Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Do Westerns (and Other Historicals) Have a Fighting Chance in Today’s Market?

by Cheryl Pierson
Copyright 2011 Cheryl Pierson

It seems that a lot of the people who have written western romance for years, and in fact, have made their name and career in that sub-genre, are now being told they are going to have to write contemporary. At least, by the big New York houses.

I’m seeing this with my own work. I've submitted my latest western historical to a couple of agents recently and both of them told me they were interested in seeing something contemporary rather than a historical. I think that historicals are on the way out completely as far as New York is concerned. I might be out in left field with this, but here's my take on it.

The main obstacle to anything historical is that we don't teach it in our schools any longer. So kids, growing up, have no sense of what came before. They don't learn about history in depth at all, it's just glossed over, and with the watered-down, public educational system’s "no child left behind" program, they don't have to care or study. The academic programs are softened so that no child, despite lack of effort or concern, will have to worry about failure.

When my son was in high school 4 years ago, his history textbook devoted a two-page spread to World War II; a one page (including a picture) write-up of Viet Nam. How can this be? Do we care so little about the causes, repercussions, and influences of the wars our countrymen have died for that we reduce it to a one-page retelling? Shameful.

There’s an old Sioux proverb that says: “A people without history is like wind on the buffalo grass.” I believe that. And there is something within us that needs to know where we came from to give us the strength and determination to get to where we are going. Knowing our history and values of the past instills this within us.

The next dismissal of history is in our entertainment field. If you look at the television programming, it's all police drama, detective and forensic work of some kind, sitcoms or reality tv. There are no historical dramas anymore other than what you see on cable, such as series like The Tudors. Growing up in the 1960’s-1970’s, I was fortunate to have been exposed to all those wonderful old historical series—westerns such as Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Lancer, High Chaparral, Wagon Train, Rawhide, The Virginian…the list goes on and on. Not only were these shows teaching history, geography, and giving us a glimpse of everyday life in those times, they also taught values. There was clearly a “good guy” and a “bad guy.”

We learned about the workings of cattle drives, that lightning could stampede the cattle, that towns were built around railroads, that Matt Dillon always got his man, and he never quit. These westerns provided entertainment, but they gave us so much more. History provides us values of the past to carry forward into the future. There is no other period where this is more evident than the western.

As a society, we are moving away from even concerning ourselves with history in any venue--movies, television…or reading. Sounds bleak, doesn't it? But wait! There’s a light up ahead. With the advent of the smaller publishing houses, and e-publishing, there is a great possibility for the writers and readers of historical fiction! New York might not realize it, but there are some of us out here who still yearn for a good old fashioned piece of historical fiction every once in a while! And thanks to the e-publishers and the smaller presses, we are going to be able to have our cake and eat it, too.

There are a lot of wonderful writers who are being passed over by NY, even people who have big names, who are being told "write contemporary or you're out." Well, those people have a following already. So how could they have that following, writing western historicals, if no one read those? Why are they being told to write contemporary? Because NY sees it as the way the world is turning now, and they are desperate to make every dollar they can make. That leaves the smaller presses and e-publishers to make the money on the historicals that NY doesn't want to publish anymore. These smaller presses are going to build their own following, and the writers they publish will do the same.

Historicals rise and fall in popularity, but “westerns will never die.” I think John Wayne said that, and it's very true. I write a mix, both contemporary and historical. My heart is with the historicals, and I will continue to write them, because I know that there are people out there who read them.

Not everyone who reads a book lives in New York, but it seems that that's what the NY houses cater to. I get really tired of how every show on TV being set in NY or Los Angeles. There are other places in the world! And the same is true of the books we read—they don't all have to take place in those two places. There are tons of other very interesting locations to set a story in, and there are thousands of people who want to read—and relate—to a variety of settings. Exciting things can happen anywhere, any time period, as long as the writer has the imagination to make it realistic.

Society, as a whole, is responsible for the disregard of our rich heritage and past that should be remembered, written and read about, and learned about. I love history, and though I read and write contemporaries too, there is sometimes nothing like picking up a good ol' western and reading it. And that’s why I will continue to write historical westerns. There will always be a readership for them, because of the fulfillment they offer our need for a true hero and heroine, and always, a “happily ever after” ending.

