I suppose in a way a serious historical work would in some ways be similar to a well researched saga, for they both have the atmosphere of their time and lots of interesting detail. If the detail is perhaps not well known and worked into the story in such a way that it doesn't intrude then the quality of the book increases. Some well known writers manage to blend fact and fiction so cleverly that it reads as gospel truth, and that is down to their skill as a writer. I'm reading a historical at the moment that comes over well of its period but would translate equally into the late nineteenth or ealy twentieth century.
Historical romance is slightly different. Here the author tells her story with a period flavour but often without much actual fact or detail. The romance is the thing and success hangs on whether or not the author keeps you wondering about the outcome. Laughter is an important factor here, because to make these love stories sparkle you need that sharp quickfire action between the two. The more sparks the better and the hero often gets away with being absolutely outrageous in his dealings with the heroine - sometimes she is just as bad. It works because we all know that underneath he is madly in love with her and in the end he comes across as ...well, a hero.
A good saga needs to have lots of atmpsphere, detail and beautiful background description as well as a heart-rending story that takes the heorine and quite possibly the hero too through unimaginable horrors and suffering. It needs to tug at your hearstrings and bring tears to your eyes, though I like humour too. I think a few characters that make you smile are welcome in whatever genre you are reading. The hero and heroine may not truly be heroic in this type of book, and it will not always have a happy ending as such - though I prefer it if there is a promise of some kind that will bring satisfaction and hope.
If there is going to be a sequel then you do not expect to get your happy ending in the first book but must wait for the second or perhaps even a third. However, you do need something that keeps the character goind with his or her head high, because you need to bring the reader back for the next installment of their story.
One particular and very famous writer is leaving cliff hangers at the end of his sagas at the moment and each time I read the last few lines I get so frustrated because I want the next book instantly. But if he wasn't so good I wouldn't bother so I buy the next one...clever man.
I left one of my ebooks hanging and was abused by a frustrated reader because she couldn't get the next one instantly, even though it was there a couple of days later. It was given a one star because it made her cross - but I think if she was so upset it must have been pretty good.
So my answer is - I like writing both saga and historical romance. Wrting is for my always satisfying and I dare say I shall keep on writing books of one sort or the other until I can no longer manage the computer.
It is just so rewarding.
Love to my readers.
New Big saga coming from Ebuy books in 2014
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