Thanks for crushing my dreams Vanya

*walks away tearing up steam punk short story he just wrote*

What! What did I do? We're talking about defining steampunk genres! There is Scifi steampunk, Fantasy steampunk, alternate history steampunk, etc....

Please reassure me, my sister is staring over my shoulder at your post saying: "You big meany! The poor thing! He's so sad!!"

Yeah, I was just kidding. If you weren't so right I would have argued the point, but I can't say that steampunk is more focused on history than science or fantasy. It seems equal to all three.

We could still market it with short stories in different periods of time...

Well, steampunk as a subgenre/style falls into SF or paranormal SF. It could still fit historical though.

I was more thinking Westerns and pirates.

Might I say, (correct me if I'm wrong) isn't steampunk a genre that tries to look like historical fiction regardless of whether it's fantasy or sci-fi? If that made zip sense, don't worry about it, I'm just being me.

It depends on the author, as well as the sub-sub (or sub-sub-sub) genre for each specific story.

Perhaps we should agree if we mean what's considered true historical fiction, which is very historically accurate, or anything that vaguely resembles history but doesn't have anything that falls into other genres.

I don't see any reason to get picky about what is historical or not. If it looks historical; it fits.

Sounds good. (And much simpler )

Okay. That's good, since it covers steampunk, western, pirate, ww2, and all the others.

The newest historical fiction author whose book I tried to read recently was so full of immoral things I had to stop reading it, it would be amazing to get some good historical Christian godly fiction out there. Which is why I am so excited about this! It will encourage more historical fiction authors just as this site encourages fantasy authors.

What book was it, Elanor, if you don't mind me asking?

I have read a fair amount of Historical Fiction and it is a genre I am most familiar with, so would love to help out in any way I can with HWHF.

Historical is what I'm most comfortable with too Bushy! I can't believe we have to wait a year for it *faints* but it will teach me patience hehehe.

The author is called Philippa Gregory I can't remember the name of the book but she has written a lot.

Don't know that author, familiar name though... I have a 'sounds-like-a-mass-soap-opera-off-content-book-type-of-author' feeling attached with the memory... *shakes head* Never mind me.

*jumps and claps hands* I know! I seriously can't wait! I'm going to go absolutely nuts over there and post mega loads of threads, the council may have to put a temporary ban on me. A year? Wait: I thought it was coming out this November? *goes back to recheck*

Oh my! If it's this November I shall be even more excited EEP! And I'll be right there with ya with the posts Bethy hehehe! I might even be tempted to let some of you have a read of my book!

Yup! It be this November! And if you share yours, Elanor, I'll share mine.

AAAH I am so excited and now we are being hyper I am so excited!!! I can't wait! I feel like screaming and that is not good. *Puts on serious 22 year old face and walks out of thread!*

*actually stifles a giggle in reality* We are all such big children at times here I forget what our ages are!

I have always understood alternate histories to fall under the category of SF, not HF. HF is more like G.A. Henty type stuff: fictional stories set in historical events. Not fictional history.

Contemporary fiction might be a possible new forum in future, possibly. Maybe. I don't know. I don't really have a vision for it right now, but something to combat all those Amish Romances might be nice.

And yes, steampunk isn't really fantasy or sci-fi or historical fiction. It is something you can do in any of the above.

*shudders at Amish Romance *

Ugh. *would be glad to combat such things*

*is glad someone agrees about the Amish romance* Since that's a lot of what my mom reads...

It depends on the history. See, there are some books I've read which are technically fantasy, but might as well be historical seeing as how much they're based on actual historical events. Doing historical research doesn't really fall into the realms of fantasy where we just make our history up, so HF would be useful for people like that. That's the kind of alternate history I was talking about. Fake history that looks like or might as well be real history.

Ooh, you mean like Merlin's Spiral (not yet published, by our very own Treskillard, awesome stuff, haha). It is historical fiction, in that it is about Merlin and Arthur and etc., but it is also fantasy at the same time. You could also call it a supernatural thriller if you wanted to, but only if you wanted to. Haha. He markets it to a fantasy audience, and it fits.

Right. I haven't quite figured out if King Arthur fits on this forum, and I know Greek mythology doesn't. Even though the book might be fantasy in genre the research is historical.

This is the phrase I was looking for! And Eli, I am still in your impression of what will fit the description of CF, and even the supernatural, as it will be at the forum of contemporary Christian fiction writer....

*sighs dreamily*

Apparently, all my dreams are deciding to come true! A historical fiction forum??!! YES!!!!!! Now I must just practice patience and try not to explode before November .

But...Amish romance? Er, what?

I'm guessing there aren't too many Amish romance fans on here. Can't say I'm a big fan myself, though...

I generally despise "historical" fiction but I'll tag along to make sure you're all being accurate.

Well thank you, Joe.

Yeah... Amish Romance.

The short verison of what it is is this:

Amish romance is increasing in popularity. Currently, Beverly Lewis’ Seasons of Grace (Amish romance series) is selling 12 million copies. The popularity of this new “Christian” fiction genre is astounding, and is said to begin to rival vampire romance novels. It's plain and simple: The Amish inspirational is one of the fastest-growing genres in romance publishing.