~~~ Where to find Cheryl ~~~
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Email Cheryl: fabkat_edit@yahoo.com

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43 comments:

  1. Cheryl originally wrote the first version of this post for a readers' list we're both on, and I asked her if we could post it here. So many people ask me why NY doesn't publish more westerns or western historical romance, and all I can say is that the acquiring editors don't think these books will make any money.

    But western historical ebooks are doing quite well. Cheryl's books are terrific, and Debra Holland will be at RTW next week with here book that's selling like hotcakes at Amazon. Western readers are there--I know, because I'm one of them. I'm always looking for new western books and authors.

    So now that we're in the wild, wild west of the publishing evolution, do you think westerns will still take a back seat to everything else? Personally, I think this is the best time for westerns since I started writing.

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  2. I'm amazed and thrilled at the historical western ebooks out there...both reprints and new books. I have over 300 westerns on my Kindle and am adding more everyday. With the birth of ereaders people can find whatever they are looking for and not have to depend on the NY publishing houses and bid box stores, so I think it's an amazing time for historical authors.

    My email is melissa0908@hotmail.com

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  3. I totally agree with everything written in this post...kids today aren't being encouraged to understand history or the lessons learned from it at all today- any school district who approves a text-book that has one two pages for WW2 and one for Vietnam - should be ashamed of itstelf. History has a lot to offer us whether it's about cowboys and the West or any other place... And yes - I agree not everything happens in NY City or Los Angeles...lol...Thanks for the giveaway!

    junegirl63(at)gmail(dot)com

    junegirl63(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. Hi Jacquie,
    Thanks again so much for having me here this week! This is just an awesome site you've put together and it's a privilege to be your guest this week.

    I do think that with the advent of e-books, writers are much more able to have their say and take control of what is available for the public to read. When you think of how controlled everything has been for so many years--it's mind boggling. To have to depend on the capricious whims of a handful of people and their interests to determine what the rest of the world reads...that's pretty darn scary.

    You're right--it's a good time for westerns and all other historicals in many ways, because there are many smaller publishers out there who put out quality products and allow "room at the table" for so many more authors to get their books out.

    Cheryl

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  5. Melissa,

    You are so right! Having to depend on what a group of publishers, agents, and editors like stifled the literary world for many decades. That's one reason why people like Stephen King were so successful--he "broke the mold" and opened the doors for others, no matter what sub genre. One thing that bothers me even today is feeling like I have to "follow rules" at every turn in my writing. But until I get to be a blockbuster novelist myself, there's no other way around it. LOL

    Thanks so much for coming by and commenting. I totally agree with you. This is a great time for novelists and readers alike because of the e-book revolution.

    Cheryl

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  6. Hi Maria,

    You know, I have always been amazed at the pretentiousness of so many of the NYC literary crowd when it comes to setting. It's something a lot of people don't think about actively, but one night when we had been watching tv, I commented to my husband about how everything we had watched was set in NYC or LA. That's one thing I really like about Criminal Minds--they go anywhere and everywhere. Kathleen Eagle is one of my very favorite authors, and most everything she writes is set in Minnesota. That's one reason I love her books. Even though I'm no more familiar with Minnesota than I am with LA, it's something different and new and while I love to be entertained, it doesn't hurt to learn a bit as I'm reading about a different part of the country.

    As for those history books...GRRRR. I could write forever about that subject--that's one of my pet peeves, for sure.

    Thanks so much for coming by and commenting. I appreciate you!

    Cheryl

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  7. The thing I noticed about my education versus my kids' education was I actually learned from the curriculum. But my kids learned how to pass the state and federal tests in order to get more funding for the school system. Instead of mathematics that would help them figure out what two items plus tax would cost at the market, they learned how to use an expensive (required) calculator. And I don't know what they learned in history--when I moved to live close to Appomattox, VA, my kids couldn't tell me what that place is significant for in history. Sad education. (PS-they know the answer to that last question NOW.)

