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Just to note that the American branch of the Historical Novel Society Conference next year will be having 8 min slots to allow writers to pitch to publishers' editors. As the conference is restricted to 300 people, (deliberate policy for a better conference,) if you have a book that may be ready for pitching I would join up asap and get the information.
They also run an annual short story competition with good prizes and publication in an anthology. It's run by the Irish publishers Fish. So go to www.fishpublishing.com
Hurry up though. The deadline is September 15th 2006.
Thanks for the post, pdr. Out of curiosity, where is the conference being held? Puma
rtilryarms
07-15-2006, 07:45 AM
Interesting, thanks PDR.
JenNipps
07-15-2006, 08:13 AM
Thanks for the post, pdr. Out of curiosity, where is the conference being held? Puma
According to the Historical Society (http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/) website, the conference (http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/albany/conference.htm) will be June 8-10, 2007, in Albany, New York.
It looks interesting.
Yes it does look interesting. Thanks for the link to their website, Jen. Puma
Especially thanks to Jen. Sorry, I've actually been tutoring writers all weekend so only just seen the posts Sunday evening Japan time.
I'll post all the Conference guest names and the editors, publishers, and writers of interest as soon as they are allowed general release.
I think we'll get preferential treatment!
The HNS conference in Albany, June 2007 will have two major authors as guests of honour:
Bernard Cornwell
and
Diana Gabaldon.
Several agents and editors are expected but not all have confirmed their places. More news later.
The aim of the conference is to cover many aspects of Historical Fiction, aspects of interest to both writers and readers of the genre. It's fun too!
Saturday night is planned as revue night, allowing attendees to show off their talent in a HF-related manner.
Start saving up now.
Just over a month until the HNS annual short story competiont run by the Irish publishing company Fish Publishing closes.
It's a good competition and success in it does mean something to publishers of historical fiction.
The short short comp sounds good too.
www.fishpublishing.com
BrianTubbs
08-16-2006, 01:32 AM
General question -- Is the Historical Novel Society worth joining? I've had a few nonfiction articles published, and I would like to get into writing historical fiction.
on what you are looking for, Brian.
If you want out find out about the latest historical fiction releases then their journal, 'HNS Review', is a great help.
If you want to learn about what other historical writers are doing, with their tips and hints, then the Review and the biannual magazine, 'Solander' are well worth reading. If you want to find out who is looking for what among the publishers then 'Solander' can help.
There is an e-zine you can sign up for, it keeps you in touch with the trends and new releases. It also helps you learn about the other members' activities.
There is an on-line forum you can join to discuss novels, writers, and trends.
The annual conference is excellent, and you can make contact with other historical writers.
Their short story competition carries weight with editors, as does publication of your short story in 'Solander'.
The body of members contains many experts who are happy to help you with research topics.
Go check out the website and be prepared to give to the HNS in the way of letters to the journals, comments for the e-zine and helping other members with research on a topic you know about. You'll get more out of the HNS doing that.
Conference Registration opens November 1.
Please watch the HNS website for updates on the programming and other details.
Guests of honour are Bernard Cornwell and Diana Gabaldon
These are the editors and agents who have confirmed that they are coming.
Editors
Hope Dellon, St. Martin's Press;
Allison McCabe, Crown;
and Jackie Swift, McBooks Press.
Agents
Andrea Somberg, Harvey Klinger, Inc.
Jessica Regel, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency.
Also Irene Goodman, Irene Goodman Agency, who will deliver a keynote speech.
There will be appointments available with these individuals, to be set up when you register.
The Saturday night revue is going ahead, though planning is in the early stages. It will feature conference attendees showcasing their talent.
For proposed programming, please see http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/albany/proposals.htm
Please remember that the programme is still unconfirmed - all is dependent on participants agreeing to come!
Another editor has confirmed:
Peter Joseph, Thomas Dunne Books (subsidiary of St. Martin's Press).
That means more chances to pitch your work!
Editors
Hope Dellon, St. Martin's Press;
Allison McCabe, Crown;
Jackie Swift, McBooks Press.
and Peter Joseph, Thomas Dunne Books (St Martin's Press)
dclary
09-01-2006, 08:36 PM
I haven't seen pitchfests like this amount to sales before, at least in the screenwriting ones I've gone to. I'd like to think this will be different, but I don't know. In my experience, the editors who are at this event are there because they're being paid to be there, not because they need more material.
That said... if you have the idea of the century, and have written the hell out of it, and this is how they stumble on it....
Kaching!
(are there kachings in historical writing? lol)
that one of the things in favour of the HNS Conference in the US is that it is limited to 300 participants. It's small. And like the New Zealand RWNZ (Romance Writers) conference it has strict rules so that the editors and agents are happy to come because they know that:
1. They won't be approached by hopefuls with a pitch anywhere except in the official room. (No badgering in lifts or loos!)
2. The number of writers is small. There are as many keen readers and historians as there are writers present.
3. If it's like the UK Conferences it's a helluva good time for people who like historical fiction.
4. For some reason there are far fewer 'lunatic fringe' writers who write historical fiction. (This comment comes from a well respected editor)
5. There is always the chance that they will find a good new writer.
Bumped this thread to remind everyone that the conference bookings open in three weeks time.
If I were to be in Canada during June I would be aiming to travel to Albany, my manuscript as polished as possible for those pitching sessions.
Please read the website timetable:
http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/albany/conference.htm
Our author guests of honor are Bernard Cornwell, bestselling author of the Sharpe series, and Diana Gabaldon, bestselling author of the Outlander series.
