Analyzing the Historical Romance Market.....

24.

There are only 24 different possible settings for historical romance novels. It's an easy equation, but it isn't an easy thought, is it? But look: there are only 6 Possible Eras for a published\publishable romance and there are only 4 Possible geographic locations. And 6X4 is 24, isn't it? Should I explain further?

Yes, I should.

The 6 eras are:
1.) Pre-1066 (the Battle of Hastings)
2.) Medieval
3.) Regency
4.) Victorian
5.) Edwardian
6.) Post-1914 (World War I)

And the 4 geographic locations are:
1.) England
2.) Ireland/Scotland
3.) U. S. of A.
4.) Other (there aren't too many of these, honestly).

Aaaaaannnnd, that's it.

So if you're an aspiring historical romance novelist like me, it's sort of comforting and crazy to find out that the brass ring of publication you've been chasing all these years lies hidden somewhere in the above lists. In my younger days I never would have dared evaluate the romance market as a market, but...I am no longer young any more. But I am still hungry, and I am a pretty darn good writer, and so I'm making it my business to track THE business. To figure out precisely what the latest trends are in historicals, and to figure out which books I (and by extension you, my reader) should be writing at this very moment. It won't be easy, but it won't be hard either. It's just gonna take time, energy, and a little bit of simple math.

Stay tuned.