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  8. Cheryl, what a provocative and completely true post! Personally, just the thought that historicals might be drifting out hurts. I love them perhaps the most out of all the genres. I love to learn about the past and what better way to do so than to become immersed in a good book? I thank God for e-publishers these days because it means that we can continue to publish these wonderful books. It breaks my heart that NY publishers say "No thanks." Because when I walk into a book store, it isn't the contemporaries I head for; it's the historicals!

    I think some day in the future, the big guys will see just what a mistake they've made. They'll be crying for historicals then. I have to admit, the market is over-saturated with Regency Romances at the moment. So much that it's starting to turn me away from buying/looking at historicals in print. E-publishers don't have that problem, thankfully.

    As for what is learned in history classes... back when I was in high school about 4 or 5 years ago, I took every history course available to me. Two. One, Canadian History, was mandatory (I live in Canada). The other was World History. I learned a thing or two in Canadian history as it was quite extensive. But the world history? Nothing I didn't already know on my own, through reading books. As a history lover, I wanted it to be more extensive. I had to learn new things on my own, which is sad. From what I hear, it's only degenerated since then. A teacher friend informed me that they're removing Shakespeare from standard English classes! A travesty, I tell you. And also why I'm highly considering home-schooling my children when the time comes. I want them to know these things, not skate by.

    Here's to hoping the historical market takes a turn in the other direction.

    lbelow(at)lbelow.net

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  9. I write historical time travel, and love historicals in general. I was intially told that my time period for Past Her Time, the French Revolution, was not popular and wouldn't sell. I'm happy to say it did, but I think smaller presses and ebooks are proving the genre is most definitely not dead. And the sequel takes place in Gold Rush California. I'm from Texas, and the west is not dead!

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  10. Hi Cheryl and Jacquie! Terrific post and, sadly, this is the message I keep seeing all around the internet. But it's nothing new, I've been getting this message for the past fifteen years--westerns are dead. I intend to keep writing western historicals, even though I believe they only appeal to a niche market, which I don't understand at all. From my own experiences, I can tell you that most people after us boomers just aren't interested in anything western. Hubby told me the demographic who turned out for the Cowboys and Aliens movie were boomers and older. The younger folks chose Smurfs. As time marches relentlessly on, I only see this getting worse. The only way I see the western having a revival is if there's a glut of them on tv and at the movies, like we had in the late 50's and all during the 60's. But it seems like today's screenwriters can't write a decent hero to save their lives. They keep giving us anti-heroes. We need some larger-than-life heroes, like John Wayne.

    I wish I could end on an optimistic note. I'll keep writing my traditional westerns, regardless of the market, because they're what I love. All I can do is hope they find an audience. Thanks for the great post!

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  11. Hi Kay,
    You really hit the nail on the head. It should be so obvious that the "no child left behind" plan, while a lofty ideal, makes for it's own set of problems (like entire school systems such as the one in Atlanta that have recently been in the news for changing grades.) I remember when my daughter was in elementary school, bored out of her mind because they had dummied down the curriculum to be sure every kid "got it." What no one seems to understand is that it's really hard for kids of any age to care about learning when so many of them suffer from an intolerable home life and even, yes, in this day and age, HUNGER. Oklahoma is so rich with history, and yet, it boils down to teaching names, dates, and incidents rather than the whys. The textbooks are just the worst ever, and in our district when my daughter was in high school, they were given printed sheets rather than textbooks, and told they didn't have enough to go around.
    Thanks for coming by, Kay!
    Cheryl

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  12. Lindsay,
    I think it will take many years for historicals to lose their 'umph' in the marketplace, especially now that there are so many smaller publishers and people CAN get what they want. It's just harder on the writers, in many ways, because they don't have the powerhouse publishers backing them. I won't say ALL, because my friend Deborah MacGillivray maintains you can't prove historicals are dead by her royalty check. If you haven't read one of her books, treat yourself! I wonder how it is in Canada--if the government funding is tied to the schools' performance on testing? That doesn't work. Of course, here in the States, it's going to take many more years before they realize this and come up with an alternative. Meanwhile, there's going to be a couple of "lost generations" when it comes to reading and history, as well as the other subjects.

