Read more about the origins of the name
Solander.
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Solander
Twenty-Three, Spring 2008 -
Edited by Claire Morris
Associate
Editors: Marina Maxwell (Features); Cindy Vallar (Industry)
Lucinda Byatt
(Profiles); Debbie Schoeneman (Fiction)
Cover Story
Writing women back into history: Mary Sharratt explores how
historical fiction is exploding the myths attached to historical
women
Features
Tony Boullemier argues why Napoleon III deserves to be better
remembered; Mary Ann Trail follows an 18th-century Fodor's guide to
England; William Thornton analyzes the impact of Gone With the
Wind.
Industry
Susan Higginbotham examines the lure of Scottish historical romance;
Karen Mercury investigates historical fiction blogs.
Profiles
Rachel Elliot interviews Nicola Morgan; Pollyanna Williamson
profiles Margaret Cezair-Thompson; Richard Lee talks to Michael
Jecks.
In Every Issue
Lucinda Byatt speaks to C.W. Gortner and Janet Hancock; Cindy
Vallar analyzes the work behind John Shors' Beneath a Marble Sky.
Fiction: "Rodie" by Barbara McMikle; "The Envelope Game
by Ian Grody.
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Solander
Twenty-Two, Autumn 2007 -
Edited by Claire Morris
Associate
Editors: Marina Maxwell (Features); Cindy Vallar (Industry)
Lucinda Byatt
(Profiles); Debbie Schoeneman (Fiction)
Cover Story
What do readers want? Teresa Basinski Eckford surveys readers,
editors, authors, and librarians to find out which subjects inspire.
Features
Marina Maxwell takes a look at historical fantasy in Australia;
Jeanne Mackin highlights three novels of Caribbean slavery; Sally
Zigmond reflects on historical fiction dialogue.
Industry
HNS pays tribute to ten historical novelists who passed away within
the last ten years; Susanne Dunlap looks at reissues from Chicago
Review Press; Susan Higginbotham reports on Crown Publishing's
reissues of Jean Plaidy novels.
Profiles
Lucinda Byatt interviews Clio Gray; Sarah Bower profiles Rose
Tremain; Mary Sharratt interviews Michelle Moran.
In Every Issue
Lucinda Byatt speaks to Margaret Frazer; in "Red Pencil," Cindy
Vallar analyzes the work behind Simon Scarrow's The Eagle's
Prophecy; Readers' comments.
Fiction: "The Praying Indian," by Katherine Gustafson.
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Solander
Twenty-One, Spring 2007 -
Edited by Claire Morris
Associate
Editors: Marina Maxwell (Features); Cindy Vallar (Industry)
Lucinda Byatt
(Profiles); Richard Lee (Fiction)
Cover Story
Ken Kreckel explores 20th century history and historical fiction.
Special Feature: The Inspiration of Art?
Tracy Chevalier talks to Claire Morris about her quest to
understand Wiliam Blake; Patrika Salmon talks to Susan Vreeland;
Toby Frost looks at art and artists in historical fiction.
Special Feature: Who Was Mary Magdalene:
Christopher (CW) Gortner profiles Ki Longfellow; Kathleen
McGowan reflects on her journey to publication; Cindy Vallar
analyzes the work behind Kathleen McGowan's The Expected One.
Industry
Susan Higginbotham looks at Jove's Laurien Gardner series on Henry
VIII's wives.
Profile
Georgine N. Olson interviews John Jakes.
Features
Hilary Green discusses the history behind her WWII-era novels; Alan
Fisk on Thomas B. Costain and other authors of Hollywood-style
epics.
In Every Issue
Lucinda Byatt profiles HNS member Helena Schrader; Readers'
Comments; Candace Robb on her Alice Perrers novel.
Fiction: "The Tournament of Ladies" by Les Berkley.
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Solander
Twenty, Autumn 2006 -
Edited by Claire Morris
Associate
Editors: Cindy Vallar (Industry); Lucinda Byatt
(Profiles); Richard Lee (Fiction)
Cover Story
Cindy Vallar explores the censorship of historical novels.
Industry
Mary Sharratt describes how living history museums bring early
America to life; Carla Passino suggests some museums for historical
fiction research.
Profiles
Harriet Smart talks to Jason Goodwin about making the shift from
non-fiction to fiction; Claire Morris profiles Karleen Koen; Mary
Moffat interviews Celia Rees; Lucinda Byatt talks to Alison Weir
about her first historical novel.
