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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  Submit your novel for review
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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Adventure

Launch: J. M. Elliott’s Of Wind and Wolves

By Jessica Knauss - Article Published August 25, 2026

INTERVIEWED BY LESLIE S. LOWE J. M. Elliott lives on a Hudson Valley farm, away from the hustle of modern life. She prefers ...Read Article

Launch: Marilyn Ball Carvin’s ¡Viva California!

By Jessica Knauss - Article Published August 4, 2026

INTERVIEWED BY J. K. KNAUSS Marilyn Ball Carvin, a California native, holds a B.A. from Mount St. Mary’s College in Brentwood (...Read Article

Story Gold: Thomas Mogford’s The Saffron Thief

By Bethany Latham - Article Published August 1, 2026

WRITTEN BY SARAH BOWER Thomas Mogford, who writes historical fiction as T. L. Mogford, is a prolific author of crime novels. The Saffron ...Read Article

Launch: Vince Rockston’s Greet Suzon for Me

By Jessica Knauss - Article Published May 26, 2026

INTERVIEWED BY KEIRA MORGAN Born on the Island of Jersey, Vince Rockston studied physics at Imperial College London, then moved to Geneva as ...Read Article

The Longer View: Ian McGuire’s White River Crossing

By Bethany Latham - Article Published May 1, 2026

BY BETHANY LATHAM Ian McGuire’s 18th-century foray into the Canadian wilderness Many authors of historical fiction start with setting – a time, a ...Read Article

Launch: Pamela Belle’s The Boy With Five Names

By Jessica Knauss - Article Published April 27, 2026

INTERVIEWED BY LESLIE S. LOWE Pamela Belle was telling stories before she could read or write, and began her first book, The Moon ...Read Article

A hero for our time too: Sharpe’s Storm by Bernard Cornwell

By Claire Morris - Article Published December 3, 2025

BY TOM WILLIAMS Fans of Bernard Cornwell’s Richard Sharpe, and there are many, are very familiar with the Peninsular War. Sharpe started ...Read Article

Launch: J.R. Powell’s Paoletta: An Eye for an Eye

By Tracey Warr - Article Published November 25, 2025

INTERVIEW BY CAROLYN NEWTON Originally from the UK, J.R. Powell currently lives in Germany, where he works as a translator and editor. ...Read Article

Pared down prose brings to life the Great Depression: While the Getting is Good by Matt Riordan

By Claire Morris - Article Published August 27, 2025

BY HELEN JOHNSON 1930s America, The Great Depression, and Eld – Eldridge Mackey – is a fisherman on Lake Huron. Life is not kind to ...Read Article

Jumping on the trampoline of history: World Pacific by Peter Mann

By Claire Morris - Article Published August 20, 2025

BY TRISH MACENULTY Peter Mann, whose new novel, World Pacific, (Harper, 2025) follows a highly successful debut in The Torqued Man, (HarperCollins, 2022) did not ...Read Article

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