Recently, we invited historical romance authors to spend an hour with us, talking with each other and responding to your reader questions. Tamera Alexander, Jenelle Hovde, Christine Hill Suntz, and Roseanna M. White were so gracious with their time and their expertise during the event!
We received so many wonderful questions that we couldn’t get to them all in the webinar, so we’ve asked the authors to continue the conversation here.
If you didn’t get a chance to attend the original webinar or you would like to hear from our authors again, submit the quick form at the bottom of the page to be directed to the full event recording!
What sparked your interest in writing historical romance?
Roseanna: Historical romance was my first love. I devoured the Mandie series by Lois Gladys Leppard when I was in middle school, which hooked me on the history . . . and even then, all I really wanted to know was if Mandie and Joe ended up together someday. From there, my next favorites were authors like Lori Wick, Stephanie Grace Whitson, Janette Oke, Laurraine Snelling . . . thereby cementing my love of Christian historical romance. I began writing them in seventh grade—long before I’d ever fallen in love myself. And though at this point I’ve tried my hand at pretty much every genre under the sun, historical romance remains my first love!
Christine: Historical romance has always been my favorite genre to read. My first historical romances were probably Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly series. I’m old enough to remember waiting for the next book in the series to come out. Then I fell in love with the classics of Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters. I love the way historical romance takes you away as a reader to another time and place. When I read a book, I want to get lost in the world and forget about the day-to-day for a few hours. Historical romance does this for me every time.
Tamera: I’ve always been drawn to the stories of ordinary people who lived through extraordinary times, especially the ones history forgot to write down. Reading novels like Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion series (that I reread every 2-3 years) showed me how powerfully a story set in the past can speak truth into the present.
How do you pick your historical events that you want to write about?
Roseanna: My first thought was “They pick me!” but as I really think about it, there are always reasons why specific stories in history jump out at me. Usually it’s because they’re about topics I’m already interested in and which have therefore already become part of my writer “brand,” what readers expect from me—stories about intelligence work, espionage, or some other “seeking out hidden things” topic (I’ve delved into things like treasure hunts now and then too, as “vacation!”) So I always have an ear and eye peeled (as does my husband) as I’m reading or watching TV, and whenever I come across a fascinating historical tidbit, my brain immediately goes to work on how it might be worked into my kind of story. Where could the romance live? What kind of heroine and hero would best showcase it? Would it appeal to my readers? Sometimes it’s obvious—sometimes it takes more work. Sometimes things just get filed in the “interesting” file but don’t get turned into books . . . yet . . . because they don’t fit my kind of story or what my readers expect from me.
Christine: I think the events choose me! Usually, an odd detail or a distinctive personality jumps out at me when I’m reading or listening to a podcast.
Tamera: Often the history finds me first, whether it’s a real place like Carnton or Belmont Mansion, or a personal connection like my great-great-grandfather breaking mules for Jack Daniel’s Distillery, which led to In These Hills. If a piece of history won’t let go of me, I know there’s a story there.
If you could encourage a faith-based writer who feels small or unsure if her words matter, what would you tell her?
Roseanna: We are all small when compared to our great God . . . and we are all precious, all created for a purpose, and all created in His creative image. Your words matter because God is the one who whispers them into your heart, into your mind, and into your soul. Sometimes those words will reach tens of thousands of people; sometimes they’ll reach one. And sometimes, that one is you. But don’t despise that! I can’t tell you how many times the Lord led me to write something not because it was destined to reach multitudes, but because writing it—wrestling with it, exploring it, working through it—changed me. Writing, for me, is an act of worship that I do with my Creator, and that’s how I encourage you to view it too. So whenever you feel small, remember that those words you’re putting down are taking part in His creation, are a dialogue between you and the God who formed the world with words, who sent the eternal Word among us. That’s sacred. That’s special. And even if those words go no further than you, still they are meaningful, because they help you better understand Him.
Christine: I would encourage this writer to not give up. In my experience, writing a book that was ready for publication took years. Be open to feedback, seek out critique partners, encourage others and, above all, keep writing!
Jenelle: God gives us talents and dreams. The best thing we can do is to write for Him and trust what He does with the results. Whatever we do, we ought to work as hard as we can for His glory.
Tamera: I’d tell her that God doesn’t measure impact the way we do, and a story that reaches one heart is never wasted. Keep writing faithfully, and trust Him with the results. Your words may be exactly what someone needs to read.
How do you choose which historical facts to weave into the story?
Christine: This is a tough one! Usually, my first draft has way too many details. All the fascinating (to me) tidbits I came across in my research and I can’t wait to share with readers. Through the editing process I try to weed out all the superfluous details and pare it down to what is necessary for the plot and to make the setting come to life.
