Historical romances, usually defined by publishers as stories set before 1920, can be set in any period of history and feature varying levels of sensuality and sex within the romance plotline. But some time periods are definitely better draws for readers than others.
What Periods To Avoid?
Although there aren't any set rules regarding history, some publishers and their marketing departments wince a little over romances set in ancient Egypt. For a long time it was also nearly impossible to set a historical romance in the United States of the 1920s. But those rules can be broken if the writer is successful in choosing the right place, time and characters.
This is partially why when browsing through the available books there seems to be more set in periods like the American West, Medieval Europe and Regency England (from the range of George III to George IV) but some authors have been successful breaking out of the mold and telling stories with difference settings.
Other Sub-Genres To Consider
There are other sub-genres within the Historical Romance genre such as time-travel, gothics, pirates and Civil War era stories. Also know that you can write what is considered a Regency Historical but that is different from a Regency Romance.
Noted writer Anne M. Marble says in an article on Writers-World.com: "Regencies are not the same as historical novels set during the Regency period. They are shorter, generally with an emphasis on Regency society and dialogue over action and sex (although Mary Balogh and others have brought sexuality into the Regency.) It's safe to say that Regency romances owe as much to Georgette Heyer as they do to Jane Austen."
What About Historical Events?
If the history is essential to the story, then facts and reference points must be accurate. Do not, for instance, have Abraham Lincoln visiting Richmond during the Civil War if he didn’t do it. Get one reference wrong and the writer will lose the historical romance reader forever. The costume historical is one way to avoid mistakes although many pure historical readers will never pick up your story.
What Is A Costume Romance?
Loosely defined as a historical romance that could be picked up and set into any historical time period with only a change of costume, it is a story that attempts to capitalize on the flavor of the time period rather than a succinct in-depth history.
When considering writing a costume historical, think of the time period as the wallpaper rather than the cement that grounds the story.
Politics Matter
It is necessary to keep in mind the time period you are writing about and how closely it was tied to the politics of the era. Keeping Civil War politics out of a romance is tough so a costume historical set in this time might not be the best choice. You may be able to do it by setting the story in pre-Civil War Virginia for instance or a decade or so after the war.
Authors Who Do Costume Historicals
There are several authors who have been very successful at the genre including but not limited to: Amanda Quick, Julie Garwood, Jennifer Blake, Julia Quinn and Jill Barnett. Beatrice Small, Thea Devine and Robin Schone, to name a few, also write sexier stories in this genre.
