for a bit...
Best wishes
ps: looking forward to reading your new book - by coincidence I'd ordered it & it arrived today!
The English Civil War
Certainly in the past, I know Historical has done the period. Nicola COrnick wrote one and Anne O'Brien (?) another. It falls in the Unusual Time period slot so you just have to make sure it really grabs the reader as the bar is set pretty high. This is really true of ANY time period. But the editors have said time and again that it is ANY time period. From personal experience I know this to be the case. So concetrate on writing the best historical romance in the period of your choosing. It is up to you to make it be absolutely un-putdownable. Make your love of the romance of that period shine through.
If you don't try, an editor can't say yes.
FWIW
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
English Civil war setting - is it romantic??
Hello,
I'm posting this comment in the hope of getting some advice from readers, authors, aspiring authors or editors. I'm at last having a go at my ambition to be a romantic novelist having been an avid reader of history and historical romances for years. I particularly love the tutors and stuarts periods. I think I have a really good story (and a really sexy hero!) set during the English civil war, but I'm now wondering whether this is a mistake: I'm wondering whether this period is a bit unfashionable and would make my novel less attractive and if I should rewrite it and shift it back to the tudors. I'd be so grateful for any advice! Would people want to read a civil war romantic novel? Thank you! Â
I just want to let you know
I just want to let you know that I just check out your site and I find it very interesting and informative. I can’t wait to read lots of your posts.
international mail forwarding service
Just what I was looking for
Just what I was looking for and quite thorough as well. Thanks for posting this, I saw a couple other similar posts but yours was the best so far. I hope it stays updated, take care.
-steel suppliers
help to find a book
hi everyone I am new to this site,Â
I am trying to find the title of the first ever mills and boon book I read, I have very very limited if any info on it though all I can remember I think is that the ladys name was angel or april, she used to date the guy but i think they spilt up and she then became a world class model model.. they had sex in his (or her) hotel for the first time and she was a virgin, they had an argument and split up and he went to find her, when he found her she was painting a picture which was her favourite hobby...
if anybody from that can come up with the book i owe them coffee lool sorry but i read it over 12 years ago :(Â
 Kelly :) xxÂ
Lord Of Scoundrels
Thanks so much Michelle :)
It's not M&B
The book you are looking for is not M&B. It is Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase. Totally brilliant. Well worth a reread.
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
HELP to find a book
Hi
Am looking for the title of a book I used to have and no longer do ggrrr.
Plot
Leading lady travelling to Paris with her ?aunt or godmother...meets an objectionable dark eyed man in Paris..he humiliates in public and she shoots him in a coffee house...he temporarirly looses use of his arm(in his mind apparently) they marry and return to england he has an illegitamate son who is running wild in his village...she makes him take the boy in
Please help as I love re-reading books..
Thanks
Pauline
Green Darkness
I saw Caroline posted on this book earlier. I am reading it at the moment because I visited Ightham Mote which is in Kent and picked up the book while there. It is an old tudor house with a moat all around it as a form of defense.
Having been at the house, it is fascinating to imagine people living there. Reading a novel partly set there seems to bring the house to life in a way that doesn't happen when you walk around with a guide book. I would so love to set a story in that house, or one sneakily like it.
Ann Lethbridge
http://www.annlethbridge.com
The Gamekeeper's Lady December 2010
Harlequin Historical
living in the past
Just noticed your comment about not wanting to live in the past...I totally agree. Nice to visit, but not to stay! (a bit like some holiday destinations).
Two things I would miss most: showers, and modern medicine. How on earth did women cope in former times without paracetamol?
Annie
Annie Burrows
www.annie-burrows.co.uk
I'm back!
Hi, there!
Finally made it back into the community after moving house over summer, and changing email provider. Being something of a Luddite, I've had to create a whole new account, as I've forgotten all the passwords etc on my old one. But I've made sure I have made a note of all the new passwords I've created, on a Piece of Paper...
now all I have to do, is remember where I've put the piece of paper!
 If any of you would be so kind as to come over to my home page here on the community, and "Friend" me again, that would be great, as it is all bare and empty now...
