I write both historical romances (as Elizabeth Hoyt) and contemporary romances (as Julia Harper) which makes perfect sense to me, but not, it seems, to everyone else. One of the most common questions I get is: “Why did you decide to write both contemporary and historical?” Which is usually followed by: “Don’t you get confused switching back and forth between time periods?”
The second question has the shorter answer: No, not really. After all, if I’m writing about a car chase in Chicago involving a Hummer and a BMW I’m not likely to accidently give my hero lace at his wrists. And if I’m writing about a grouchy Scottish naturalist living in an old and rather dirty castle, I’m probably not going to have him use his cell phone to communicate with his friend in France.
But the first question has a slightly longer answer.
In 2005 when I was trying to sell The Raven Prince everyone—and I do mean everyone—was telling me that the historical romance was dead. Not just dead, but dead and cremated with the ashes scattered to the four winds. No one wanted a historical (let alone a historical with an ugly hero—but that’s a different topic!) So, being the professional writer I was—or hoped to be—I decided that I needed to find a new subgenre to write in.
I’d already tried my hand at a detective novel, and though that manuscript was far from perfect, I liked the contemporary setting and the (much!) faster pacing. So I wrote Hot, which was about a stubborn librarian in a northern Wisconsin small town who decides to take matters into her own hands to vindicate her beloved uncle. Hot also has a sexy FBI agent hero, inept bankrobbers who’re wearing SpongeBob SquarePants and Yoda masks, and huge host of secondary characters—so many, in fact, that I wrote a tongue-in-cheek guide to them.
Then the unexpected happened. My agent sold The Raven Prince in late 2005. Swiftly thereafter we sold The Leopard Prince and The Serpent Prince—which were already written—and then we sent my editor Hot. I thought for sure she wouldn’t be interested in it. After all, The Raven Prince wasn’t yet out. But my editor loved Hot as well and a double identity writing career was born.
Wow!
This month my second Julia Harper title is out. For the Love of Pete is a light-hearted car-chase through Chicago with a loopy heroine, a straight-laced FBI hero and a kidnapped toddler girl. You can visit my website to read the first chapter. I hope you enjoy it!
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Natalie
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 8:02 am:
Hi Julia/Elizabeth. Congratulations on your new release For the Love of Pete.
I’m with you – I’ve still hear that the historical is dead, but I wonder why people say. It seems very much alive to me with both established and debut authors turning out some great books in the historical sub-genre. For me it seems as if the contemporary sub-genre could use a blood transfusion as there aren’t as many contemporaries on the shelves as there once was. So glad you’re writing them.
You mention that for you writing the contemporaries has a much faster pacing. Why is that for you?
Stacy ~
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 8:02 am:
Hi Julia/Elizabeth! I loved “The Raven Prince”! I think the fact that Edward wasn’t your standard hottie made him all the more intriguing, and that definitely added sex appeal. He was different, but that’s what set him apart and made readers take notice. I’m so glad someone saw the light and published it. TRP is one of those books I pull out and re-read from time to time. That’s definitely the sign of a keeper.
I’ve not read your contemporaries yet, but I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about “For the Love of Pete”, so one of these days I’ll be adding it to my tbb list. I’m catching up on the tbr pile, otherwise I’d already have it.
Any plans for signings in the Chicago area this year? I’d love to see you again
Marisa
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 8:07 am:
Welcome Julia!
I’ve read both your contemporary and historical novels and have enjoyed them both very much. Each serves to ’satisfy’ me in different ways. As an author is it the same for you. Does writing an historical novel satisfy you creatively in a different way than when you are writing a period piece?
Stacy ~
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 8:13 am:
Another question: you might have different publishers, but ever given any thought to intertwining your stories? Maybe a modern-day CEO has Edward or Harry Pye as a relative. I love stuff like that.
Buffie
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 8:18 am:
Hey Elizabeth/Julia!! Great to have you with us today! I have loved your historicals and am looking forward to getting into your contemps. Andrea has raved about them.
Laura
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 8:21 am:
Hi Julia,
I am running out this afternoon to get The Raven Prince, The Leopard Prince and The Serpant Prince. I LOVE HISTORICAL!! It is still alive. At least with me. I actually don’t read much else, except some paranormal stuff. My question is this: What advice do you have for a unpublished writer trying to get a historical published?
PJ
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 8:48 am:
Hi Elizabeth! Great to see you here! I’ve loved all of your books, both historical and contemporary. The Raven Prince was the first one I read and that was all it took to make you an auto-buy for me. Your current historical series has totally blown me away and I find myself counting the days until each release. You’ve published five historicals and two contemporaries, all with terrific heroes. Do you have a favorite hero from those books or do you love them all equally?
PJ
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 8:48 am:
Laura, you have some wonderful reading ahead of you!
PJ
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 8:51 am:
Elizabeth, you’ve been blessed with some gorgeous covers, especially those from your Legend of Four Soldiers series. Do you have any input into those covers?