Registration fees include entrance to all daytime panels and workshops, the Friday night dinner (with Bernard Cornwell as after-dinner speaker), Saturday buffet lunch (with Irene Goodman as keynote), and Saturday and Sunday continental breakfast. The optional Saturday evening banquet (additional charge), new for 2007, will include an after-dinner talk from Diana Gabaldon, followed by a historical talent revue. We are also offering an optional Friday tour of historic Albany.
Promotional Opportunities
Ad rates for the conference program are available. In addition, promotional materials (flyers, books, bookmarks, galleys, etc.) for distribution to attendees may be sent to us in advance. Single copies of books are also welcome and will be used as door prizes or as gifts for our volunteers. If you or your publisher has sufficient materials to distribute to all attendees, please allow for 300 copies/items. Items should be sent to: Carol Anne Germain, HNS Conference, 12 Second St, Albany, NY 12210. (For large shipments, please contact Carol Anne in advance so she'll know to expect them.) Items must arrive by June 1st.
Please read the website timetable:
http://www.historicalnovelsociety.or...conference.htm (http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/albany/conference.htm)
SPEAKERS and PANELISTS
SUZANNE ADAIR is the nom de plume for Suzanne Williams, a native Floridian who currently lives with her family in North Carolina. In second grade, she wrote her first fiction for fun after the eye of a hurricane passed over her home, and she grew up intrigued by wild weather, stories of suspense and high adventure, Spanish St. Augustine, and the South's role in the Revolutionary War. She has traveled extensively and lived in England for half a year. After visiting the ruins of colonial-era Ft. Frederica on St. Simon's Island, Georgia, she began writing Paper Woman. She enjoys participating in living history to commemorate events from the Southern Theater of the Revolutionary War – a hobby that helps her depict colonial life in writing. www.suzanneadair.com
CORDELIA FRANCES BIDDLE is the author of The Conjurer, a novel set in 1842 Philadelphia. Thomas Dunne Books of St. Martin’s Press is the publisher. The initial “Martha Beale mystery” details life in Cordelia’s hometown during a period of national and local foment. It was inspired by her fascination with two ancestors: Nicholas Biddle, president of the Second Bank of the United States, and Francis Drexel, whose bank helped fund the US government during the American Civil War. Cordelia’s research into the mid-Victorian era was greatly aided by The Library Company of Philadelphia (founded by Benjamin Franklin) and The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, whose collections are treasure troves of primary resources. Her hours there were journeys through time. In her former career, she was a stage and daytime drama actress in New York. More recently, she and her husband, Steve Zettler, became Crossword Mystery maven, Nero Blanc; twelve suspense novels are in that series. Unlike The Conjurer, all are in the “cozy” vein. Cordelia is also the author of the historical novel Beneath The Wind (Simon & Schuster), and co-author of Murder at San Simeon (Scribner) and Caring For Your Cherished Possessions (Crown). Her website is www.CordeliaFrancesBiddle.com. She loves hearing from fans!
jAY DIXON is an Englishwoman, freelance editor and independent scholar who is currently working on the history of the Regency novel. She published The Romance Fiction of Mills & Boon [Harlequin] 1909-1990s (UCL Press) in 1999.
KATHY LYNN EMERSON writes two historical mystery series and one contemporary mystery series and occasionally ventures into non-fiction. In the Face Down series, featuring Susanna, Lady Appleton, 16th-century gentlewoman, herbalist, and sleuth, the most recent entry is Face Down Beside St. Anne’s Well (2006). The next book in the series, Face Down O’er the Border, will be out in September 2007. The Diana Spaulding 1888 Mysteries feature a late 19th-century American journalist. No Mortal Reason (April, 2007) follows Deadlier than the Pen and Fatal as a Fallen Woman and is set in Liberty, New York, where Kathy grew up. She has just completed work on How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries: the Art and Adventure of Sleuthing through the Past (Spring 2008). As Kaitlyn Dunnett she pens the contemporary Liss MacCrimmon Mysteries (Kilt Dead, August 2007). Kathy lives in Maine with her husband and assorted cats. http://www.kathylynnemerson.com
KATHLEEN ERNST is an educator, historical novelist, and social historian. Her historical fiction for children and young adults includes seven historical mysteries set between 1732 and 1936, and five novels set during the American Civil War. These titles have earned three Arthur Tofte Juvenile Fiction Awards, the Flora MacDonald Award, a WILLA Finalist Award, an Edgar Award nomination, and three Agatha Award nominations. Her latest book is Hearts of Stone (Dutton, 2006). Other titles include Midnight in Lonesome Hollow, Secrets in the Hills, and Danger at the Zoo from American Girl, and Ghosts of Vicksburg, Retreat from Gettysburg, The Bravest Girl in Sharpsburg, and The Night Riders of Harpers Ferry from White Mane Kids. Kathleen also authored a non-fiction adult work, Too Afraid to Cry: Maryland Civilians in the Antietam Campaign, which was an alternate selection of the History Book Club. She has a Masters Degree in History Education and Writing from Antioch University, where her self-designed program focused on non-traditional methods of teaching and learning history – with a special emphasis on historical fiction, of course! She served for twelve years as a Curator of Education and Collections with the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Historic Sites Division. www.distaff.net
MELINDA HAMMOND (Linda Hooper) was born in the West Country and now lives with her husband in Yorkshire, on the edge of the Pennines. With the family now (almost) flown the nest she has more time to write the historical novels that are her obsession. Linda left school at sixteen to work in a cigarette factory but soon moved on, gaining office experience in companies as varied as stockbrokers, marine engineers, insurance brokers, biscuit manufacturers and even a quarrying company. Her twelfth book, The Belles Dames Club, has just been accepted by Robert Hale, and she has three e-books available with Belgrave House. http://www.melindahammond.com
MARY FREMONT SCHOENECKER drew inspiration to write poems and stories about American history while growing up in the Revolutionary War village of Schuylerville (Old Saratoga), New York. She earned her B.S. at SUNY College, Oswego, an M.S. at the University at Albany, and an Ed.D. at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Dr. Schoenecker taught in New York State public schools and spent the last sixteen years of her career as Associate Professor of Education at SUNY College, Oneonta, NY. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Sarasota Fiction Writers. Published in non-fiction since 1991, her love of history found its place in a weekly column, “Reflections,” for a small press in Saratoga Springs, NY, and in feature articles in regional magazines in Florida. Her first young adult novel was chosen as a publisher’s component of a history proposal for a NEH grant. True characters, diary excerpts and authentic letters enrich her debut historical novel, a Civil War epic, Four Summers Waiting, published by Five Star in 2006. Mary’s workshop, “Historical Fiction – From Research to Voice,” is a popular one. She lives with her husband, Tom, in Florida. When not speaking, reading or writing, Mary enjoys dancing, golf, and the Gulf beaches.
