Comments on Inkwell Inspirations: Changing It Up - Creating Fresh Historical Fiction...

Great post, Suzie. I am challenged to look into un...

2012-01-19T13:34:06.456-05:00

Great post, Suzie. I am challenged to look into unusual occupations now! Thanks for the post.

Thanks, DeAnna. I totally agree. If she isn't ...

2012-01-18T11:23:29.791-05:00

Thanks, DeAnna. I totally agree. If she isn't a woman of her time, if she doesn't recognize her dreams aren't the norm, it would ring as false. Besides that, I think the book would lack its historical flavor - and then what would be the point?

Thanks for the fix, Dina, and the author names. I&...

2012-01-18T11:14:05.053-05:00

Thanks for the fix, Dina, and the author names. I'll look for those books for sure.

I was never a good runner - the joint thing you mentioned - but I used to love combining walking and jogging. More walking, less jogging, but it was fun.

Yes, what Lisa said! Push the boundaries, but mak...

2012-01-18T10:27:59.900-05:00

Yes, what Lisa said! Push the boundaries, but make the heroine a woman of her times. Know and acknowledge that people from other times aren't us. They had different mindsets and different expectations and priorities. Not that they all thought in lockstep, but they would at least realize if an ambition or desire of theirs was unusual for that time.

Great post!

It's possible the thing I did yesterday fixed ...

2012-01-18T10:18:10.035-05:00

It's possible the thing I did yesterday fixed the comments but just didn't click in until today. Unless Lisa did something magical.

A Lasting Impression - Tamera Alexander

The Healing Season - Ruth Axtell Morren

Eve in Havah by Tosca Lee loved to run, even into her old age. I found that charming and inspiring. I can't do much running because my joints haven't allowed me to since college, but I love the feel of running.

PS! Whoever fixed the commenting situation, Thank ...

2012-01-18T10:07:06.520-05:00

PS! Whoever fixed the commenting situation, Thank You!

Deb, I remember reading a few books about women po...

2012-01-18T09:57:09.644-05:00

Deb, I remember reading a few books about women posing as boys. They were fun, but I don't think it's a subject I could do well.

TL Higley had the heroine in Pompeii posing as a boy learning to be a gladiator. Not only was this unusual, but it was very detailed and very believable - right down to the pain and fear. I loved it.

Dina, who wrote A Lasting Impression and A Healing...

2012-01-18T09:51:37.282-05:00

Dina, who wrote A Lasting Impression and A Healing Season? I'm sure I'd love them. I love reading about creative heroines.

Since you mentioned the jogger in LFY in Annapolis, it reminds me of a book I read but can't remember the details. The heroine exercised a lot and at first the hero thought she was kind of nuts.

I agree, Lisa. Believable is a must. As are the ot...

2012-01-18T09:46:08.586-05:00

I agree, Lisa. Believable is a must. As are the other things you mentioned. You can't just slap a label on a heroine without showing us the how and the why.

And, I think it's also important to show her in her element. The reason I loved Crescent City Courtship so much is because we saw the desire and the struggles, but it was also richly detailed with medical school history.

Ooooh! great subject, Suzie. And I enjoyed seeing ...

2012-01-18T08:01:34.167-05:00

Ooooh! great subject, Suzie. And I enjoyed seeing so many books I've read, including Chasing Kate. It's been too long since I read a Robin Lee Hatcher book!

As Lisa said, giving an unusual occupation must be dealt with carefully. I don't think I'd ever try to do the 'woman poses as boy soldier or groomsman' to save her life or gain some secret information. It's exciting to read but I am constantly questioning the reality of it.

I loved The Lady of Milkweed Manor for many things, one of them being the premise you spoke of. That was such a delightful, fresh idea.

I look forward to chatting about this today. Thanks!

Fun post. Loved many of these, especially Girl in ...

2012-01-18T07:48:23.172-05:00

Fun post. Loved many of these, especially Girl in the Gatehouse and Lady of Milkweed Manor. Another book I really enjoyed was A Lasting Impression featuring an artist. Oh, and A Healing Season featuring a theatre performer. I could hang out in those worlds nonstop.

And finally, a fun minor character, Serena in Love Finds You in Annapolis is a young society lady with a penchant for running through town. Today we'd call her a jogger, I'm sure. No doubt she'd be running marathons.

Ooh, ooh. I do love to see historical heroines tha...

2012-01-18T07:19:46.090-05:00

Ooh, ooh. I do love to see historical heroines that are pushing societal restrictions. BUT I want it to be done in a believable way, and showing due respect for the historical mindset and culture that produced this incredible heroine.

I do love reading about pioneering women in the fields of law and medicine, or really any creative pursuit.