Maria Lokken
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 9:37 am:
There is no way the historical is dead. Just look at all the historicals released in January. And thank goodness for that! As a reader, I love to hop from sub-genre to sub-genre and I’m thrilled that you write both historicals and contemporaries. I’m a fan of both your styles and it amazes me that you do both. I’ve also heard that there aren’t enough contemporaries and that too was a ‘dying’ sub-genre. I think if a book is well written – no matter the sub-genre readers will come.
Laura
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 10:37 am:
I so totally agree Maria. If it’s a good written book, well researched, I will read it, no matter the genre. But, if I feel after the third or fourth chapter that this writer didn’t do their homework, I’ll put it down.
Laura
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 10:41 am:
Oops, I submitted too soon! I was going to add that because I read mainly historical, it has to be well written for me to read it. So back to what you said Maria, “If a book is written – no matter the sub-genre readers will come”, it’s true, because I am a huge fan of historical, but I will read other genre’s if written well. Whoo! Did I say that correctly?
Elizabeth Hoyt
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 10:48 am:
Good morning, everyone! It’s snowy and cold here, but I’ve finally got m y morning cup of coffee so I’m good.
I think the historical is very healthy right now, Natalie, and you’re right–the contemporary needs a little boost at the moment. I like my contemporaries to be very “pacey.” They’re light reads and I want to keep the action/movement coming. Marisa asks about how writing contemporaries vs. historicals differ, and that’s one of the ways. It’s a fun challenge as a writer to see if I can keep the pace continually moving in my contemporaries. With my historicals, I’m more concerned with the atmosphere, the emotional depth, and very intelligent dialogue, so yes, they each fulfill different writerly needs in me. It’s wonderful to be able to write both!
Elizabeth/Julia
Courtney Milan
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 10:52 am:
You know, when I first started writing historicals, people said that historicals were dead, dead, dead, unrevivable, what are you thinking writing a historical? But then people like Elizabeth Hoyt released books, readers loved them, and suddenly, it seemed that every editor/agent panel had someone saying, “Gee, I could really use a good author who writes hot and different historicals.”
Elizabeth, since you released your books (and to such phenomenal success–a success I hope only grows), I can think of ELEVEN new authors who I know personally–and knew before they sold–who have sold debut historical novels to major New York houses (including yours truly). I honestly believe that if it had not been for the success of your book, and other authors who did truly ground-breaking work, that number would be much, much lower. You showed NY that historicals were not dead; they were just sleeping a little.
So thanks!
Gannon
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 11:47 am:
Good morning, Elizabeth/Julia! THE RAVEN PRINCE is one of my favorites of your historicals, and I’ve got HOT on my TBR pile. You are definitely an auto buy for me, no matter which identity you assume.
I don’t think historicals will ever be dead. They were what brought me to romance and they remain my favorite, although I read all the other sub-genres and enjoy them immensely. As long as authors keep writing great stories, the books will be published, whether they are historical, contemp, paranormal, etc. In my opinion, the more the better. Hmmmm. Maybe that’s why my TBR pile could rival Mt. Everest!
Julie Robinson
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 1:02 pm:
Hi Julia/Elzabeth,
I saw you were blogging here on your newsletter. I was introduced to you when you donated copies of The Leopard Prince to my local writing group’s luncheon. I didn’t know about Hot, but will have to add it, as well as The Raven Prince to my list. Your story is very encouraging. Thanks,
Julie
Karin
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 1:19 pm:
Historicals are what brought me to romance, but contemporaries and paranormal make up the majority of what I read now. However, I do borrow quite a few historicals from my grandmother and yours have been among them. Both my grandmother and I have thoroughly enjoyed your historicals. Now that I know you write contemporaries as well, I’ll be checking them out as they sound really interesting.
It sounds like writing in two different sub-genres really helps keep the creative juices flowing. Do you think it helps you keep your stories in both sub-genres more fresh as well?
Elizabeth Hoyt
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 1:55 pm:
Hi Stacy! I did a signing in Chicago last fall at an interesting little new/used bookstore. Quite fun! If you chcek my “News” page on my website I list upcoming appearances, so if I do get to Chicago again you’ll know. And that’s an interesting idea, to link the contemporaries to the historicals!
I hope you like my contemporaries as well Buffie!
This is a wonderful time to be submitting a historical, Laura. I tell anyone submitting a manuscript to make sure it’s very, very polished, but for an historical in particular, pay attention to your voice (make sure it stands out) and be sure to keep up with the “new” historicals that are being published right now. I’m seeing more depth, different time periods, edgier heroes and heroines (hi, Anna Campbell!) and riskier plots. Make sure you’re keeping up with that trend. And GOOD LUCK!
I like reading historicals, too (when I’m not writing them) so I’m always thrilled when a debut author is published!
