Indie Historical Novel Thread

[ketadiablo]

FREE BOOK - February 3rd and 4th

Today and tomorrow! PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND LEAVE A REVIEW ON KINDLE.

FREE! BOOK! FREE copy of HOLDING ON TO HEAVEN 2day Keta Diablo! western, erotic kindle http://amzn.to/AiGwGt

HELP SPREAD THE WORD PLEASE! AND PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW. Thanks for your support!

Have a great weekend, Keta
http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com

[JRTomlin]

I am really excited at signing an agreement with an artist to use his painting of the 2nd day of the Battle of Bannockburn. It's take a couple of weeks of back and forth at least partially because we had other things going on, but today we signed an agreement so now my cover designer can start working on the cover itself.

Here's a link to the art: http://www.markchurms.com/mm5/graphics/bannockburn-l.jpg

In the press of battle, you can even see the banner of my main character, the one with the blue chief and three white stars. 

[Linda Acaster]

Wow! Well done. That looks absolutely cracking.

[jabeard]

Congrats, J.R. I look forward to seeing the completed cover.

[Andrew Ashling]

My Dark Tales of Randamor the Recluse-series is sort of Alternate History, with a touch of Fantasy. No magic or strange creatures, though. It has a medieval setting, but it's actually a post-apocalyptic reinvention of the Middle Ages.

Since these are not "our" Middle Ages I went for plausibility.

There are strong themes of dynastic struggles, warfare and intrigue, among a lot of other issues. The main characters are gay.

The first trilogy, The Invisible Chains (Bonds of Hate, Bonds of Fear & Bonds of Blood) is just shy of 400k words.

I'm writing a sequel-trilogy, The Invisible Hands, of which the first book, Gambit, is in the editing stage.
I hope to publish it around April 2012.

[Grace Elliot]

That's quite a catalogue of books in your signature now, Andrew - I remember when you just had two!
Grace x

[Andrew Ashling]

Eh... thanks... The next (6) is in the editing stage, and I'm writing no. 7.
You know what they say: the best publicity for your book is your next book.

[EGranfors]

Used my Sydney's Story for the speed date an agent hour at SFWC. I got a good response from 2 agents, very interested. Now all I need is a "perfect" draft to send out (agent said that word, it must be perfect???)

[JRTomlin]

Grace, I love the cover of your cat book!

Congrats, J.R. I look forward to seeing the completed cover.

Thanks. I should have my new covers (also getting new covers for all my fantasies) in about a week. I'll post it when it's done. The same designer who did the covers for Freedom's Sword and A Kingdom's Cost is doing them.

Edit: Fixed it so I was replying to the right post. lol

[Linda Acaster]

Used my Sydney's Story for the speed date an agent hour at SFWC. I got a good response from 2 agents, very interested. Now all I need is a "perfect" draft to send out (agent said that word, it must be perfect???)

Er... sorry EGranfors, but yes. That's the way the publishing industry works now. They want to take on novels which are as close to publication as possible. So polish it within an inch of its life.

Great news that you had a good response from TWO agents. That's the way to go!

[Edward C. Patterson]

How about a little history blended with fantasy and my actual life experience. I have a novel that pushes the envelop called The Road to Grafenwöhr, which has garned 9 good reviews so far (mostly 5-stars). Here's the synopsis:

PFC Quincy Summerson begins his military adventure in 1968 in Bavaria realizing that his presence stirs the paradigm - the thin line between twilight and night. His hyperactive imagination gets the better of him, and soon the world enlists him for a predestined purpose - to travel on the road to Grafenwoehr, where the wood is alive with myth and folk lore.

Set in a tense Cold War atmosphere during both the invasion of Czechoslovakia and the Vietnam call to arms, The Road to Grafenwoehr is one man's emotional journey to square nature's justice with humankind's disregard for it. It’s a summons for a least likely and reluctant champion. But those called to service rarely choose where they serve. They just answer it, ripening to their purpose. For Quincy Summerson, a hero’s life is not his choice, but can he ignore the call? Can he stay off the road once the twilight snares him?

From the Preface: "The Road of Grafenwöhr owes its existence principally to my own good fortune to be stationed in Germany and that bustling Bavarian town between 1967-68. Although the work is far from autobiographical, most of the events of a historic and pictorial nature (and even some used for the fantasy) are recounted from my direct experiences. Such is the web we weave.

During the last days of authoring this work, my father passed away. Therefore, this work is dedicated to his memory and also to the memory of all the brave heroes who — from Bastogne to Peleliu — have made our world possible through their sacrifice."

Edward C. Patterson

[Caddy]

The Gastien Series is Historical Fiction/Family Saga. 

Gastien's story takes place in nineteenth century France, during the time that the bohemain artists were discovering Impressionism and moving into more abstract styles.  Montmartre was the hot spot for all things creative.

During this era, hashish, morphine, and heroin were all legal.  Not to mention the liquor absinthe and a variety of other mind altering substances.  All kinds of vices were prevalent and this was one of the most decadent times in history.  It was also one of the most important times in art history.

Because I am also a painter, this period fascinates me.  I am surprised more novels have not been written about it. 

Here is the description of the first book in the series (Gastien Part 1: The Cost of the Dream, which came out August 2011):

In this first book of the Gastien series, young Gastien Beauchamp begins his journey from the farm to Paris with two goals in life. The first is to become an artist with his own studio, following his own rules. That is an almost impossible dream for a peasant with no money or formal training. Paris spits out talented men into the gutters every day. “Good” gets you nowhere. “Great” maybe gets you a bowl of soup.

The second is to become the greatest lover in France. That should be easy. With his stunning looks and willingness to learn, the women of Paris are about to be awakened in a way they have only dreamt about in the nineteenth century!

