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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Saga

Launch: Anna Dalhaimer Bartkowski’s Ancestral Shadows

By Jessica Knauss - Article Published July 30, 2026

INTERVIEWED BY MALLY BECKER Anna Dalhaimer Bartkowski has chased stories since childhood—first as a wide-eyed kid and later as a passionate genealogist ...Read Article

Launch: Della Leavitt’s Vivian’s Decision

By Jessica Knauss - Article Published July 14, 2026

INTERVIEWED BY REBECCA ROSENBERG After careers in technology and mathematics education, Della Leavitt‘s debut historical novel, Vivian’s Decision (April 2026, She Writes ...Read Article

Shadow of Shakespeare: Grace Tiffany’s The Owl Was a Baker’s Daughter

By Bethany Latham - Article Published May 1, 2025

WRITTEN BY KATE BRAITHWAITE We all know historical fiction requires a great deal of research to be authentic, vivid and compelling to read, ...Read Article

New Voices: Tod Lending, Kirsten Menger-Anderson, Morgan Ryan & Elizabeth A. Tucker

By Bethany Latham - Article Published

WRITTEN BY MYFANWY COOK Debut novelists Tod Lending, Kirsten Menger-Anderson, Morgan Ryan and Elizabeth A. Tucker explore intimate lives from the archives of ...Read Article

Launch: Samantha Ward-Smith’s Tower of Vengeance

By Tracey Warr - Article Published April 1, 2025

INTERVIEW BY TRACEY WARR Samantha Ward-Smith lives in Kent in the UK with her two cats Belle and Rudy. She has a PhD ...Read Article

Launch: Alix Christie’s The Shining Mountains

By Tracey Warr - Article Published March 17, 2025

INTERVIEW BY DAVID CONNON Alix Christie is the author of the historical novel Gutenberg’s Apprentice, long-listed for the International Dublin Literary Prize. ...Read Article

Launch: Trish Devine’s Rising Sun Falling Rain

By Tracey Warr - Article Published March 4, 2025

INTERVIEW BY ELLEN IRWIN With a bachelor’s degree in social anthropology and a teaching career in culturally diverse communities, including Hiroshima, New ...Read Article

Kate Mosse On Putting the Women Back Into History in The Map of Bones

By Claire Morris - Article Published January 29, 2025

BY LISA REDMOND Kate Mosse has brought her Joubert Family Chronicles to a close with her most recent novel The Map of Bones (...Read Article

Launch: Graham Ley’s Moonlight at Cuckmere Haven

By Tracey Warr - Article Published January 17, 2025

INTERVIEW BY ANNE EASTER SMITH Graham Ley is a romantic historical novelist, author of the Wentworth family saga set in the mid-1790s ...Read Article

Launch: G.M. Baker’s The Wrecker’s Daughter

By Tracey Warr - Article Published January 16, 2025

INTERVIEW BY ELLEN IRWIN G. M. Baker writes stories that find the truth of the human condition in action, adventure, romance, and even ...Read Article

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