Julia/Elizabeth
Elizabeth Hoyt
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 2:19 pm:
Ooo, good question, PJ! I have a hard time picking a favorite hero because I love them all for different reasons, but Harry (from THE LEOPARD PRINCE) and Jasper (from TO SEDUCE A SINNER) were particularly interesting to write. Although I did love writing Simon’s (THE SERPENT PRINCE) florid speaking style.
I dont have a whole lot of input in my covers which, as it’s turned out, has been a GOOD thing!
I’m very, very happy with what the art department at Grand Central Publishing has come up with!
I’m looking forward to reading your debut book, Courtney! Courtney is a prime example of why the historical is NOT dying right now.
One hopes that a great story will always be published, Gannon but I don’t know that it’s always the case. Editors follow trends, too, and if they think a book won’t sell, they may not be able to buy it. I think at the moment all the romance publishing houses are having a bit of trouble trying to figure out how to sell contemporary romances. Which, btw, is why I’m so pleased with both the cover and title of FOR THE LOVE OF PETE (both of which came from my super GCP editor, Amy Pierpont. Yay, Amy!) I think the cover in particular stands out and (hopefully!) will make the book sell.
Julia/Elizabeth
orannia
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 2:28 pm:
HI Elizabeth/Julia,
I love your historical books, and am looking forward to reading the latest – To Seduce A Sinner! Unfortunately, your contemporaries haven’t reached my library yet…I will have to point that out to them so that they can rectify it ASAP
Out of interest, do you have a preference for one genre over the other? Or is it that you just enjoy whatever genre you are currently writing in?
All the best for the release of For the Love of Pete!
Elizabeth Hoyt
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 3:39 pm:
I’m glad you discovered my books through my donations to your writing group, Julie! Nice to know that karma works.
I’m so glad that both you and your grandmother like my books, Karin. I’ve been amazed at the age range of my readers–from fifteen year olds to ladies in their eighties. Writing in two different sub-genres does definitely keep me fresh. If I start to get a little borad with one type of writing I can always turn to the other. Then when I come back to the first everything is fresher. 
Oh yes, please, do make a request for PETE at your local library, Orannia!
Libraries buy something like a third of all mass market books in the USA, so it’s nice to be on their list. I like writing in both sub-genres, I don’t really have a favorite. It’s more of what I’m in the mood for that day or week. 
Andrea
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 4:59 pm:
Hi, Elizabeth/Julia!! Welcome back to RNTV! Congrats on your success in both the historical and contemporary markets. I’ve read all of your books (both EH and JH) and absolutely love them all. You have a distinct writing style that keeps me coming back for more.
And now I’m looking forward to TO BEGUILE A BEAST. Can you tell us a little about it?
Elizabeth Hoyt
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 5:21 pm:
Why, yes, Andrea I can tell you about TO BEGUILE A BEAST!
It’s out this May and the hero is Sir Alistair Munroe, the surly Scots naturalist who lost an eye in the aftermath of the Spinner’s Falls massacre. Because he’s so horribly scarred he spends most of his time in his moldy old castle in Scotland where he lives with his Deerhound and one lazy servant. Imagine then his horror when one stormy night he opens the door and finda a beautiful woman with two children on his doorstep, demanding entrance and claiming to be his new housekeeper.
The woman is Helen Fitzwilliam and she’s equally horrified to find out that the castle she’s supposed to manage has but one servant. (Big houses of the time would have about 25.) But she can’t leave because she’s on the run from her former protector, the Duke of Lister.
You can see the cover and lovely stepback on my website: http://www.elizabethhoyt.com/books/beguile.html and in my next newsletter I’ll be posting the first scene excerpt.
Marisa
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 6:59 pm:
OH My – To Beguile a Beast sounds wonderful and right up my alley – I really can’t wait. The stepback is gorgeous. When will it be released?
I know you’ve been with us all day, but I’m curious. What is your writing schedule like – do you have a set number of pages you need to produce each day – or do you put in a set number of hours? Or do you just write when the muse strikes you?
Elizabeth Hoyt
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 7:04 pm:
TO BEGUILE A BEAST comes out in May, Marisa. I generally shoot for a certain number of pages (7-12, depending on how close to deadline I am!) instead of hours. I work in the morning and early afternoon and try to get stuff done by dinner time, but sometimes LIFE gets in the way.
Today I was blogging here and had several phone calls with my agent and then my offspring were let out of school early because of the weather…I may be working late to make my page count tonight! LOL!
Courtney Milan
on Jan 14th, 2009
@ 7:16 pm:
Thanks for the comments, Elizabeth. And I do love your contemporaries, too. I’ve been reading some awesome contemporaries this month, including FOR THE LOVE OF PETE.
Marisa
on Jan 15th, 2009
@ 4:41 am:
Julia/Elizabeth – thanks so much for visiting with us – it was great fun and congratulations on your new release FOR THE LOVE OF PETE!