Features
Neville Firman examines some fictional treatments of the English
Civil War; G.M. Baker reflects on what makes historical fiction
believable; Dean Miller looks at the work of author Kenneth Roberts.
In Every Issue
Lucinda Byatt profiles HNS member Priscilla Royal; Cindy Vallar
analyzes the work of Jennifer Roy.
Fiction: "Lady Grace's Revels," by Theodore Irvin Silar.
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Solander
Nineteen, Spring 2006 -
Edited by Claire Morris
Associate
Editors: Kate Allan (Features); Cindy Vallar (Industry); Lucinda Byatt
(Profiles); Richard Lee (Fiction)
Cover Story
Elizabeth Chadwick explores the book cover in the world of commercial
historical fiction.
Special Feature
Margaret James, C.W. Gortner, John Barlow, and Michelle Styles discuss
the history behind their writing.
Profiles
Michael Wyatt profiles Jane Stevenson; Sarah Cuthbertson discusses
Julius Caesar and writing with Conn Iggulden; Vicki Kondelik
interviews Robert Alexander; Lucinda Byatt talks to Jamie Byng about
Canongate and historical fiction.
Industry
Bethany Skaggs highlights some conferences and workshops where
historical fiction is on offer; Neil Hargraves completes his
discussion of how he developed a course on the historical novel.
In Every Issue
Lucinda Byatt profiles HNS member Adelaida Lower;
Candace Robb urges writers of historical fiction to look beyond the
shorthand; Irene Goodman chronicles a typical day in the life of a New
York literary agent; Kate Allan investigates Myrmidon Books; Cindy
Vallar analyzes the work behind Oksana by Susan K. Downs and
Susan May Warren.
Fiction: "Caught in the Middle," by B.K. Birch.
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Solander Eighteen, Autumn 2005 -
Edited by Claire Morris
Associate
Editors: Kate Allan (Features); Cindy Vallar (Industry); Lucinda Byatt
(Profiles); Richard Lee (Fiction)
Cover Story
Elizabeth Shown Mills, renowned genealogist and author of
Isle of Canes, shows how
to breathe life into shadowy women of the past.
Features
Toby Frost provides an overview of alternate history; Dean Miller
examines the historical novels of Alan Furst; Malcolm Archibald offers
his opinions of historical fiction.
Profiles
Sarah Johnson interviews Medallion Press VP Leslie Burbank; Lucinda
Byatt talks to Margaret
Elphinstone; Sarah Cuthbertson interviews Malcolm Archibald.
Industry
Neil Hargraves develops a course on the historical novel;
Lucinda Byatt analyzes the work of Ismail Kadare; Claire Morris explores the
popularity of biblical women novels; Glenn Austin reports on
historical fiction content of the UK's premier writers' conference.
In Every Issue
Candace Robb talks shop with her fellow historical novelists;
Cindy Vallar's Red Pencil column analyzes the work behind James
Nelson's The Only Life That Mattered; Kate Allan on Jean Plaidy
and whether historical fiction is misunderstood;
Irene Goodman
discusses why Anne Boleyn is the poster girl of historical fiction.
Fiction: "The Solid Five of It," by Claire Thomas.
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Solander Seventeen, Spring 2005 -
Edited by Claire Morris
Associate
Editors: Kate Allan (Features); Cindy Vallar (Industry); Lucinda Byatt
(Profiles); Richard Lee (Fiction)
Cover Story
Kim Murphy of Coachlight Press shares the challenges of marketing
historical fiction creatively.
Special Feature: A Tribute to Wilbur Smith
Matthew Rockall looks at Smith's highly successful career;
Richard Lee interviews Wilbur Smith; Scott Kemp looks at African
history through Wilbur Smith's novels.
Features
Karin Kydland explores the fascination of time travel; Jacquie Bird
argues that historical fiction can be a powerful educational tool.
Profiles
Claire Morris talks to Diana Gabaldon;
Sarah Johnson profiles Bethany House; Sarah Bower talks to Peter
Elbling (The Food Taster).
Industry
Tamara Mazzei and Georgine Olson reflect on the first North American
HNS Conference.
In Every Issue
Candace Robb talks about connecting with the history we write about;
Cindy Vallar's Red Pencil column analyzes the work behind Mark
McAllister's There Is a Wideness; Kate Allan argues that
historical fiction should be good history.
Fiction: "For Services Rendered," by Erika Dreifus.
