--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I first started writing historical…" description: "\"I first started writing historical fiction in the late '70s and kept pictures of Kathleen Woodiwiss and Rosemary Rogers on my refrigerator until my fir..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/virginia-henley-27676_advantage_i-first-started-writing-historical-ficti_595027.jpg" --- # I first started writing historical fiction in the late… ![“I first started writing historical fiction in the late '70s and kept pictures of Kathleen Woodiwiss and Rosemary Rogers on my refrigerator until my first book was published by Avon in 1982. The biggest advantage of this genre for me is that it allows me to blend fact and fiction.” quote by Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/virginia-henley-27676_advantage_i-first-started-writing-historical-ficti_595027.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/virginia-henley-27676_advantage_i-first-started-writing-historical-ficti_595027.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/virginia-henley-27676_advantage_i-first-started-writing-historical-ficti_595027.jpg) > “I first started writing historical fiction in the late '70s and kept pictures of Kathleen Woodiwiss and Rosemary Rogers on my refrigerator until my first book was published by Avon in 1982. The biggest advantage of this genre for me is that it allows me to blend fact and fiction.” [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical romance lets writers weave factual settings with imaginative love stories, enriching both. **In simple terms:** Blending fact and fiction creates vivid, believable narratives. Key Takeaway Use history as a canvas for storytelling. Themes literature history romance Mood inspirational practical Type guidance creative When to use this quote - writing novels - teaching history through stories - marketing genre books Key Concepts fiction research creative writing Questions to Reflect On - How much historical detail is necessary? - What liberties can enhance a romance plot? A Different Perspective Balancing accuracy with creative liberty can be challenging for purists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Biggest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest/) [Blend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blend/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact/) [Fact and fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact-and-fiction/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Historical fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical-fiction/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Kept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kept/) [Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Pictures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pictures/) [Published](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/published/) [Published Avon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/published-avon-4862607/) [Refrigerator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refrigerator/) [Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rogers/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Until](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/until/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-historical-1221387/) ## Related quotes > [A blend of fact and fiction has been used in various forms since the dawn of creative writing, starting with sagas and epic poems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-beevor/a-blend-of-fact-and-fiction-has-been-used-in-various-forms-since-the/) [Antony Beevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-beevor/) > [I've always been a fan of books that create an interesting blend of fact and fiction - whether it's Norman Mailer, or 'The Short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-boal/i-ve-always-been-a-fan-of-books-that-create-an-interesting-blend-of/) [Mark Boal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-boal/) > [I love to have real people of history interact with my fictional characters. History gives me the plot. I research the period meticulously, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/i-love-to-have-real-people-of-history-interact-with-my-fictional/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [You think you're writing one historical novel and it turns into three, and I'm quite used to a short story turning into a novel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/you-think-you-re-writing-one-historical-novel-and-it-turns-into-three/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [The field of the novel is very rich. If you're a composer, you're well aware of the history of composition, and you are trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/the-field-of-the-novel-is-very-rich-if-you-re-a-composer-you-re-well/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I've always been drawn to writing historical characters. The best stories are the ones you find in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-writing-historical-characters-the-best/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) > [One of the things I enjoy most about writing historical romance is researching inspiring backgrounds and settings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-cornick/one-of-the-things-i-enjoy-most-about-writing-historical-romance-is/) [Nicola Cornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-cornick/) > [For me, writing a historical novel was really hard. I love history as a subject and majored in it in college. I think, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/min-jin-lee/for-me-writing-a-historical-novel-was-really-hard-i-love-history-as-a/) [Min Jin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/min-jin-lee/) > [Writing historical novels can be dangerous. We need to be as accurate and as fair about the historical record as we can be, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-rutherfurd/writing-historical-novels-can-be-dangerous-we-need-to-be-as-accurate/) [Edward Rutherfurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-rutherfurd/) > [For me, writing historical fiction is all about finding a balance between reading, traveling, looking, imagining, and dreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/for-me-writing-historical-fiction-is-all-about-finding-a-balance/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [I like writing historical fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-like-writing-historical-fiction/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [In the course of writing one historical book or another, it has happened that I could hardly restrain myself from simply copying entire documents.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-doblin/in-the-course-of-writing-one-historical-book-or-another-it-has/) [Alfred Doblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-doblin/) > [I taught English and history, so my education for that really helped prepare me for writing historical fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-camp/i-taught-english-and-history-so-my-education-for-that-really-helped/) [Candace Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-camp/) > [In writing my historical novels, I have to rely upon my imagination to a great extent. I think of it as 'filling in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-kay-penman/in-writing-my-historical-novels-i-have-to-rely-upon-my-imagination-to/) [Sharon Kay Penman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-kay-penman/) > [When writing about historical characters I try to be as accurate as possible, and in particular not to misrepresent the view they held. With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-barker/when-writing-about-historical-characters-i-try-to-be-as-accurate-as/) [Pat Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-barker/) ## More by Virginia Henley > [I was born in