Are contemporary Gothics possible?

[Penfeather]

I prefer historical settings as well. I buy a lot of 1960-70s printed Gothics at the local flea market and based on the cover art and description it's often difficult to judge when it is set. One I started last night, Brecon Castle by Caroline Farr, is one such book. I was slightly disappointed when I began reading that it took place in the era it was written (70s) as opposed to 50+ years before. 

I'm writing a historical Gothic family saga series set in 1904-1929. While not a true romance (each book doesn't a "happily ever after"), there are romantic elements in each and horror elements in several. It's proven to be a difficult genre to shop to agents/publishers, but a romance writer friend said at the Romance Times convention this May there was industry professionals buzzing about Gothics making a comeback, but I'm not sure if that means contemporary or historical.

The '70s is the last era that I can tolerate as a setting for a Gothic (and only grudgingly).  Being the last pre-digital decade, at least it offers a plausible time period in which a traditional Gothic story can take place.  However, I've never really understood the need for authors to "update" the settings of Gothics except to pander to a certain percentage of readers who can't "relate" to characters from earlier periods.

Best of luck with your Gothic saga.  It does sound like a hard sell in today's publishing climate, but be persistent!