Annie
Annie Burrows
www.annie-burrows.co.uk
Whoopee
Someone has been busy working on this site. This thread suddenly appeared on my screen. I have never seen it before. Enjoyed reading all the comments. I was so happy to read I'm not the only one who has problems with DG. My best friend loves her books and wants Jaime for her own. I have to admit as a female and one who enjoys history I can't think of anything that would tempt me to stay in the past. It would be a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. Sorry Michelle.
Chinese historical romance
Just to say some really exciting news happened over the weekend, Jeannie Lin won the Historical Golden Heat (the RWA's contest for unpublished authors) AND she accepted an offer from M&B Historical.
I am delighted that the editors are continuing to buy unusual historicals and know that it will be absolutely compelling and excellent as the bar for UH is v high indeed!
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
Boook research trips
The late Phyllis Whitney used to call her vacations book research trips. It is always better when you can combine. Plus then I have a justification for visitng al lthe historical sites etc that I want to.
I am looking forward to visiting Istanbul. Carol Townend went earlier this year. I know she is writing a duo based on her experience.
Right I need to get back to the wip.
Hopefully Michelle W will update on the state of play of historicals etc when she gets back from the RWA Nationals...I am currnelty living vicariously with Donna Alward's updates on the Pink Heart Society.
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
Holidays and research
Michelle S, your holiday plans - with a touch of research - sound fab.
I'm usually interested in visiting places where I could set a story in. I love it when I can combine pleasure with... pleasure. :D
I'm sure you'll have plenty of chances to indulge in your research. Enjoy the sights!
Steph
http://stephpatterson.wordpress.com/
http://historicalsreviewed.wordpress.com/
The RVI and John Martin
Caro --
I suspect that some of the same wards still exist today. The RVI is very rabbit warren. I had my catracts done there a few years ago.
ANd I mean that John Martin. Many of his painting are at the Laing. It was an interesting book.
And my husband has just booked our October holiday -- Istanbul which is fantastic as I am setting the final book of a proposed trilogy there...I am rather over excited about this.
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
History & Books
I've just tripped over the historical thread and all your comments are fascinating. My most enjoyed writer for historical books is Diana Norman ( Barry Norman the film critic has the great good fortune to be married to such a fabulously clever woman!). I started with 'The Morning Gift' about England just before the coming of Hentry II Plantagenet (from the Broom they wore in their hats planta genista). The periods of history she picks are not the populist ones but have very complex, well drawn characters. I also loved the Angelique Novels by Sergeanne Golon.
I think it was Michelle was asking about books about Victoria - you may already be aware of 'Grandmama of Europe' by Theo Aronson - it looks at all her descendants and may help with your look for more minor royalty? I had the great good fortune to stay at Hvidore in Denmark a few years ago and that was the summer residence on the Oersund of the dowager Queen Alexandra and her sister the dowager Tsarina who were the daughters of one of Denmark's many King Christians -  I think their Papa was the 'Grandfather of Europe'!
 I enjoy factual hisory books and find I have developed an interest in the often hidden history of women, for example Caroline Herschel, Rosalind Franklin- the dark lady of DNA as she has become known.Â
My other interest is in the history of Nursing - particularly in wartime and Brenda McBride's book 'A Nurse's War' is my most treasured book. She did her training in the early years of the Second WW at the RVI in Newcastle - where I then went for some of my placements as a Student Nurse in the late 70's/early 80's. Many of the wards she mentioned where still there!
I've just looked back and realised how long a post this is...you history buffs got me going
, but thank you.
P.S. I am going to look out for the book you have mentioned about John Martin - I always visit his paintings at the Laing in Newcastle when I get back up to visit - of course I am assuming it is the same John Martin?
Caro
twitter: pavilionofwomen
The Young Victoria
The dvd of this arrived yesterday. And I thoroughly reccomend it for anyone interested in the period. Fantastically filmed. I loved Dash (who was played by a Cavilier King Charles -- we won't talk about that as CKC were first bred in the early 20th century!) It is a great way to pas an evening, particularly when one is writing a 1837 set story.
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
Jean Plaidy
Jean Plaidy is a different style to Victoria Holt or Philippa Carr. It is far more factual and the books tend to be in series. They were an easy way to learn history though...
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
JMR and Victoria Holt
A Vision of Light by Judith Merkle Riley is one of my favourites too. I like her writing style - a really witty sense of humour.
