Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Happy Birthday TWRP - from the Historical Department


Nothing is more exciting than reading historical romance! It can have murder and suspense, danger and adventure, travel and home truths, all rolled into one great story with dashing, handsome hero and heroine extraordinaire who become our closest friends for the duration of the pages...

NicoleD’Arienzo - I love historical romance and consider it the ultimate form of time travel.... without ever leaving my favorite chair. But perhaps the very best part of being the managing editor of our historical division here at TWRP for the past six years is what the authors have taught me. When we were preparing to open our doors for business, I knew the main thing I wanted to give our authors was variety--the freedom to write about any period in history, even recent history. Not only did our authors take me up on that, they've improved upon it, giving our four historical lines more variety and flavor than I could have ever imagined. If you think historical romance is all Gone With the Wind or Wuthering Heights.... then you haven't met our authors! Stop by our little corner of the garden and visit a while. Your next heart-stopping adventure awaits!

So while we, the editors, celebrate six years in the garden, I raise my glass to the authors who embraced our historical department and made it their own.

And now a celebratory word from the talented, devoted editors who make up the historical department here at TWRP:

I'm Allison Byers. This is my 5th year with TWRP. I began my career here editing in Last Rose and Sweetheart. Then a few months after I started, an opening in the Historical Department--the genre I truly love--became available, and now I'm in editing heaven...well most of the time. I have had the privilege of working with so many talented authors who write awesome stories. I enjoy stepping back in time and reliving history. It is my opinion that historical romances are the real escape literature--allowing the reader to experience the sights and sounds of eras gone by. It has been a great five years here at TWRP, and I hope for many more to read wonderful stories and get to know lots of great writers.

Susan Yates - I remember when I first discovered historical novels. I don't remember the specific book, but I do know the author was Georgette Heyer. I was  hooked. From that time forward, I read every historical novel I could get my hands on. Some of my favorite authors were Georgette (of  course!), Jane Aiken Hodge, Jean Plaidy, and Sylvia Thorpe. I loved how those authors could transport me to another time and place, show me things about history that I didn't know, and make me care about their characters. That is still what I love about historical novels and why I love editing for the historical lines of The Wild Rose Press. I get to read really great stories that transport me from the here and now to the way back when, stories that take me on a journey and make me fall in love with a terrific hero and heroine along the way.

Nan Swanson - Historicals are rich in incidental information—the attitudes, the behavior, the culture, the dress, everything about a time we can never revisit until the fabulous time machine is invented for real. My favorite historical line at TWRP is Vintage Rose, the 1900s, maybe because I remember much of the last half of it and have heard so many stories about the first half (and before) from my parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other older folks. A story told by someone who lived it or witnessed it is an escape into reality, the reality that was his life, that she sees in her mind’s eye as she speaks, that becomes reality to me as I hear it. While working on a historical romance I am often transported to a world I may have heard of but never lived in, surroundings unfamiliar to me personally that become as familiar as my own home as I read and edit that book, all through the magic of an author’s ability to bring the people of that time and place to life with her writing skills.

The Wild Rose Press, Inc. is a special place to work first of all because it is full of warm and congenial people, whether authors, editors, readers, management, whoever. There are no strangers. I love the way the founders had everything so well thought out and organized even before they opened the doors, and how they continue to keep everyone focused on our goal of nurturing authors and helping them grow. Keeping processes organized and up to date is part of that effort, and so is the constant communication between all of us as we work together to produce the very best book possible for every contracted manuscript. I’m proud to be a part of TWRP and celebrate its 6th birthday!

26 comments:

Me :) said...

TWRP ROCKS!!! and Historical are the BOMB!!!

Opal
opalcampbell @ att . net

Tanya Hanson said...

I'm working with Nicole right now and it rocks.

Georgette Heyer's The Black Moth is my favorite. Sigh upon sigh!!!

congrats, TWRP. Here's to many more happy years together!!

Joyce Henderson said...

I've had the privilege of working with two talented editors at TWRP. Historical is what captured me many years ago and introduced me to the rich world of Romance. Specifically, Woodiwiss's Ashes in the Wind.

I've learned so much from well researched historicals. In my case, writing Native American and turn of the century, I get to use much of my own life. I simply transport my world back to the mid 1860s or the turn of the century.

