tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post7292319834604114719..comments2024-01-02T15:38:11.465-05:00Comments on Age 30+ ... A Lifetime of Books: An Author Answers My Impertinent Question (and a Giveaway)Heather J. @ TLC Book Tourshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10474181812740579350noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-17676874808582618462009-02-13T12:32:00.000-05:002009-02-13T12:32:00.000-05:00Ooh, what a fabulous post! I'm glad that Robin was...Ooh, what a fabulous post! I'm glad that Robin was open to answering your "impertinent" question! I have to say I am more interested in historical fiction (or any fiction, actually) written from a woman's point of view. And I love the idea of historical fiction that fills in the gaps of recorded history (as long as it's well-researched and plausible). This post has definitely made me want to read this book more, so please enter me in the giveaway!avisannschildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12486477882148877317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-30201904861461530422009-02-12T23:39:00.000-05:002009-02-12T23:39:00.000-05:00Hey! Count me in please. Thanks.As for your first ...Hey! Count me in please. Thanks.<BR/><BR/>As for your first question: Considering the fact that virtually all the historical fiction books that I've loved (not just liked, but loved) have been told from a woman's point of view, I'm going to say yes, it is more likely to grab my attention. Maybe I identify with them better because I am a woman, I don't know. Anyway, you can reach me through my blog or at tiffanyak1986(at)hotmail(dot)com.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-6279827999685094092009-02-11T14:23:00.000-05:002009-02-11T14:23:00.000-05:00The misspelling of historical was a typo...sorry!The misspelling of historical was a typo...sorry!Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16801685131418772202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-71312471521675959162009-02-11T14:22:00.000-05:002009-02-11T14:22:00.000-05:00I'd like to be entered. AS for the first question...I'd like to be entered. AS for the first question, a woman's perspective is always nice, so yes they suck me on faster. I like any hisrtorical novel told from an outside angle. Makes the story more lively, IMO.<BR/><BR/>Sararush (at) hotmail (dot) comSarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16801685131418772202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-19109120207487102042009-02-11T09:06:00.000-05:002009-02-11T09:06:00.000-05:00I'm glad you shared the answer to your question. ...I'm glad you shared the answer to your question. I found it very interesting, and I'm intrigued about the character she created from few facts.<BR/><BR/>I'd love to be entered in the giveaway. I'll tackle the first question. To me, it doesn't matter whether the POV is male or female. I might be able to relate more to a female, but that depends. Usually, I just look for a strong voice, an interesting character who can carry the story.<BR/><BR/>--Anna<BR/><A HREF="http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">Diary of an Eccentric</A>Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08046635675540466183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-588796463547952142009-02-11T04:57:00.000-05:002009-02-11T04:57:00.000-05:00What a wonderful response to your question! I act...What a wonderful response to your question! I actually don't mind my historical fiction to be heavier on the fiction side, especially as in this case when not much is known so we can only speculate what their life might have been like. <BR/><BR/>I'm aware that authors sometimes have to conform to a certain requirement, which all comes down to what the publisher thinks they can sell, but it does seem kind of sad. I'm curious how the trends, in this case historical fiction from a woman's point of view, start in the first place. <BR/> <BR/>I actually was recently listening to a podcast with a British crime writer who wanted to set his latest book in Asia but the publisher didn't go for it since crime books set in the UK apparently always sell more (in the UK). He got around it partly by having British bad guys go to Thailand but it was interesting to hear the discussion.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I'd love a chance to win this one. Thanks.<BR/>tanabata2000 at gmail dot com<BR/><BR/>(BTW, I'm in Japan but usually the postage for a single hardback book from the US is about $12 - $15, in my experience anyway).tanabatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04592550784537825632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-55250894963443836002009-02-10T14:09:00.000-05:002009-02-10T14:09:00.000-05:00Wow. Such an interesting post/interview! I did not...Wow. Such an interesting post/interview! I did not find your question impertinent - just honest. Personally, I tend to want more history in my historical fiction as well, but I am flexible. If the details have enough historical accuracy that it COULD have happened the way the author imagines, I'm willing to go for the ride. One sort of "historical fiction" I have not been able to embrace, and I don't know the technical genre name, is when a modern day author takes another author's fictional character (think: Sherlock Holmes) creates new fiction around that character. Maybe someday I'll make that leap, but I just can't do it right now.<BR/>Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book. I'm looking forward to reading it one way or another!