Victoria Holt / Philippa Carr is another one whose writing I adored in my teens. So atmospheric. Never realised she wrote as Jean Plaidy until just a few years ago. Still haven't read Plaidy yet. One day!
Steph
http://stephpatterson.wordpress.com/
http://historicalsreviewed.wordpress.com/
Green Darkness
Was one of my favourites, but it doesn't exactly have a happy ending! It is quite gruesome, and is based on a real (& tragic) discovery behind the panelling in Ightham Mote (sp?). It is a beautiful National Trust property though, notwithstanding... Â
Best wishes
Carol
Runaway Lady, Conquering Lord - December 2009
His Captive Lady - April 2009
An Honourable Rogue - September 2008
http://www.caroltownend.co.uk/
A traveller in time
Annie --
I went and looked it up. It sounds good and I am not sure if I read or not as a girl. It certainly sounds like one I would have enjoyed. And I do remeber reading several set in Tudor England. One had the tune of Greensleeves playing when they slipped back.
ANyway, because I went and looked up. I discovered that Anya Seton had written a time slip --Green Darkness which I did read when I was in my Anya Seton phase. Katherine is quite good as well.
And once I read a time slip centre around Sutton Hoo. But in that one, the Tudor characters did glimpse the future. So Rockefeller appeared briefly.
I used to think that it would be wonderful to go back in time.
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
travellers in time
It was heartening to hear others struggling with the Diana Gabaldon books. I Did enjoy aspects of the story, but found some of it rather tiresome to wade through.
my all time favourite time slip book has to be A Traveller in Time, by Alison Uttley...a children's book (I read as a child) about a girl who ends up returning to Elizabethan England and gettting unwittingly involved with the Babbington plot. It was the first book I can remember moving me so much I cried.
Annie
Annie Burrows
www.annie-burrows.co.uk
Victoria Holt
I am pleased to see that I am not the only person who struggled with DG.
Victoria Holt wrote as Philippa Carr as well as Jean Plaidy. She was incredibly prolific. And her three personas really span the historical spectrum. Jean Plaidy is v accurate historical fiction with historical figures being the main characters, Philippa Carr sits in the middle where there is some reference to real life events and Victoria Holt, while still being accurate uses history as a backdrop. Victoria HOlt died several years ago.
Philippa Gregory who is more on the Jean Plaidy end of things is still very much alive...
I read a lot of children/YA historical fiction but certainly Victoria Holt/Jean Plaidy ranked amongst my earliest forays into adult historical fiction. I just have always enjoy historical fiction.
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
Time travel (Time slips)
I read the DG books--loved the first one, liked the second, started to get bored in the third one, struggled through the fourth one.
Generally, I love time travel, but it really does depend on how it is handled.
Time slips
I enjoyed the early Gabaldon books years ago, although they're very black & white. But during the third instalment, I began to lose interest. I bought the fourth but didn't get beyond the beginning. Think her style started to irritate me. I recently - after almost 10 years - tried the first one again and didn't like it. Ooops...
I love Barbara Erskine. She's excellent with atmospheres. One of my favourites is Kingdom of Shadows, set during the Scottish Wars of Independence. But I haven't read it in over 15 years, I think. I have a whole shelf of her novels, but have recently stopped buying new ones. It seems to become a bit repetitive.
I wouldn't want to write one, as I'm not keen on this 'OMG how backward!' kind of thinking that often plagues the time-slipping heroine. Not sure if it makes it easier from our modern pov to create a credible heroine, though. You could keep your 'modern writer' mindset while travelling into the past. Not for me, methinks.
Steph
http://stephpatterson.wordpress.com/
http://historicalsreviewed.wordpress.com/
The first time I tried to
The first time I tried to read Outlander by Diana G., I couldn't get into it. I tried a few years later and liked it. One of those where it grew on me, I think.
For straight historicals, I really enjoyed Judith Merkle Riley's A VISION OF LIGHT. But then, I love all things medieval.Â
Â
The very first historical romances I ever read were Victoria Holt. I know she had another pen name, too..was it Philippa Carr or Philippa Gregory? I keep getting the two confused. Anyhow, I used to love ON THE NIGHT OF THE SEVENTH MOON and THE JUDAS KISS. I want to see more romances set in Germany (during the happier, more fairytale-like periods of history, of course.).
