Will Publishers Accept Novels Set in the 1900s?

During the Ozark Creative Writers Conference, a discussion arose about historical fiction. Agent, Cherry Weiner, said there is a block of time from 1900 to modern day that is called “No Man’s Land” or the “Dead Zone.” Basically, no one is buying books set in that time frame. It seems they are too contemporary to be historical and too historical to be contemporary.

Now, a few books immediately came to mind when she said this and so I have to respectfully disagree with her position.

Examples:

• Jennifer Erin Valent‘s Jessilyn Lassiter series: Fireflies in December, Cottonwood Whispers and Catching Moondrops. They are set in 1930s Virginia and each are magnificent books. Award winning books.
• The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott is set in 1912. The main character is a survivor of the Titanic. The local Barnes and Noble store displayed it at the front of the store, which means the publishing company bought the space and really pushed the book.
• Anna Jean Mayhew‘s The Dry Grass of August is set in 1954. Obviously, a publishing company bought it. Kensington to be precise.
• The Great War books by Maureen Lang were all set during WWI. The Wings of Glory series by Sarah Sundin – WWII. Tricia Goyer‘s Songbird Under a German Moon – set in post WWII.

The list goes on, but I think you know what I’m getting at.

If you have an idea for a book and it’s set in what Ms. Weiner calls “No Man’s Land,” don’t let that stop you. Write that novel. Shop it around. There are no RULES for acceptable time periods. If you have a story to tell, tell it. Polish it. Make it shine. Someone will see its potential.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past few years it’s be true to yourself. I hope you’ll follow that advice.

My short stories are available for download in multiple e-book formats: Abandon | Fool's Journey | Miltonia Butterflies