I don’t read historicals.

Now to be fair, I once used to say this.

A long time ago, on an island far far away, I read pretty much fantasy. A little bit of science fiction but mostly, fantasy. And none of that high fantasy crap—okay does the Sword of Shannara and Dragonriders count as High Fantasy? I lose track. No, my mainstays were Piers Anthony and Terry Brooks then I discovered the mecca of all books, Courtship Rite by Donald Kingsbury and said to myself; Self, this is where your little odd heart belongs.

But see, the heart wants what the heart wants.

It is a fickle thing—our hearts. We try to tell it that no, we don’t like blonds and damned if our hearts don’t say; Well, here’s Chris Hemsworth in leather. How about that?

So we curse and move the line back a bit to accommodate and all the while keep muttering that there are some lines that shall never be crossed because really, what more is there to be said in a historical?

You have to imagine saying that while clutching pearls and wearing a pillbox hat with a black fishnet veil or it just doesn’t work..

Well, yeah at some point—I’m not even sure where and when my heart danced across that wide thick NO HISTORICAL line but oh, that bastard did a salsa across while I wasn’t looking and mooned me from the other side

You see, the well written historical—romance and otherwise—has this richness to it, an old page, tea steeped vanilla perfume of language and connection made all the richer by the forbidden and the cloaked darkness. There is something tantalizing about the seduction of an innocent or the longing for a debauched afternoon that can only be satiated in the lush environment of a historical.

Add a bit of supernatural or paranormal activity and toss in a couple of gay men and damn, every single one of my buttons has not only been pushed but soldered down and the fires stoked for full steam.

I think a lot of the draw for a good historical M/M romance is the pressure of forbidden love. It’s the reason we’re drawn to Romeo and Juliet although let’s face it, they were foolish teenagers who should have packed up their old kit bag, stole the families’ jewels and high tailed it off to Greece but then the tale wouldn’t have that tragic angst so many people love.

Yes, I love a good contemporary and hell, give me a mystery any time where the love interests don’t have to hide their love. I love the idea of two men being able to kiss out in the open—that vulnerable exposure of their hearts but oh, the brush of fingers or the subtle touch of gazes across the room is just as erotic.

There are a few series and authors I’ve fallen in love with. They range from pure historical to skipping the veil of supernatural because nothing says UNF like gas lights, shadowy men and kisses in the fog. I’ve written a steampunk type story but really, a lot of it is about two men who are falling in love in the mists of The City on the Bay. Clockwork Tangerine was both difficult to write but God, oh so fun. Because I had to scrabble together an entire world just a step in the mirror away from our own.

Steampunk is a different kettle of fish but it still has its roots in the historical playground and really, there are some fantastic writers out there who can tell a tale of a world that could almost exist. I highly recommend discovering them—especially if you’re thinking of looking over the wall towards an era where men wear velvet or wool and their kisses are as hot as the London morning is cool during the winter.

There’s also a growing trend of Steampunk and the American West ala Wild Wild West—think Robert Conrad and those tight pants. I’ve seen speckled of it lurking on the edges of the genre and to be honest, I’d read that if well-written. But ah, therein lies the rub—well-written.

But they ARE out there and really, an author picking up that quill pen with the intent of scribbling down a historical has a daunting task ahead of them. There are so many rules and language and pretty much one misstep and the reader can be jerked out of the story. For a writer, it’s a delicate balance between original story and layering thin touches of tapestry and tea. Yes, the rules are like cobwebs and an author can find themselves walking through very sticky threads, batting at them only entangles them more but oh, it’s worth it. Why?

Because the wonders of creating something new that feels old is fantastic—and fantastical to read.

So, if you’ve looked askance at a historical—be it Victorian, Steampunk or even Regency—might I suggest delving into one of the following authors’ offerings? You won’t be disappointed. And hell, you might even find you’ve lost your heart—again.

This is by no means a definitive list. If I did make such a list, I’d be here all day saying…. OH! AND THIS ONE! But this is a good place to start because really, there is a couple in this list that you will fall in love with.

• Jordan L. Hawk: Whyborne & Griffin Series
• KJ Charles: A Charm of Magpies Series
• T. D. McKinney and Terry Wylis:  Kissing Sherlock Holmes
• Charlie Cochrane: Cambridge Fellows Series
• Rowan Speedwell: Kindred Hearts
• Ava March: Brooke Street Series
• Joanna Chambers: Enlightenment Series
• Carole Cummings: The Queen’s Librarian
• Charlie Cochet: Troubles of Love Series (HOW THE HELL DID I FORGET THIS ONE?! Mea Culpa, may ghost sharks eat my toes in the bathtub)

Okay the whole author disclaimer this is who I am… blah! You have to say that in the voice of Count Dracula from Sesame Street. I’m Rhys Ford, you can find me at the following places:

My Blog: www.rhysford.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhys.ford.author
Twitter: @Rhys_Ford

And at the Starbucks down the street. No really, they’re 24/7. And a drive-thru. It’s like heaven.

My books can be purchased, folded and first chapters read at Dreamspinner Press.