The ever wonderful Cheryl St.John agreed to put together (VERY last minute for us) a post on Inspirational Romance and how they fit with Westerns so well. I promised not to whine, at least not in the post, *g*! Our host finally got us up and running so I am running very late. Sorry about that our slow start here… hey I have been a bit behind on this blog stuff the past year. Any mistakes below are mine, leave a comment and I will correct, and contest post will follow as soon as I get back.
Those of us who write and read western romances are as chipper as a bunch of jaybirds by the upsurge in attention the genre has been receiving of late. We are following The Great Western Drive (also see KristieJ & Wendy) week with anticipation. I’m more than curious to learn what the publishers are saying. Thanks for being western’s #1 fan, Sybil—oh wait, you have to share that #1 spot with Wendy. But wait just another gosh darn minute—wasn’t this Kristie’s idea? Okay, thanks to the three of you for the western love we’re feeling—and not only this week, but all the time. Keeping a finger on the pulse of this market is harder than tyin’ down a bobcat with a piece of string.
Victoria Bylin, who writes for Steeple Hill‘s new Love Inspired Historical line told me she was attending RWA in Reno, hearing about the supposed death of the western when she ran into an agent. The agent told her the western wasn’t dead at all. It had just moved to Christian fiction.
When I asked Vicki why she thought that was happening, here’s what she told me: “Faith and westerns go hand in hand. It took tremendous courage for the early pioneers to load their wagons and travel 2,000 miles. They found hope in the Bible and drew strength from the stories about the children of Israel seeking the Promised Land. Westerns are about adventure, new beginnings, courage and risk. So is Christianity.
“I personally think the middle dropped out of the romance genre. A few years ago, the books that sold were either hot-hot-hot or inspirationals. The middle ground readers (and writers) had to make a choice. I love inspirationals and always have, so the choice was easy for me.
Vicki went on to say, ” I loved writing for Harlequin Historicals, but I’d run out of ideas that required a higher level of sensuality. With LIH, there’s still plenty of romantic tension, but I’m able to go in a direction that’s true to my beliefs about love, courtship, marriage, family, etc..” Her latest story is The Maverick Preacher. (Syb note: didn’t see at eHarl but you can get at amazon hurry!)
So I asked a few more writers for their thoughts. Linda Ford, Dakota Child, LIH September had this to say: “One reason I think westerns and Inspirationals are a good match is because the struggle between good and evil in westerns somewhat mirrors our spiritual struggles. Villains come dressed as gunslingers or smooth talking con men but recognizing them and defeating them requires our characters to confront truth and apply it. Much the same way as how we all deal with spiritual struggles. In other words, the western is almost allegorical and therefore, satisfying to the reader as we all face moral issues in our lives.
“I think readers like them because of this but also because of the adventure and bigger- than-life characters who confront huge obstacles like conquering a new and challenging land, dealing with incredible tough situations and emerging as victors. I like writing westerns because cowboys and ranchers are strong, independent, self-sacrificing men. Who wouldn’t fall in love with such a hero?”
Well, Linda, I can’t resist a cowboy, that’s for sure. When my HH Her Montana Man (syb note: you can still get this at amazon just saying) was out, I happened to stand in Wal-Mart and take a long look at all the covers. I counted twelve books with cowboy hats on the covers. Marketing knows something about how to make readers pick up books, so that tells me readers do want to buy those cowboys.
My gun-toting preacher in The Preacher’s Wife has garnered me more reader mail than any book in a long time, and that one is an inspirational. I like to write inspirationals because it’s an extension of who I am and how I think. I don’t think many of my readers were surprised that I expanded to write for both HH and LIH. A few have asked me to please not abandon HH, and I can assure them I will not.
I liked what Lyn Cote, Her Inheritance Forever, had to say about the relationship between westerns and the inspirational market. “Westerns are tailored made for the inspirational market because at that time except for the native tribes, everyone in America and its territories was Christian of some sort. Their faith in God was as expected as breathing air. And in a time where there was really no “science of medicine” to speak of and life could end in an instant, faith was got people through. Just like today.
And my friend Laurie Kingery—some of you will remember her as Laurie Grant—whose The Outlaw’s Lady is in stores now told me: “Westerns are a natural for the inspirational historical genre because it was a time of great growth and conflict in this nation, a simpler time when folks moving to the frontier territory found their faiths not only comforting, but necessary to survive in an often hostile climate. Their existence was threatened not only by the weather, but by Indians, outlaws and wild animals. The settlers’ goal was to create civilization wherever they settled, and a church was often one of the first buildings erected, though they often came after saloons!
“They had few possessions, and no distractions such as TV, computers or cars, so perhaps it was this very fact that made possession of faith very important. Most of our forbears didn’t question the existence of God or the veracity of his Word–they’d seen it proved true in their own lives, and the Bible might be the only book they possessed.”
All I know is I’m grinnin’ like a weasel peekin’ in a henhouse door to discover all these cowboys and know how many readers are loving them some westerns!
Had no clue that Laurie Kingery was also Laurie Grant. See, you do learn something every day!
Inspirationals are tough for me. Some of my favorite secular westerns do have strong faith themes (Cheryl: Your HH title, The Preacher’s Daughter I think is an excellent example of this!), but I also don’t want to be beat over the head with the “religion stuff” in the story. It’s a fine line, I think, the author walks when writing an inspirational romance. You want to appeal to the core Christian reading market, but who doesn’t want to branch out and reach the heathens as well? LOL
I’m happy westerns are doing well….somewhere. As much as I want secular westerns to make a huge comeback, it is comforting to know that the setting hasn’t been totally abandoned by the publishing industry.
