Weekly Announcements - 23 July 2010

Congratulations to Unusual Historicals reader E. D. Walker who just sold her paranormal historical, THE BEAUTY'S BEAST, to Noble Romance Publishing's Sweetheart Line. The story draws from fairy tale elements, as well as Marie de France's medieval lais, "Bisclavret." More details as they are announced.

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Jeannie Lin has the cover for her upcoming Harlequin Historicals Undone short story, "THE TAMING OF MEI LIN," which is set during the Tang Dynasty and linked to BUTTERFLY SWORDS. Click here to read more about it, including an excerpt.

When a corrupt local official wants to take Mei Lin as, not second, but third wife, she rebels and makes an outrageous declaration--she'll only marry a man if he can defeat her in a swordfight. She has managed to fend off the local thugs and village hopefuls, but then a tall, mysterious stranger comes into town...

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Next week is the RWA National Conference! You will find the following Unusual Historicals contributors in attendance: Zoe Archer, Lila DiPasqua, Blythe Gifford, Jeannie Lin, Carrie Lofty, Margaret Mallory, Isabel Roman, and Michelle Styles. Here are some workshops and events where you can find us:

Wednesday, July 28th, at the "Readers for Life" Booksigning: Blythe Gifford, Carrie Lofty, Margaret Mallory, and Michelle Styles.

Thursday, July 29th at 4:30: "The Tiny Art of Elevator Pitches: How to Craft Them and How to Use Them" with speaker Carrie Lofty. Learn techniques to creating an elevator pitch that is concise, effective, and memorable.

Friday, July 30th at 2:00: "Selling the Hard Sell" with speaker Jeannie Linn. An author who sold that hard-sell novel (BUTTERFLY SWORDS) discusses how she used marketing perspective to get from slush pile to sale.

Friday, July 30th at 3:15: "Beyond Britain: Writing, Selling and Promoting Unusual Historicals" with speakers Zoe Archer, Jade Lee, Carrie Lofty, Kevan Lyon, and Sherry Thomas. Join an agent and four authors who successfully sold books set in unusual times and places as they offer techniques and advice for those interested in writing unusual historicals.

Saturday, July 31st at 8:30AM: "Dress for Historical Success" with speakers Elisabeth Burke, Isobel Carr, Peg Herring, Coralie Jensen, Julia Justiss, Jade Lee, Jeannie Lin, Pam Nowak, and Judy Ridgley. Authors put in hundreds of hours researching the correct clothing styles for their stories. This fashion show features costumes from a variety of time periods and will educate attendees on how to achieve historical accuracy in costume.

Also make sure to stop in the publishers' signings for free books by many of our authors, and root for RITA-nominated contributors and former guests of Unusual Historicals: Carla Capshaw (Best First Book and Best Inspirational for THE GLADIATOR, set in ancient Rome), Margaret Mallory (Best Historical Romance for KNIGHT OF PLEASURE, set in medieval Wales), and Sherry Thomas (Best Historical Romance for NOT QUITE A HUSBAND, set in 1890s Kashmir). Best of luck, ladies!

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Join us Sunday when Steeple Hill Love Inspired author Carla Capshaw will be here to chat about her latest Roman-set inspirational romance, THE PROTECTOR. She'll be giving away a signed copy to one lucky commenter! Hope you join us then.

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We'll also draw the winner of Moira Rogers' A SAFE HARBOR, a paranormal romance set during the Great Depression. You still have time to leave a comment or question for your chance to win.

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Stay with us through the coming weeks when we'll be featuring the best unusual historical authors! Hope Tarr, Frances Hunter, Donna Russo Morin and Liz Fichera will be our guests. Join us!

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Remember, you don't have to be an Unusual Historicals contributor to submit good news to the weekend announcements. If it has to do with unusual historicals, we'd love to shout it out to the world! Send announcements to Carrie. See you next week...

Rita/Golden Heart and Historicals

As many of you may know, the board of the Romance Writers of America is currently debating changing its parameters for its premiere prizes -- the Golden Heart and the Rita. The consultation period with members lasts until 1 June, and you can find the email address on the RWA website.

