Hello all,

I was just at the Central branch (doing research) of our local library
system and was pleased to discover a display dedicated to Historical
Fiction.  Unfortunately it was still too small and rather tucked away, but
better than nothing!!!

Figured y'all would be interested as we've been discussing the resurgence in
interest in HF.

Best,

Teresa :-)
------------------
eckford@...
http://www3.sympatico.ca/eckford/teresa.htm
http://www.ireadromance.com/romancer/fa2v4n1.htm (Romantic Couples in
History)
http://hns.vr9.com/reviews/s23.htm (Review of E. Chadwick's The Love Knot)
Reviewer/Cdn Membership Secretary - Historical Novel Society

Hi Susan

Just got Marsh King's Daughter to review from a US publisher -- do you think I
should apply your rating scale to it?????

I enjoy your work immensely and agree with your "A" list of female authors --
except that you're on it, too!  A friend introduced me to Valerie Anand a while
back, and I now own all of her books -- not an easy task in the U.S. to find
them, let me tell you.  I've read all of Sharan Newman and indeed, she has a new
Catherine LeVendeur book coming out shortly here which, hopefully, I'll be
reviewing for the February issue of the Review.

My goal is to inventory the books I already own...a huge task.  I, too, find
myself much more attracted to the female perspective on historical events, and
perhaps more "turned on" to mysteries written by men -- take, for instance, Paul
Doherty, who is so prolific (and has so many faces), it's scary!

It's been enjoyable meeting you and I hope that we can all get to know each
other more intimately through this medium.

Best,
Ilysa

Silly me...I never introduced myself to those of you who don't know me and
automatically assumed that you might know who am I -- or care!

My name is Ilysa Magnus.  The question now is:  do I tell you what I do for a
living first or what my life is like???

OK, decision made -- I'm an attorney in NYC -- a divorce lawyer, in fact.  My
firm handles all sorts of high profile clients (no name-dropping here!) which
impresses me not in the least.  The stresses of my job are barely -- but
thankfully, at least a bit -- offset by my passion for books -- and knitting! 
Becoming a US Reviews Editor has curtailed the knitting a bit, I'm afraid, and
pumped up my interest in the historical fiction market.  Dealing with publishing
companies has been a real eye opener -- I suppose I was never that realistic
about publicists and editors and such.  It's a grind.  Whether more or less of a
grind than the one which pays my salary, I can't tell you.

I live in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, which is green and lovely and
neither the terrible place which many of you would envision when you hear the
word "Bronx" or close enough to Manhattan (it's 11 miles or so from midtown)
that a quick commuter train trip can't get me out of the asphalt jungle.  The
goal someday for me is to get out of New York completely -- perhaps to upstate
NY, perhaps out of Northeast U.S. entirely, but that will depend greatly on a
number of factors which are still hanging fire -- where my son lives after he
graduates from college (hopefully in May, 2001) and where my (in)significant
other and I decide to settle down -- if we go together!

Before I turned to law and finally attended law school (from which I graduated
almost 7 years ago at the ripe old age of 43!),I was a medievalist -- as an
academician, a teacher, a doctoral candidate and, finally, as an escapee from
the ivory tower.  Old habits die hard, though.  I still love the "dark" and
"middle" ages in literature, including both mysteries and straight historical
fiction and fact (particularly the Plantagenets -- and especially, Eleanor of
Aquitaine), but have recently permitted myself the great joy of getting to know
and love the ancients.  After you discover Marilyn Todd, how can you go back to
medieval mysteries without missing Claudia terribly???

I don't particularly enjoy bodice-rippers, but will permit myself a taste of
romance here and there in my reading.  I am finding, as I read more and more
broadly across the scope of historical fiction, that the genre of "romance" is
quite unlimited and the perjorative connotations unfair and inappropriate.  I
believe I am far more open-minded today than I have ever been about books
categorized as "romances" or anything else.  It's actually been a pleasure to do
some exploring on my own throughout historical fiction without having the bias
of classifications hanging over my head.

I have also read more American novels recently (not my field of interest!) and
am now finishing Ahab's Wife, which I hear was recently reviewed (negatively) in
the UK.  I happen to think it's a beautiful book, lovingly written and recommend
it highly.

