About
- Established in 1997, the Historical Novel Society is an international literary society devoted to promotion and advocacy for the genre of historical fiction.
Membership
- Historical Novel Society members include authors, readers, librarians, editors and industry professionals – membership is entirely open, and anyone enthusiastic about the genre is welcome.
Events
- Our worldwide membership loves to meet. Many travel thousands of miles to attend our conferences in person; many more enjoy our virtual options from home. Others form member connections in their area through regular Local Chapter meet-ups. Discover what’s on with conferences, Local and Virtual Chapters, and more.
Book Reviews
- Our exclusive, members-only print magazine, the Historical Novels Review, publishes reviews of hundreds of historical fiction books each quarter, in addition to features and columns. Become a member to receive the magazine and enjoy all our other benefits.
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Articles
- We publish articles in our members-only print magazine, Historical Novels Review, as well as web features exclusive to this site. All are original pieces, commissioned by our Features Editors based on topics of interest to members – interviews with historical fiction authors, publishers, and agents; explorations of novels and subgenres; guides, and regular columns on historical fiction market news, debut authors, and more. Articles are written by vetted contributors, most of whom are Society members. If you’re a member interested in joining the team, Contact Us.
Awards
- HNS Awards have helped discover authors and launch their careers (e.g., Michel Faber, Ruth Downie, Nikki Marmery, Hilary Green, Elizabeth Macneal, and many more) and provided vital support for others. Our ARA Award is one of the most generous of all literary prizes. If you’d like to partner to sponsor an award, Contact Us.
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Articles

Original features from our print magazines.

Launch: Jeanine Boulay’s What Keeps Us

INTERVIEWED BY MALLY BECKER Jeanine Boulay is a writer and educator interested in the connections across time and place. She is the recipient ...Read Article

Launch: Kathleen J. Waites’s The Faithful Ones

INTERVIEW BY DAVID CONNON Kathleen J. Waites is a Philadelphia native, former nun, scholar, author, and professor emerita at Nova Southeastern University in ...Read Article

Pasadena’s Japan: Crown City by Naomi Hirahara

BY LOUISE TREE Naomi Hirahara is a mystery writer who has also written a non-fiction work on the Japanese gardeners of Southern California. ...Read Article

Live, love, resist: Fireflies in Winter by Eleanor Shearer

BY KATE BRAITHWAITE In 1790s Nova Scotia, a young woman is on trial. Who is she and what is she accused of? From ...Read Article

Despite Our Differences: When We Were Divided by Liz Flanagan

BY CLARE RHODEN Liz Flanagan, a British novelist from Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, is best known for her fast-paced teenage fiction and highly ...Read Article

Passion and Power in the World of Art: The Secret Courtesan by Kerry Chaput

BY SHAUNA MCINTYRE Women artists of the past are rarely given the credit they are due. For centuries, many art historians believed women ...Read Article

A new take on Mary Shelley’s legendary summer: The Glowing Hours, by Leila Siddiqui

BY ELIZABETH CRACHIOLO Leila Siddiqui has always been fascinated by the summer in 1816 when Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and John Polidori ...Read Article

The House of Barbary by Isabelle Schuler: A retelling of Bluebeard

BY LISA REDMOND Isabelle Schuler is a talented author making a splash in the area of feminist historical fiction; she is also a ...Read Article

Launch – Anne Tripp Wyatt’s Short Story Collection Gracie Emerson

Interviewed by LESLIE S. LOWE Anne Tripp Wyatt is a short story author, avid up-cycler, wife, and mother of two daughters who enjoys ...Read Article

New books by Historical Novel Society members, February 2026

The following Historical Novel Society members are celebrating the release of their new books – congrats to all! If you’re a current HNS ...Read Article

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