England and went to school there. That's when I discovered my undying passion for history - not just for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/i-was-born-in-england-and-went-to-school-there-that-s-when-i/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [“Love is a journey from the first blush of physical attraction to a marriage of souls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/love-is-a-journey-from-the-first-blush-of-physical-attraction-to-a/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [I have always been drawn to the Restoration period of Charles II. I have a soft spot for Charles Stuart, who was always loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/i-have-always-been-drawn-to-the-restoration-period-of-charles-ii-i/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [“With horror he saw that her hair was already afire as the tarred stake burned about her head. He held her agonized gaze with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/with-horror-he-saw-that-her-hair-was-already-afire-as-the-tarred/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [I begin early in the morning and edit everything I wrote the previous day. I write until mid-afternoon. My goal is to write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/i-begin-early-in-the-morning-and-edit-everything-i-wrote-the-previous/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [To have a successful writing career, you must be willing to sacrifice a great deal. The book, the deadline come first before anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/to-have-a-successful-writing-career-you-must-be-willing-to-sacrifice/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > ['The Irish Duke' is a sequel to 'The Decadent Duke' about Lady Georgina Gordon who married the Duke of Bedford. 'The Irish Duke' tells…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/the-irish-duke-is-a-sequel-to-the-decadent-duke-about-lady-georgina/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [“...to be Irish is to know the world will break your heart before you are thirty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/to-be-irish-is-to-know-the-world-will-break-your-heart-before-you-are/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [“Darling, we're all whores under the skin, whether we give ourselves by calculation or by desire. It's just that some of us demand a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/darling-we-re-all-whores-under-the-skin-whether-we-give-ourselves-by/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [I love to read history books, which is where I get my ideas. I also read historical romance for pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/i-love-to-read-history-books-which-is-where-i-get-my-ideas-i-also/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [I did a great deal of research to write 'The Irish Duke.' Since all the people in this Lords of the Realm series are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/i-did-a-great-deal-of-research-to-write-the-irish-duke-since-all-the/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [It was an easy decision for me which books to self-publish as ebooks. I got the rights back to two Avon books that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/it-was-an-easy-decision-for-me-which-books-to-self-publish-as-ebooks/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [I devour history books. I love anything by Thomas B. Costain or George MacDonald Fraser. He writes magnificent history, and he also wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/i-devour-history-books-i-love-anything-by-thomas-b-costain-or-george/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [History is my passion. So I write what I love to read. I find that if I combine history with a strong, sensual romance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/history-is-my-passion-so-i-write-what-i-love-to-read-i-find-that-if-i/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [“... love pales into insignificance when pitted against ambition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/love-pales-into-insignificance-when-pitted-against-ambition/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) [Explore all 20 Virginia Henley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) ## More Advantage quotes > [Dogmatists have one advantage: they are poor listeners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/dogmatists-have-one-advantage-they-are-poor-listeners/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [All I ever wanted was an unfair advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/all-i-ever-wanted-was-an-unfair-advantage/) [Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/) > [Part of the advantage, and part of the result of trying to be a producer and director, are the practical things, you find. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/part-of-the-advantage-and-part-of-the-result-of-trying-to-be-a/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [I was born with a silver microphone in my mouth, and that was an advantage. My father wrote books and was also a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dimbleby/i-was-born-with-a-silver-microphone-in-my-mouth-and-that-was-an/) [Jonathan Dimbleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dimbleby/) > [Like funny men, skilled diners are apparently perceived to have an evolutionary advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/like-funny-men-skilled-diners-are-apparently-perceived-to-have-an/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [For some reason when I decide to pursue something, I never have any fear that it won't happen. I think it's just ingrained in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-blatz/for-some-reason-when-i-decide-to-pursue-something-i-never-have-any/) [Kelly Blatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-blatz/) > [I think I have good hands, so I try to use them to my advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-andreescu/i-think-i-have-good-hands-so-i-try-to-use-them-to-my-advantage/) [Bianca Andreescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-andreescu/) > [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) > [Baseball needs to put the steroids era behind it by having and enforcing tough rules against all kinds of artificial advantages, so that spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/baseball-needs-to-put-the-steroids-era-behind-it-by-having-and/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [Daily contact with some teachers is itself all-sided ethical education for the child without a spoken precept. Here, too, the real advantage of male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/daily-contact-with-some-teachers-is-itself-all-sided-ethical/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [ If \[Donald\] Trump throws 20 million off of health care, that's going to be - if he handles this badly - and it's very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/if-donald-trump-throws-20-million-off-of-health-care-that-s-going-to/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/live-in-the-world-you-inhabit-look-upon-things-as-they-are-take-them/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [I always tell women that the fact that you're different and that you're noticed, because there are few of us in the tech industry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmasree-warrior/i-always-tell-women-that-the-fact-that-you-re-different-and-that-you/) [Padmasree Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmasree-warrior/) [Browse all 3,503 Advantage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I first started writing historical fiction in the late '70s and kept pictures of Kathleen Woodiwiss and Rosemary Rogers on my refrigerator until my first book was published by Avon in 1982. 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