Saturday, September 10, 2011

Historical Romance - Australian style

Hi Judith and Sarah, thank you so much for inviting me to blog with Romancing The Genres. I am thrilled to be here.

Like the heroines in my novels, my forebears left their native shores in sailing ships to forge a new life in the untamed frontiers of colonial Australia. They battled bushfires, hardship and the tyranny of distance in an inhospitable and savage land, where only the tough and resilient would survive. They not only survived but prospered in ways that would not have been possible for them had they stayed in England and Scotland.

I am a fourth generation Australian. We are a tough, resilient people, and we have fought hard to find our place in the world.   We have beautiful scenery, unique wild life, and a bloodied convict history.

I admire a heroine who is resourceful, not afraid to fight for her family and the man she loves. I want my readers to be cheering for her, willing her to obtain her goals, to overcome the obstacles put in her way by rugged frontier men who think they only want a wife to beget sons.  A chance for revenge.  To consolidate their fortunes. That love is for fools.  Oh, the victory for the reader when these tough, ruthless men succumb to the heroine’s bravery and beauty and are prepared to risk all, even their lives, to save her.

Then there are the brave young men who sailed thousands of miles across the sea in World War 1 to fight for mother England, the birth country of their parents and grandparents. I also wanted to write about the wives and sweethearts who often waited in vain for their loved ones to return. Who were there to nurture the returning heroes, heal their broken bodies and tormented souls.

This is why I write historical romance, even if it means trawling through dusty books in the library, haunting every historical site on the internet, badgering elderly relatives, and risking snake-bite by clambering around overgrown cemeteries.

Historical novels are informative.  When they contain a dash of romance they are also entertaining. Research is imperative when writing in this genre. Nothing kills your story or reputation quicker than inaccuracy.

I sincerely believe that those who forget the past do so at their peril. Nations should learn from the mistakes of the previous generations and not repeat them, but if the history is not documented, how can new generations learn about it?

                                    *****

MARGARET TANNER  is an award winning multi-published Australian author. She loves delving into the pages of history as she carries out research for her historical romance novels, and prides herself on being historically correct.  Her publishers are Whiskey Creek Press and The Wild Rose Press.

Margaret is a member of the Romance Writers of Australia, the Melbourne Romance Writers Group (MRWG) and EPIC.  Frontier Wife won the historical romance section of the 2010 Readers Favorite Award. Her World War 1 novel, Wild Oats, was a finalist in the 2010 EPIC Awards.






FRONTIER WIFE
BLURB: Only in the new world can a highborn young Englishwoman and a tough frontier man, ignite the passion that will fulfil their hopes and dreams in ways they never imagined possible.

Tommy Lindsay arrives in colonial Australia to claim the rundown farm she and her brothers have inherited.

Hidden behind her fragile English rose beauty, beats the heart of a courageous young woman. She will need all this strength to survive the unforgiving heat, and the dangers lurking around every corner.  Lost in the bush, capture by a feral mountain family, raging bushfires are nothing, compared to the danger she faces if she gives her heart to Adam Munro.

Adam Munro, a rugged frontier man, has no room in his heart to love a woman.  All he ever wanted was a presentable wife who would provide him with heirs.   He didn’t need passion in his life, not until he met the beautiful English rose living next door to him.

Frontier Wife is available from The Wild Rose Press
Margaret Tanner

19 comments:

Liz Reinhardt said...

Margaret,

Thank you for sharing! Your books sound fantastic, and your passion is inspiring! My mother is a huge historical romance nut, and my house was always full of gorgeous, glossy covered novels. I got bit by the bug early, and we both share and devour them. I'll be sure to grab your work...I don't know if I've ever read one set in Australia! Thank you for your post!

Sarah Raplee said...

Margaret, thank you for visiting RTG. I'm fascinated by Australian history and will enjoy reading your novels. I agree that inaccuracy in a historical novel can ruin the book for me. When I read yours, I'll know I'm learning some Aussie history at the same time.

Paty Jager said...

Margaret, Great to see you here at RTG! I agree historical romance books are an entertaining way to learn history. And how I feel about the genre.