Hi Wendy! You are right, it is a fine line. Demographics show us that inspirational fiction is not an outreach. Rather it’s geared toward the already faith-filled reader who wants to see faith succeeding. The most sucessful inspirational authors are those who have the faith element come across as an intregal part their characters.
Glad to share about Laurie KIngery!
What an awesome post. Thanks for the insight on both recular and inspirational Westerns. I do see how the inspirational genre fits with Western themes, and I admit, I”m trying to write one LOL. But I do like sensuality so am happy to have just another Western historical at The Wild Rose Press. As does CHeryl, perhaps I can do both.
Thanks for the great blog,
~Tanya
http://www.tanyahanson.com
Hi Cheryl and everyone. I write historical inspirational westerns. I can them Romantic Comedy with Cowboys.
I think a lot of the old west is just a great proving ground for good and evil. These days our heroes come as sort of anti-heroes, like Bruce Willis and Die Hard. Smoking, cussing, fighting with his woman, –hard cases. And that’s a movie I love, but still, he’s no saint. The old time cowboys like Gary Cooper and John Wayne and Roy Rogers stood for good without a lot of gray areas. (Rooster Cogburn may prove an exception to that 🙂 )
I think these days you often have to go to an inspirational to find those well defined lines. And if that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll find it in Books like my September Releases, Cowboy Christmas.
HI Cheryl,
So glad people are loving the Love Inspired Line! If it’s western and it’s about love with inspiration, what could be better? Besides, they have awesome covers!!
Hi Cher,
Great post!!
What a great post. I haven’t read any of the Love Inspired line, but when you think about it, it is such a natural fit. The church WAS the focal point for so many families it only makes sense that it would play a huge role in books. You have convinced me!! I will give some of them a try for sure!!!
I have read some of the Love Inspired line and I really enjoy them. Looking forward to reading more of them.
Enjoyed your post Cheryl! I liked what Victoria Bylin said about ” Westerns are about adventure, new beginnings, courage and risk. So is Christianity.” And I have heard for the longest time that westerns are actually morality plays–which of course fits right into inspirationals. I’ve enjoyed reading inspirationals ever since the “prairie romances” of Janette Okley and “Love Comes Softy” when I was younger. Thanks for sharing your journey to Love Inspired!
Great post, Cheryl! Excellent points all. I love westerns, as well as stories set in small-town America, which is what I write for Love Inspired Historical. My characters may possess a strong faith or they may deny or struggle with it. But in the end, they find a relationship with God and their happy ending. 🙂
Rats!! I just noticed my comment got lost somewhere!! So here I go again What a wonderful interview. And when you think about it, it’s a natural connection. The church in the early days played such a vital role in the lives of those living in the west. I’ve never tried a Western Inspirational, but I just challenged myself to read one.
Kathryn said: I’ve enjoyed reading inspirationals ever since the “prairie romances” of Janette Oke and “Love Comes Softy” when I was younger.
I noticed this comment because my July western, Montana Rose, was inspired by Janette Oke’s beautiful, classic love story, “Love Comes Softly.” A pregnant woman, left penniless and alone in the hard western land. She must marry to survived.
Only, unlike Oke, my book took an immediate turn to mayhem, comedy and gunfire. I think of it as Love Comes…Hardly.
I have been reading the Love Inspired Historicals quite often the past few months. Especially the westerns. To me they evoke a LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE vibe. (I SO wanted to be Laura Ingalls 30+ years ago) I find the religious element to be a non-issue. I have never felt like I was “being beat over the head with religion.” And I can only assure you, I am NOT the target audience for this line of books. I am by no means an Atheist, I consider myself to be more of an Agnostic. Although I do believe there is a GOD, it’s organized religion I am not a believer in.
Too funny Mary! What a twist…
Kelly C I think more and more what Christian fiction means is what we call a Christian world view. That means Christianity is treated with respect. The serial killer isn’t going to be a crucifix weilding, white supremicist who is a minister in his day job.
My books aren’t Love Inspired, just putting in a good word for my publisher, Barbour Publishing.
My book Petticoat Ranch is a he said/she said about a mountain man who’s never been around women who finds himself married to a widow with four daughters. The faith of it simply IS. They are Christian people.
We don’t avoid the issue of faith, neither do we necessarily pound on people with it, it’s just respected.
Honestly, these days so much fiction has gone so far the other way away from faith that I doubt Gone with the Wind and To Kill a Mockingbird with their steady references to God could be published by a secular publisher.
If you haven’t read any of these authors’ books, I enthusiastically recommend reading books by Cheryl St. John, Mary Connealy, Jillian Hart, and Victoria Bylin.
Hey Kelly C,
I think we are in the same spot although I go back and forth between which I say I am, depends on the day I am having *g*.
But I am wickedly open minded and have a very live and let live view. I refused to read the inspy westerns at first more because I was so annoyed they were TAKING our authors but wouldn’t give ‘us’ western romances.
Every time a fave author announces she has signed I think I email for a promise in blood she isn’t leaving ‘romance’. I am nothing if not stubborn. I have read about 3 now and will be reading Lyn Cote’s newest (as well as doing a give away tomorrow – yes we give a lil of everything @ TGTBTU *g*). I am interested to see if Avon is the same as the Steeple Hill line I have read. And really want to read Jill’s new one.
I have LOVED some of the HH that walk the line where there is strong faith (I think the theme works well in the west… how can it not) Cheryl is wonderful with it, Jillian Hart, Victoria Bylin and oddly enough I read a HSR recently that had a strong ‘faith’ element to it. That doesn’t bother me at all.
It is god in every paragraph, beating me for no reason that annoys. But I am trying. Barbour books is a publisher I have never heard of but I would warn I don’t do ‘funny’ books all that well and am REALLY hard to hit there.
Awesome post Cheryl thanks!