I know there's a book inside of me somewhere if I can only find the time to
research and write it...in the midst of everything else I do, and working 10 or
more hours a day!  I think, for now at least, I'll leave the job of writing new
historical fiction to others of you out there.

Best
Ilysa

Wendy

I think that having a "chat room" for the HNS membership is a great idea!!! 
Chatting would make our interaction much more immediate and real.

There are a few of us on this side of the Atlantic who have gotten to know each
other pretty well using the medium of internet communication.  Sarah Nesbeitt,
Trudi Jacobson and I are the US Reviews Editors, so we're busy emailing each
other all the time.  There are some reviewers we're in contact with, but nowhere
near the contact that we should have at this point. And for those of you who are
members but not reviewers -- we have no contact with you at all!  What a loss.

As editors, too, we want to open up lines of communications so that we can avoid
duplication of reviews (in the hopes of making our jobs a bit easier, perhaps)
and focus our energies on maximizing the growth of HNS -- publicizing ourselves
as an organization, but also getting those of you who are writers the kind of
publicity you need and deserve.  As reviewers and readers, we would love to
share ideas more freely.

Anyone else have input???

Best
Ilysa

<< I also just spent a few minutes at the egroup site and wondered if there
is
  anything else we can do with listservs. Specifically, I was thinking of (1)
  archiving past newsletters on the site (2) setting up some sub-groups,
  members only, for discussing manuscripts (for the 'trainee' writers amongst
  us) (3) setting up sub-groups as reading groups.
  Well those are just a few thoughts. What do people think? Is there anything
  else anyone would like us to do via egroups? >>

Have you thought about setting up a chat in the near future so we can all get
to know one another?

Very Best,
Wendy

Hello to All,
I think I'd rather write a review than an introduction-but here goes.

I'm a new member of the HNS, just starting reviewing this summer per
order/request of Teresa E. (my mentor <g>)

I'm a devoted fan of well-written historical novels.  My favorite setting is
the medieval period.  The history must be accurate and the characters
well-developed and appealing.

Some of my favorite authors are, Sharon Kay Penman, Elizabeth Chadwick, Diana
Gabaldon and Cynthia Harrod-Eagles.

Like practically everyone else I know I'm writing a novel set in 15c England,
lots of research and lots of fun.  In *real* life, I'm a dental hygienist and
mother of the well known terrible twosome aka the *princes*.

Very Best,
Wendy

Hi Sandra,

Delighted to hear there's going to be a Rosemary Sutcliff piece in
Solander - children's historicals are my particular interest and Sutcliff
was a wonderful writer.

Do let me know if I can help with any info for your article; I've got nearly
all her books, some of which are out of print as I expect you know; and
various biographical/bibliographical details. Email me privately if you need
any info.

I recently acquired Sword Song, her last book; rather a disappointment I
thought as it was completed from an early draft, and lacked the detail and
tightness of earlier books. I'm very fond of all her Roman Britain books,
also Bonnie Dundee; and recently read and liked her fictionalised life of
Walter Raleigh and Bess Throckmorton, Lady in Waiting. On holiday in France
this year I acquired a fairly recent French version of Flame-Coloured
Taffeta, which in French is called Au Nom du Roi!  Doesn't have quite the
same ring to it.

I think my all-time favourite Sutcliff though is the one I read when I was
eleven,Warrior Scarlet; a school text at the time, and now forever
associated with a school trip to Wolstonbury Hill Fort in Sussex!

Belinda Copson
(Herts, UK)

--- fiona ware <fiona@...> wrote: >
Richard, you know my feelings on reading groups so

> However given the poor response on the website

That might have something to do with people trying the
Forum feature, finding that it didn't work, and then
assuming that the Reading Group button wouldn't work
either.

I've sent two messages to the webmaster over the past
few months about the non-function of the Forum, but
received no reply, and it still doesn't work.