Michelle Willingham
www.michellewillingham.com
Taming Her Irish Warrior - April 2011
Surrender to an Irish Warrior - May 2011
Claimed by the Highland Warrior - December 2011
timeslips
Annie --
I used to love them. Barbara Eskine wrote a marvelous couple. They were time slips back to JOhn reign. And I can remember a great one about a woman who on her wedding day changes places with her g grandmother or rather the woman she thinks is her g grandmother. It was set in the California gold rush.
Then there was one by Jude Devereux, v historical wallpaper. And the one thing I can remember is that heroine used to sit in a closet with the hoover going as she read books, so that her neat freak mother couldn't tell...
I have never been able to get into Diana G. I did try. Lots of people love her. Living in the borders, I kept thinking that it was not as clear cut...annd after that I was never a fan.
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
time slip books
I have just finished reading Dragonfly in Amber, by Diana Gabaldon. (we're moving house, and all my books have been packed, so I have had to go to the library for reading material, where I have discovered stuff I don't usually read)
Does anyone else enjoy these kind of timeslip historical fiction books?Â
Annie
Annie Burrows
www.annie-burrows.co.uk
royalty
The book is set in 1855, 6 years before Albert's death. Since it's my own fictional country, I can choose the rules and regulations, but I'd like them to be based on true royalty. It will likely be a combination of minor German royalty and Danish royalty. But still, I'm just looking for ideas.Â
Michelle Willingham
www.michellewillingham.com
Taming Her Irish Warrior - April 2011
Surrender to an Irish Warrior - May 2011
Claimed by the Highland Warrior - December 2011
Queen Vic and all that
Welcome Steph, glad you found us.
There are a ton of books on royalty. Queen Victoria, though, is a special case -- basically because she was the only legit heir for an aging dynasty and therefore hot housed. YOu might do better looking for a bio of one of the minor royals. Or possibly Prince Leopold.
YOu also need to get your dates sorted as the whole concept was what was permissable changed after Prince Albert entered the equation. He was determined to fashion a very different sort of royalty.
FWIW
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
Welcome
Hi Steph! It's great to see you in here.Â
Â
I'll toss out a question for anyone. I'm looking for good books that document the everyday life of royalty. I might use a biography of Queen Victoria, but I suspect it would contain less social history and more political history. A few folks have offered suggestions off-list, but if anyone has come across good books or resources about how a prince or princess would have to behave in public, I'd love to get my hands on the references. Thanks!
Michelle Willingham
www.michellewillingham.com
Taming Her Irish Warrior - April 2011
Surrender to an Irish Warrior - May 2011
Claimed by the Highland Warrior - December 2011
Hello
Oh, I've been looking for this thread but somehow couldn't find it. Is it hidden?
Glad I finally made it here. Very useful for swapping research details and historical tidbits.
Nice to 'meet' several authors here whose novels I've recently enjoyed. Thanks so much for spending some of your precious time here. We can learn alot from you.
Steph
http://stephpatterson.wordpress.com/
http://historicalsreviewed.wordpress.com/
Fascinating about the
Fascinating about the elephants! Jane, I'll bet that was fun, composing a poem about them. :)
I'm a visual learner, I'll admit. I adore historical research books that are full of pictures. When I was researching the steam ships, I just couldn't get over the luxury for first class passengers. The grand saloons had chandeliers, elaborate curtains, screened promenade decks, chests of drawers in the rooms--so elaborate!
Michelle Willingham
www.michellewillingham.com
Taming Her Irish Warrior - April 2011
Surrender to an Irish Warrior - May 2011
Claimed by the Highland Warrior - December 2011
Definitely true, yes. I was
Definitely true, yes. I was Warwick Poet Laureate last year, and since Leamington is right next door, I had to write several poems for them as well. One of them was to commemorate the history of elephants in the town. I thought it was a joke when they first rang to ask me for a poem on the topic. But no ... all true!
http://janewritesromance.blogspot.com
http://charlottelamb.blogspot.com (Tribute site)
elephants
Carol --
I went and checked. Yes, it is true about the elephants in Leamington Spa.
http://www.otba.org.uk/history.htm#ELEPHANTS
I hadn't realised that Leamington was also where Lawn Tennis was born. Many years ago, my dh worked in Leamington and has fond memories of the town.