<BR/>geebee.reads AT gmail DOT comGwendolyn B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03306180985189176946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-14482203116870617112009-02-10T00:37:00.000-05:002009-02-10T00:37:00.000-05:00Although I enjoy reading historical fiction writte...Although I enjoy reading historical fiction written in a woman's voice. I have trouble reconciling the need to write in this voice to sell fiction, when the reader would much rather hear the story from someone else's viewpoint. <BR/><BR/>Although I am interested in reading this book, I see it more as a voice of the time, rather than as the voice of a da vinci. <BR/><BR/>rsgrandinetti@yahoo.comRenee Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16405063753972082642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-91670585216185855842009-02-10T00:04:00.000-05:002009-02-10T00:04:00.000-05:00I'm very aware of the compromises. Sometimes it's...I'm very aware of the compromises. Sometimes it's not just about what the author wants to write about but what people would like to read. Ultimately, fiction is fiction and putting the word history infront of it only means that it uses historical themes, names or events. It doesn't promise any accuracy.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Valorie<BR/>morbidromantic@gmail.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-6251042283001177792009-02-09T20:28:00.000-05:002009-02-09T20:28:00.000-05:00Heather what a well thought out answer from the au...Heather what a well thought out answer from the author. I really enjoy historical fiction no matter if its told from a female or male point of view.<BR/><BR/>Its sad that the publishing industry would assume that readers are only interested in historical fiction from a female pov. Unfortunately, authors face these types of compromises all the time.<BR/><BR/>I'd like to be entered into this contest. Thanks.<BR/><BR/>Savvyverseandwit AT gmail DOT comSerenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04745809545249574387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-15293195228806593442009-02-09T18:14:00.000-05:002009-02-09T18:14:00.000-05:00I definitely like historical fiction. I have been ...I definitely like historical fiction. I have been reading it more and more lately. Perhaps that's just because there seems to be more and more books in this genre lately? I have to say I prefer books written from a female perspective or about a woman.<BR/><BR/>I've had quite a few non-fiction articles published in magazines and ended up going with what the editors wanted just to make my life easier. I can only imagine the compromises an author has to make for books. A worst case scenario would be if an author ended up writing about something they aren't interested in just to be published.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00823616282284779390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-61048557915138454122009-02-09T15:16:00.000-05:002009-02-09T15:16:00.000-05:00to answer your second question, i never thout that...to answer your second question, i never thout that the publishers had such impact on the writers and what they write, i always thought that the author came up with the amazing book and that was when it would be presented to publishers!The Giveaway Divahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17101480705308934733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-43213044327843666112009-02-09T14:09:00.000-05:002009-02-09T14:09:00.000-05:00I love the one-question interview! I do it on my b...I love the one-question interview! I do it on my blog, too.<BR/><BR/>No need to enter me. I'm just dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this listed on Win a Book for you.Susan Helene Gottfriedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12778191943289129869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-58805166397331506562009-02-08T21:46:00.000-05:002009-02-08T21:46:00.000-05:00LOVED reading author's response with all the detai...LOVED reading author's response with all the details. Frankly, I am NOT more interested in historical fiction told from a woman's point of view -- and I love historical fiction. Unlike you, I am not such a stickler for more historical than fiction but oftentimes I find myself looking up the historical info out of curiosity to see how much is "true"... I think it's a shame that a publisher is influencing authors in this way... unless, of course, the author feels the resulting book is better than what her original idea was... I wonder how Ms. Maxwell would say that this book is now better than her original idea to write about Leondardo. I think I will like this book but I would have bought the other one for sure just because of the allure of Leonardo...Susan Elliotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18094024834053351944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-37236879723974219472009-02-08T10:49:00.000-05:002009-02-08T10:49:00.000-05:00That was a great question and the answer was very ...That was a great question and the answer was very eye-opening. To be honest, I've really never read historical fiction, so this would be a great way to start. Thanks for the contest.