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Callie Hutton | Historical Romance: Not Your Senior History Class
September 10, 2014
I recently joined a new group of historical romance authors. Our intention in
forming the group was to raise awareness of historical romance books. Too many
readers pass us by because they believe ‘historical’ romance is too bland, too
filled with boring historical facts, and too ‘old.’ Like a lot of other—especially girls—students, I loathed history class in
school. All those boring, boring stories of wars, battles, political intrigue,
and memorization of dates, really turned me off. I ploughed through my history
classes with fingertips holding up my eyelids to keep from falling asleep. Then, a few years after I left high school, I picked up an historical fiction
book about the sixth wife of Henry VIII. I was fascinated, and embarrassed now,
to say I had not really heard much about Henry VIII. In America, it’s hard
enough to get through our boring history, without having to suffer through
another country’s. I went back to the library, and looked up more by the same author, and lo and
behold, she had written about all six of his unfortunate wives. I read each one,
not realizing at the time that I was reading ‘history.’ That began my love affair with history. I continued to read historical fiction,
until I stumbled on historical romance, and then I knew I was hooked. What I had
always hated about history, the dryness, the facts, the memorization of battles
long past, was a minor part of the story. But it was, in fact, in the story. Gone With the Wind was probably one of my first historical romance books.
Although, since there really isn’t a happily ever after in GWTW, many consider
it a romance. From there I jumped to Judith McNaught, Jude Devereaux, Lisa
Kleypas, Madeline Hunter, Julia Quinn, all fabulous regency authors. For a long time I was hooked on western historical romances from fabulous
authors such as (early) Sandra Brown, Johanna Lindsey, Ruth Ann Nordin, and
Jillian Hart. Those alpha cowboys kept me entertained for years. But in addition to enjoying my passion of reading, little did I know I was
beginning to develop a love of history. Yes—gulp!—history. Not the boring
battles, but the way people lived in the past. How they dressed, what they ate,
how they loved. Before long, my love of history sent me back to college to get a
degree in Education/History. Strange, that now those history classes didn’t seem so boring. Because I knew
these were ‘real’ people, who lived, loved, suffered illnesses, had children,
grew old, and died. I can honestly say my historical romance books gave me a
foundation in history that made my college classes so much easier. I write both western historical and regency. Since the last couple of books in
my current regency series, The Marriage Mart Mayhem series, will take
place in Scotland, I will get the opportunity to write about kilts, bagpipes,
and the beautiful Scottish Highlands. Another area to explore, after enjoying so
many Highlander stories. Thank you, Eliza Knight, Diana Gabaldon, and Karen
Marie Moning. All of this makes me wonder if other readers are turned off on historical
romance because they also suffered through boring history classes. If so, you
are in for a treat. Historical romance stories are sexy, funny, daring, and
leave you wanting more. Try it, you’ll like it!
Comment below for your chance to win a digital copy of THE
ELUSIVE WIFE.
Comments
31 comments posted.
Re: Callie Hutton | Historical Romance: Not Your Senior History Class
I love Historical romances...they are what got me hooked on reading romances years ago and still are one of my fav genres within! Was not a fan of History, but I love the places and people I meet in Historical romances.
(Colleen Conklin 1:16pm September 10, 2014)
One of my favorite genres of romance novels is the Historical one. I enjoy
reading the ones set in Great Britian and the Old West. What a difference. I know
I would enjoy reading your book.
(Jackie Wisherd 1:20pm September 10, 2014)
Thanks for coming by, ladies. It's funny, Jackie Wisherd, because I write both Great Britain history (regency) and Old West. I appreciate your visit and comments.
(Callie Hutton 4:15pm September 10, 2014)
I completely agree with you regarding the joy of reading historical romances. My
interest came from trips back to England to visit family as a kid, when we'd visit
ruins, castles and palaces. You can't help but wonder, as you walk through the
halls or along the watchtowers, who else walked there hundreds of years ago.
Maybe more high school field trips are in order!
(Julia Tagan 4:18pm September 10, 2014)
Good point, Julia. In one of my college history classes, my professor took the class on a field trip that we would have had to pay big bucks to go on with a private tour company. It was wonderful, and brought history to life for all of us.
(Callie Hutton 5:47pm September 10, 2014)
I love historical romances. They were the first romance books I ever read, and I can't get enough of them. However, I loved history when I was in school.
(Cathy Phillips 8:50pm September 10, 2014)
I love Callie Hutton's books. I highly recommend that you give them a try
you won't be disappointed.
Tweeted and shared
(Lori Meehan 9:02pm September 10, 2014)
Thanks, Cathy and Lori. I appreciate you stopping by.
(Callie Hutton 9:04pm September 10, 2014)
While I was always turned off by boring history classes in
high school, that boredom didn't extend to my books, since I
devoured any Regency romance I could get my hands on and read
a lot of historical romances when I couldn't find a Regency I
hadn't read.
