Cindy Vallar Author, Columnist, & Editor P. O. Box 425, Keller, TX  76244-0425

General Information on Historical Fiction
Baker, G. M. “Sources of Belief in Historical Fiction,” Solander 10:2 (November 2006),
     24-26.
Bower, Sarah. “Beyond Words: The Historical Graphic Novel,” Historical Novels Review
     (November 2007), 5-6.
Curtis, Chuck. “The American Western Novel: Trends in the Genre,” Historical Novels
     Review (November 2006), 4-7.
Eckford, Terese Basinski. “What Do Readers Want?” Solander 11:2 (November 2007), 2-6.
Feuchtwanger, Lion. “The Purpose of the Historical Novel,” translated by John Ahouse from
     “Vom Sinn des historischen Romans,” Das Neue Tage-Buch (1935).
Finch, Sheila Anne Holman. “The Fluffy Stuff?” Historical Novels Review (December 2002),
     4-6.
Hochstetler, J. M. “Some People Don’t Like Historicals,” Favorite PASTimes (28 November
     2006).
Honeywell, Antonia. “Historical Fiction: Towards a New Tradition,” Historical Novels Review
     (November 2005), 10-12.
Jenkins, Lisa. “Historical Fiction Survey Results,” No Quarter Given (May 2000).
Johnson, Sarah. “What are the Rules for Historical Fiction,” part of panel discussion on
     historical fiction at the Associated Writing Programs Conference (March 2002).
Kneale, Matthew. “Historical Fiction: Re-animating the Past,” Waterstone’s Books Quarterly
     (Autumn 2001).
Kreckel, Ken. “Has the 20th Century Finally Come of Age?” Solander 11:1 (May 2007),
     19-23.
Latham, Bethany. “The Historical Novel Society: The First Ten Years,” Historical Novels
     Review (August 2007), 6-8.
Lee, Richard. “Ten Landmark Historical Novels or the Gold Apple of Discord,” Historical
     Novels Review (August 2007), 10-13.
Lindquist, Tarry. “Why & How I Teach with Historical Fiction,” The Instructor.
Lofty, Carrie. “My Annoyance with Historical Fiction,” Salome’s Corner (26 March 2007).
Moffat, Mary. “Disturbing Trends in Children’s Historical Fiction,” Historical Novels Review
     (December 2001), 2-3.
Murphy, Kim. “Marketing Historical Fiction Creatively,” Solander 9:1 (May 2005), 18-21.
“Novelist Ordered to Apologize for Work,” Kansas City Star (12 December 2002).
Rash, Ron. “The Facts of Historical Fiction,” Publishers Weekly (10 April 2006), 78.
Raymond, Boris (compiler). “The Historical Novel.”
“Rich, Lush Historicals: Some Reader Favorites,” Romantic Times (September 2001), 56-59.
Robin, Kathe. “In Search of the Sweeping Historical…Where Have All the Classics Gone?”
     Romantic Times (September 2001), 56-59.
Vallar, Cindy. “The Evolution of the Pirate: Romanticism vs. Reality,” Historical Novels
     Review (August 2005), 4-6).
Whalin, Terry. “Dipping Into History,” The Writing Life, 20 April 2006.
“What is Historical Fiction?” summary of seminar presented at Oregon State University on 9
     April 2003.
Zaber, Trace Edward. “When a Spiffy Literary Vehicle Turns out to be a Book of Lemons.”
 

History vs. Historical Fiction
Archibald, Malcolm. “A Question of Accuracy,” Solander 9:2 (November 2005), 35-36.
Clarke, Caro. “Historical Fiction: Who Rules, Researcher or Story-teller?” Writing Advice 19
     (1999).
Eckford, Teresa Basinski. “Historical Accuracy: A Reviewer’s Perspective,” Historical
     Novels Review (May 2002), 2-3.
Farrokh, Kaveh. “300: Separating Fact from Fiction,” Osprey Publishing.
Haxton, Stephanie. “Women Writing the Past: Fact, Fiction, Feminism in Historical Novels,”
     Solander 5:2 (December 2001), 20-23.
Lee, Richard. “History is but a Fable Agreed Upon: The Problem of Truth in History and
     Fiction,” speech given to the Romantic Novelists’ Association Conference in 2000.
Leibo, Steven. “Do It Yourself Historical Fiction,” essay at a virtual conference.
Rainbolt, William. “He Disagreed with the History, but He Liked the Story,” essay at a virtual conference.
 