Gastien also has focus, drive, and raw, natural talent. With the dream burning inside of him, he is determined to succeed at any cost. Poor Gastien. If he could only know in advance what brutal struggles await him, he might turn around and go back home.

Sometimes the “impossible” is possible. But the cost can be extremely high.

Gastien Part 2: From Dream to Destiny is also out.  There will be at least 4 books in this series.

Gastien's fanpage is http://www.facebook.com/Gastien.Beauchamp

[Grace Elliot]

Grace, I love the cover of your cat book!

So glad you like it!
G x

[Miriam Minger]

So many wonderful historical novels to read from this thread.

Have a great weekend curled up with a great book!

Miriam Minger

[Grace Elliot]

FREE 25th and 26th February.


Currently 4.6 / 5 stars Amazon US (18 reviews)

"I knew when I needed a snack this was going to be a good book" CC Reviews

"Memorable and compelling." Night Owl Reviews

"It had my heart thumping and palms sweating." TJ from Affaire de Couer magazine.

[JRTomlin]

A Kingdom's Cost is FREE today on Amazon!

Scotland is occupied; Scottish resistance is crushed.

Eighteen-year-old James Douglas can only watch as the Scottish freedom fighter, William Wallace, is hanged, drawn, and quartered. But even under the heel of a brutal English conqueror, the Scots may still have one hope for freedom: the rightful King of the Scots, Robert the Bruce. James swears fealty to the man he believes can lead the fight against English tyranny.

The Bruce is soon a fugitive, king only in name. The woman James loves is captured and imprisoned. Yet James believes their cause is not lost. He blazes a path in blood and violence, cunning and ruthlessness as he leads a guerrilla war to restore Scotland's freedom. James knows if he is captured he will share Wallace's fate, but what he truly fears is that he has become as merciless as the conqueror he fights.

Next month, the sequel, Countenance of War, will be released.

[Julie K. Rose]

Hi everyone!

I'm so excited that my new novel Oleanna is now available in all Kindle stores!

"Oleanna is women's historical fiction at its finest. I thoroughly enjoyed every word and highly recommend it as a fascinating read giving insight into a lesser known country and period in history."
~ Historical Novel Review

"Oleanna is a fabulous character. She's strong but personable and definitely the sort of character that you find yourself rooting for...Historical fiction lovers will eat this book up!"
~ A Bookish Affair

Set during the separation of Norway from Sweden in 1905, this richly detailed novel of love and loss was inspired by the life of the author's great-great-aunts.

Oleanna and her sister Elisabeth are the last of their family working their farm deep in the western fjordland. A new century has begun, and the world outside is changing, but in the Sunnfjord their world is as small and secluded as the verdant banks of a high mountain lake. With their parents dead and their brothers all gone to America, the sisters have resigned themselves to a simple life tied to the land and to the ghosts of those who have departed.

The arrival of Anders, a cotter living just across the farm's border, unsettles Oleanna's peaceful but isolated existence. Sharing a common bond of loneliness and grief, Anders stirs within her the wildness and wanderlust she has worked so hard to tame. When she is confronted with another crippling loss, Oleanna must decide once and for all how to face her past, claim her future, and find her place in a wide new world.

Oleanna was short-listed in the 2011 Faulkner-Wisdom novel competition and is now available in all Kindle stores (US$5.99).


Read more reviews at Goodreads and Amazon.

[Bailey Bristol]

I write historical suspense with romantic strains. I always seek to develop strong attraction/love interest between my hero and heroine, but I also always include an element of "family found". I find I am drawn to that period of the mid 1890's when women were throwing off their corsets to ride bicycles on Sunday afternoon, and were not so weak as to collapse at the first hint of villainy. I write in American settings, too, which may not yet have found a strong readership. But with such fascinating times where corruption met honor on the back streets of a young America, how can I resist?

[BRONZEAGE]

Congrats, Julie Rose -- looks excellent.  Shall have a look.

[Julie K. Rose]

Thanks, JS! Just added yours to my Goodreads!

[MartinLake]

I love the picture of the Battle of Bannockburn, JR.  It will fit with your already excellent covers.

I've only been able to use the internet intermittently since moving to France but I'm back online now and eager to catch up.

Martin Lake

[amy_saunders]

I love historical mysteries. So my characters for The Jester's Apprentice ended up sleuthing in medieval England.

[JRTomlin]

Question:

If we ALL went over to the KDP forums and posted: There should be sub-categories within historical fiction, do you suppose they would listen?

I just got a review on Freedom's Sword and a very nice review it was, but one thing it mentioned was that it would have been nice to know that the novel was Military Historical Fiction. The problem is that there IS no such category. Nor one for Historical Mysteries or Royal Historicals or Domestic Historicals.

Some would prefer by period but my own preference would be by type. But Historical Fiction is a large enough category and a very traditional category that it SHOULD have sub-categories so readers can find the type that they want without having to guess.

[jabeard]

Some would prefer by period but my own preference would be by type. But Historical Fiction is a large enough category and a very traditional category that it SHOULD have sub-categories so readers can find the type that they want without having to guess.

I'm with you. Type would be useful, but period not as much.

[miamiajp]

Thank you so much for starting this thread. Very much needed.
I also write historical fiction. Right now I am about to publish the first book "The Colony" Of my trilogy "Cuba."
Below you can follow the link for the Prelude which is available free at scribd.com
"Cuba" is a telling of one hundred and thirty years of the history of the island Nation through the struggles of five generations of one family. The first book as I mentioned before should be out this May, followed by the second book "The Republic" in August and the final book "The Revolution" in time for the holidays.
Yay for all the historical fiction writers there and cheers again for the thread.
Albert.