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Solander Sixteen, Fall 2004
- Edited by James
Hawking
Tamara Mazzei assesses the impact of Anya Seton's Katherine on
her fiftieth birthday; interviews with the medieval murderers: crime
authors Michael Jecks, Bernard Knight, Ian Morson, Philip Gooden, and
Susanna Gregory; James Hawking surveys medieval history through a
hundred novels; James Hawking talks to Steven Pressfield about the
life and times of Alexander the Great;
Juilene Osborne-McKnight talks to Ilysa Magnus about the lure of
Celtic lore; information on the HNS Short Histories Prize
Breakthrough fiction: "Barbara Allan" by Mark Baker, "Sermons,
Beetles, and a Cartload of Fish" by Charles Pearson. |
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Solander Fifteen, Spring 2004
- Edited by Sarah Cuthbertson
Peter Tremayne tells Sarah Cuthbertson about his 7th century Irish
lawyer and detective, Sister Fidelma; Peter Tremayne on anachronism;
an appreciation of the Bolitho novels of Alexander Kent, by Frank
Payton; William Dietrich talks to Solander about his new novel
Hadrian's Wall; Northumbrian Jacobite novels by Leo Gooch; Ann
Parker talks to Solander about her prize-winning mystery novel,
Silver Lies;
Steven Pressfield on theme and character in the
historical novel; Rebecca Kohn tells Solander about her new novel
The Gilded Chamber, based on the Biblical story of Queen Esther;
Sarah Bower's Proud
Protestations on the history of historical romance; Lucienne Boyce on
the Women's History Network; Linda Proud on her latest Renaissance
novel, Pallas and the Centaur; Teresa Basinski Eckford tells how historical fiction changed her life.
Breakthrough fiction: "A Whiff of Gunsmoke" by G. Miki Hayden |
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Solander Fourteen, Autumn 2003
- Edited by Sarah Cuthbertson
The Cossacks' Iliad: Gogol and the Making of Russian Literature by J.
Bottum; Sandra Garside-Neville interviews Fay Sampson;
Michael Shankland
talks to Paul Doherty about his historical murder mysteries; Sarah Cuthbertson
interviews Edwin Thomas, creator of Lt Martin Jerrold, RN;
Wendy
Robertson on historical fiction set in the 20th century; Kevin Crossley-Holland talks to Rachel Elliot; Lucienne Boyce on the
Saga Suffragette; Teresa Basinski Eckford talks to Isolde Martyn about
historical romance fiction; an excerpt from Martha Tuck Rozett's
Constructing a World: Shakespeare's England and the New Historical
Fiction. Special feature on Henry Treece: Catie Cary
writes her appreciation of Treece's life and historical fiction for
adults; Sarah Cuthbertson on Treece's novels for children; Poet and
critic K.V. Bailey, Treece's friend, talks to Catie Cary; Henry Treece's
"Notes on Perception and Vision." |
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Solander Thirteen, Spring 2003
- Edited by Sarah Cuthbertson
The Historical Novelist's Burden of Truth by Thomas Mallon; Sarah
Nesbeitt talks to Crown historical fiction editor Rachel Kahan; Alan
Fisk discusses the historical novels of George Shipway; Scott McLemee on
the study of feelings throughout history; Claire Morris interviews Jack Whyte;
Claire Morris celebrates historical fiction at the Surrey
International Writers' Conference; Manda Scott turns from
contemporary thrillers to historical fiction; Muriel Smith profiles the
Scarlet Pimpernel;
Sarah Cuthbertson surveys the life and work of the late, great
historical novelist Howard Fast; Dean Miller discusses two great
novels of the American Civil War;
Richard Lee talks about the oddly
contemporary nature of historical fiction; agenda of the upcoming
Cambridge History Festival.
Breakthrough Fiction: "Fortune's Favourite," by Marion Arnott. |
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Solander Twelve, Autumn 2002
- Edited by Sarah Cuthbertson
Sarah Cuthbertson compares Anton Myrer's Once an Eagle and
Wallace Breem's Eagle in the Snow; Brenda M. Cook wonders what
happened to Astrolabe, son of Abelard and Heloise;
Sarah Nesbeitt interviews Cecelia
Holland; more rules of historical fiction; author John W. Currier
reflects on the genre; Rachel A. Hyde interviews Margaret Doody; Sarah
Nesbeitt talks to Megan Chance about the Salem witch trials; Stephanie
Haxton pays a tribute to Dorothy Dunnett; Lucienne Boyce interviews
Nicholas Griffin; Dean Miller on the Scottish historical novels of Neil
Munro; Manda Scott talks to Richard Lee about her Boudica novel; Richard
Lee reports on the
HNS Conference in
2002.
