Writing Regency Romances – Three Authors To Read And Learn From
As a Regency romance writer, it is tempting to read only today’s leading authors in the genre. Reading works from the past gives a broader sense of the style. Reading book series in other genres can teach how other authors develop loyal readers.
Barbara Cartland will forever be the “Queen of Romance Novels.” She churned out 723 books over her career. Reading several gives the novice writer an idea of how to follow a formula in each book but at the same time, keep readers interested and eagerly waiting for the next book to appear on the shelves.
In the 1920s, watching Rudolph Valentino in “The Sheik” was the height of romance. It was based on a 1920 novel by Edith Maude Hull. “The Sheik” has many of the elements of a Regency Romance . There is the hidden identity. The sheik is not an Arab after all but rather an heir to British aristocracy. The lead characters are thought to be of different social classes and cultures. The manner in which the story is woven and the conventions of the time that the plot left in disarray are good background reading.
An excellent choice outside the romance genre, is the Lincoln Rhyne series by Jeffrey Dever. The first book is “The Bone Collector.” The plot includes historical elements and there is a hint of romance between main characters. Plot shifts and twists are a mark of his writing. He leads the reader in one direction and suddenly takes them in another. Things never turn out the way one expects in Dever’s storylines.
A novice writer should both write and read a lot to develop skills. Read not only the top authors in the genre but also look back to the books that make up the history behind it. Reading leading authors from other genres is helpful as well to get a sense of how to engage the reader’s attention book after book.