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Permalink Reply by Teresa Lilly on July 19, 2012 at 12:11pm

Hi, do you read christian historical?  I need a reviewer for my magazine www.lovelychristianromance.com .  I pay $3 for a review and need at least one a month    Let me know if you are interested.  but the reviews need to be for the magazine only not listed elsewhere.    contact me at lovelycromance@yahoo.com  teresa lilly    

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Permalink Reply by Beth Goehring on July 21, 2012 at 9:37am

I'm new at She Writes, too--am enjoying it very much. I loved both the historical novels you mentioned, plus Linda Holeman's THE LINNET BIRD, Robert Goolrick's A RELIABLE WIFE, and Ami McKay's THE VIRGIN CURE. All the women in these books are powerless until they make choices, good and bad, that open up opportunities to survive. I'd put ONE THOUSAND WHITE WOMEN by Jim Fergus in that group, too. It's the high stakes that make these so compelling: if these women don't conform to society's proscribed roles for them, they'll die...but the fact that they won't conform gives them the chance to live on their own terms. 

I've read Robert Goolrick's second novel, HEADING OUT TO WONDERFUL; it's un-put-downable, too, so I'd have to say I'd love to have a long, leisurely dinner with him. Can't wait for what he writes next.

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Permalink Reply by Sophie Schiller on August 21, 2012 at 4:21am

Thanks for the reply, Beth. I've had my eye on "The Virgin Cure" and "One Thousand White Women" for quite some time. Maybe now I should just go ahead and order them from Amazon!  I like what you said about characters becoming more compelling after they make difficult choices.  We all want to be more assertive, take more chances, break out of ruts.  Good, strong, compelling literary characters are the best way for us to spread our wings without crashing to the ground!

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Permalink Reply by Deanna Proach on August 22, 2012 at 10:10am

Hi Sophie,

I'm also new to this forum and I write in present tense. I'm the author of two novels, 'Day of Revenge' (Inkwater Press) and 'To be Maria' (PULSEpub). As for historical fiction, well 'Day of Revenge' is historical, but my favorite historical novel (one that was not written by me) is 'Pillars of The Earth' by Ken Follett. I love everything about this book: the writing, the history, the characters and the story. I learnt so much about medieval England just by reading 'Pillars of The Earth'. I'd love to see more historical books written in this time period and written in similar style, but with the same passion as Ken Follett.

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Permalink Reply by Sophie Schiller on August 22, 2012 at 10:18am

Is this a not-too-subtle hint that I'm supposed to be reading "Pillars of the Earth"? I'm presently reading Follett's "Hornet Flight" but everywhere I go I see "Pillars of the Earth": aiports, book stores, train stations, libraries, websites. It's everywhere! It's just that when I look at the large number of pages, I back off. I have such a long reading list that I'm trying to include only those books under 400 pages. However, since you liked it so much, I may have to reconsider.... When a girl named Deanna tells you something, you listen!

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Permalink Reply by Deanna Proach on August 22, 2012 at 10:22am

Thanks, Sophie. That's very kind of you to say:) I think 'Pillars of The Earth' is so popular because it's sooo darn good. I can recommend good books, but it's up to you, another avid reader to read, I mean, if it's something you really are interested in reading.

Are you enjoying reading 'Hornet Flight'?

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Permalink Reply by Sophie Schiller on August 22, 2012 at 12:18pm

I'm really enjoying "Hornet Flight", it's the first Follett I've read since "The Key to Rebecca" in High School. I love a good spy thriller and I'm learning a lot by reading from the master.  But now you've convinced me to pick up a copy of "Pillars".

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