In Finest Kind, the latest of LEA WAIT's historical novels, a family moves to Maine after the Panic of 1837, so the father can work in a lumber mill. Jake, age 13, must prepare his family for the winter – and ensure the family secret they brought with them from Boston is not revealed. Kirkus Reviews said it is “story that will linger in the hearts of readers.” Lea’s historicals have been lauded for their accurate use of historical detail, and honored by listings on student choice award lists in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, South Dakota, Arkansas and Florida. Stopping to Home was named a “notable children’s book of 2001” by Smithsonian Magazine and is on the Bank Street College’s “best of the best” list. Seaward Born, also a Bank Street College “notable book,” is an International Reading Association’s teachers’ choice. Wintering Well was called “a treasure waiting to be found” by Kirkus Reviews, was her third Bank Street College “notable book” and is the Pennsylvania State Librarians’ Young Adult Top Forty List. Lea is also the author of Scribner’s contemporary award-winning Shadows Antique Print Mystery series for adults. Her website is http://www.leawait.com.
EDITORS AND AGENTS
Irene Goodman will be our Saturday lunch keynote speaker. Her agenting career began over twenty-five years ago, when, as an editorial assistant, she defied her boss at a publishing company and walked a check request into the president’s office. She hasn’t looked back since. Established in her own agency in 1978, she is particularly interested in women’s voices, historical fiction, thrillers, graphic novels, mysteries, and literary fiction. Her non-fiction passions include narrative history, education, social commentary and issues, memoir, cooking, animals, 19th century American authors, Anglophilia, Francophilia, and Judaica. Especially adept at career building, she works with authors at all levels, from New York Times best sellers to talented newcomers. She is known for holding “power summits”, in which she meets with an author and the editor, publisher, marketing director, publicist, and the author’s personal publicist, to focus intently on the author’s career and specific plans for continued success. She loves to take authors with good careers and turn them into best sellers with great careers. Her clients include New York Times bestsellers Linda Lael Miller, Sharyn McCrumb, and Katherine Stone, USA Today bestsellers Lori Handeland, Susan Donovan, Cheryl Holt, and Celeste Bradley, graphic novelist Barbara Slate, memoirist Hannah Nyala, historical fiction authors Amanda Elyot, Diane Haeger, Elsa Watson, Carrie Bebris, Julie Kaewert and John Cooney, and literary playwright and author Meir Ribalow. Other authors with whom she has worked include Debbie Macomber, Joan Johnston, and Deborah Smith.
ATTENDING EDITORS:
Hope Dellon is an executive editor at St. Martin’s Press in New York. Her parents, who met while pursuing advanced degrees in history, did their best to pass their love of the subject along to their children through lively discussions at the dinner table and enthusiastic visits to small-town historical societies on family vacations. This unfortunately backfired with Hope, who avoided the formal study of history as much as she could. She did, however, find herself drawn to novels that seemed to go beyond historical facts to bring earlier eras to life. After graduating from Yale with a B.A. and M.A. in English literature, she joined St. Martin’s in 1975. She has been privileged to work with many wonderful storytellers, including Bernard Cornwell, Margaret George, Anne Perry, and Brenda Rickman Vantrease, who have taught her most of what she knows about history to this day. Her main areas of interest in historical fiction include mainstream novels and historical mysteries/thrillers.
Peter Joseph, Associate Editor at Thomas Dunne Books (St. Martin’s Press) in New York, is interested in a wide variety of both fiction and nonfiction. His fiction list includes thrillers, mysteries, historical novels and literary fiction, while his nonfiction list includes history, biography/autobiography, narrative nonfiction, travel, humor, and pop culture. Some recent historical novels include Beautiful Dreamer, by Christopher Bigsby, The Sidewalk Artist, by Gina Buonaguro and Janice Kirk, and Critique of Criminal Reason, by Michael Gregorio. His editorial interest in historical novels includes mainstream and most subgenres, but no fantasy or romance. Peter moonlights as Departments Editor for the online literary magazine, LOST, which can be found at www.lostmag.com. He lives in Brooklyn.
Senior Editor Allison McCabe joined the Crown Publishing Group (Random House) in New York in 2005 to expand Crown’s very successful historical fiction program. Before joining Crown, she was at Penguin Group (USA) where she acquired and edited both fiction and nonfiction. Prior to that, Allison was an editor at HarperCollins, where she worked with New York Times bestselling authors Susan Isaacs, Jeffrey Archer, Anne Rivers Siddons, Tony Hillerman, Simon Winchester, Jerry Oppenheimer, and Sister Wendy Beckett. At Crown, in addition to historical novels, she is acquiring commercial fiction, memoirs, historical biographies, and quirky nonfiction. Upcoming nonfiction projects include Privilege and Scandal, a biography of Harriet Spencer, ancestor to Diana, Princess of Wales, and sister to Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Her editorial interest in historical novels is mainstream only. No subgenres.