    Homeschooling is an alternative, but I opted for supplemental training, as I called it. LOL My kids went to public school, but we did a lot of things such as field trips on our own, reading together (shock! Like they used to do many years ago before tv!) and listening to lots of different types of music, etc. You are always a teacher when you are a parent.

    Thanks so much for your insightful comments, Lindsay. I appreciate you coming by.
    Cheryl

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  13. Melissa,
    I totally agree! I'm from Oklahoma, and I know a ton of people who read westerns. Not just western romance, but westerns like Louis L'Amour, etc. I think there will always be a fascination with the West and I will never stop writing about it, either. I'm so glad you went ahead and wrote your time travel in the pierod you thought best. Beth Trissel has written books in that time period, I believe, and has had lots of success. There are so many exciting times in our history!

    Thanks for coming by. I agree with you, totally.
    Cheryl

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  14. Hi Devon,

    I truly believe that one of the main reasons why the younger generations don't give a flip about westerns is because of the way it has been removed from our culture. It's almost as if today's society worldwide has become so "suave" that they don't want to remember the historical roots we came from--immigrating from other countries to America, or meeting the boat when it arrived, and what followed afterward--the good, the bad and the ugly parts all rolled into our history.I tutored for several years in our public school system here in the metro, and my kids were all part Native American. Many of them could have cared less about their studies because they had problems at home. TV was their escape, and the "babysitter". But of course, there is not very much educational tv anymore, certainly nothing to hold a candle to so much of the mindless entertainment that is put out there for kids now.

    I think you are right about not having a decent hero to put out there for kids, either. And to just keep re-making some of the same old stuff...I think with as "hi-tech" as our society has become, any resurgence of interest in westerns on the part of kids is going to have to include some kind of "power" other than just the bad guys and the good guys.

    Thanks, Devon, for popping over and leaving your comments. They are much appreciated! And keep writing those westerns. There is an audience out there!
    Cheryl

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  15. Interesting, since I just signed with an agent yesterday who said she's getting requests for historicals. As well, PBS is putting on a major documentary on Prohibition, and Boardwalk Empire is also a hit.

    I can't comment on whether western historicals fall under the same umbrella. Maybe they're perceived as not selling. Here's the Globe and Mail article for those interested.

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/television/john-doyle/a-toast-to-tvs-hottest-topic-prohibition/article2116256/

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  16. I am not so sure about historical romance dying. I think it’s constantly changing and reinventing itself to keep fresh for readers.

    People have been screaming historicals are dead or dying since the late 1990s. When I began writing and seriously looking for a publisher, I had people say to put away the historical if I wanted to get published. (I write Medieval Scottish historicals). My then agent told me to put them on the shelf, unsellable were her word. I had other authors ask what I write, and I would say historicals, and they would go, "too bad, historicals are dead". I finally listened and began writing contemporary romance, which I enjoy. But I never gave up on my historicals.

    Guess what sold first? My historicals!! I have three historicals out over the last five years and they outsell my contemps 7 to 1. The historicals have never been out of print, all three have gone to third print runs. My last historical sold out of its print run a month before release and they rushed to do a second printing. That sold out the week before release and they rushed to do a third printing. My historicals have sold and been translated into foreign languages in Japan, Germany, Russia, Brazil and Spain, and have sold very well in those countries.

    If I had listened to that historicals are on the way out by all the naysayers, I would have lost a lot of money.

    I get 2-3 emails a day from readers about my historicals from around the world. Maybe 1-2 a month about my contemps.

    My then editor at Kensington, Hilary Sares, said Historicals (Westerns, Regency and Scottish) have always done well for Kensington, so she could never understood "this historicals are dead" mantra.

    Personally, I am very glad I didn’t listen to all the people telling me not to write them.

    :-)

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  17. Well Cheryl, this post really fired me up. I had no idea that schools just breezed through history as if it meant nothing to our present state. You know that old saying, "Those who don't know history, are doomed to repeat it"--and I think, if all you say is true, the future is doomed.