The old school “courtship” (which is not portrayed favorably, but rather archaic and controlling) dictates that romantic bonding and relationship stay within the religious group. Clubs, bars, and Internet dating are unavailable to these poor deprived adolescents/teens. Young boys and girls are forced to meet, mingle, and interact in Sunday singing groups where pre-marital relations are explicitly forbidden.

So what is their appeal to modern readers? The interesting thing to note is that the Amish Romance is not only reaching Christian audiences (which is somewhat disturbing, seeing as the religious overtones are not very strong and are often depicted as being overbearing and “let’s just love each other and let our children do what they want”). In fact, Amish Romance is inciting the passions of the modern culture. Why? Very simple. Nothing inflames the imagination of readers quite like a “chaste” romance. After all, this is part of Twilight appeal as well.

Most of these “bonnet books” are G-rated romances involving an Amish character who falls for an outsider. Publishers attribute the books' popularity to their pastoral settings and forbidden love scenarios à la Romeo and Juliet. Lately, the genre has expanded to include Amish thrillers and murder mysteries.

And how is this genre affecting our Amish friends? The reaction has been mixed. Some dismiss the books as a "distorted, soap-opera version of Amish life," while others reportedly snap up the novels as soon as they are released. Lewis claims to have been told by an Amish fan that "all the women in our church district are reading your books under the covers, literally."

That’s my sum of the new genre. It may be biased, but I tried to be objective.... Needless to say, I dislike the books. And it turns out that wasn't really a short version, was it?

I like your long versions.

I had never really inspected the genre even though I have read a couple of them by Wanda E. Brunstetter. After hearing your thoughts though, I see you're very correct. Although they were good 'boredom fodder' (my term for I-don't-have-any-good-books-to-read-right-now-and-I'm-bored-so-I'll-read-this-instead syndrome) I never really liked them. It was always the same story repackaged with a different ribbon. Like you said, they aren't really promoting a Godly outlook on the year preceding marriage. Christian themes are far too downplayed. It's the world's story in an Amish setting.

Storylines that consist chiefly of romance don't thrill me much anyway. I prefer to have adventure the root storyline, romance the secondary. Makes for a much more interesting read in my view.

*high fives Aussie * I am so with you there, Aussie! I'm not a Christian romance novel person.

Hmm... I've read some of Beverly Lewis's books (most of them borrowed from a friend, then the others from the library). I never had a problem with them, though I never bothered to pick them apart either.

I really need to pay more attention to this subforum... I didn't realize we'd started a thread on this yet!

I want to offer my services, but I'm not sure yet how much help I will be. As of yet I haven't had the patience to do enough research to write true historical fiction, but I've considered doing it - maybe if I have a bunch of history buffs to help me with my facts, I'll make an effort to! I do, however, like to base my fantasy off of real-world historical cultures, so some of that research can go on HWHF. (For example, the costumes in Peter's Angel/Alaidia are primarily copied from Colonial styles.)

I don't know yet if I'll have enough time or expertise to be able to mod full-time, though I'd certainly like to be considered as a possible greenie.

I was informed that Jay originally didn't envision a contemporary fiction branch for HW, because that genre has more coverage in the literary world. Christian Fantasy and sci-fi are more rare. I could see how contemporary fiction could go with historical, but that might make the scope of the forum too broad, especially in terms of what you'll get in the Story Excerpts section.

I agree - steampunk can be a style instead of a genre, so it can go wherever it fits best. I personally put most of my steampunk with sci-fi.

Thanks for the long explanation on Amish romance, Airi! Very thoughtful of you . Yes, that certainly does sound unpleasant, though I'm sure it must have some merits...probably...

I love historical fiction, writing and reading! My NaNoWriMo novel was Historical Fiction. I'd love to be a moderator and offer my services.

*skips, squealing, out of room*

My hand is up for absolutely anything that you's want me to do on HWHF; even if it's stand at the door and hand out flyers.

I don't know if any more mods are needed over there but I do love Historical Fiction and it would probably be my favourite side to be on; so I'd love to be considered for mod there as well, however I don't know if you already have your mods in place for over there, but just so you know I'm game. I'm happy to help in any way you need even if you don't need me to mod.

I've never written much Sci Fi or Fantasy so I'm over the moon that an Historical Fiction HW is being prepared as that is what my main WIP is!

Thanks!

Same, Elanor.

Sir Emeth has asked me to help out, and I am ready and willing to do anything to help get the forum going!

Please tell me how to help out

- Ness

*smiles* Anyone who is willing to help will likely end up helping. . . just so you know. Or at least, I will ask all who are willing to do something over there.

If you need me to help in any capacity I will do everything in my power to help.

I want to join when it opens up. November 11th will be my one year anniversary of being on HW.

Hannah Marie,

Thank You! How can I help?

- Ness

I'd be willing to help if need be.

For right now, sit tight. I'm working on probing some people to get the forum created and then we can start building and the like. I'll predict. . . by July or very beginning of August you will come in very handy.

Exciting times!

Alright. . . I officially need everyone-who's-willing's help with the Historical Fiction division. Please PM (unless you already received a PM from me. . . in that case you know what to do) me for details if you would like to be a part of that team.

If you guys are down a man I'll help over there!



-God bless!

I can help the same way I helped at the early workings of HWSF unless you already have someone to make the big forums within it.

Sure! Just PM Hannah. We'd love to have you.

Ok, PM sent. Now I just need to go through a refresher from HWSF.