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere!
http://mail.yahoo.com/

Well, here goes another e-list introduction! I'm Wendy. I must say it's nice
to see names I already know. Hello Cindy and Teresa! Cindy- congratulations
again on your very great achievement in getting your novel published! O- how
joyful I would be if it happened to me!
Good historical fiction is one of my life's main passions- for years I read
just about every novel I could find based on the Medieval/Tudor period.
Writing is another passion. I've written a ms set in Tudor England, during
the reign of the Bluff King Hal, as well as a film script about a woman who
dedicated much of her adult life in helping Australian immigrants in the
1830's and beyond.  I'm working on turning the film script into my next
novel- but have to content to go slow as I have a son who is only four, as
well as a full household of family members. (Three other, much older
children, dogs, cats, siblings, parents- (siblings and parents are virtually
neighbours so at my house more often than not- plus a very dear husband of
23 years who supports my aspirations to write, and mostly ignores a very
messy house!  I also write for Suite101, where I'm Contributor Editor for
Tudor England.
Cheers!
Wendy

--
Wendy Dunn: Contributing Editor-Tudor England suite101.com: real people
helping real people Http://www.suite101.com
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/tudor
http://www.suite101.com/join.cfm/188582
http://www.themestream.com/gspd_browse/browse/view_article.gsp?c_id=57462
Homepage: http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~pdunnw/index.htm

Richard, you know my feelings on reading groups so yes please!
However given the poor response on the website, perhaps you had
better go for a general group on what people are reading at the
moment, favourite authors or something just to get a bit of a
discussion going.
Never did get round to letting you know that I managed to get my mits
on a copy of Gates of Fire and really enjoyed it. In fact it set me
off on an ancient Greek trip and I tore through Mary Renault's The
Persian Boy and Funeral Games. I have just found a copy of the Mask
of Apollo and will be starting that next. Her books are really well
researched, I noticed that Michael Woods series/book on Alexander the
Great mentions her biography of Alexander in it's bibliography!
Just to introduce myself to the others, I am an avid hist-fict fan,
and will read anything, although apart from Flashman I avoid anything
set in the Victorian age, I can't explain it but there is just an
irrational dislke! I have a degree in English and History, (which I
don't use for my job) re-enact in my spare time - Napoleonic and am
also an amateur archaeologist and local historian!

I agree with Teresa.  (Sorry, I'll introduce myself
later <g>.)  I'm a reviewer who recently joined the
fold, and I'd like to be sure I get all the
announcements that pertain to that.

Kelly
>
> Richard,
>
> Maybe also a subgroup for HNR reviewers?  I'm on another list with
> reviewers, but they don't always talk about books I'm interested in.  Just a
> thought :-)
>
> Teresa
> ------------------
> eckford@...
> http://www3.sympatico.ca/eckford/teresa.htm
> http://www.ireadromance.com/romancer/fa2v4n1.htm (Romantic Couples in
> History)
> http://hns.vr9.com/reviews/s23.htm (Review of E. Chadwick's The Love Knot)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> <snip>
> I also just spent a few minutes at the egroup site and wondered if there is
> anything else we can do with listservs. Specifically, I was thinking of (1)
> archiving past newsletters on the site (2) setting up some sub-groups,
> members only, for discussing manuscripts (for the 'trainee' writers amongst
> us) (3) setting up sub-groups as reading groups.
> Well those are just a few thoughts. What do people think? Is there anything
> else anyone would like us to do via egroups?
> <snip>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> HistoricalNovelSociety-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>

Richard,

Maybe also a subgroup for HNR reviewers?  I'm on another list with
reviewers, but they don't always talk about books I'm interested in.  Just a
thought :-)

Teresa
------------------
eckford@...
http://www3.sympatico.ca/eckford/teresa.htm
http://www.ireadromance.com/romancer/fa2v4n1.htm (Romantic Couples in
History)
http://hns.vr9.com/reviews/s23.htm (Review of E. Chadwick's The Love Knot)

-----Original Message-----
<snip>
I also just spent a few minutes at the egroup site and wondered if there is
anything else we can do with listservs. Specifically, I was thinking of (1)
archiving past newsletters on the site (2) setting up some sub-groups,
members only, for discussing manuscripts (for the 'trainee' writers amongst
us) (3) setting up sub-groups as reading groups.
Well those are just a few thoughts. What do people think? Is there anything
else anyone would like us to do via egroups?
<snip>

Hi All,

Thanks for all the intros. I love knowing what people are reading. How are
you finding Sarah Waters, Catherine? I've been meaning to read her for some
time. I'm also going to be reading Winter Solstice soon - so no spoilers
please Sherry-Anne.