    New York publishers are out of touch with the reading public. A favorite author of mine used to write historicals, paranormals, detective and contemporary stories--a wonderful, exciting mix of genres. In the last few years she has written trilogies about three brothers over and over again and most of them modern day, until I can't tell one dang trilogy from another. I know she's just trying to please her publisher but, as soon as her readers get sick of the same old-same old, you can bet her publisher will give her grief and never take a look at their dictorial demands.
    I like e-publishers. They don't get so hooked into their fear of making enough money that they won't allow authors to experiment or take a chance on a new author. No one knows where the next Hemmingway or Rawlings will come from.
    I love a wide mix of genres including historicals and whoever publishes them will be getting my money.
    Great post, Cheryl.

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  18. Hi! Nice post, Cheryl. While westerns may be dead in some points, I think like everything else, it cycles. In other words, it will become popular again. Especially with the "Aliens vs. Cowboys" or however the title to that movie is. (Harrison Ford is in it; can't go wrong.) But I know that there is always a loyal population to this genre, and as long as a story is well written with a fresh perspective, people will love it.

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  19. The Regency historical romance market has been strong all along. Scottish medievals are strong now but weren't when Deborah sold A Restless Knight. Could very well be she helped make that market stronger.

    Historicals set elsewhere aren't all that prevalent. It's rare to see a western historical romance from a legacy publisher, and when you do, they're often costume dramas.

    I held on to my western historical romances because I really wanted to sell then to NY, but the writing was on the wall. All of my books have won awards and one finaled in the GH, but none of that matters unless you actually sell them, which didn't happen. So now I'm publishing them through Melange Publishing, and doing well. (Not NY well, but better than my other small press books.)

    I was hoping the new True Grit and Cowboys vs. Aliens movies would help out out a bit. Do you think they'll have any effect at all on the western market?

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  20. Great post, Cheryl, and a lot of truth spoken!

    Speaking purely for myself (and as a Brit) I love Western historicals. I read Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey before I reached my teens. There is a sense romance and adventure in them similar to that of the genre I write - futuristic. In both, brave men and women set out to brave the unkown and face dangers never before encountered.

    I love the hardworking cowboy, the noble Indian who cared for and revered the land, and the beautiful wild mustangs (who nowadays are being hunted down and 'culled' I understand.) The old West as portrayed in the Western historical portrays old fashioned values of love, honour and respect and that can only be a good thing.

    I really hope the Western will once more become popular as the newer 'fads' lose popularity. It must survive, and I say this as a lover of the genre,not because I have an historical western romance of my own on the 'back burner'!

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  21. Excellent post. As the mother of two elementary school kids, I understand what you're saying. There seems to be more of an emphasis on "Going Green," anti-bullying, and diversity than teaching the basics. Not that those things aren't important, but we can't expect the public school system to teach kids everything. Some things need to start at home.

    I hope historicals aren't dying out, as they are still one of my favorite genres to read and write.

    Thanks for this wonderful article. Best of luck!

    Cheryl M.

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  22. P.A.
    First, a huge congratulations on signing with an agent who is getting requests for historicals! AWESOME!I think a lot of the "boomers" are very interested in historicals--I think it's probalby the younger audience that might not be so interested unless it is a story laced with something supernatural, paranormal, etc. because of the technological turn our society has taken. Thanks for the link to the article--it looks to be a good one! I appreciate you coming by and commenting.
    Cheryl

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  23. Deborah,
    I'm glad you didn't listen to all those naysayers, either. You write so well in both sub genres you will never have to worry! But when you are first starting out as a writer and don't know what to believe or who to listen to, the tide can be so easily turned, can't it? Your heart for historicals shows in your writing, and while I love contemporaries, historicals will always be my first choice to read and to write. Thanks so much for taking the time to come by and share your thoughts with us. For those who don't know, Deborah's mega hit ONE SNOWY KNIGHT was just translated into Portuguese and has an awesome new cover for the Brazilian edition! Congratulations, Deborah! (I have to say, the original cover was one I could have easily papered my walls with, too.)