Writing Historical Fiction
Braun, Matt. How to Write Western Novels. Cincinnati, OH: Writer’s Digest Books, 1998.
Brown, Joanne. “Historical Fiction or Fictionalized History? Problems for Writers of
     Historical Novels for Young Adults,” ALAN Review 26:1 (Fall 1998)
Buchanan, Jane. “Writing Historical Fiction,” chat transcript (19 Sepetember 2002).
Campbell, Sherita, and Pat Mills. “The Research Time Machine,” Writer’s Digest (March
     1998) 29-32.
Chadwick, Elizabeth. “Living the Past,” Historical Novels Review (November 2005), 3-4.
Crook, Elizabeth. “Seven Rules for Writing Historical Fiction.”
Dreifus, Erika. “A Research Primer for Historical Fiction Writers,” Writing-World.com
     (2004).
Fleming, Paula L. “Blending Fiction and History: What Works? What Doesn’t”
     Writing-World.com, 2004.
Gorman, John. “Writing Historical Fiction,” Twilight Times (July 2002).
Gulland, Sandra. “Animating History: the Challenges of Writing an Historical Novel about
     Josephine,” from speech given to the Napoleonic Society of America in 1993.
“Historical Hysteria,” Redlines and Deadlines (6 December 2007).
Karp, Catherine. “Digging up the Past for Historical Fiction,” eWritersNews Newsletter
     (22 September 2000).
Macleod, Anne Scott. “Writing Backward: Modern Models in Historical Fiction,” Horn Book
     Magazine (January/February 1998).
Mallon, Thomas. “The Historical Novelist’s Burden of Truth,” Absolute Write.
Mills, Elizabeth Shoun. “Breathing Life into Shadowy Women from the Past,” Solander
     9:2 (November 2005), 21-25.
Peabody, Sue. “Reading and Writing Historical Fiction,” The Iowa Journal of Literary
     Studies, 1989.
Pearce, Michael. “Crafting the Historical Whodunit,” Historical Novels Review (May 2007),
     14-15.
Rains, John. “Don’t Shoot Holes in Your Credibility,” Writing-world.com 3:17 (21 August
     2003).
Sabatini, Rafael. “Introduction,” The Life and Work of Rafael Sabatini.
Skaggs, Bethany. “Murder in the Grove, and Other Offerings,” Solander 10:1 (May 2006),
     13-15.
Smolens, John. “Build a Bridge to the Past to Bring Your Historical Novel Alive,” The Writer,
     (120:8) August 2007, 28-31.
Tremayne, Kate. “Writing the Historical Novel,” Historical Novels Review (May 2001), 4-5.
Tremayne, Kate. “Writing an Historical Series,” Historical Novels Review (February 2001),
     4-6.
Tremayne, Kate. “Writing the Historical Novel: Part IV – Plotting,” Historical Novels Review
     (December 2001), 8-10.
Tremayne, Kate. “Writing the Historical Novel: Part III – Characterisation,” Historical Novels
     Review (August 2001), 7-8.
Waldron, Juliet. “A Day in the Life Method of Writing Historical Novels,” Literary Liaisons
     Newsletter (November/December 2004).
Woolley, Persia. How to Write and Sell Historical Fiction. Cincinnati, OH: Writer’s Digest
     Books, 1997.
Zigmond, Sally. “Speaking Historically,” Solander 11:2 (November 2007), 14-16.
 

Research
Antique Words, or words of changed usage.
Donnelly, Shannon. “Researching Historical Fiction,” Solander 5:1 (May 2001), 27-29.
Eicher, David J. “Primary Sources: Handle with Care – but DO Handle,” The Writer (April
     2007) 35-37.
Locher, Margaret. “Six Techniques to Get More from the Web than Google Will Tell You,”
     CIO (20 November 2007).
Hamilton, Katie F. “Historical Research: A Study in Contrasts,” Metheglin Press (1996).
History Magazine
King, Susan. “Adventures in Research,” Romantic Times (October 2001), 54.
Marble, Anne M. “Research Flaws in Romance Novels,” Writing-world.com (2001).
O’Banyon, Constance. “Research: That All Important Tool,” Romantic Times (July 1998),
     100-102.
Passino, Carla. “Leaning on Furniture in Renaissance Italy,” Solander 10:2 (November 2006),
     14-16.
Primary Sources: American Memory (Library of Congress).
EuroDocs, Western European Primary Historical Documents.
Making of America
Avalon Project
Researching in History
Sharratt, Mary. “Portals to Hidden History,” Solander 10:2 (November 2006), 11-13.
Svenne, Jasmina. “The Complete Dancer, or How to Fake Knowledge of Historical Dance and
     Get Away with It,” Solander 5:2 (December 2001), 26-28.
Favorite Research Links
 

Sites Devoted to Historical Fiction
Bygone Days
The Copperfield Review
Elizabeth Chadwick: Living the History
Favorite Pastimes
Favorite Pastimes (alternate site)
Ghostletters
Hearts Through History RWA Chapter
Historic Fiction Writers Group
Historical Fiction at Book Spot
Historical Fiction Books
Historical Fiction Critique Group
Historical Fiction Forums
Historical Fiction Network
Historical Fiction Review
Historical Fiction Review
Historical Fiction Reviews
Historical Fiction vs. History
The Historical Novel Society
Historical Novels Review Online
Historical Romance UK
Historical Romance Writers
Historically Speaking
Literary Liaisons
Of Ages Past
Paradox
Scottish Romance and Historical Fiction
Tales of the Blue and Gray
Unusual Historicals
Writing History/Writing Fiction
Yesterday Revisited