Jackie Swift has been an editor at McBooks Press in Ithaca, New York since 2001. Before that she attended graduate school in creative writing; taught literature, composition, and creative writing; and worked as a freelance journalist, writer, and editor. Her goal as a freelancer was to explore as much of the world as possible while doing research for thoughtful articles on environmental, social, and cultural issues, very often presented with the historical background to make sense of the modern situation. A lover of history from an early age, she no longer has cable TV because she spent too much time watching the History Channel and A&E historical mini-series. As an editor at McBooks, Jackie has been fortunate to work with many first-time authors of historical fiction, as well as to oversee the American publication of British authors such as Alexander Kent and Julian Stockwin. At McBooks the emphasis is on action-oriented historical fiction that appeals primarily to men, with a strong secondary appeal to women, set in any time period. Recent acquisitions include novels of Ancient Rome, Colonial America, and WWII Europe.
ATTENDING AGENTS:
Dan Mandel has been a successful literary agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates in New York City for over ten years. His list includes books by academics, experienced authors, and first-time novelists writing a wide-range of commercial and literary fiction. His historical fiction and nonfiction clients include Cara Haycak (Red Palms), Michael Abrams (Birdmen, Batmen, and Skyflyers: Wingsuits and the Pioneers Who Flew in Them, Fell in Them, and Perfected Them), and Lamar Herrin (Romancing Spain). He represents both contemporary and historical fiction and nonfiction writers and is open to mainstream historical fiction as well as historical mysteries and thrillers. He is a graduate of Cornell University.
With over ten years of publishing experience, Kirsten Manges spent the last eight years prior to opening her own agency with Curtis Brown, Ltd. There, she cultivated a strong stable of writers in the tradition of one of the oldest and most highly regarded literary agencies, while developing a firm understanding of the many steps involved in building an author’s career. Now with her own agency, Kirsten continues to aggressively and energetically represent both longstanding relationships and new writers. Her interest in historical fiction runs the gamut, with the exception of strict genre romance and fantasy. A graduate of Oberlin College, she is a member of the AAR and lives in NYC with her husband and cats.
Jessica Regel has been with the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency in New York for five years. She agents her own list of children’s and adult books while also working in the subsidiary rights department, concentrating on film rights and handling permissions and children’s magazine submissions. Jessica is interested in mainstream historical fiction for adults as well as middle grade and young adult, including all subgenres: any story with a great voice and original plot. At the moment, she is on a mission to find a narrative nonfiction book on social or historical issues targeted toward young adults (12-18)--think The Kite Runner or Random Family for a younger demographic. She received her BA degree in English Literature from Hunter College.
Andrea Somberg joined Harvey Klinger Inc. in the spring of 2005. Previously she was an agent at Vigliano Associates and the Don Maass Agency. She handles a wide range of projects, both fiction and non-fiction, including literary, commercial, young adult, memoir, pop-culture, how-to, self-help, humor, interior design, cookbooks, and health and fitness. Recent titles include Bruce Benderson's memoir and winner of the Prixe de Flore, The Romanian (Tarcher), Tammar Stein's Light Years (Knopf Childrens - nominated for Best Book for Young Adult 2006 by ALA), Justine Musk's Blood Angel, Mitchell Bartoy's noir mystery, The Devil's Own Ragdoll (St. Martin's), Paula Jolin's In the Name of God (Roaring Brook, fc), and Paula Quinn's historical romances (Hachette/Warner).
EngineerTiger
11-14-2006, 02:55 AM
Wish I could but I'm afraid a trip to New York is not in the plan. Best of luck to all who are able to attend.
doeraymee
11-14-2006, 10:58 PM
They also run an annual short story competition with good prizes and publication in an anthology. It's run by the Irish publishers Fish. So go to www.fishpublishing.com (http://www.fishpublishing.com)
Hurry up though. The deadline is September 15th 2006.
OUCH! I think this must be the most expensive contest fee I've ever seen. 40 pound Sterling. About $58 Cdn or $51 US.
Yikes.
I guess that cuts back on the competition a bit.... LOL
Sometimes I think I should start a contest business myself... Must be very profitable.
Must check but I entered and paid in Euros. I'm sure it was Euros.
Rushes to check.
Comes back chuckling. Yes, if you're not used to the pound sign then the euro sign, (which I cannot bring up in this message, sorry about that!) is very like the £ sign. It's 20 euros for entry and 40 for entry plus critique.
Goodness me, you had me worried there, I thought I would not have recommended such an expensive competition. Phew!
rtilryarms
11-15-2006, 06:54 AM
PDR, did you get any results from the contest? How did you do?
Don't know, thank you for asking.
This competition is only in its second year so I haven't been able to analyse it well. I did not make the short list last year much to my chagrin. I've sort of become accustomed to making the short list in the carefully chosen competitions I enter and last year's judge likes my historical stories usually!
The entry this year turned into a novel so I'm happy with that, but I did also do the one page -360 words - comp entry. I can't write flash fiction so this was a challenge. I was pleased with my entry but I don't think it's winner standard. Slightly lengthened to 600 words it is all ready for a market I know will accept it and I think I've mastered the technique of short shorts though I do hate writing them. Seems very constipated writing to me!
You mean to tell me that none of you Americans, all of you writing historical fiction, are going to the HNS Conference?
With that line up of agents and editors going it would have been a marvellous chance to learn what they're looking for even if your novel was only half finished.
