We’re so happy to welcome back guest author Nancy Fraser! She’s toting four books to give away so be sure to leave a comment.
One of the things authors struggle with the most is the challenge of finding a new historical romance trope… something that hasn’t been done hundreds of times. It’s not easy.
It helps if you’re writing your book as part of a multi-author series, because the initial trope is already there. Whether it’s a mail-order bride scenario, or wagon train romances, or even the land rush decades, the author’s job is to breathe fresh life into a tried-and-true formula.
Where to begin?
One thing that helps me is to first set a time period. I’m partial to the late 1880s or early 1890s, and for the silliest of reasons. I want indoor plumbing. I can’t tell you the number of historical romances I’ve read where nobody goes to the bathroom because there’s nothing engaging about hiking to the outhouse.
Indoor plumbing came to the cities and states east of the Mississippi not long after the Civil War. In some instances, e.g.,
well-to-do homes, it a was even earlier. However, the luxury was slow to arrive out west. In the more remote areas, homes didn’t rid themselves of the outdoor facilities until well into the 1900s. As a child (1950s), I remember one aunt who still used her outhouse. Believe me, for an eight-year-old, that pre-bedtime hike was both exciting and scary. Especially when you were being followed by an ornery turkey.
I digress. My intention was to talk about finding a different story angle.
So, how do you find that one ‘new’ story? Once I’ve set my time period and chosen my main character’s profession and the location for my story, I search for late 19th century facts about the area and the job, e.g., “1880’s medical facilities in rural Oklahoma”. Once I’ve found something quirky or, at least, interesting, I can fashion my plot around a little-known fact. I’ve even begun adding a feature to the back of most of my books called, “The More You Know”. I recap my research and share what I’ve learned over and above weaving it into my story.
Earlier this month, I released Lost in Her Dreams as part of the Chasing a Dream Series. I set the story in Alaska at the time of the Klondike Gold Rush. My fact sheet was full for that one.
Once an author has an idea for something unusual, the plot twist comes next. The what-ifs are used to tweak the facts without breaking them. Whether your unique story comes from the location or the premise itself, there are a number of ways to work in new ideas without compromising your research.
I’ve had the privilege of writing for a most unusual series of western historical romances beginning late last year. The series is titled, “The Bride Who…”. The objective of the series was to put our heroine brides in unusual circumstances. The titles in the series have been wonderfully entertaining.
Yesterday, February 26th, marked the release of my third book in the series. Titled: The Bride Who Writes Penny Novels, it was fun to create an alter ego for my heroine. Worried that some would deem her a loose woman, she chooses a nom de plum to honor her family history and stay hidden at the same time.
My first two books in the series were equally as much fun (and as challenging). The Bride Who Keeps Running Away came first and is an old-west reimagining of the movie, Runaway Bride with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.
The second book, The Bride Who Reads Too Much, gave my heroine a goal and a profession… one that the hero was happy to accept (eventually).
Whether it’s research that drives the author’s new idea, or maybe a unique group premise, the important thing is always to entertain and draw the reader into the story.
Here’s a sneak peek at The Bride Who Writes Penny Novels:
Kathryn (Kate) Montgomery has a secret… a big one.
Trained as a schoolteacher, she’s happy to spend her days teaching the primary grades in one of Denver’s most prestigious schools. By night, Kate sets aside her primers for a vocation of a different kind. Writing penny novels.
Left an inheritance of property in the small town of Elbert, Colorado, Kate decides to leave Denver behind and try her hand at writing full time.
Sheriff Rafe Nichols is summoned by a neighbor of the old Montague property because they suspect a squatter. When he arrives at the slightly rundown home, he’s surprised to find a beautiful, young woman who claims to be the owner. They butt heads when he tells her he’ll need to check into the legality of her claim.
What will happen with the small town of Elbert discovers her alter-ego’s identity? And how will it effect her relationship with Rafe?
You can find Kate and her handsome sheriff on AMAZON
As with all my books, it’s enrolled in Kindle Unlimited and available in print.
When you’re looking for a new book to read, do you try to find something with an unusual plot, twist, or historical detail? Or do you prefer to stay with the tried and true? As a thank you for the commenters who will spend time with me today, I’m pleased to give away four prizes, two copies of The Bride Who Writes Penny Novels and two copies of Lost in Her Dreams.
Until next time, stay happy, stay healthy, stay well-read.
Nancy
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NANCY FRASER is a bestselling and award-winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.
Her preferred genres are sweet western historical and sweet small-town contemporary. However, she has been known to dabble in the most unusual settings.
When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.
You can follow Nancy here:
Amazon Author Page ~ Bookbub ~ BlueSky Social ~ Goodreads
An intriguing detail, but I’ll also go for the tried and true.
(my rural mountain Tennessee grandparents didn’t have indoor plumbing or a phone till 1978, but they had electricity–TVA)
Denise, it’s crazy but I can’t even imagine getting into the 1970s without the plumbing.
The scenarios and details of historical novels always intrigue me, as a product of modern suburbia (MD on the S.E. fringes of Washington, D.C.). I will read either. Mostly it’s what I can get my hands on (physically – I prefer turning paper pages to reading on a screen).
Thank you for running the giveaway; both books sound appealing.
Thank you, Mary. I love reading print too. Most of my books are in print, so I hope you’ll check them out.
Well, my TBR liist just got longer! Will have to make a note of these so that when my Kindle “pile” gets reduced enough, I can zdd them!