I need to read your books,now that my life might be slowing down a bit more, I'm trying to get caught up on the books on my tbr pile.

Diana McCollum said...

(waving from across the ocean! Bend, Oregon) Great post Margaret. I am ordering your "Frontier Wife" today. I've always been interested in Australia, but haven't read a Historical in that setting.

Judith Ashley said...

Margaret,
Thank you for visiting with us at Romancing The Genre. I think you've picked up a couple of fans! me included.
I've been to Australia once and loved it. It is one place in the world my granddaughter would like to see and traveling there with her would be a treat (for me - not sure for her).
I agree about accuracy - when I read a book and there is something in it that I know is an error it takes away from everything else. I'll look forward to learning more about Australia's real history from you as I read your books.

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Diana, Judith, Elizabeth, Sarah and Paty.
Thank you so much for all your kind words. Sorry I didn't jump in sooner, but I have been really sick with a virulent dose of the flu. I have had 2 lots of antibiotics, which didn't help much. The doctor told me I had borderline pneumonia.

I think historicals are in a class of their own really, contemporary romances are good, but for atmosphere and drama, nothing beats a well written historical.

Regards

Margaret

Cheryl Wright said...

Hi Margaret, I agree about accuracy in historicals. If I read a book in a bygone era and it's not accurate, it becomes a wallbanger.

I've read most of your books, and I've not found even one thing that's not historically correct.

I know you pride yourself on that, and I'm so glad you do.

Well done, and great post!

Margaret M said...

Hi Margaret,

I find your stories take me back to a time where life was much tougher and I love reading how your characters conquer the elements.

Thank you for sharing a little of your writing process.

Cheers,
Margaret

Judith Ashley said...

Margaret T. Hope you are on the mend. I've had the 'real flu' and it is a killer (litterally much of the time). So if that is what you have, my heart goes out to you. Take care!

And thanks for chiming in when you can.

Michelle Somers said...

Hi Margaret

Great blog!

And you are so right, nothing kills a novel faster than inaccuracy of information. You are amazing with your knowledge of Australian colonial history and your ability to weave it into a great romance.

Hope you're feeling better now. Roll on Summer!

Michelle

Cara Gabriel said...

Hi Margaret,

It's lovely to see you here, and hear about your passion for historical heroines. As a recent migrant to Aus, I know I've had it much easier - (relatively) reasonably air fares, Skype and facebook all help when your family is 12,000 miles away. It's heartbreaking to think that most early migrants would have left Europe knowing they'd never see their families again...

Cara
xx

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for dropping by and for your kind words. Accolades from an author of your stature mean a lot to me.

Regards

Margaret

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Margaret and Michelle,
Thank you so much for dropping by, I appreciate it and your lovely comments. You are too kind.

Regards

Margaret

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Cara,

Thank you for dropping by. Yes, we certainly have it much easier nowadays if we want to leave our homeland and start life in a new country.

Regards

Margaret

Margaret Tanner said...

Thanks Judith,
If you have had the flu too, you have my sympathy. I am not normally prone to colds or flu, but this horrible flu I have had could easily be deadly to elderly people or those with respiratory conditions.It has really laid me low.

Regards

Margaret

Serena Tatti Story Editor said...

Hi Margaret,
Great blog! I find that inaccuracies throw me out of the story and, like Cheryl said, the book becomes a "wallbanger". I'm always astounded by your knowledge of all things historical, especially Australian history, though you do rather well with European history as well :)

As a child of immigrants who arrived in Australia in the mid 1950s, I know my parents did it tough and, as Cara said, very different nowadays (though no doubt still tough in many ways) Fascinating times!

Hugs
Serena

Lia Kamp said...

Hi Margaret,
as a writing buddy, I know your passion for aussie history, and weaving it through your gorgeous stories. I also love your contemporary story telling, so keep getting well and keep those romances coming please!

Louise Reynolds said...

Hi Margaret,
You have a deft hand with creating a bygone era so it springs off the page. Lovely to see you here.

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Serena, Lia and Louise,
Thank you for dropping by. I really appreciate it. I have always enjoyed studying history, particularly Australian history,even though we only have a couple of hundred years of it.

Regards

Margaret