Histry Nerd
01-16-2007, 07:59 PM
I'm trying to work out the finances. If I can figure that out, you can bet your happy tailfeathers I'll be there.
HN
smallthunder
01-17-2007, 03:30 AM
You mean to tell me that none of you Americans, all of you writing historical fiction, are going to the HNS Conference?
With that line up of agents and editors going it would have been a marvellous chance to learn what they're looking for even if your novel was only half finished.
Could you provide some info on this conference -- an URL, perhaps, and whatever else you can contribute?
Thanks.
you'll find all the information, including urls, on page one of this thread
Cav Guy
01-20-2007, 08:16 PM
I'm trying to work out the finances. If I can figure that out, you can bet your happy tailfeathers I'll be there.
HN
I second this one. I'd love to be able to join HNS (for one) and go to the conference (for two), but can't afford either one at present.
PastMidnight
01-20-2007, 08:48 PM
Do they alternate conferences betwen the UK and US? The website doesn't say when the next UK conference will be; has it been announced yet?
The HNS is British based. There is an annual UK conference. I'll post details as and when I get the confirmed ones. The US Conference is new and organised by the US members.
Frankly I'd go without a meal a day to get to this year's US conference if I had a book of interest to the US market. The line up of agents, editors and publishers is impressive and you can (the Conference is set up to only have 300 people max) talk to them and even have a pitching session. Mind you I live in a small country where I could get from one end to the other far more quickly than you guys can get around the US so I don't fully understand the logistics or expenses involved for you.
Cav Guy
01-21-2007, 08:17 PM
The HNS is British based. There is an annual UK conference. I'll post details as and when I get the confirmed ones. The US Conference is new and organised by the US members.
Frankly I'd go without a meal a day to get to this year's US conference if I had a book of interest to the US market. The line up of agents, editors and publishers is impressive and you can (the Conference is set up to only have 300 people max) talk to them and even have a pitching session. Mind you I live in a small country where I could get from one end to the other far more quickly than you guys can get around the US so I don't fully understand the logistics or expenses involved for you.
Round trip air fare from where I am would run about $1000 or so, plus with the job I have the timing couldn't be worse. The time between April and July is just nasty, and time off is out of the question (which is something I'd need to take to attend). It's hard enough to squeeze out good writing time during that period.
But I always keep the Society on the "do to" list, and maybe this year I'll be able to join (provided the legistature bothers to give us a pay raise...one of the joys of working for the state in the US-the Feds are much more generous).
Maybe the US Conference should be held in a different part of the country each time?
PastMidnight
01-23-2007, 01:17 PM
The HNS is British based. There is an annual UK conference. I'll post details as and when I get the confirmed ones.
Thanks! I'll keep my eyes open for that. It's not possible for me to go to a conference in the US right now, but would like to see about the UK conference. I
vrabinec
01-27-2007, 01:29 AM
If only I knew that I'd be done with my MS by the time it rolled around, I'd register. Unfortunately, with several chapters left to write, a thousand pounds of fat to trim and more than a few polishings left for me to slog through, there's no guarantee I can be done. And I'm not ready to dedicate a weekend to anything until I'm done. Though, it would be cool just to meet Kristin Nelson; I love her blog.
Find out what everyone thinks they're looking for. Line up a couple of publishers and agents in your mind who you'd like to represent you. Seek out a few kindred soul writers as beta readers. Enjoy the authors' workshops and their talks. You will come home refreshed and full of writing energy and your novel will be better for it.
Histry Nerd
02-23-2007, 07:49 PM
You mean to tell me that none of you Americans, all of you writing historical fiction, are going to the HNS Conference?
With that line up of agents and editors going it would have been a marvellous chance to learn what they're looking for even if your novel was only half finished.
See y'all in Albany!
HN
Come back and tell us all about it and make us save up for next time.
The US Conference organisers have just informed me that there are only 40 places left out of the 300 and it seems there's a bit of a rush on for them so if you want to go this year sign up now!
The UK Conference is usually held in October and I've still not received any details.
funidream
06-01-2007, 10:14 PM
So who all is going to this next week?
Histry Nerd
06-02-2007, 05:01 AM
I'll be there. Anybody else?
HN
Bookings closed early last month.
Tell us all about it, HN, please.
Renee Russell
06-04-2007, 06:26 PM
Gah!! I can't afford any conference fees this year, but would LOVE to go to this conference.
I'm packing for the HNS conference now. Does anyone know whether dress is casual like jeans and sandals, or business-like, better pants and dressy blouses and shoes?
Three hundred people are a whole lot of participants. I've never been to anything this big. I'm kind of intimidated, though I've been to Rutgers twice and numerous SCBWI conferences in two states.
Advice from anyone for a first-timer? Thanks!
funidream
06-07-2007, 09:51 PM
This will be my first HNS conference too (so what do I know?) but I'm bringing a range - mostly business casual. If you go on the website you can see pics from last year and get a feeeling for how people were dressed.
Come on you people who actually got to the HNS Conference. We're dying to know what was good, bad and helpful for you individually.
SteveCordero
07-04-2007, 04:24 AM
For anyone who went to the conference, please post your comments. Thanks.
I found out about it too late and, thus, couldn't go.
funidream
07-04-2007, 07:24 AM
I've been meaning to post with a report -
Overall, I really enjoyed the conference. It was fun to meet and mingle with like minds. The majority of the attendees were yet to be published writers.
The venue was very nice, the food was good. Of the panel discussions I attended, I would say 50% were very worthwhile, and 50% were meh.
I went there to meet and shmooze with published authors in hopes of getting them to blurb my book (fingers crossed on that, I have some hot irons in the fire now) and also to meet reviewers.