(Janie McGaugh 9:16pm September 10, 2014)
I did think that I wouldn't like historical romance because I despised history
class, but I was so wrong. Historical romance is one of me favorite genres.
(Tina Rucci 9:32pm September 10, 2014)
I think I love historical romance books because of my love of history. Even
my husband is shocked with some of the things I know about the British
Monarchy, and I tell him I've learned a lot from all my reading. LOL
(Sharon Fournier 9:56pm September 10, 2014)
I love history! There is nothing better than a great historical romance!
(Cheri Oggy 10:39pm September 10, 2014)
I love historical romances and have always loved history.
Like yours though, my history lessons in school were fairly
boring, but I still loved it. Maybe it has something to do
with living in a town so old it's in the doomsday book, and
in a house built in 1790, from which you can see the oldest
church in town.
(Jen Barnard 10:57pm September 10, 2014)
When I was younger, I could not sit and read. I would
get one maybe two sentences and fall asleep. It just was
not something I could do. My teachers thought I had a
learning disability. When I was in 7th grade my
English/Reading teacher gave us a test that you had to
read a paragraph and answer questions. I could not do
this. She pulled me out of the class room and asked me to
read it, which I did and she was amazed that I could read
and understand what I was reading. She asked me if I had
issues with my other classes, which I didn't but that I
did all of my class work at home and returned the next
day. When I had to do history, I told the teach what I
usually do and he was not happy with that. He gave a
reading assignment in class to do and I promptly fell
asleep. When he asked what the issues was I told him, if
I can not read outloud then I would not be able to do the
assignment. So again I was to read the assignment for the
whole class. Due to my reading tendencies I was up and
down in volume and the class learned more by what I read.
I was in my late twenties when I started reading books
due to insomnia and it took me six months to read the
first 150-200 pages and only 6 weeks to read the
remaining 150 pages. Thanks to Andrew Greeley I can now
read books and love all types. My favorite is Historical
Romances but do read westerns, contemporary, time travel
and many more. I got my daughter, mother, and grand
daughter hooked on them.
Thank you for listening.
(Tina Ullrich 1:51am September 11, 2014)
I usually like any romances
(Susan Clickner 8:58am September 11, 2014)
Wow, Tina, what an amazing story! Thank you so much for sharing with us. And thank you Susan, Jen, Cheri, Elaine, Janet, Tina and Sharon for stopping by.
(Callie Hutton 9:47am September 11, 2014)
I love romances and look forward to reading this one as well! Love the cover!
(Bonnie Capuano 10:15am September 11, 2014)
Thanks for the chance to win. I'm on a Historical Romance kick-for a year now. I think it makes me MORE into History. I enjoy different ones here and there but I'm mostly reading early 1800's England settings.But I can't deny men in kilts either.
(Sally Hannoush 3:54pm September 11, 2014)
LOVE historical romance and fiction! Such a FUN and easy
way to get a feel for a time period or era. love!
(Michelle Brown 6:17pm September 11, 2014)
I've always been a fan of history. In high school, I took world and American history the same year. In college, for my electives, I took history classes. Now, I love reading historical fiction and historical romances. So interesting to be transported to a different world.
(Brooke Showalter 6:52pm September 11, 2014)
Love reading all your comments. I love that so many of your share your love of history with me.
(Callie Hutton 9:17pm September 11, 2014)
oh sounds so good
(Peggy Quidor 10:17pm September 11, 2014)
Never had a problem with historical novels or history class. Ny teachers
were more about the facts and less about the dates.
(Laura Gullickson 1:36am September 12, 2014)
I would love to read this book! Love the cover too!!!
(Bonnie Capuano 9:30am September 12, 2014)
Thanks for stopping by, Peggy, Laura and Bonnie.
(Callie Hutton 9:47am September 12, 2014)
I love the occasional historical novel. I loved history in
school.
(Donna Antonio 4:03pm September 12, 2014)
I like all genres and historical and mysteries top my list.
How is that for a combo?
(Denise Austin 4:45pm September 12, 2014)
Pick me I'm Scottish :) Just kidding but would love a chance to win your book. Best to one and all who entered :)
(Holly Loch 5:51pm September 12, 2014)
I this really sound like it will be a good book. It's
suspenseful. I like how it sounds.
(Katherine Horvath 10:00pm September 12, 2014)
Historical romance fiction is a wonderful introduction to a specific time
period and if real people also populate the story one can even learn more
by reading up about that real life individual! I love checking things out in
Wikipedia as I am reading.
(Laurel Chevlen 10:47pm September 12, 2014)
I love historical romance and I loved history class--I was
a history minor!
(Denise Holcomb 11:18pm September 12, 2014)
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