I also just spent a few minutes at the egroup site and wondered if there is
anything else we can do with listservs. Specifically, I was thinking of (1)
archiving past newsletters on the site (2) setting up some sub-groups,
members only, for discussing manuscripts (for the 'trainee' writers amongst
us) (3) setting up sub-groups as reading groups.
Well those are just a few thoughts. What do people think? Is there anything
else anyone would like us to do via egroups?

Sarah C - to contact Billy Hopkins, it would be best to go via Isobel Dixon,
his agent (isobel@...). She's very keen because she
'spotted' him. But I'll send you the pile of paper I already have.

All best,
Richard



--------------
Richard Lee
Founder, Historical Novel Society
www.historical-novel-society.freeserve.co.uk

Marine Cottage, The Strand, Starcross, Devon, EX6 8NY. UK.

I see from reading the previous postings that some of you know me
already, at least as an electronic presence (a much prettier sight
than the physical one).

I've written five historical novels, three of which have been
published, one is coming out with the on-demand publisher XLibris at
any moment, and another one that I'm just starting to peddle around.

I have no interest in any particular period. I just become struck by
an idea. The periods so far are:

Newfoundland, 1536 "The Strange Things of the World"
Britain and Ireland, 530 to 616 "The Summer Stars"
Newfoundland 1504-5 "Forty Testoons"
Roman Britain 366-367 "Lord of Silver"
Florence 1544-45 "Cupid and the Silent Goddess"

My next novel, which I'll be starting in November after I return from
a trip to West Africa, will be about the first settlement expedition
to Sierra Leone in 1786.

Alan Fisk
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/1869/

Hi, all:

Just joined and thought I should introduce myself.  My name is Bob
Broomall.  I'm a published author (nothing recent, unfortunately).
My favorite historical period is England from about 1066 to Magna
Carta.  I'm also fairly good on the early crusades.  All my published
stuff has been westerns, though, for some reason.  I'm currently
working (hah!) on a mystery-adventure featuring Wild Bill Hickok.

My favorite authors are C.S. Forester (the master), George MacDonald
Frazer, and Bernard Cornwell.

Love the HNS newsletter.  Hope the group does well.

All the best,

Bob

Hi!

My name is Cindy Vallar and I live in Kansas.  In my former life (prior
to moving to the Midwest), I was a librarian.  Luckily, my husband's
transfer permitted me to retire from the daily grind of commuting to
work. Now, I devote my time to writing.  In fact, my first novel
(historical fiction, of course!) will be published by Pulsar Books next
year.  I also write a monthly history column on Pirates and Privateers.
Although I only recently became a reviewer for HNS, I really enjoy
reviewing books for adults after many years as a reviewer of children's
books for 2 library selection journals.

Cindy

--
Cindy Vallar, cindylee@...

The Scottish Thistle, a forthcoming novel from Pulsar Books
   http://www.pulsarbooks.com
Pirates & Privateers, Contributing Editor
   http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/pirates
Reviewer - Historical Novel Society & Review Realm at Romance Foretold
   http://www.historical-novel-society.freeserve.co.uk
   http://www.romfort.org/RFReview/

Hi there,

My name is Sandra Garside-Neville, and I live in Yorkshire in the UK.  I am
very pleased to be a reviewer for the HNS Review, though I am currently
'resting' from reviewing whilst I write an article for 'Solander' about
Rosemary Sutcliff.

I'm an archaeologist by trade, and enjoy digging up and studying the
Romans - they had all the best buildings, artefacts, and central heating!
Rather than taking an archaeology degree (no use for getting a proper job),
I took a BA in Information Studies (aka librarianship) as a mature student.
This has helped me get a two day a week job in a library, which sort of
supports my freelance archaeology 'habit'.

Kirby Hall was great fun, and I hope to go again next year.  It was lovely
to meet Richard, Sarah C and other HNS members, as well as authors such
as Lindsey Davis and Simon Scarrow.   My feet were rather filthy for poor
Mestrius the Roman bootmaker too, Sarah!  But he said he'd seen
worse ... ;-)

Best wishes,

Sandra

Hi again,

Now I'm back at home (I was at work yesterday when I joined so couldn't
really write a long email) I figured I'd post a longer introduction.

I'm the Canadian Membership Secretary and live in Ottawa (nation's capital.)
Have loved historical fiction since I was a little girl (gobbled up Jean
Plaidy from about age 10) and am now thrilled to review for HNR as it means
I receive some wonderful books (so far I haven't had to write a bad
review!!), some of which I might not normally read as I tend to hide away in
the Medieval and Georgian/Regency periods if given my druthers.