<BR/><BR/>sharon54220@gmail.comsharon54220https://www.blogger.com/profile/12005881814856072295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-75308304886100747052009-02-07T10:20:00.000-05:002009-02-07T10:20:00.000-05:00I was originally going to comment simply that I en...I was originally going to comment simply that I enjoyed reading this post, but then I learned I might, by the luck of the draw, win a copy of the book - which works in nicely with the answer to the third question:<BR/><BR/><I>Did this post change your opinion on "fictional" historical fiction? In what way?</I><BR/><BR/>Ordinarily, I'd not have been interested in getting a copy of this book. I've never read one piece of historical fiction, because I was never interested. Fake history to me has always been like fake gemstones. Give me a cheap, real one over a lab-manufactured one, please.<BR/><BR/>But the author's answer to your question had me riveted from beginning to end. <BR/><BR/>What fun to imagine what might have happened in the days and weeks for which there is no record - and how cool a way to, as much as possible, get to know historical figures through the hours upon hours of research good historical fiction writers have done.<BR/><BR/>Yes - this post changed the way I look at historical fiction.<BR/><BR/>And, as to number one, I'd be more interested in picking up a book of historical fiction told from a man's point of view. We already know a lot, from literature, about how women viewed their position in the world in the "old" days. I'd like to get some insight into what it was like for men (which is why I was so interested in reading two old books I picked up at a library sale: "When a Man's Single" by James M. Barrie - 1888, and "The Husband's Story" by David Graham Phillips - 1910).Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09239497370370468057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-79330026183671710302009-02-07T07:28:00.000-05:002009-02-07T07:28:00.000-05:00Great question and answer from the author. I'm al...Great question and answer from the author. I'm always a little mystified about the forces that dictate the things that we get to read or watch on tv. I am more interested in the story and whether I will find it to be an interesting and compelling one moreso than I care about whether it is written from the perspective of a man or a woman. How do they draw such blanket conclusions. It seems to me that there would be room for both. Is it the feeling that women are looking for romance plays into it, and that is most easily told from a woman's perspective?Nicole (Linus's Blanket)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12473607646939202824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-76463150260634432532009-02-07T01:35:00.000-05:002009-02-07T01:35:00.000-05:00Thanks for stopping by the blog. Of course you've ...Thanks for stopping by the blog. <BR/><BR/>Of course you've heard Louis Prima - you grew up with Uncle Nino and Granpa Nick!! :)The Daily Ranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10489187226759792239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-86471034643521158832009-02-06T23:13:00.000-05:002009-02-06T23:13:00.000-05:00It makes sense to me that publishers would want au...It makes sense to me that publishers would want authors to write what there is a demand for, but I wasn't aware of the particulars (in this case demanding main characters who are women).<BR/><BR/>I personally prefer main characters who are women because I am a woman. I like to read about how women were treated throughout history, and what their lives were like.<BR/><BR/>Does this mean I always want to read stories about women? No! If a book is well written it doesn't matter what the gender of the protagonist is.<BR/><BR/>That was a great question, and a very nice response from the author!Alycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10919057159829023714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-35957702034859094712009-02-06T16:53:00.000-05:002009-02-06T16:53:00.000-05:00Oh I love this interview question. It's great! As ...Oh I love this interview question. It's great! As a history major, I tend to get really annoyed with authors who go against historically accurate information. BUT, I love Robin Maxwell's The Queen's Bastard because she stuck well within all the historical information that we do know. She didn't change anything to fit her story. But there is so much of history that we lost and don't know. So I love her speculative historical fiction. <BR/><BR/>Please enter me in this contest. Thanks!Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807369122559702185.post-57378734083664036272009-02-06T15:45:00.000-05:002009-02-06T15:45:00.000-05:00What a great question and an interesting perspecti...What a great question and an interesting perspective. I prefer more history in my historical fiction too, but I think the worst is when an author just comes up with things I'd never imagine and which I think are inappropriate. (I can't imagine Elizabeth I ever having a child. There is just no way she could have hidden it. No offense, but royal lives were unbelievably public and she couldn't have carried a baby to term without everyone knowing and she's been so intensely studied that it would have come up by now.) I can see them doing so to get published, though, and that's an angle I hadn't considered. Thanks to Robin Maxwell for letting us know about this. And her website is certainly impressive!<BR/><BR/>Now, this book, I would be okay with, because fictional characters in historical settings jive a bit better with my strong bias in favor of completely accurate history and can't go against beliefs I already have.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com