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
Elephants...
What a lovely idea, Jane! I wonder if it's true?
All best
Carol
Runaway Lady, Conquering Lord - December 2009
His Captive Lady - April 2009
An Honourable Rogue - September 2008
http://www.caroltownend.co.uk/
Byzantium
Michelle, you will enjoy the Herrin book, I am about to reread it.  Also Tom Holland's book.
All best
Carol
Runaway Lady, Conquering Lord - December 2009
His Captive Lady - April 2009
An Honourable Rogue - September 2008
http://www.caroltownend.co.uk/
You want an odd historical fact?
In Victorian times, Sam Lockhart's circus elephants were regularly walked up and down the Parade in Leamington Spa, i.e. down to the river to bathe, and back up to their 'stables'. Today, by local statute, anyone who lives in the house (actually an antique shop, I believe) now on the site of those stables has the right to walk their elephants up and down the Parade.
Apparently.Â
http://janewritesromance.blogspot.com
http://charlottelamb.blogspot.com (Tribute site)
JJ NOrwich
Well if it is anything like his history of Venice, it will be detailed and thorough and a certain cure for insomnia.
My dh recently gave me Judith Herrin's Byzantium. It is on my list to read if I get the time as I think Byzantium is thoroughly fascinating. The other book about that period I want to read is the Four of Horses of St Mark's. then there is Tom Holland's Millennium and the new Robin Lane Fox that I have got to finish -- Travelling Heroes about HOmer and his inspirations.
BUt I am going to finsh this Age of Wonder as Herschel is very intersting. Davy is good too and Faraday.
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
Byzantium...
Hi,
I don't know about fascinating facts, but I gave myself the most terrible headache by trying to read the whole of A Short History of Byzantium by JJ Norwich in a day.  Utter madness, (not to mention greedy).  Have decided to take it more slowly, and savour it!
All best
Carol
Runaway Lady, Conquering Lord - December 2009
His Captive Lady - April 2009
An Honourable Rogue - September 2008
http://www.caroltownend.co.uk/
historical books
Has anyone read any good reference books lately?
One of the reasons I adore writing Historicals is the chance it brings to do research. I just finished Max Adams The Firebringers about the Martin brothers, but really detailing the world they lived in. John Martin was a very popular artist during the Regency/early Victorian period. His sort of biblical/epic paintings then fell out of fashion -- John Ruskin hated him. But he taught Princess Charlotte and was friends with Prince Leopold. Adams fills the book with little anecdotes.
I have also just started RIchard Holmes TheAge of Wonder which looks at various scientists in the century before Darwin. I never realised that the first person to be called a scientist was a woman and that women produced most of the textbooks on science.
Anyone else come across fascinating facts?
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
Hope you were able to find
Hope you were able to find it! I thought it was a great reference. :)
Michelle Willingham
www.michellewillingham.com
Taming Her Irish Warrior - April 2011
Surrender to an Irish Warrior - May 2011
Claimed by the Highland Warrior - December 2011
Michelle W
Thanks so much for the book recommendation. Very useful!
www.joannecleary.blogspot.com
The Masquerade ball
Yes, it is good fun.
Right now though I have to concentrate on writing the ms which is due at the end of July.
Michelle S
Mills & Boon Historical author
website: www.michellestyles.co.uk
masquerade ball
Have just popped out of the masquerade ball over at eharl for a breath of air. Things are getting decidedly heated over there! Need to cool down.
Annie Burrows
www.annie-burrows.co.uk
It's easier, of course, to
It's easier, of course, to research time periods that are popular with writers, like the Regency or medieval periods, because the resources are easily accessible, especially online. But less popular time periods must be harder, I would imagine, to research.
And very early historical periods, or those with poor record keeping - the Dark Ages, for instance - must force writers to invent details where they can't find historically accurate resources. After all, even historians can be left guessing with some of the more obscure details of everyday life in the past ...
That's one reason why I'm sticking to Regency romances for the moment. Until I feel a little braver, at least!Â
http://janewritesromance.blogspot.com
http://charlottelamb.blogspot.com (Tribute site)