Breakthrough Fiction: "For the Record," by Marion Arnott. |
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Solander Eleven, Spring 2002
- Edited by Sarah Cuthbertson
Those Rude Victorians:Lucienne
Boyce interviews Sarah Waters; Mark Turnbull writes of re-enacting a
17th century battle in the 21st; jay Dixon presents an appreciation
of
Georgette Heyer; Sarah Nesbeitt interviews
India Edghill; Belinda Copson writes a
personal assessment of
children's historical fiction;
Dean Miller on Alfred Duggan, Bryher, and Mary Renault; Alan Fisk presents
Wallace Breem, an undeservedly forgotten author; Rachel Elliot assesses
the battlefields of WWI in Richard Van Emden's work The Trench; Derek
Wilson on Thomas Babington Macaulay and the writing of history; Sarah
Cuthbertson interviews Thomas Wharton; Edward Krzemienski on Indian
captivity in John Barth's The Sot-Weed Factor; India Edghill composes
more Official Rules for Writing Historical Fiction.
Short fiction by
Leigh Eduardo and Pia Tapper Fenton.
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Solander Ten, Fall 2001 -
Edited by Sarah Cuthbertson
Jo Manning on the repression
of Catholics in England;
Wendy
Zollo interviews Sharon Penman; Rob Stepney on bringing John Cowper
Powys' novel Owen Glendower back into print; Alan Fisk (et al) present
more official rules for writing historical novels (cartoons by Henry
Norman Hall); Jerome Weeks on new historical fiction and where historians
and authors part;
Sarah Nesbeitt
reports on historical fiction in America; a fragment from the Wars
of the Roses; Stephanie Haxton on women writing the past; Shannon Donnelly
describes the allure of Regency England; Jasmina Svenne researches historical
dance; Sarah Cuthbertson reports on the first annual HNS conference;
Jeanne Fielder writes an appreciation of the late Dorothy Dunnett.
Fiction
by Kate Nivison
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Solander Nine, Spring 2001 -
Edited by Sarah Cuthbertson
Sarah Cuthbertson presents
Allan Mallinson's Matthew Hervey novels; Michel Faber provides an excerpt
from his upcoming Victorian novel; Kate Tremayne on writing the historical
series; Sarah Cuthbertson interviews Maria McCann;
Lucienne
Boyce gets away with Murder in Manchester; Vivien Tyler on Arthurian
fiction from an archeological standpoint;
Teresa
Eckford talks to Sandra Gulland; Shannon Donnelly on researching historical
fiction; Jane Jakeman rediscovers 19th century Egyptologist and author
Amelia Edwards; Alan Fisk (et al) present the Official Rules for Writing
Historical Novels; Jo Beverley provides a personal view on historical
romance in North America; Sarah Cuthbertson presents a new publisher,
House of Stratus
Fiction by P.D.R. Lindsay |
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Solander Eight, Autumn 2000
- Edited
by Sarah Cuthbertson
Sandra
Garside-Neville assesses Rosemary Sutcliff; Dean Miller looks at
history, fiction, and the Great War; Lucienne Boyce on medieval forensics;
Sarah Cuthbertson interviews Simon Scarrow; Helen Hollick celebrates
Harold, the last English king;
Marina
Oliver and Teresa Eckford have a transatlantic conversation on historical
romance; Sarah Cuthbertson interviews David Wishart; Jane Jakeman
looks at the Black Death from the Muslim perspective; Joanna Hines on
inspirations for her 17th century Cornish novels; Blake Morrison talks
to Sebastian Faulks and Philippa Gregory.
Fiction by Towse Harrison
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Solander Seven, Spring 2000 -
Edited by Richard Lee
Marina Oliver on the Internet for Writers; Susan Price on 'suitability'
when writing for children; Richard Lee on judging the
CWA
Ellis Peters Historical Dagger 1999/2000; Lucienne Boyce asks a
variety of authors how they balance history with fiction;
Richard Lee interviews Steven Pressfield; Belinda Copson assesses
the work of DK Broster; Ken Cosgrove assesses the work of Nigel Tranter;
Richard Lee interviews Gillian
Bradshaw; Bryan Podmore interviews
Barry Unsworth.