I did not partake in any of the meet the agent/editor sessions (8 minute pitch sessions) but speaking to some of the attendees that did pitch, I would say they found the experience valuable, but maybe a little disheartening. Irene Goodman made several general pronouncements - one being that historical fiction was a hot genre. Another was pertaining to the buying audience being mainly female, so stories featuring female protaganists were good. England/Tudor settings are good. American settings are bad. Since both of the books I just sold to Berkley/Penguin are American settings - colonial frontier and revolutionary New York - I thought that was funny.
My favorite events were Bernard Cornwell's keynote speech and solo presentation where he spoke abaout his road to publication, and answered questions on his writing method and technique. He was a very entertaining speaker.
And in the crowd, I actually found History Nerd (one of the posters here), or I should say, he found me. What a nice, nice guy!
Once my book is published, I would consider attending again if I could get to be on a panel or two. I think that is a great way to market to a large group of dedicated historical fiction readers. From what I understand, the next conference (2008) will be in London. The 2009 location has not yet been decided, but they are considering locations in the midwest this time around.
I had a great time - my favorite thing was hanging around with a bunch of people who love to read and write historical fiction. Yep, that was the best part.
funidream
SteveCordero
07-04-2007, 07:37 AM
Thanks, funidream!
PastMidnight
07-05-2007, 02:16 AM
Irene Goodman made several general pronouncements - one being that historical fiction was a hot genre. Another was pertaining to the buying audience being mainly female, so stories featuring female protaganists were good. England/Tudor settings are good. American settings are bad.
Huh.... I love reading things set in the Tudor period as much as the next guy, but sometimes I just get a bit tired of that era. There is so much written already!
I would've guessed that most historical fiction is bought by women, as most feature the strong, rebellious young woman, chafing at the restraints that the society at her time places on her.
From what I understand, the next conference (2008) will be in London.
If someone finds out more about the 2008 conference, could you please post here? I would love to find out more when information is available.
I had a great time - my favorite thing was hanging around with a bunch of people who love to read and write historical fiction. Yep, that was the best part.
I agree, that would be awesome.
Thanks for sharing!
Argh. Sorry all, forgot to mention it earlier. The closing date is Sept 30th!!!
Fish publishing are running it at www.fishpublishing.com, entry fee is in euro but entry and fee is via PayPal and online.
ishtar'sgate
09-28-2007, 06:35 AM
Argh. Sorry all, forgot to mention it earlier. The closing date is Sept 30th!!!
Fish publishing are running it at www.fishpublishing.com (http://www.fishpublishing.com), entry fee is in euro but entry and fee is via PayPal and online.
Little late for me this year but I'll put it on my calendar for 2008.
Linnea
PastMidnight
09-28-2007, 01:10 PM
Ah, disappointing! How often do they run competitions, pdr?
funidream
09-29-2007, 12:26 AM
One of the contests has a November 30th deadline.
is an annual now in its third year. Called Fish Short Histories 111 it is run by the Fish Publishing Company, based in Cork, Eire, on behalf of the HNS.
The Nov 30th comp is the internation Fish Short Story comp which packs a clout with editors and carries lots of mana. Well worth making the long, short or prizewinners' lists.
The UK Conference is in York, April, 2008.
More details as I get them.
PastMidnight
10-10-2007, 06:11 AM
Marvelous! That's an easy trip for me. Thank you so much for sharing!
I wish they would do a better job of keeping their website up to date.
The York Conference is April 12th 2008
Yes, I had to e-mail a whole load of members to get the date. I'm still waiting for the website to change. I wish they had a website person to do this but they don't.
Anyone want to offer their skills?
PastMidnight
10-10-2007, 01:59 PM
I see that the 12th is a Saturday. How long are the conferences usually?
the UK Conference is a one day affair although I think I've read that members meet the eveneing before for a dinner.
I love York, hope I can go.
donroc
10-11-2007, 05:15 AM
And may the dollar gain on the pound.
www.donaldmichaelplatt.com
2008 UK Conference
We are happy to announce that our sixth UK Conference will be held on Saturday 12th. April 2008 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in York at the National Railway Museum http://www.nrm-events.org.uk/
We are lining up an exciting panel of speakers. Keep returning to this page, which will be updated as more details are confirmed.
Your conference fee includes lunch, and refreshments when you arrive and during the breaks. A downloadable booking form will be added to this page soon.
Venue details
The National Railway Museum is in the centre of the historic city of York in northern England, opposite the main rail station. The nearest airport is Leeds/Bradford, from which there is an hourly bus to York. There is a much wider choice of flights to Manchester Airport, which has its own rail station with a direct train to York every half-hour.
York has a comprehensive range of accommodation. See the York Tourism website http://www.visityork.org/ for information about accommodation and tourist attractions.
PastMidnight
10-12-2007, 04:13 PM
Many, many thanks for keeping on top of this and posting updates, pdr.
