Follow Friday -- Historical Fiction Edition

Before I got an agent, before GILT sold, I can't tell you how many times I heard "Historicals don't sell."  Or how many agents and editors I heard at conferences tell the room, "Just don't send me any historical fiction."

It can be a little discouraging, I tell you.

But I had to write what I write.  I love the process.  Digging deep into the history to find as many facts as I can, the puzzle pieces from which I can build a picture.  But it's like the picture is merely a pencil drawing (and often an unfinished one at that) and it's up to me to fill in the color and life.  I love it.

And others do, too.  Apparently there are several agents and editors out there who didn't get the memo about historical fiction.  Or maybe, just maybe, times are changing.

SCARLET by A.C. Gaughen debuted on Valentine's Day.  It's a retelling of the Robin Hood legend, but steeped in the history of the period.  I loved it, and blogged about it over on the YA Muses.

I'm currently reading GRAVE MERCY by Robin LaFevers and wow.  Just wow.  Gorgeous history, fascinating characters, awesome premise.  And a truly kick-butt heroine.  Love.

I'm dying to read THE WICKED AND THE JUST by J. Anderson Coats.  It's set in Medieval Wales and knowing Coats, is full of wicked quips and unfortunate situations.  Plus it's been getting starred reviews.  Do I really have to wait a month?

And later this year, expect to VENOM by Fiona Paul.  Gorgeous gowns, enigmatic masks and a mystery.  Lush and full of visual detail from Renaissance Venice.

Any historical novels you're looking forward to this year?  That you've read already and can't wait to read more?

International Women's Day

Tomorrow is International Women's Day, celebrated around the world from Afghanistan to Zambia.  In some countries, it is treated almost like Mother's Day -- a day for men to honor the women in their lives, be they mothers, sisters, girlfriends, daughters.  But it is also a day to mark the achievements of women throughout the world.

Because I write about women in the 16th century, I think a lot about changes in the lives of women.  The girls in my stories are entirely at the mercy of the men in their lives.  Their fathers and eventually their husbands.  In many cases, choice was not an option.  Not in love.  Not in life.  And certainly not in career.

I was raised by a staunch feminist.  I grew up shouting about equal rights and equal pay.  About choice.  I know that women have come a long way, even in the relatively short time I've been alive.  But I don't believe equality has been reached.  And I don't believe all battles have been won.  Attitudes and societal pressure can be as limiting to girls today as they were in the 16th century.  Look at the recent kerfuffle over Rush Limbaugh and his choice of words.  And in many countries, women are still at the mercy of their fathers.  And their husbands.  In some countries, girls are still considered worth less than boys.

So I try to write about girls who find ways to circumvent the attitudes and pressures.  Who create opportunities for themselves, to choose their own paths in life.  Perhaps that's where my meticulous attention to historical accuracy starts to unravel.  But for me, the unraveling is worth it.

Happy International Women's Day.  How are you going to celebrate?

On Being a History Geek

I am constantly awed by the life that I lead.  That I can combine two of my loves -- writing and history -- and create something that others want to read.  And I am so looking forward to hearing from readers and what (if anything) they find inspirational within the pages.

I've had many people ask me about the amount of research that goes into writing historical fiction for young adults.  And if it's hard.  Or tedious.

It's a lot of research.  And sometimes it is tedious.  But I love discovering little nuggets of information that can enliven and enrich my writing.  I love sticking tiny hints into the book that no one but another lover of Tudor history would find.  And I love reading more and discovering new things -- even if it turns out to mean that I haven't got everything absolutely accurate in the book.  Because history isn't a static thing -- someone is always coming up with new information or an interesting new theory.

Here are somethings I'm excited about today:

Claire Ridgway at The Anne Boleyn Files has published a book gleaned from her blog posts over the years.  Claire has an incredible work ethic and an attention to detail that I can only marvel at.  She's on a blog tour at the moment, and the first stop is an interview on the Tudor Tutor in which Claire divulges some delicious information on Thomas Boleyn.  Want to include this in a novel one day...

I'm going on a research trip to England again this year and can't wait to visit all the places I have planned.  The most exciting has little to do with Henry or his wives, but I've been wanting to go there for years.  Years!  Bosworth Field is the location of the battle where Richard III lost his throne (and his life) and launched the Tudor reign.  I am a devoted Ricardian and may not be able to stop myself from shouting "A horse!  A horse!  My kingdom for a horse!"