I also studied history at university and stuck it out for two degrees, but
was so turned off by the infighting in the academic community that I struck
out into the real world at that point.  Ottawa has two universities, so I
continued to study history on my own and began writing when I found myself
in a job that I loathed (there's really no other word for it.)  Historical
romance is my thing (I'm a sucker for a happy ending), but I'm heavy on the
history and very concerned about getting my setting accurate - no pretty
costume background for my books.  Have also kicked around some ideas for
straight historical novels, but they would require even more research as
they'd be based on real people which would mean travelling to England for an
extended period which isn't financially feasible at this point.  My aunts
and grandmother are still there, but it's not easy to wander off to castles
and the British Library when I'm staying with them.

Right now I'm reading Sandra Gulland's Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of
Josephine B.  Just finished Wayne Johnstone's Colony of Unrequited Dreams -
anyone interested in learning about Newfoundland's history might want to
pick this up - my review will be turned in to Sarah N sometime soon.

My fave authors include: Sharon Kay Penman, Barbara Erskine, Elizabeth
Chadwick, Anya Seton, Edward Rutherfurd, Sandra Gulland, Reay Tannahill, Jo
Beverley, Marsha Canham, MJ Putney - the others are eluding me in my still
rather caffeine deficient state (have only had a half cup of coffee so far.)
I have an HF page at my website - http://www3.sympatico.ca/eckford/Hf.htm.

My husband is also an hf fan - his fave authors include Bernard Cornwell,
Patrick O'Brien, Victor Suthren, and many other authors of "ripping yarns of
seafaring adventure", though he's also plowing through Colony of Unrequited
Dreams right now.  At least we're both readers, which makes it easy to read
and read without feeling guilty or neglectful.  Our cats (we have two) curl
up with us!

I guess I've blathered on long enough now <g>.

Teresa (who read with deep sighs the various reports from the Kirby
gathering)

------------------
eckford@...
http://www3.sympatico.ca/eckford/teresa.htm
http://www.ireadromance.com/romancer/fa2v4n1.htm (Romantic Couples in
History)
http://hns.vr9.com/reviews/s23.htm (Review of E. Chadwick's The Love Knot)

Hello everyone

This is a great idea, Richard. I hope lots of non-HNS members find it
and it makes them want to join the Society. And I hope we can get
some stimulating discussions going.

I've enjoyed reading all the intros so far. Thanks.  So -- I guess
I'd better come out of the woodwork and introduce myself.

I'm one of the UK editors of the HNS Historical Novels Review (as of
Issue 13), dealing with publishers Arcadia, Canongate, Robert Hale,
Headline, Hodder & Stoughton. I'm also editing the upcoming issue of
Solander.

Yes, Kirby was wonderful. The best weekend I've spent for ages. Even
my husband enjoyed it and he isn't (or should I say "wasn't"?)
interested in either historical fiction or re-enactments. It was fun
being on the HNS stall, meeting HNS people I'd only communicated with
by e-mail or phone. I never met any real live published authors
before either, and they were all so nice and normal (lol). And it was
great to see the HNS talks so well attended, with the resulting
profit to the Society.

Unlike Richard, Towse & Marilyn (who were the HNS mainstays -- they
must get more of a break next time), I got to the arena for the one
event I wanted to see (the Roman Army display). And in the Living
History part, Sandra S-G & I got a Roman bootmaker to measure our
grubby feet -- mine were anyway -- for a pair each of real Roman
sandals, complete with hobnails!

We got stuck in the same traffic jam as David Starkey and there was a
good deal of effing & blinding going on in our car. I surprised
myself with all the rude words I didn't know I knew (not really).
Sorry to disappoint you, but I didn't get to take the picture of the
good Dr with the lowlife (his driver turned up to take him to lunch).
So I hope the other one comes out.

Like some other members, I'm a struggling author of historical
fiction. One novel (written with a partner) is doing the dispiriting
round of agents and I've just started (yes, really, Richard) on
another. Both set in Roman Britain.