Tamera: I ask whether a fact moves the characters’ journey forward or deepens the reader’s sense of being there. I research far more than what I put into the book, because the details that make it onto the page should feel like part of the story, not a history lesson.
How much time do you spend researching your topic, if it’s one you haven’t written about before?
Christine: I usually read a few books for background info and context. Then I figure out the broad strokes of my plot. After that, I research as I go.
Tamera: Research begins roughly a year before I write a word and really never stops until the book is done. I read, visit the actual locations, meet with historians and curators, wander old cemeteries for names and ideas, and talk with people who carry the stories, like the Lynchburg folks who shared their memories with me for In These Hills.
What do you find is the most difficult part about marketing your books, and how do you overcome that?
Christine: Marketing is so challenging for an introvert like me! I find it particularly tough to create posts for social media that engage readers. Sometimes I think I made an awesome reel, and it gets 2 comments (from family!) and twenty likes. It’s so hard to predict what will interest people (and what the algorithm will show).
Jenelle: Personally, I love marketing. This might sound wild coming from an introvert, but I love connecting with a community of women who love reading as much as I do. For me, it’s more about building authentic relationships and creating a space to discuss art and books than it is about “marketing.” In a sense, I feel like I’ve found my tribe. To refer to Anne of Green Gables, marketing allows you to find “kindred spirits.”
Tamera: The hardest part (for me) is balancing time spent marketing with time spent writing the next book, especially with a new release. What helps most is focusing on relationships rather than promotion: my newsletter readers, my website, and the conversations I have with readers at reader events and on social media are where the real connection happens.
About the Authors
Tamera Alexander is a USA Today bestselling novelist and one of today’s most beloved authors of inspirational historical romance and women’s contemporary fiction. While being Gram Tam is her current favorite role, she’ll never turn down a stroll through an old cemetery or browsing through antique shops.
Her works have been awarded numerous industry-leading honors—among them the Christy Award, the RITA Award, the Carol Award, and Library Journal’s top honors—and have earned the distinction of Publishers Weekly starred reviews. In 2020 she was inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame which recognizes authors for their legacy and contribution to Christian fiction. Her deeply drawn characters and thought-provoking plots have earned her devoted readers worldwide.
Tamera and her husband love living in Nashville, Tennessee, and treasure the time spent with their grown children and grandchildren. They live a short distance from the Southern mansions that serve as the backdrop for many of her critically acclaimed novels. Tamera views her writing as a way to grow closer to the Lord Jesus Christ—and her deepest desire is that those who read her novels will take steps closer to him as well.
Tamera invites you to connect with her at TameraAlexander.com.
Jenelle Hovde, an accomplished illustrator, author, pastor’s wife, and homeschooling mother, ventured off the beaten path when she transitioned from her career as a doctor of audiology to pursue her passion for writing. While her nine novels span different eras—from the ancient worlds to World War II—her favorite genre is sweet Regency romance that enchants readers with tales of love and intrigue set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century England.
Drawing inspiration from timeless treasures found in antique stores, Jenelle pens historical romance novels that captivate readers with vivid storytelling and gentle messages of faith. Her stories have garnered impressive showings in multiple writing contests. Often found writing at the Florida beach, she navigates life with her family and manages two saucy cats who insist on interrupting her creative endeavors.
To stay updated with her latest works or subscribe to her newsletter, visit her online at jenellehovdeauthor.com.
Christine Hill Suntz knew she wanted to write as soon as she finished Anne of Green Gables, and she’s been lost in her imagination ever since. Her love of language led her to study French and German and to pursue a graduate degree in comparative literature, before finding a home teaching high school French.
In 2022, she won the ACFW Genesis Contest and the West Coast Christian Writers Goldie Award for best fiction writing, and she was a finalist in the 2023 ACFW Genesis Contest. She lives in Ontario on a hobby farm with her family, a flock of nosy hens, one attack rooster, and a herd of entitled goats. When she’s not writing or teaching, she loves to try out historical recipes on her (mostly) willing family. Follow her adventures in writing and historical farming at christinehillsuntz.com or on Instagram at christinehillsuntz.
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, award-winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. Having successfully launched two homeschool grads into the unsuspecting world, she now spends her time writing fiction, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books . . . to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at RoseannaMWhite.com.
Watch the Crazy4Fiction Historical Romance Book Discussion
Submit the form below to watched the recorded discussion between Tamera Alexander, Jenelle Hovde, Christine Hill Suntz, and Roseanna M. White!