One of the major changes is the move to judge historicals by time period instead of the long and short. The traditional Regency category is being axed.

At the moment, as it stands, there is a problem with the long and short categories as there is no definitive way in which the word count of a book can be quickly determined. Many things such as the heavy use of dialogue, the font size can all affect how long a book appears to be. In recent years, as the move to computer count has taken hold, the price of pulp paper has skyrocketed and publisher become aware of failing eyesight, there has been an overall decrease in word count. My own publisher, Harlequin Mills and Boon recently has decreased word count to 70 - 80 k. I understand that a number of the other mainstream houses are also looking at decreased word count as well. In other words, you are unlikely to see the 150k door stops that you used to.

The RWA board in its wisdom proposes two historicals -- one up to 1820 and the other 1790 - 1945. In doing so, they chose to ignore the advice of the sub committee for three non over lapping time periods -- up to 1790, 1790-1840 and 1840-1945. The major problem with the overlapping approach is that you are creating two classes of authors -- one who can chose which category to submit to, and ones who can't. there is the possibility that an author could chose not to compete against herself if she had two eligible books out in the overlap period. Whereas another would be forced to by the virtue of her chosen time period. In other words, there could easily be a perception of it not being fair.

The Georgian/Regency time period makes up about 50% of the total historical output. If you include Victorian, you are looking at closer to 75-80%. This is unlikely to change in the near term. Some might say divide into two then 1790-1840 and all the rest. However this does a disservice to the historical reader.

There can be a case made that three time periods are needed as the time periods give very different reads. The pre-1745 is very much warrior as hero. Medieval if you will. 1745-1830 is the Industrial revolution and its manners as best typified by Georgette Heyer. After 1830, you have a more modern age with railways etc and slightly different type of hero.

Alternatively, you could say that it should be divided on the basis of complexity. Some writers chose to keep their works tightly focused on the romance, and other s explore different themes and the romance becomes but one strand. The challenge here would be to come up with a workable definition, one that can be clearly understood by judges and submitting authors.

However, nothing can happen if RWA members do not comment on the proposals. So if you are a RWA member and have not yet commented, do so before it is too late. Unless RWA members take the time to write, the current overlapping proposals will stand.

Proposed Changes at RWA

RWA members have received or will be receiving proxy ballots, with voting to take place during the National Conference in July. The package includes proposed changes to the annual RITA and Golden Heart contests. For we writers of historical romances, the changes are profound.

First of all, the Board recommends that the Traditional Regency category be eliminated, "...since there are no longer any major publishers printing this type of book. Any short Regencies remaining can be entered into the new historical categories."

Previous contest years split historical entries into categories by word count, with "short" defined as fewer than 95K words and "long" defined as greater than 95K words. The Board recommends submissions now be entered by time period. The proposed categories are "Best Historical Romance to 1820" and "Best Historical Romance from 1790-1945."

Anyone with a book set between 1790-1820 will be playing odds-maker with regard to placement. Which to choose??

The year 1900 used to cap historical romance eligibility, thus the most radical change regarding these new categories is allowing for entries through the conclusion of World War II. Good news for our 20th gals!

"Rationale for changing historical categories: Again, the board wished to eliminate the word count problem. With numbers dwindling, we examined merging both short and long historical into one category but felt that the historical novel could grow in the future. We hoped to allow for the change in popularity of one time period over another by providing overlapping years. An author whose book spans many years should determine where the novel best fits."

Dwindling numbers?? *pout*

Please see your copy of Board Recommendations for full details.

So there you have it, the proposed changes as they impact our work. Members will have a chance to vote, either in person or by proxy, in July. What are your thoughts on these changes?? Do they belie structural differences between shorter, category-style historicals and longer, single-title works? Are they placing an undo emphasis on era rather than plot structure? Is the decision to give 1790-1820 "double billing" a means of splitting a popular era into two (roughly equal) piles or an unnecessary complication?

UPDATE: Have something to say? The RWA is soliciting its membership to speak out. You have until May 15th to voice your opinion. Write to gh_ritacomments AT rwanational DOT org