HNS received a query from Writers House LLC, Dan Lazar. www.writershouse.com He says: I'm a literary agent at Writers House, and a big fan of historical fiction. Two books I've sold recently include EVE by Elissa Elliott, a novel about the world's first woman (in the vein of The Red Tent), to be published by Bantam in 2009; and KNIFEPOINT, a novel by Lyndsay Faye, in which Sherlock Holmes tracks down Jack the Ripper, to be published by Simon & Schuster in 2009. I'm eager to find more wonderful historical fiction, and would be grateful if you could pass the word onto your network's writers. I'm open to all sorts of historical fiction-- EVE and KNIFEPOINT are two examples of my range-- so long as the writing is top notch. To give a further sense of my taste, here are some other historical novels I loved: -- The Observations by Jane Harris -- Heyday by Kurt Anderson -- The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard -- Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund -- The Other Boelyn Girl by Philippa Gregory For submissions, I'm fastest on email, with a query letter and the first 5 pages pasted into the email. Or sent by hardcopy. No attachments to emails unless I request them, thank you. For more information about my list and about Writers House, I'd invite everyone to check out: www.writershouse.com Or also my page: http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/ DanielLazar/ Writers House is home to bestselling authors like Nora Roberts, Ken Follett, Barbara Delinsky, Michael Lewis, V.C. Andrews, Laurell K Hamilton, Neil Gaiman, Katherine Neville and more. We're also one of the largest literary agencies in the children's book world, with authors like Christopher Paolini, Stephanie Meyer, Susan Patron, Dav Pilkey, Barbara Park, Jennifer Donnelly, and more... Thank you in advance for your assistance. Cheers to great books, wherever and whenever they're set! All best, Dan Lazar Writers House LLC www.writershouse.com So those of you with a complete script who want an agent, follow his instructions and good luck.
PastMidnight
11-16-2007, 12:49 PM
Great! Thanks so much for passing on the name, pdr!
You're kidding me! Dan Lazar on my (future) short list of agents to query whenever I actually get around to finishing one of my WsIP. He took the time to solicit manuscripts from HNS?
I really need to join HNS. And I really need to finish a WIP.
Thanks for the heads up, pdr.
for the UK HNS Conference at the National Railway Museum in York on April 12th.
(And for those studying Victorian history the Railway Museum is fantastic for those travelling details, even has the timetables, never mind the trains and carriages!)
For a fee of £79 per person (£69 if you pay by 29th February 2008), you will enjoy a choice of talks by Elizabeth Chadwick, Suzannah Dunn, Jude Morgan, Andrew Martin, and Lynne Patrick, publisher at Crème de la Crime. For more details, see the society’s website http://wwww.historicalnovelsociety.org
Booking form at the website.
Looks like I might be able to get there this time!
Anyone here going?
PastMidnight
12-23-2007, 12:39 PM
I am planning to go! York is easy for me to get to.
Hoping to get there myself if the university holiday dates allow it.
Zelenka
12-25-2007, 08:07 PM
Oh, this sounds good. My honours exams start early in April but if the dates allow...
Deleted as post referred to a vanity publisher.
BardSkye
01-17-2008, 07:22 AM
There's a thread in Bewares on them. They not only charge fees, they'll even help you arrange financing to realize your dream.
JenNipps
01-17-2008, 07:27 AM
BardSky beat me to affirming that there is a thread on them in Bewares. I'll add the link, though.
Living Waters Publishing Company (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87390)
Right have deleted my post. Usually the publishers coming via HNS are reputable. Will check next time before posting. Thank you Bardsky and Jen.
JenNipps
01-17-2008, 07:24 PM
No worries, pdr. I'm guilty of passing stuff along without thoroughly checking them out, especially if you get it from a reputable source.
Short stories for the HNS comp all under way? All thought about? Research books piling up?
Do enter. It's good for your writing skills.
Zelenka
02-10-2008, 03:35 PM
Short stories for the HNS comp all under way? All thought about? Research books piling up?
Do enter. It's good for your writing skills.
One plotted. Same research books as the WIP... (don't know if that's cheating ;) ). Might have a go at writing it this afternoon.
having seen your post in Novels, I say 'write, woman' and keep off this board until your first draft is down, lumps, bumps, bad bits and all. Then you can ask us for help!
And I will smugly add that mine is half finished, but I have a horrid feeling it is going to do what last year's did and turn into a novel. I am restricting it severely and talking seriously to the MC about being too pushy! :)
funidream
03-23-2008, 07:52 AM
I noticed this tidbit on the website:
Our next North American conference will be held June 12-14, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield in Schaumburg, IL, in Chicago's northwest suburbs.
More details to come!
Swell news for me - about a 20 minute ride from home, so I will definitely be attending - the conference in Albany last June was a great time. Maybe I'll see some of you guys there.
:D
Julianne Douglas
03-30-2008, 06:31 PM
funidream, I was there, too. Too bad we didn't know each other, though maybe we met and don't know it! It was a great time, and I will definitely be attending the next one.
donroc
03-30-2008, 06:57 PM
A possibility for me as well -- IF I get a favorable review in their magazine.
:e2Order:
That's wonderful news! I couldn't go to Albany because it was during our convocation, but I live in Chicago, so I am sure I'll be able to attend most of it. I'l definitely be there. Thanks for posting, fundream.
I noticed this tidbit on the website:
Our next North American conference will be held June 12-14, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield in Schaumburg, IL, in Chicago's northwest suburbs.
More details to come!
Swell news for me - about a 20 minute ride from home, so I will definitely be attending - the conference in Albany last June was a great time. Maybe I'll see some of you guys there.
:D
Cinzia8
03-31-2008, 02:37 AM
Hi!
I'm new to AW and you'll be seeing me at the conference in 2009. I'm part of the organizing committee this go around. I was in Albany, as well. Did you find your agent or publisher there? I checked out your website. Very nice! Congratulations on having two books published. I'd love to read them. I'm on the NW side of Chicago. I'm so happy it will be so close to home. How did you get so many awesome endorsements?
Cinzia
Cinzia8
03-31-2008, 02:45 AM
Donroc:
The conference in Albany was well worth the time and money. I learned a lot and was able to have more than one conversation with Diana G. and Bernard C. It felt very personal and the setting was comfortable. Albany was great fun.
funidream
03-31-2008, 04:55 AM
Hi!
