Category Archives: historical fiction

History as Fantasy

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

In many ways, writing historical fiction is like writing fantasy. And reading historical fiction is like reading fantasy. In one genre, you have to look up a lot of tiny details to make the reader accept that the world they’re … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, historical fiction, reading, sf/f | 4 Comments

Researching the 1970s – Gwynne Garfinkle Guest Post

Posted on April 9, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Please welcome my guest, Gwynne Garfinkle! # Researching the Jo Book I recently completed the second draft of a novel about a soap opera actress in mid-1970s New York City who’s haunted by the ghost of her best friend who … Continue reading →

Posted in guest, historical fiction, research, television | Comments Off on Researching the 1970s – Gwynne Garfinkle Guest Post

Saskia Walker – Guest Post

Posted on April 2, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Please welcome my guest, Saskia Walker! # When I started out on my writing journey I used to fret about how the fantasy or paranormal elements of a story would mesh with the more everyday aspects. As writers we want … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, guest, historical fiction | 2 Comments

Why Not Twentieth Century Historicals?

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Why are so few (print) romance novels set in the twentieth century? If you go to a bookstore and look at the section labelled “Romance,” certain things are there and certain things are not. With the exception of occasional outliers … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, historical fiction, romance novels | 20 Comments

Today Through History

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

One of the reasons I most enjoy researching and writing about World War One is that it’s a time period rich in issues that interest me. For instance, in Great Britain during World War One, woman suffrage was still being … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, moonlight mistress, writing craft | 7 Comments

Werewolves in WWI? Why Not?

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

This post was written for Harlequin’s Paranormal Romance Blog. For The Moonlight Mistress, I combined a historical novel with paranormal elements. As you probably know already if you read this blog regularly, the book is set during the early days … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, moonlight mistress, werewolves, writing, writing craft | Comments Off on Werewolves in WWI? Why Not?

Regencies and Amish Romance

Posted on December 4, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

What about the Regency Romance appeals, in the past and now? Here are some thoughts. I’m not sure I entirely agree with myself on every point, if that makes sense…but I’m going to ramble on anyway, going one way and … Continue reading →

Posted in category, historical fiction, romance novels | 1 Comment

Edwardian/Belle Epoque Research Links

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

The Edwardian period in England officially lasted from 1901-1910 but is often extended through the end of World War One in 1918; another term, more applicable to the rest of the Europe, is La Belle Epoque, which stretches slightly longer. … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, links, research | Comments Off on Edwardian/Belle Epoque Research Links

Cherry-Picking Time

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

An editor to whom I’d previously sold reprints contacted me last week about possibly contributing to a new anthology. Immediately, this made my heart sing. It sang even more when I found out I could write any subgenre of “hot … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, writing process | Comments Off on Cherry-Picking Time

My Top 16 Romance Novels

Posted on November 16, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I’m exactly one month late posting my sixteen favorite romance novels, but, well…here they are anyway, in random order. And it was really hard and made me very sad, but I did it for you. I limited myself to books … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, historical fiction, reading, recommendations, romance novels | 8 Comments