At the moment, I'm enjoying Gillian Bradshaw's The Beacon at
Alexandria, so much so that I don't want to finish it. I'm getting to
be a big fan of hers. Before that I read her Island of Ghosts and one
of her Arthurian series. I'm looking forward to the new one about
Archimedes. It's a shame she isn't any longer published here. I know
Sandra feels the same (as does at least one of our reviewers) -- how
could we get a UK publisher interested?

I just finished the new biog of Patrick O'Brian, before passing it on
to a reviewer.  A pretty reprehensible man, but possibly a great
writer. It made me want to read his novels.

Richard - re: Billy Hopkins. I'll certainly get in touch with
Headline about an article -- contact name if you have it, please. In
which case I'd better get the book as well for review. Certainly his
next one sounds promising.

Best regards

Sarah

Hi All,

It's great to see the group already up and running.

Sorry, Fiona, not to meet you at Kirby. I quite understand - it's such a mad
event. I didn't even reach one of the arenas, never mind seeing anything
there. But yes, we had a great time - as Sarah C will confirm. Highlights for
me were David Starkey arriving late because of horrendous traffic, then using
the F word three times in his first sentence of introduction to me (happily
not AT me... and he was perfectly charming after this...); Lindsey Davis
being a brick and standing in for David in front of a bemused audience
expecting her to talk about Elizabeth; Bernard Cornwell on 'frogs' (again);
one person who was so excited to have Barbara Erskine's new book that she
just sat and read it there and then - with all Kirby going on around her; the
queues for Bernard Cornwell, and for the Sunday David Starkey talk, which
went out of the building, through two very pictureque courtyards and into the
country beyond; and of course, the tremendous sales figures - including 18
copies of first time novelist Simon Scarrow's new book.

Hopefully, incidentally, we will have an amusing photo of David Starkey
looking embarrassed amongst Elizabethan lowlife ... but I haven't developed
the film yet (fingers crossed, Sarah C, who took a couple of the photos).

Re: Billy Hopkins, actually I included the puff about him because his agent
was so enthusiastic and persistent with me, and because I want to encourage,
not discourage, agents giving us info for the newsletter. (I also have a
whole wodge of press cuttings, interviews, and an offer for an article in
Solander, Sarah C, if you're interested). As for the book itself, it appeals
to me irrespective of what's actually in it, because it was self-published at
first, and has gone on to be so successful. I like underdogs.

I'll not bang on with MY views about cut off dates, what's historical etc -
because I'm always having my say on this!!

I'm currently reading... long manuscripts for people who pay me! But I also
have Whispers in the Sand (Barbara Erskine's latest), Harlequin (a proof of
the new Bernard Cornwell) , and Simon Scarrow's Under the Eagle (which I paid
for) waiting for me... oh, and a lovely batch of second hand historicals that
I picked up from Karen Miller and Judith Ridley's latest catalogues.

All best,
Richard

--------------
Richard Lee
Founder, Historical Novel Society
www.historical-novel-society.freeserve.co.uk

Marine Cottage, The Strand, Starcross, Devon, EX6 8NY. UK.

Hi, everyone

Nice to see the list coming to life. I live in Australia, but write
historical novels set mainly in Northern England for Hodder & Stoughton UK.
My main writing name is Anna Jacobs and I've just had my ninth Anna Jacobs
book released. 'Lancashire Lass' came out last week in hardback, early next
year in paperback.

I'm on quite a few email lists, but haven't found many based in the UK,
which I visit regularly, so I'm glad to see this one.

As well as writing, I'm an avid reader, getting through 3-4 novels per
week, not just historicals, but SF/F, romances and contemporary novels. I'm
just reading and enjoying Rosamund Pilcher's 'Winter Solstice', which is
not historical, but is a great read.

Cheers from down under

Sherry-Anne, writing as
Anna Jacobs, historicals: 5/00 LIKE NO OTHER, 9/00 LANCASHIRE LASS, 12/00
SEASONS OF LOVE, 2/01 OUR POLLY - buy Anna Jacobs books from Amazon.co.uk
Sherry-Anne Jacobs, A PROPER MATCH, regency romance, Avid Press (6/00)
Shannah Jay (SF/F) ENVOY, THE SWORD OF AZARAY, WORLDS BEYOND (YA, 4/00)
http://www.annajacobs.com

Hi everyone.

I heard about this discussion group from another egroup, so I thought I'd jump
in.  I'm actually in the process of becoming a Historical Novel Society member
right now, since I only recently discovered the society.

