When I first became obsessed with Outlander, I went online to read some of the reviews on the books. Why, I don't know, but curiosity always drives me. Perhaps, it's because I like to see that no matter how much of a blockbuster a book is, it will still have a broad range of reviews [...]
Tag: Sweet Romance
Writing Historical Novels, Part Seven: Rules – Fact vs Fiction #historicalromance #historical #writing #amwriting
Ask any reader the question: "How important is historical accuracy in a novel?" And, for the most part, you will get the answer of "very". Of course, that's the answer you should receive. Why even write historical novels if you aren't going to stick to historical facts? While there are some who believe that authors [...]
Writing Historical Novels, Part Six: Rules – Research, Research, Research #writing #amwriting #historicalromance
Aside from finding your perfect time period and creating your perfect plot and characters, research is perhaps the most important rule to writing historical novels. Why? Because you will never be able to draw your readers into a different time period if you don't know what you're talking about! So how do you know what you're [...]
Writing Historical Novels, Part Five: Elements – Plot and Setting: Time and Place #historical
Why do readers read Historical Romance and Historical Fiction? When asked this question, the overwhelming answer is always 'to bring the past to life' and it’s our job as the author to do just that. Nothing will pull a reader out of a historical novel faster than something or someone out of place. Whether it's [...]
Writing Historical Novels, Part Four: Elements – Props and Attire #historicalromance #writing #amwriting
Books don't have the luxury of the visual effects that a television show or movie has. We can't see a time period prop when watching a scene unfold and we can't see the character's clothes. Of course, you don't want to describe every single detail about what your characters are wearing or using throughout the [...]
Writing Historical Novels, Part Three: Elements: Characteristics,Traits, and Behavior #historicalromance
Whether real or imagined, characters behave in keeping with the era they inhabit. That's just one of the secrets to writing Historical novels that people will love to read. They don't want to read about a man or a woman who acts as though it's 2018 when the novel is set in the 1800s. It [...]
Writing Historical Novels, Part Two: Elements – Elocution #writing #amwriting #historical
What is elocution? The skill of clear and expressive speech, especially of distinct pronunciation and articulation. So, in other words, speech. Using proper dialect for the time period of your novel will either draw the reader into that era or it will pull them out of the story and cause them to shut the book [...]
Writing Historical Novels, Part One: What is the Difference? #historical #amwriting #writing
Why does one read Historical novels? More often than not it's because they enjoy a book that brings the past to life, and as authors of Historical novels, it's our job to do just that. From the first word to the last word, we should strive to teleport our readers to another time and place. [...]
Deleted Scene ~ In the Land of Gold #sweetandspicyromance #romance #historicalromance #amreading #amreadingromance
I can't remember why this scene was deleted, but I can guess it was because of story flow. After Cora wakes up in Flynn's tent, hungover and failing to remember much, they argue and she storms out. To bring them together again, of course, he chases after her, which flowed more smoothly then adding in [...]
The REAL woman behind A Road Paved in Copper #sweetandspicyromance #romance #historicalromance #western #amreading
I've gotten this question before, and the answer is yes. So what is the question? "Have I ever used real women as inspiration for my characters?" Anyone who knows my dad knows he likes to tell stories. One afternoon while visiting my parents, he started telling me this story about the woman who founded a [...]
What is your Burlesque name? #sweetandspicyromance #romance #historicalromance #amreadingromance
Want to do something fun today? Take a few minutes to figure out what your Burlesque name would be. I know what you're thinking: what is she talking about? Why would I want to do that? Well, honestly, I don't really know why other than it's just something to make you laugh. And don't we [...]
Every Era has it’s Slang ~ 1930’s Slang Words #sweetandspicyromance #romance #historicalromance #amreading
While it was hard to put slang in a couple of my historical romance novels, one of them it was an absolute must! One simply doesn't write a novel set in the roaring 1920's and not use the slang people spoke back then. It's just not right. So, of course, I scoured several websites to [...]
My trip to Montgomery, Alabama #sweetandspicyromance #romance #historicalromance #civilwar #horses
While I was writing and researching my debut novel, The Woman on the Painted Horse, I took a trip to Montgomery, Alabama. Yes, I know the picture say Arkansas, we just didn't stop for pictures with the Alabama sign. Why I have no idea, since it would have made sense. Hindsight is always 20/20. Anyway, [...]
Women of the Klondike #sweetandspicyromance #romance #historicalromance #amreadingromance #writing #Klondike
I remember reading a review for my novel IN THE LAND OF GOLD once that stated that a woman couldn't have made it up the Klondike trail during the gold rush---especially living through the unbelievable and harsh conditions that I unrealistically created for my character. Women just didn't do those types of things back then. [...]
Ah, the luck of the Irish #sweetandspicyromance #romance #historicalromance #amreadingromance #amreading
One particular question that keeps being asked about my hero, Flynn O'Neil, in my novel IN THE LAND OF GOLD is why did I make him Irish. Honestly? I did it because I love the accent. Yep, that's why. It's just that simple. I actually have a few accents that I love to listen to [...]
