My ‘chat’ with historical author, Lindsay Townsend

It’s my pleasure to bring you an interview with a fellow Brit, historical author, Lindsay Townsend. She has a degree in medieval history and uses her background and love of the subject to pen wonderful romances that are full of adventure. www.lindsaytownsend.net

Susan Palmquist (SP)-Tell us about yourself.

Lindsay Townsend (LT)-I’m English, married, born in Yorkshire and still living there. I took a first-class degree in medieval history, worked in a library for a while, and then started to write full-time.

SP- When did you start writing?

LT-I wrote stories as a child, but seriously started in the mid-1980s.

SP-You write historical romances. Any particular reason you chose that sub-genre?

LT-I love romance and richly dramatic situations, which explains why I homed in on the medieval and ancient worlds.

SP-Many historicals are set during the Regency or in the Old West but you’ve chosen older time periods like ancient Rome, even Egypt 1560 BC. Any reason why?

LT-They just suits my tastes, and alongside the medieval studies I was reading Mary Renault and so on. I’ve always taken an interest in all aspects of history and in archaeology right through to the Middle Ages. Ancient Egypt is fascinating anyway. I’ve visited Italy and Greece, and married a classicist, so that’s about it. 

SP-You must spend lots of time on research…you must enjoy it. What’s the research process like? And have you ever come to a dead end when researching something for one of your books?

LT-Research is totally different for a writer of fiction than it is if you’re studying for a degree. I decide on when to set a book, the basic plot and locations and what my main characters will be like. Then I read, Google and pick brains until I have enough material to put the whole thing in a historical context, especially if that context feeds back into the plot. In ‘A Knight’s Enchantment’, for instance, I was able to use the fact that churches in England were all closed for a time when King John was excommunicated by the Pope.

SP-You live in Yorkshire, England, an area with its own interesting history. Any plans to set a book in York itself?

LT-Not at the moment, but no doubt I will one day.  

SP-You’re published with one of the publishing industry’s most well known companies, Kensington/Zebra Books and also electronic publishers like Bookstrand. Maybe you can tell us about the different experiences you’ve had with both types of publishing.

LT-Both publishers have been excellent to write for, and the main difference is speed. As a traditional publisher, Kensington works with long lead times and it seems ages between submitting a manuscript and seeing the book reach the shops. Without warehousing, paper costs, print runs and the like to factor in, an electronic outfit like Bookstrand can publish more quickly. Both publishers have been responsive, careful and professional, and I’ve enjoyed my experience with them so far.

SP-Your latest book, A Knight’s Enchantment is released on June 1^st by Zebra. Can you tell us about it?

LT-It’s set in England in the West Country and opens in 1210. My heroine Joanna is an alchemist and she is also very family-minded, loving her father deeply. She has an interesting heritage, one which is dangerous to her. My hero, Hugh Manhill, is a younger son of a lord, needing to make his own way in the world. He is a warrior and a rescuer, a man of action, whereas Joanna, because of the disciplines of her work, must be more thoughtful. They begin in opposition, as enemies wanting different goals, but that changes over the book. I loved writing ‘A Knight’s Enchantment’, as I’ve loved writing all my knight books.

SP-You’re a member of many writer’s groups. Do you think it’s important to connect with your fellow writers?

LT-It’s very important for me to connect with writers and readers regularly. First, I like to be as outgoing and helpful as I can. Second, I’m living over in the UK and publishing in the US, so the internet – blogging, writer’s groups, contributing to websites – is my main point of contact until I get a chance to visit. The only drawback is that I’m five hours ahead of New York and eight hours ahead of Los Angeles, so I’m usually in bed when my readers get on the web for the evening and I have a pile of emails waiting for me in the morning. 

SP-Any tips for aspiring historical writers?

LT-Choose a period that you love to read and research. Write to your strengths and choose a time that allows you to show them. One of the reasons I love writing about the medieval and ancient worlds is the sheer epic side of events in those times – it gives me lots of scope for women in jeopardy, which I love writing, and adventure, which I also enjoy. If you as a writer love showing intrigue, for example, then a corrupt, dangerous court (Tudors, Dukes of Burgundy, Byzantium, Charles II) might be a perfect setting. If you enjoy by-play between your hero and heroine then a Regency, Victorian, 1920s-30s setting might be perfect. Try to find very intimate, telling details about the period you’re writing, so the reader can identify with your people. Give your hero and heroine universal, timeless desires, needs and goals, but always be aware that they live in a different time and be sure to show those differences. If you wish to show the brutality of an age, you can show it in the actions of secondary characters, and sometimes in your main characters. Be aware of the language you use – would a knight in armour say ‘cool’ or ‘brilliant’? If you’re aiming at a particular publisher, then have a look at their writers and see what language they use – usually a clear, direct style is best.

Here are some publishers who do historicals and will look at a manuscript without an agent’s involvement:

Avon

Dorchester

Avalon

Harlequin

Bookstrand

Desert Breeze

The Wild Rose Press.

SP-Any reference books or sites that you find helpful to historical writers?

LT-The short answer is no, because it depends so much on historical period, locations, plot, characters and details. I have lot of books dealing with general historical topics and background, (including children’s books that are often a wonderful source for social history) and add all the time. For ‘A Knight’s Enchantment’ I added books on alchemy, for the next book it’s tournaments and the Black Death. I also use the internet to hunt down factual bits and pieces, illustrations, and likely books to buy.

SP-What’s next for you, any time periods you want to tackle?

LT-The next book is already written and comes out in July 2011. That’s set in the mid-fourteenth century. After that, I have a couple of ideas, one of which involves taking a minor character from my first medieval and giving him his own book. It’s all a bit fluid.