There has been much talk this year about the flux of different genres in today's romance market. With all of the changes in the industry, the restructuring of houses and the eye turned every toward the future, making questions loom in many minds - Are historicals slipping off the radar? Is there still a market for them? Does anyone still write them? Does anyone buy them?
Yes.
A very simple answer for such complex questions. I know. But as anyone will time you, times are cyclic. Everyone needs a little change now and then, but good writing - crosses her heart - will always prevail. Since the start of the true romantic hay day in the late 1970's authors such as
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and
Rosemary Rogers gave us our first glimpse into foreign lands and sexy hunks who rode on a white steed and raced us off into the sunset. Since then, we've been hooked.
And though the real swing of what is considered by today's industry standard in historical romance came in the 21st century, romance was alive and well in writings of the 18th and 19th century. Some might even argue poetry and tales of erotic fiction even further back. The Handbook of Literary Terms begins its definition of romance as: "Romanticism arose so gradually and exhibited so many phases that a satisfactory definition is hardly possible."
Again, since I am a movie fiend I reference the movies. So often the cinema sets a precedence for the reading cycle. Think of Chick Lit and
Bridget Jones Diary. Well,
Gone With the Wind,
Last of The Mohicans, and
Braveheart just to name a few. These stories may have taken a bit of artistic license with history but each rejuvenated the desire to learn, to explore different times. Just in the last few years
Troy and
Gladiator have done much the same thing. Next year,
Alexander will be released. A fascinating tale, and it doesn't hurt that Hollywood for Colin Farrell either.
For the populace not already entrenched into romantic historical fiction, these movies were catalysts. However, once someone became turned on to the genre…look out. The historical fans are rivaled only by fantasy/paranormal readers in voraciousness and loyalty. Below are several of the authors you know and have come to love over the years, and some new names to check out.
I've got you covered from B.C. epics to the highland hills, all the way to colonial America. There are straight historical romances, and some with a paranormal twist. A little something for every taste. Please take a few minutes to check these out. You won't be sorry you did.