Leigh D'Ansey said...

Happy sixth birthday you guys! My Regency novella 'The Duke's Blackmailed Bride' hit and held the #1 spot on Kindle's Regency romance top 100 list and still has consistent sales. So much of this is due to the terrific editorial support I received from Susan Yates at TWRP. TWRP is an awesome publishing company. Have a wonderful day.

Lynda Coker said...

Historicals are absolutely a wonderful read. Infinite scope and storytelling make for adventurous reading.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Happy Birthday to all departments of The Wild Rose Press. I've been fortunate enough to contract a novella in the Love Letters line. I've been reading historicals since the early sixties and love the rich detail woven in to not only charm the readers, but to educate them, too.

Christine said...

Happy 6th Birthday...and Congrats. I Love Writing for TWRP because of the professional friendly staff and the wonderful readers... Thanks to both for allowing me to say..."I am living the dream..."

Christine Columbus

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Happy Birthday to all departments of The Wild Rose Press. I've been fortunate enough to contract a novella in the Love Letters line. I've been reading historicals since the early sixties and love the rich detail woven in to not only charm the readers, but to educate them, too.

Susan Macatee said...

Historical and time travel romances are what I love to read, so it was only natural that that's what I end up writing. I love that TWRP gives me the freedom to write the period that I love rather than what seems to be popular at the moment. And the editors are fantastic to work with!
Waving madly to Allison and Nicole.

Happy birthday, TWRP!

Isabella Macotte said...

Happy birthday The Wild Rose Press! Wishing you and yours many, many more successful years.

Sandra Dailey said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sandra Dailey said...

Happy Birthday!!! May you have many more.

Christi said...

Happy Birthday TWRP!!! smiles...

Jannine said...

Happy Birthday, TWRP! I am fortunate to have a great editor and a wonderful publisher. May you all continue to have the success you truly deserve.

auguri...

Jaclyn Tracey said...

CHEERS TO TWRP'S BIRTHDAY! I HAVE ENJOYED THE PAST YEARS IN THE GARDEN WITH CALLIE AND HER BLACK ROSE AUTHORS. MADE SOME FRIENDSHIPS I CHERISH AND HAD ONE DREAM COME TRUE. IT'S A NICE FEELING BEING SURROUNDED BY SUCH TALENT AND A DRIVEN DESIRE THAT IS UNDERSTOOD AND NEVER QUESTIONED. MAY THE GARDEN CONTINUE TO GROW AND PROSPER.
JACLYN

Christine Bush said...

Here's to many more years of great stories, great authors, great editors and publishers!

Christine Bush said...

Here's to many more years of great stories, great authors, great editors and publishers!

Fedora said...

Thanks for sharing those birthday reflections! Wishing you many more wonderful years of books and success!

Larry Hammersley said...

My hat is off to TWRP as you are my first venture into internet story publishing. My language is old-fashion and so found a nice home in the Vintage Rose line. My thanks to you for me finding a place for my stories of yesteryear.

bas1chs said...

Happy anniversary! Thank you for introducing yourselves. Nice to get to know more about those behind the blog.

Lauri said...

Writing for the historical department at TWRP has been so awesome! Happy birthday, and many, many more!

Brenda Hyde said...

Happy Birthday! Also, thank you to all the historical authors for your wonderful stories:)

Historical Writer/Editor said...

Happy birthday, TWRP! I've had such great experiences having my books here and working with editors and authors. :) -Laura H.

Margaret Tanner said...

Happy Birthday to the staff and authors at TWRP, you are all legends. In particular, I single out my amazing editor, Nan Swanson. Nan you are a joy to work for, and such a talent. You polished my novels until they truly shone, and I can't begin to tell you how much that means to me.

Regards

Margaret

Calisa Rhose said...

I didn't get a chance to visit yesterday but I want to thank Rhonda and Nicole for taking a chance on my Vietnam story HOME, and introducing me to the best editor I've had so far (also my only one). Nan, you are truly a wonderful and talented editor! Thank you.

Happy 6th Birthday TWRP! I'm so happy to be a part of your family!

Shadow said...

Happy Birthday to all of you! How wonderful for you all to celebrate such a mile stone! Wishing you many, many more years!! ;)
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com