I live in the U.S. (California) and just released my first historical (set in
1897).  The Victorian era is my particular favorite; I'm currently reading
Affinity by Sarah Waters.

I look forward to being a part of the group.

Regards,

Catherine Karp

***
http://www.catherinekarp.com
GILDED
First-place winner of the 1999 Hollywood Opus Magnum Discovery Awards
First-place winner of the 1999 Authorlink New Author Awards Competition

Hi all

First, I'm very glad to see this group come into existence; I'm
already on a ton of mailing lists, but I'll gladly take time out to
participate in one dedicated to HNS (one of my favorite pursuits!).

Regarding Sarah's question on the cutoff date/time period for books
reviewed:  on the US side I have had at least two reviewers ask me
why
we weren't covering books set just after the Second World War,
including the early 1950s.  On the other hand, I have a really hard
time getting most of my reviewers to cover any books set in the 20th
century, period. And the later the time period, the harder it is.
Yes, I can continue to send them out to people and ask that they get
reviewed (and this is what I've been doing).  I guess it depends
partly on our definition of 'historical fiction' and partly on what
HNS members want to read about.  As I tell people every so often,
there are only so many novels with medieval settings published every
quarter!

Sarah
(the other Sarah, from the USA)

Hi everyone,

I rushed to join this when I saw the newsletter. There's always room for
another email list.....I really enjoy the HNS magazine and have contributed
articles and reviews from time to time. I see we are a small list to start
with; I'm sure we'll soon grow!

Just to introduce myself:

Special interests: children's historicals, especially out of print ones on
the verge of extinction: D K Broster (also out of print, sadly, but a
ripping good read!)
Favourite historical novelist: Dorothy Dunnett
Currently reading: Rosemary Hawley Jarman.  Loved her Riccardian one, We
Speak No Treason; just finished the Woodville one, The King's Grey Mare;
just about to start Crown in Candlelight about Katherine and Henry V.

In the day job I work p/t as an adult education tutor and embryonic
freelance writer.

I'm always interested in hearing others recommendations for good
historicals, new or old.

Belinda Copson
(Hertfordshire, UK)

Hi all,

I just joined :-)  Will spread the word just in case some people
missed the newsletter.

I'm at work right now so haven't caught up on the previous
messages.

Sarah - did you have a good vacation?

Best,

Teresa :-)
--
-----------------------------------
eckford@...
http://www3.sympatico.ca/eckford/teresa.htm
http://www.ireadromance.com/romancer/fa2v4n1.htm (Romantic
Couples in History)

I just read the puff about Billy Hopkins in the latest HNS
Newsletter. It raises a matter that I think is worth addressing
again, although I know it was covered by Sally's report in the HNS
Historical Novels Review (issue 11) on the recent HNS members'
questionnaire.

As a reviews editor of the Historical Novels Review who deals with
Headline, Billy Hopkins' publisher, I didn't request a copy of his
book HIGH HOPES because it seemed to me that it was semi-
fictionalized biography and therefore not genuine historical fiction
which, as I understand it, should be outside the author's own
lifetime or at least his or her own experience.

Following on from that, I've noticed that the cut-off date for
historical fiction in recent Historical Novels Reviews has been
creeping forward from 1945 into the 1950s. Should we perhaps continue
to let this happen, say advance the cut-off date 5 years every 5
years? Or shouldn't there be a cut-off date at all?

It would useful to get members' views on these points.

My own opinion is that we should adopt a single criterion: that the
novel be about a period outside the author's own lifetime or
experience.

I might copy this to Lucienne for the next HNS Newsletter and maybe
arrange for it to be printed in the next issue of one of the HNS
magazines, so that members who aren't online can access the debate
(if there is one!).

Regards

Sarah

Hi Richard!
Thanks for starting this up. Sorry I missed you at Kirby (again!) -
too busy sorting out the 'ros-bifs' My partner managed to catch David
Starkey and he really enjoyed the lecture. It looked like you had a
successful time!

I just read the Newsletter and saw you'd started a group at egroups.
I'm a sucker for email groups and have had huge benefits from them,
so I joined. Looks like you and I are the only ones so far. Let's
hope more will join us.

Cheers from down under

Sherry-Anne Jacobs, writing as Anna Jacobs, Shannah Jay
http://www.annajacobs.com