What excites you about history?

Friday Five -- Facts about Me and Books

1.  The first book I ever read alone was THE CAT IN THE HAT.  I was six.  Until then, I was determined never to learn to read because it made my older sister boring.  But the day I read that book, I cancelled a playdate so I could read it again.

2.  My favorite book in junior high was STAR WARS.

3.  My favorite book in high school was A FAREWELL TO ARMS.  I thought Hemingway was a god.

4.  I spent five years in and after college reading nothing but travelogues and South American literature.

5.  The most amazing books I’ve read in the past three years are THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE by Jacqueline Kelly, WOLF HALL by Hilary Mantel and BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys.

GILT playlist -- Cat's theme song

A few weeks ago on my Facebook page, a reader asked the question, "What is Cat's theme song?"  I replied that I would have to do a blog post about my playlist in order to explain fully.  Because some of my choices require explanation...

I listen mostly to modern music, much of it "alternative" or inspired by punk.  Though I do have some CDs of Tudor and baroque chamber music, much of what inspires me is what I hear on the radio or is recommended by friends who share my taste.  It was important to me to put entirely modern music in my GILT playlist because I wanted the book to have a modern atmosphere and be compelling and relatable to a contemporary audience.  I kept thinking of how well "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow fit into the film Marie Antoinette by Sofia Coppola.

Cat, in GILT, is Catherine Howard, Henry VIII's fifth (and youngest) wife.  I wanted to write a character who was smart and manipulative, self-involved and overly aware of her own appearance.  I also wanted to write someone who didn't have awareness of her own actions and their repercussions.  Someone who acts on whim and desire and does an awful lot for show.

For me, this was all represented in the song "The Fear" by Lily Allen.  The lyrics go, I want to be rich and I want lots of money/I don't care about clever, I don't care about funny/I want lots of clothes and (I want lots) of diamonds/I hear people die while they're trying to find them...I have a feeling that the irony would escape Cat, but it suits her to a T. And the title hints at something more ominous.

This song includes explicit language, so be warned if you search for it on YouTube!

And the Winner is....

After a little delay, I can finally announce that the winner of the ARC of Saundra Mitchell's THE SPRINGSWEET is Jaskirat@SeeitORreadit!  Congratulations!  E-mail your address to katylongshore(at)gmail(dot)com and I'll have it in the mail as soon as I can.

Follow Friday -- Saundra Mitchell

Today's Follow Friday is a screenwriter, author and blogger who consistently makes my day.  I love the intriguing things she posts on her blog, her sunny disposition on Twitter and the lovely prose of her novels.

Recently, I've been visiting Saundra Mitchell's blog for her posts on marketing and self-promotion.  She offers up specific and digestible chunks of advice and backs it all up with why and how it works.  Every time I go to her blog for information, I feel better as I speed toward the debut of GILT.  Marketing is scary for introverted writers, and Saundra just makes it seem a little more doable.

I also love Saundra for her continuing and enthusiastic support of all things authorly and debut authors in particular.  She knows how hard it is and she extends a helping hand, a kind word and promotion with her 9 Spot Interviews.

Basically, I want to be Saundra Mitchell when I grow up.  And I hope I can be as inspiring as she is.

Find Saundra at her website.
On her blog.
On Twitter.

And in bookstores!  Her novel THE VESPERTINE is in stores now and THE SPRINGSWEET will be available April 17.  I was lucky enough to pick up an ARC at the NCIBA trade show and am only willing to part with it because I can buy a copy in April.

Heartbroken over the tragic death of her fiancé, seventeen-year-old Zora Stewart leavesBaltimore for the frontier town of West Glory, Oklahoma, to help her young widowedaunt keep her homestead going. There she discovers that she possesses the astonishingability to sense water under the parched earth. When her aunt hires her out as a“springsweet” to advise other settlers where to dig their wells, Zora feels the burden ofholding the key to something so essential to survival in this unforgiving land.Even more, she finds herself longing for love the way the prairie thirsts for water.Maybe, in the wildness of the territories, Zora can finally move beyond simply survivingand start living. (from Goodreads)

All you have to do is tweet this:

Want a chance to win an ARC of THE SPRINGSWEET by @SaundraMitchell?  Find out why @KALongshore is following her: http://katherinelongshore.blogspot.com

And/or leave a comment below.

This contest is open internationally and ends at 12 pm EST on Monday, February 20.  I will announce the winner Monday afternoon.