Friday, May 1, 2009

Celebrating with the English Tea Rose Line

Join us as we cross the pond to hear from the editors who work on our non-American historical line... English Tea Rose.

From editor Diane Parkinson:

English Tea Rose, which actually encompasses other European countries, is a joy to work for with our great Senior Editor, Nicola Martinez. Since I started as an editor for ETR I’ve noticed the submissions we now receive are as skillful as any published by the big New York houses. Here we also give authors a chance to grow and improve their skills. Even our rejections teach and guide. It’s too bad all publishers aren’t as helpful.

I’d love to see more medieval and earlier era stories. But I welcome anything well-written. I appreciate an author who is willing to learn and improve as a writer and understands that head-hopping with point of view (POV) is a distraction to a romance—the next door neighbor (unless the villain) and family dog do not need a POV. I’m also a stickler for historical accuracy.

Keep up the stellar work, ETR.


And from editor Zanoni Rose:

The English Tea Rose line is the one I wanted to work on since historicals have always been my favorite subgenre of romance, especially the Regency or Regency-era historical. I'm a fangirl, first and foremost, before being an editor. I have a collection of books signed by my favorite authors and it thrills me to be able to say I edited the fantastic historicals I've worked on for The Wild Rose Press - meeting my new favorite authors as I work with them!

I enjoy working with my authors to make sure we are as accurate as possible for the time period of their stories - I'm a real stickler for catching anachronisms, especially in things like expressions used in dialogue or names of colors, for example. Did you know that 'mauve' wasn't used as a name for a color until 1859?

I've been so impressed with the caliber of work I see submitted to The Wild Rose Press. I look forward to reading more submissions that really focus on the developing romance, rather than on other plot elements. My advice to aspiring TWRP authors is to keep the romance first and keep on writing and submitting to The Wild Rose Press!

16 comments:

Silver James said...

Writing a good historical (especially one set in England) takes talent, an eye for detail, and dedication to "getting it right" in terms of setting and action. All this and romance, too? My hat's off to you ladies of the English Tea Roses!

Kaylea Cross said...

I love that the editors are such sticklers for accuracy of the time period. That attention to detail is what brings the era to life.

Amber Leigh Williams said...

I agree with your POV point. I used to be a major head-hopper, but Lori Graham from Crimson Rose straightened me out. I'm now reading a Julie Garwood historical and I love Julie's stories, I really do. But the head-hopping! Every three paragraphs!

I'm a bit curious about the English Tea line. Is it strictly British historicals or can a story take place in Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, even further onto the Eurasia continent?

Hywela Lyn said...

Hello again, well as a Brit,I do, of course, love English historicals. My favourite era is mediaeval and earlier - I love Celtic romances but since I write fantasy I supose that's only natural.

Amber - I can answer part of your question. Geographically speaking, 'Britain' consists of England, Scotland, Ireland - and Wales. (My native country, Wales usually gets forgotten somehow.) Not quite sure how this relates to the 'English Rose' line though.

NicDarienzo said...

Hi Amber,

The line has expanded to include any non-American setting. I'd love to see some Scottish, Irish, or Italian historicals --and any other settings our authors can research and send to us!

Amber Leigh Williams said...

Hywela,

Thanks for the geography lesson. I thought I passed that class.... Must look up my old report cards, LOL

What I really want to know is if I were to write a historical set in Australia (think Hugh Jackman), I'm not sure where I would submit it.

Amber

Mary Ricksen said...

Hi Zanoni, sorry to lose you, very sorry, but happy for you if you are happier!
Did that make sense? (grin)

Amber Leigh Williams said...

Thanks, NicDarienzo! I'll keep that in mind ;)

Amber

NicDarienzo said...

Amber... we definitely want Hugh in the ETR line. He just can't come as Wolverine, LOL.

Kelly McCrady said...

Wolverine would have to go to Black Rose :-)

NicDarienzo said...

And the winner of this hour's drawing is....

Silver James

Linda Banche said...

Editor question--as I understand it, most of the story is supposed to be in the hero or heroine's POV, with maybe a little villain POV. If so, how can you have things happening that are part of the story, but the hero and/or heroine aren't present? Is it OK to use universal POV (narrator POV) in such a case?

Thanks,
Linda

Silver James said...

w00t! Thanks so much!

danie88 said...

I have to say I'm a big fan of historical romances too... all kinds... especially when they mix with other genres like paranormal :)

Jeannie Ruesch said...

Hello to my wonderful editor Zanoni! You have the eagle eye for anachronisms, that's for sure! I'm definitely glad you're here in the English Tea Rose line! :)

Donna Hatch said...

Thanks for all you do, Zanoni. Historical accuracy is a very important part of writing historicals - minus the yucky stuff no one wants to think about, of course!