Jennifer Uhlarik
About Trailblazer Western Fiction:
Trailblazer is the western fiction imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas (LPC).
Trailblazer Western Fiction is open to historical and contemporary westerns. We are especially interested in a fresh new take on the genre. Elements we look for in our stories:
- Strong, brave, and/or spunky heroes and heroines
- Villains we love to hate
- Solid character development and realistic motivations
- Strong, believable, authentic plotlines that keep readers engaged until the story’s satisfying conclusion
- A firm sense of setting
- An emphasis on morality and heritage, regardless of the characters’ race or background
- Stories that don’t whitewash bad choices or evil, but don’t glorify them either
- Great storytelling with a fresh, interesting voice
- Well-researched details of historical events, people, details, and cultures
- Clean writing free of profanity, graphic sexual content, and gratuitous violence
- 90,000 words or less
- Completed manuscripts only, please.
About Smitten Historical Romance:
Smitten is the historical romance imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas (LPC).
At Smitten Historical Romance, we look for authors who have a strong sense of the periods they write about—an understanding based on careful research and wide reading. Smitten authors have a compelling literary voice and a thorough understanding of the elements of story.
What is Smitten Historical Romance?
- Winsome characters caught in interesting historical situations
- Engaging heroes with likable, spunky, feminine heroines, all of whom are imperfect
- Solid character development and realistic motivations
- Vivid descriptions that immerse the reader in the setting without distracting from the story
- A realistic setup that addresses issues characters faced in the chosen era
- A strong plot that keeps the reader engaged until the satisfying conclusion
- Fresh, lively, or evocative prose
- Compelling writing that evokes emotion
- A setting that entices readers, whether in North America or around the world
- Clean writing free of profanity, graphic sexual content, and gratuitous violence
We’re open to any historical era or setting, but popular favorites are:
- Colonial America
- Regency
- 19th Century America
- WWI through the 1920s
- Marriage of convenience
- Mail-order bride
About Jennifer:
Jennifer Uhlarik discovered the western genre as a pre-teen when she swiped the only “horse” book she found on her older brother’s bookshelf. A new love was born. Across the next ten years, she devoured Louis L’Amour westerns and fell in love with the genre. In college at the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West. Armed with a B.A. in writing, she has finaled and won in numerous writing competitions, and been on the ECPA best-seller list numerous times. In addition to writing, she has held jobs as a private business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, and her favorite—a full-time homemaker. Jennifer is active in American Christian Fiction Writers and lifetime member of the Florida Writers Association. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband, college-aged son, and four fur children.