Ginni, My TBR took over my life ages ago. I just go with the flow.
I try to find a book with an interesting twist to read every so often.
Kim, agreed. It’s always a nice twist.
I enjoy both and unusual plot twist and/or a historical setting.
Sharon, I try to weave a plot twist of some sort in all my books. I find it adds that little extra.
I like reading stories with plot twists and a new spin on an old plot. However, I must confess if the characters and story is good I enjoy it even if it is a familiar tried and true story.
Patti, tried and true is good as well. Like you, I enjoy any book with good characters and a believable story.
I like books set in that time period, late 1880s, and I like learning the interesting facts the authors plant in their stories. But I also enjoy small town contemporary stories, too. My in-laws did not get a bathroom in their home until 1973. Thank you for the giveaway and best wishes always.
Karen, I’m definitely the late 1880s. It’s a great way to discover the innovations that occurred during that time period.
I just love to read cowboys!
Teresa, Yee haw! Me too, especially the handsome, rough and tumble ones.
Teresa, Yee Haw! Me too.
I enjoy stories that take place no matter 1800s out west.
You are a new author to me. I’m looking forward to reading your books.
Alisa, the western settings are near and dear to me. I look forwardy to you trying one of my books.
Welcome today. I kind of bounce around with the different story lines. Nov 24, 2025, I had knee surgery, so I stayed with what I enjoyed the most. Cloudy brain-simple books. LOL. Old west of course/christian. You are a new to me author and I would love to read some of your stories.
I always look for something new and enjoy learning bits of a historical time period that are new to me. I love a story about a strong woman who sometimes goes against the grain of the current way of thinking that women should be. Good clean stories that teach a bit about the time period are always on my TBR.
I also had an aunt with an outhouse. It was cold, smelly, and you only had catalog pages to wipe with. Yucky. Even later than that, my dad had a sales office with no plumbing indoors, so they also had an outhouse. This was in the 1970’s mind you. At least it was on the edge of town where there was no plumbing available, at least that is what I can recall.
I don’t really know, I like historical romance, but I guess I don’t really try to find an unusual plot, or twist, I do enjoy the historical details.
Historicals are my favorite and when there is great detail it gives me so much more to enjoy. The novel brings me into the era and captures the lifestyle.
I like to read all kind of stories and if they seem unusual, I will pick them.
I like historical detail in stories.
something different
When the storyline includes a plot twist the book is engrossing and unforgettable especially historical novels.
An intriguing plot is always appealing and fascinating featuring great historical detail.
It doesn’t really matter to me. I will read everything.
I enjoy historical western romance and occasionally will read contemporary romance. The western genre is still my favorite. I will be happy getting to know you as an author. Thanks for blogging today,
Good to see you here today! I’m omnivorous in my reading, but always enjoy learning new things, so love end notes that talk about some of the lesser known quirks of history.
Love the sound of your “The Bride Who” series. Can’t wait to read them. I read a lot, love Christian suspense, mail order bride, historical, and lots of other genres. As long as they are clean, no sex, no bad language and have a happy ending. lol
I enjoy several different genres, but I like a new twist on a story occasionally.
I look for something a little unusual, and a little different from what I’ve been reading.
I Love finding New Authors and reading different genre Thank you for the chance to read one of your Books have a Blessed weekend!
I like several different genres . I just love to read.
Hi Nancy , your books sound like great reads! I like reading both types, I like finding out twists and quirky things and I like reading the usual things also. Thank you so much for sharing about your books and how you get your ideas for your stories. Have a Great weekend and Thank you for the chance.
Usually, I enjoy a unique plot. I get very tired of certain tropes, for example, the hero’s secret child.
I am a mood reader. It makes it challenging to answer your question. Thank you for the opportunity. God bless you.
I don’t mind staying with the tried and true, but I do get excited when I find a book with a unique/unusual plot. 🙂
I like both. I don’t worry about that. Only if it holds my attention.
I try to vary it, sticking with tried and true when I’m in that mood, ans trying something new when I’m in the mood for it.
I am a mood reader so just about anything can catch my attention for a book I’d read. The cover, the blurb, recommendations, reviews.
There are some plot lines I like more than others, but anything well written I enjoy. I love history, so I do appreciate good historical details in what is written. Not much annoys me more than a “historical” book that has no real historical setting, social context, or historical details. You are basically reading a book that could be a contemporary or any other time period story, it is just called historical. It is always nice to find a new twist to an old plot line or something unusual I would never expect in the type of story I am reading. It amazes me how authors can tell basically the same story so many different ways, and all of them enjoyable. It sounds like you have some interesting twists to the stories in this series.
Good points, Nancy. I write Oregon Trail (I tend to write around the plumbing issues, but you’re right. Gross.).
The thing that impresses me about writing historicals is that everyone who set off from St. Joseph to the Trail, or everyone who worked in the Resistance in WWII, or everyone who came over on the Mayflower or headed for the California Gold Fields HAD A STORY. It’s up to us to uncover them, and to bring something new to the genre.
I like unexpected (and accurate) details and commonsense heroines. I definitely enjoyed getting to know Kate Montgomery.
I like to switch around a bit when I am reading.
I majored in history in college. I enjoy reading about it.
First off, let me apologize for being here on Friday. My son and I were called away on an urgent matter that ended up being a 6 hr road trip each way with spotty internet even when we reached out destination.
I will be going through each and every comment. Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment, and congratulations to the winners.