Saturday, January 13, 2007

The Return of the Historical?

Melissa pointed out this post from agent Kristin Nelson's blog Pub Rants. She says editors are asking for good historical romances. For years, the genre has been on the decline, but apparently it is on the upswing. When I signed with my agent, I told her I also wrote historicals and she said great since historicals are coming back. So Ms. Nelson isn't on her own in this. I do wonder, however, what kind of historicals are being looked at. Is the spectrum broadening for eras and settings? What do you think? I've seen the emergence of historical paranormal romance, so it seems as though their is a sense of adventure needed. More danger, more darkness? Is this style of romance going to outpace the light historicals?

4 comments:

Amy Ruttan said...

Honestly the market is so crammed with Regencies, not that I don't mind Regencies. I think, and this was my take on a seminar with M.J. Putney who confirmed in her talk my suspicion, that the 1700's are going to be the next thing. Decadent and free before the stifling rules of society enforced in the Regency era. I think 1600's and even maybe the Gothic era could really take off. This is my view, and I am all ready to jump on board. My latest three WIPs cover this history pre-Jane Austen.

Melissa Amateis said...

I would love to see more set during the Georgian period - there's so many things going on - the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and heck, if you go back into the 1740's, you've got the Jacobean Rebellion in Scotland. I would love to read more novels set here.

yusufyusuf said...

Hi...
Nice blog...

The Dark Planet ©

Gutsy Living said...

I just found your blog and we have the same last name. I know someone who's writing historical mixed with memoir.