FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This page addresses common questions our members have, and provides some general information for all site visitors.
General FAQs
We are an open Society, and anyone can join — the only criterion is a love for the genre of historical fiction. See About Us to learn more about who we are, our history, and what we do. Our membership is made up of historical fiction authors, readers, publicists/publishers and other industry professionals. So if you're enthusiastic about historical fiction, we invite you to join us and help the Society further this expansive genre. You can join through the website.
Membership dues are currently $65 USD or £50 GBP per annum. Membership is international; non-US/UK members can choose whichever currency has the most favorable exchange rate for their native currency. Their payment method will be charged in their native currency; the Society bears any conversion fees. Membership dues are set up as an annual subscription which can be cancelled at any time. In addition to a variety of other benefits, dues cover a year's subscription to the Historical Novels Review magazine, mailed to your door each quarter. The Society accepts credit or debit card payments through the website. Regretfully, the Society cannot accept cheques.
There is only one Historical Novel Society (HNS), and this is the membership organization you join, regardless of your geographic location. Membership is maintained through annual dues. The HNS is a large, international Society with members from 30+ countries, various Local Chapters, and three affiliated conferences. When you Contact Us, it's helpful to know what the acronyms associated with the Society stand for, especially since some have their own web presences and communication channels:
HNS | The Historical Novel Society. The Society administration, and the international organization you've joined to connect with other historical fiction enthusiasts locally and across the globe to promote the genre we all love.
HNSA | Historical Novel Society Australasia
Established in 2014, an official Local Chapter of the HNS as well as a board which plans and hosts the biennial historical fiction conference (now rebranded as a festival) in Australia.HNSNA | Historical Novel Society North America
Established in 2005, a conference board which plans the biennial historical fiction conference held in North America, usually the United States.HNSUK | Historical Novel Society United Kingdom & Ireland
A conference board which plans the biennial historical fiction conference held in the United Kingdom or Ireland.
There are also a number of official Local Chapters located in Ireland and the United Kingdom (e.g., Devon Chapter, Irish Chapter), the United States (e.g., New York City Chapter, MidSouth Chapter), Canada, and mainland Europe. Local Chapters are HNS member-led groups in a particular location who hold programming, in-person meetups, and more to foster local connection amongst members.
You can always reach out to the HNS's administration, and we'll make sure your query gets routed to the correct person or group.
Our definition of historical fiction is intentionally broad. To be deemed historical (in our sense), a novel must have been written at least fifty years after the events described, or written by someone who was not alive at the time of those events, and therefore approaches them only by research. You can learn more about our philosophy, as well as other definitions of historical fiction, in this guide written by Chairman Richard Lee.
Yes. Generally, awards competitions are run in conjunction with the Society's various conferences, held biennially in the UK, North America, and Australia. To find out what awards are currently being offered, their criteria, and how to submit, see the awards page.
You can learn more about the Society's book reviews — what's within scope, how we select titles, the editorial and review process — by viewing our Reviews Policy. After reading the Policy, you can submit a book for review consideration with this form.
Possibly. The first step is to join the Society. In general, the Society doesn't accept unsolicited article submissions. Most of our articles are written by Society members who have passed a vetting process in order to be added to the contributor team managed by our Features Editors. Reviewers are also Society members who work with our Reviews Editors to craft authoritative, objective reviews of over 300 titles per quarter. All article contributors and reviewers are unpaid volunteers. Learn more about our features and our reviews.
Member Account FAQs
Click the Member Login link, then click the "lost password?" option underneath the log in button. You can enter either your username or email, and the system will send you an email with a link to reset your password. If you don't receive the email, be sure to check your spam. Please note: the email will be sent to the address you have on file with us. If you no longer have access to that email account or don't receive the reset email, Contact Us and we'll be happy to help.
Your member number will appear front and center in your Member Account on the HNS website. Click the Member Login link and log in to your account to see your member number and other membership details. Please note: the Society moved to a new membership system in June 2024. Those who were members before that date and have had no lapse in membership will still have their original membership numbers (the number assigned when they initially joined). Anyone who joined after that date, or previous members who were lapsed and then renewed after June 2024 will have a new member number. If you experience difficulty logging in to your account to see your member number, Contact Us and we'll be happy to help.
Members choose their username when they join. If you've forgotten your username, you can log in with your email address. Or you can Contact Us and we'll be happy to help.
The most common reason for this is because you've been a member with us before, so the system already "knows" you — "join" is for entirely new memberships. To renew a previously existing membership (no matter how long it may have been), log in to your Member Account, and you'll see there options for renewing. If you experience difficulty logging in to your account, Contact Us and we'll be happy to help.
When you join, there's a tick box labeled "appear in the public directory" — be sure this is ticked at sign up, and your profile will automatically be added to public view in our Member Directory. You can also log in to your Member Account, and you'll find the tick box under "Your Profile," accessible by clicking the "Edit Your Details" link in the right menu box. The menu also allows you to update your profile bio and add/update links to your website, social media, etc.
You can choose to be listed in the Member Directory under your pen name. To change how your name displays for your member profile, login to your Member Account and click "edit your details" — this will show your account information, including the "display name publicly as" field. Enter the way you'd like your name to display in the Member Directory, and click the "update profile" button at the bottom of the page.
It's important to make sure the Society is aware of any mailing address changes to avoid missing issues of the Historical Novels Review. To update your address, login to your Member Account and click "edit your details" in the right menu. You'll see there the address the Society has on file for you, and you can modify/update it.
The Society accepts credit or debit card payments through the website. Regretfully, the Society cannot accept cheques.
The membership default is an auto-renewing annual subscription. Your payment method will be charged the current dues amount every year on the same date you joined, keeping your Society membership up-to-date. You'll receive a system notification to the email you have on file with us (so be sure and keep your email current!) 7 days prior to the charge, to allow plenty of time if you wish to cancel. This email contains a link you can use to easily end your membership subscription. As long as you cancel before the renewal date, your card will not be charged. You can also cancel at any time by logging in to your Member Account on the HNS site and looking below your subscription info under "My Memberships"; you'll see there a "cancel" link. Once you cancel your subscription, your membership will remain active for the rest of the year you've already paid dues for (i.e., until your scheduled renewal date), then automatically expire. If you experience issues with cancellation or require assistance, please Contact Us.
As one of the benefits of membership, members receive a year's subscription to the Historical Novels Review magazine, published quarterly in February, May, August, and November. It posts from the United States, no later than the first day of the publication month. Magazine delivery times vary greatly depending on where the member is located in the world. While most members have their magazines within a few days to 2 weeks, please allow at least a month for delivery. If you still haven't seen your magazine, Contact Us. Please note: mailing lists go to the printer on the 20th of the month preceding publication (e.g., 20 January for the February issue), so if you joined after this date, your subscription will start with the next quarter's issue.
Website FAQs
If you experience an issue with the website or can't find the information you're seeking, feel free to Contact Us.
While the Society provides a substantial amount of freely-available content, some content is restricted to members-only. To access this content, make sure you're logged into your Member Account. If you're not a member, we invite you to join us.
Quick Links
Need further assistance? If you have questions or feedback, please use the button below and contact us.
Contact Us
Have questions or need to get in touch? Use the button below. If you need a specific team member, please mention them by name in your form submission so your query can be directed appropriately.
Historical Novel Society Mailing Addresses
UNITED KINGDOM | Marine Cottage, The Strand, Starcross, Devon, EX6 8NY UK
UNITED STATES | PO Box 1146, Jacksonville, AL, 36265 US