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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  24. Hi Sarah,

    Thank you so much for coming over and commenting. It makes me angry too, to think of how the schools give such a quick glimpse of history that many of our high school seniors don't know the very basic things. I saw interviews on the news one night where they asked some seniors who the 1st president was and many of them said Abraham Lincoln! So many kids don't know the joys of reading a book today, and that is one reason why, as adults, even when they do begin to read some for pleasure, they can't relate to historical time periods that they know nothing about. In my mind, it all ties together. I know, my mind is a scary place to be sometimes. LOL Thanks again, Sarah, for your insightful comments. I too am thrilled with the advent of e-publishing to create more variety in the reading arena! Sarah writes a killer time-travel western romance, if you don't know. Her book, HARMONICA JOE'S RELUCTANT BRIDE, through WESTERN TRAIL BLAZER, is really a fantastic read.
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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  25. EA,
    You are so right. I believe that, too. Just when they say WESTERNS ARE DEAD, some movie person can't resist the temptation to re-make something--3:10 to Yuma, True Grit, etc. or try something new, like Open Range or Quigley Down Under, etc. I love to see these ventures, because it does encourage some readers to go out and buy the book once they see the movie. Heck, I'm even wondering now where I can get that graphic novel they made Cowboys and Aliens from! BTW, that was really a good movie. I had my doubts, but as you say, anything with Harrison Ford, and the new love of my life, Daniel Craig, in it--well, let's just say, I'll be going back to the theater again next weekend. Um...did I mention Daniel Craig?
    Cheryl

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  26. Hi Jacquie,
    I definitely think that the western movies that crop up from time to time have an effect on the western market. And I think there are a lot more women that read "regular" westerns than people realize. THE TRADITIONAL WEST anthology that just came out has three women out of 24 total authors--myself, Kit Prate, and LJ Washburn. While this is not a romance anthology, who knows what might happen with these short stories? Amazingly, 3:10 to Yuma is a short story that is just shy of 25 pages in my edition--it's been made into a movie twice. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance was a short story, written by a woman, and I believe she also wrote The Hangin' Tree.So I do believe that all these entertainment venues tie together. It just stands to reason then, if a child is not exposed to history and given an understanding and love for it, how can they be expected to gravitate toward it as an adult in their reading choices?

    Yes, many thanks to Deborah--I'm sure she doesn't think of herself as a "pioneer" in that respect, but I'm so glad she stuck to her guns and evenutally sold those historicals--I believe, too, that her books have made the market stornger in that area.

    Cheryl

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  27. Lyn,
    You know, we were talking one day on another site about how knights and cowboys were so much alike in many ways. And truly, as you say, the sci-fi aspect of it figures in too, as they are all going into an unknown area and having to deal with anything that comes their way. I think that's very exciting, and makes for a great hero--someone smart and savvy enough to take whatever's thrown at him and get through it and keep the heroine safe, as well. It brings up a good point--that no matter where you live in the world, that quality of person is something that we are all looking for. If I'm not reading western historicals, I'm reading Medieval. My contemporary reading, I always gravitate toward stories that take place in the west, even though they might not be classified as a true "western" setting. Thank you so much for coming by and commenting--I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this important topic.
    Cheryl

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  28. Hi Cheryl,
    I so, so agree with you. These topics ARE important, but many things need to be taught at HOME and enforced at school. I fear those days are gone. Teachers do well to even manage to get through the school year anymore with all the requirements they must teach--so much of it seemingly unnecessary. One thing that is timeless is the fact that I feel so much of the reading that is done in school is sabotaged by "age appropriateness"--example: One year I tutored a little boy who was in 3rd grade named Jackson. They were reading SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL. There were questions over the story that they all had to answer. The teacher would read from the book and they would follow along in their copy. Then they would answer the 10 questions over what they had read. In the first place, an 8 year old is not going to be interested in that story--or most 8 year olds, anyhow. It's too "old" for that age group. Especially with no conversation or explanation of things. But they had so much to cover each day that there was just no time to sit and ask/answer questions and ENJOY the story. It became drudgery, not only for the kids but for the teacher, as well. This goes on at all different grade levels and I feel like because of the pressure put on students to perform in the various reading programs around the country, there can be no more reading for pleasure. Everything is on a timetable, and so very structured. But I totally agree with you, many of these things should start in the home, and they don't in today's world.