Fiction by Elizabeth Chadwick
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Solander Six, Autumn 1999 - Edited
by Richard Lee
Geoff Sadler looks at fictional Robin Hoods through the centuries; Anne
Maloney on Georg Lukacs' The Historical Novel; Lucienne Boyce assesses
the historical ficion 'How to' books; Towse Harrison remembers Kirby
Hall, August 1999; Mark Evans gives an introduction to the world of
historical re-enactment; Methvens Booksellers in the UK begin a Classic
Historical Novel series with reprints of Alfred Duggan; Janet Mary Tomson
reassesses the work of Norah Lofts;
Richard Lee interviews Bernard Cornwell; Dean Miller compares the
sea stories of C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian.
Fiction by Celia Ellis.
(Winner of the PC Doherty Prize)
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Solander Five, Spring 1999 - Edited
by Richard Lee
Stephanie Cowell on the films Shakespeare in Love and Elizabeth; Richard
Lee gives the society's Guide to Literary Agents; Tom Holland on form in historical fiction;
Ian Morrison wonders if history begins at twenty; Neville Firman makes
a case for the radicals in the English Civil War; Anne Maloney discusses
Walter Scott's Ivanhow; Linda Proud assesses
Mary Renault;
Richard Lee interviews
Barbara Erskine; Belinda Copson looks at the work of Geoffrey Trease.
Fiction by Jan Macintosh (Winner of the Marshal Wade Prize)
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Solander Four, Autumn 1998 - Edited
by Richard Lee
Richard Lee on the findings of market research into historical fiction;
Hilary Green on the HNS writing course with Louis de Bernieres; Listings
of historical fiction about Ancient Greece; James Hawking looks at the
various guides to historical fiction, including on-line resources; Elizabeth
Hawksley looks at Eighteenth century London; Anne Maloney on Geoffrey
of Monmouth; Anne Perry on the filming of Cater Street; Richard Lee interviews Beryl Bainbridge; Sarah Cuthbertson interviews
Steven Saylor.
Fiction
by Diana Simpson (Winner of the Explore Prize) and Michel Faber
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Solander Three, Spring 1998 -
Edited by Richard Lee
Dean Miller on what makes good or bad historical fiction; Anna Jacobs
on being on-line; Sally Zigmond on recent historical fiction prize-winners;
Joanna Hines on Gadzookery, and the problems of language in historical
fiction;
Bernard
Cornwell gives his guide to the mechanics of writing a best-seller;
Duncan Noble on quasi-historical novels; Pamela Belle on her Wintercombe
novels; Pamela Oldfield on the writing of Sally Lunn; Pamela Hill on
Timeslip novels;
Helen Hollick, interviewed
by Towse Harrison;
Elizabeth
Chadwick, interviewed by Towse Harrison; Hugh Pruen remembers the
fiction of WHG Kingston. Fiction by Hilary Green (Winner of the Kythira
Prize)
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Solander Two, Autumn 1997 - Edited
by Richard Lee
Elizabeth Chadwick on Re-enactment and novel writing; Geoff Sadler on
One Hundred and Fifty Years
of Westerns; Gail Mallin on Mills and Boon; Graham Hamblin on Children's
historical novels; Richard Lee gives The Society's Guide to UK Literary Agents and Publishers; Derek
Wilson compares the merits of writing history and fiction; Michael Decker
assesses the historical fiction of the ancients; Alexander Kent and
Matthew Kneale talk about their own writing lives; Jesse Knight surveys
Rafael Sabatini's work; Hugh Prune remembers GA Henty; William Orford
interviews Richard Woodman.
Fiction by Ruth Downie
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Solander One, Spring 1997 - Edited
by Richard Lee
Joanna Trollope In defence of the Historical Novel; Richard Woodman
on
The English
tradition of Writers at Sea; James Hawking on
Roman History through One Hundred Novels; Dominique Nightingale
compares historical fiction with heroic fantasy; Sheila Hardy discusses
self-publishing in the UK; Melvyn Bragg on his book Credo, and powerful
women throughout history; E.V. Thompson and Gloria Cook on the lure
of Cornwall; Paula Marshall on Mills and Boon; Eleanor Thomson on writing
prequels; Matthew Kneale on JG Farrell; Mark Valentine on Peter Vansittart.
Fiction by Faye Robertson.
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