Historical romance writers switching over to contemporary romance is nothing new to most readers—just ask fans of Julie Garwood or Judith McNaught, to name only two. But the other way around? That’s a little less common, though—for diehard historical fans like myself—something to be welcomed with great delight.
I always get a special thrill when I see an established contemporary author stick their toes in the historical waters, and I will admit to wondering upon occasion what sorts of historical romances some contemporary authors might produce, should they ever choose to give it a try. Is it some sort of way to balance the scales for beloved historical authors who turned contemporary? Well, maybe. If there were such an exchange program, I don’t think I’d mind, but this interest goes deeper than that, as two recent examples can illustrate.
Maya Banks, whose debut historical, In Bed with a Highlander, is an extremely satisfying read, actually started out writing historicals. She’s had two historical romances out under her Sharon Long name, but I say she still fits in this category, since she’s best known for her erotic and romantic suspense titles. On the other hand, Eileen Dreyer, whose debut historical, Barely a Lady, hit the shelves in 2010, had a long and successful category and romantic suspense career before going back in time.
What do contemporary authors have to offer the historical genre? Lots. For readers who would like to find a historical with something different, this could be exactly the ticket. Contemporary writers can bring in new blood, infusing familiar settings with a new vitality. In Bed with a Highlander has, as one might guess, a Highland setting, and Barely a Lady is set in the good old Regency era, and both are the first in series, but neither can be termed the same old same old.
A good contemporary writer knows how important it is to make the story world relatable to the reader, because there’s no faking the everyday world in which we live. While a historical setting may be long ago and far away to the twenty-first century reader, for the characters who live there, it’s their here and now. Combining current events and characters the modern reader can take to heart is stock in trade for a contemporary writer, and if that writer is also a reader of historical romance, this could be the making of a perfect storm.
The reasons a contemporary author might try their hand at historical romance can be as varied as the individuals who do so. Perhaps it’s returning to a first love, trying something entirely new, or even making a business decision. Maybe new characters strode out of the mists of time and refused to trade in kilt or corset for t-shirt and jeans, but still wanted their stories told. Whatever the reason an author decides to expand her horizons, historical readers get to experience stories told in fresh new voices by authors with proven track records. Sounds like a winning combination to me.
Anna C. Bowling considers writing historical romance the best way to travel through time and make the voices in her head pay rent. She welcomes visitors to her blog, Typing With Wet Nails and to follow her at Twitter.