    No worries, Cheryl, as long as there are those of us who continue to read and write historicals, I think there will be a readership out there for them, as well.

    Thanks for popping over with your comments today!
    Cheryl

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  29. Hi Cheryl,
    Great blog and what you said is so true. Nothing beats a good historical including westerns. You are correct about not teaching history in our schools, it is like that here in Australia too. Personally speaking,(and not juist because I write historicals), I think we forget history and what happened at our peril.
    Best wishes

    Margaret

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  30. Hi Margaret!

    Thank you so much for coming by and commenting on my post. You are so right when you say nothing beats a good historical --including westerns! I love them all. LOL How sad that this trend of not teaching history and teaching the LOVE of history is permeating school systems all over the world, it seems! You know, another thing that my daughter and I were talking about the other day was, that when I went to school, we memorized poetry. No one that I know of does that today. So poetry is kind of in the same boat as history--on the way down the rapids and eventually over the falls, it seems. For those of you who don't know Margaret, she's written a ton of darn good books and is published through The Wild Rose Press! Thanks so much for commenting, Margaret. It's good to see you here!
    Cheryl

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  31. Ah, knights and cowboys. I wrote a blog on that for Your Need To Read, posted July 21st.
    Cowboys: Knights of the Old West

    I'm going to re-post it here at RTW in a few weeks.

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  32. Jacquie, that sounds like a good one! I think that is a fascinating concept--kinda like cowboys and astronauts, etc.
    Cheryl

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  33. Hi Cheryl,

    I'm thrilled at the historical western ebooks out there. Nothing beats a good ol' western!! As for the kids learning about history-- sadly, I must agree with you.

    Jacquie, I loved the post about Knights and Cowboys.:) I look forward to reading the posts here on your blog. You've done a fantastic job with it. :)

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  34. Hi Karen,
    Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. I agree with you--nothing does beat a good ol' western! Your story, WANTED, fits the bill, too, Karen! So sad about the way our schools have become with their teaching methods--and I'm not blaming the teachers--it is a problem that has been caused by the competitiveness for federal funding rather than a motivation to help the kids--to really CARE for them and do what needs to be done to help them. Here in Oklahoma City, some school districts have paired up with a local food bank to provide backpacks for some kids to take home with them over the weekends filled with food--otherwise, there might be nothing for them to eat. The problem is much deeper than testing.

    So glad you came by, Karen!
    Cheryl

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  35. My name is Kitty Sutton. I am an author of Native American historical fiction which is very close to westerns. I loved your article and I agree with every word. My debut novel, Wheezer And The Painted Frog, set in 1839 at the end of the Trail of Tears is being published by a small press and I am finding that they show a great appreciation for historical fiction. In fact, they said that is why they decided to publish my book. That must mean you are correct that the historicals will fall to the small presses. However, I have not had to fight with my publisher over my content or story line. I don't have to rewrite history to please a publisher and that means a lot to a writer. If an author writes in historical fiction, don't ask him/her to change the way things happened. Believe me, as a reader of historical fiction, I would have written to the author and called them on it. Thank you so much for your article. You hit the nail on the head.

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  36. Hi Kitty,
    I'm so glad that you came by and commented--it's always nice to hear from another historical author! Your book sounds very interesting--I am part Cherokee, part Choctaw, and I love anything about NA culture. Sometimes I think that we western/NA romance writers get pushed aside because the truth of those times is something that was shameful--The Trail of Tears, etc. I'm with you about NOT rewriting history--it would be like trying to rewrite the War Between the States to make it come out well for everyone--it can't happen that way. I'm so glad you let us know about your book-please leave another post, will you, and let us know where we might order a copy? Thanks once more for your insightful input, Kitty. It's good to meet you!
    Cheryl

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  37. Jacquie,

    Thanks so much for mentioning me in the first comment. I'm looking forward to blogging for Romancing the West next week.

    I want to stand up and wave the flag that historical Westerns AREN'T dead. I have over 11,000 sales in 13 and a half weeks on my two self-published sweet historical Westerns to prove it. People who love Westerns will read both historical and contemporary ones, even if they love historical ones more. I don't know where all my readers are coming from because I'm doing very little to get their attention. They're searching for Westerns, and they're happy when they find them.

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  38. Great post Cheryl! As a former high school history teacher, I am sad at the way the curriculum have been revised in many states. In Washington state my sons were required to take a class on state history and one on American history. My husband and I always made sure that on family trips we visited historical sites, so my guys not only have a good understanding of history, they still like to visit museums and historical sites.

    As for the "death" of the historical, I think that the books aren't selling as well, so that's the typical "knee-jerk" reaction from NY publishers. But the market is almost all Regency and Scottish set, and I think the readers are bored. Some might read contemporary romances, but many others will go to small publishers and Ebooks.

    As the publishing world opens up, the readers will choose the next popular genre, not the editors. The door-keepers are gone... they just don't realize it yet.

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  39. Hi Debra,
    WOW that is WONDERFUL! When you figure out what the secret to those fantastic sales are, let the rest of us in on it! LOL That is just super! Yes, I'm like that about my westerns--I just went to the used book store today--one of my fave spots--and headed immediately for my favorite western romance authors. I do buy other historical time periods, and contemporary--but the contemporary must always be set in the west somewhere. LOL Thanks so much for coming by, and for sharing that wonderful news of your sales numbers--it gives me hope to hear that!
    Cheryl

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  40. Hi Deborah,
    I'm sure you probably see the lack of what's being taught in schools now more than the rest of us, since history was what you were teaching. I had two history teachers in my high school years who were coaches that actually loved history and enjoyed teaching it. But I had a couple who were perfectly content to say, "Read chapter 4 and answer the questions at the end. There'll be a test tomorrow." Much of what our kids learn in school depends on the individuals they study under. But so much of it anymore is taken out of the individuals' hands and dictated by the authority of the school board, superintendent, etc. You know, I always looked forward to school so much growing up. But I don't think I would have been quite so thrilled to go to school if I felt the stress and pressure of constantly getting ready for testing and such. This was becoming very prevalent when my kids were in school--one graduated in '05, the other in '08. Testing becomes the pressure that kids and teachers and administrators must bow to, and forego the joy of learning, and the thrill of the accomplishment of KNOWING something and the reasons for it.

    I totally agree when you say the people are going to become tired of Regency and Scottish settings of that's all that's made available to them by the NYC group. Even chocolate, served at every meal with no variation becomes tedious after a while. LOL I love Regency romance and Scottish romance as well as any other time period, but I wouldn't want to be given an exclusive diet of those time periods. That's where, as you say, the smaller publishers and e-publishers will be providing the bulk of the variety for readers. It scares the dickens out of me to think of the way our reading materials have been selected for us for all these decades of years. As you say, that time is past. Thanks for stopping by and commenting Deborah!
    Cheryl

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  41. Several years ago a speaker at one of our RWA meetings made the statement that 100 people, mostly interns, determine what North America reads. That was a bit of an exaggeration, but not much, and it brings to light the lack of choices we readers have had. That makes what's happening now all that much more exciting.

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  42. Jacquie,
    Isn't that scary to think about--I mean, it gives me an idea for a sci-fi novel--how the world was controlled by 100 interns. LOL I agree, this e-publishing revolution is the best thing that could have ever happened. It has just made the market wide open for so many possibilities!
    Cheryl

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  43. Hi Cheryl -- from one Okie to another,
    Your post was so great and interesting, I have decided to go with a series I was thinking about writing that would bring history into my contemporary historical romance time travels. How's that for a new genre?

    As far as settings to set our books in instead of New York or LA, I set my first book, a contemporary romance in the late 1970s when lumber mills were still very big in production in the middle of Idaho (is that considered history now days? lol)

    It is so sad history is fading from our schools. So sad in fact, I have been into genealogy for some time and have my own web site for my genealogy research and I have two kids who are not interested in any of the family history. So now I have to figure out who to will all my genealogy history to so it can be preserved and not lost.

    But because the big NY publishers have been telling us what we can write or can't write because 'they know what sells' since forever, I think I will just keep with self-publishing on the ebook and paperback platforms out there.

    Thank you, Jacquie and Cheryl.

    Jacque

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