I'm new to AW and you'll be seeing me at the conference in 2009. I'm part of the organizing committee this go around. I was in Albany, as well. Did you find your agent or publisher there? I checked out your website. Very nice! Congratulations on having two books published. I'd love to read them. I'm on the NW side of Chicago. I'm so happy it will be so close to home. How did you get so many awesome endorsements?
Cinzia
Thanks!
I already had agent and book deal in place when I went to Albany.
But the HNS Conference was where I met Bernard Cornwell - a wonderful speaker and all around great guy. We developed a correspondence where he agreed to read my manuscript and then offered the great blurb that is being featured on the front cover, which put me in good stead with the Marketing folk at Penguin.
Albany was the first writer's conference I ever attended, and though I was a little apprehensive (not a great one for mingling) the shared interest in writing and reading about history made it so easy to make friends - conversations easily begun with the question "What period do you write?"
That's why I'm so happy that it will be in Chicago this year. :hooray:
depend on the reviewer, donroc. And we try to be fair.
donroc
03-31-2008, 06:14 AM
depend on the reviewer, donroc. And we try to be fair.
Thanks, I know that. And I have every confidence .... :)
The ARCs should be going out by the middle of April.
OT: Wow, there seem to be lots of historical fiction writing Chicagoans or near-Chicagoans (I just saw jessicaorr in the next thread say she was planning on research here). I wonder if we should have a historical fiction meet-up or something.
donroc
03-31-2008, 05:50 PM
A good idea lkp-- AW'ers attending the HSN can select a place to meet in advance.
DeleyanLee
03-31-2008, 06:02 PM
Might have to check this out. At least there's more than enough time for plotting and planning, eh?
Julianne Douglas
03-31-2008, 06:37 PM
I did this with some people from another board at the last conference, and it was a lot of fun. We met the first afternoon to share short readings of our work, then sat together at the banquet and met for meals and coffee periodically. It was great to meet the people we "knew" from the board and interesting to see if our mental pictures of each other matched up to reality. Plus, it was great to have a ready-made group and not be wandering around shy and alone at the large gatherings!
PastMidnight
04-01-2008, 05:22 AM
Ooh, I would love to go and, if it were later in the summer, I think I could swing it. But the little girl starts school next year and the school year runs until the beginning of July. Darn. I was really hoping I could get to the next U.S. conference. I think I'll even be in that part of the U.S. come July/August too.
Cinzia8
04-01-2008, 09:18 AM
It would be so much fun if we all could meet at the HN conference! I'm a firm believer in meeting new people who share the same interests.
Cinzia
donroc
04-01-2008, 09:36 AM
But oh, the dreaded O'Hare airport. The sacrifices we must make.
Julianne Douglas
04-01-2008, 10:18 AM
Hey, but there's a giant dinosaur skeleton at O'Hare! How many airports can boast that? We got stranded there in the snow last weekend, and my two-year-old didn't want to leave.
donroc
04-01-2008, 10:21 AM
Hey, but there's a giant dinosaur skeleton at O'Hare! How many airports can boast that? We got stranded there in the snow last weekend, and my two-year-old didn't want to leave.
I am imagining Cary Grant atop the skeleton and Hepburn shaking it from below. :D
Gina_Marie
04-02-2008, 04:20 AM
I couldnt make it to Albany(even if I live a few hours away) but I'm gonna go to Chicago. I should have my comic out by then and my manuscript done and polished.
Looking forward to it!
murmel
04-30-2008, 11:05 PM
I was in York and I'll be in Chicago. Going to be fun. I've got enough frequent flyer miles he he.
:)
Tell us about York! What were the highlights?
meeting up with Julie and Past Midnight and having a meal together.
Catching up with editors and writers I've only known through e-mail.
Just being able to chat to fellow historical writers.
Getting a few leads for publishers.
York itself with the Minster and a couple of thousand years of history under the foundations.
murmel
05-01-2008, 06:51 AM
I enjoyed meeting fellow historical writers and listening to authors giving their pitch. Unfortunately, it was a first time for me, so I didn't know anybody. The presentation of a small publishing company was helpful, showing the other side of the writing world.
There was the choice between two workshops and I'd loved to have attended to both, probably instead of the last point of the program. Although I am open to a lot of things, I found this an odd choice for an agenda topic.
The best: the recommendation to become a member on AW and, of course, York.
In summary: I'd go again (and will).
murmel.
PastMidnight
05-01-2008, 01:56 PM
It was a little disappointing that there weren't more speakers from the agenting/publishing side of things (all but one of the speakers were writers). Lynne Patrick from Creme de la Crime (small press specializing in crime novels) spoke and it was very fascinating for me to hear what goes on at a small press, as I didn't know anything about this.
Murmel, I agree about the choice between the two workshops. Would've been nice to finish off the day with the panel discussion on the 'Next Ten Years' among the whole group instead of the session that they ended up with.
Was just nice to spend the whole day chatting about historical fiction! Everyone introduced themselves with the question, 'So, what period do YOU do?' :)
murmel
05-01-2008, 04:45 PM
What was missing, and I agree with you PastMidnight, were more insights about agents and publishers fond of historical fiction.
about this and Richard Lee told me that agents and publishers won't go to a day conference that far from their home bases in London.
Another organiser I spoke to said they wanted to keep the reader members happy as well as the writers.
Struck me, though, that most of the conference attenders were writers or wanting to be!
murmel
05-07-2008, 04:52 PM
Struck me, though, that most of the conference attenders were writers or wanting to be!
That was my impression. Now, as a writer you may be a fan, too.
I can see thousands flock to attend a conference where big-buck writers appear, but (oh the shame) I didn't know any of the writers presented there, although it was interesting to hear what they said. :)
julie thorpe
05-07-2008, 08:03 PM
It was interesting to meet other devotees of historical fiction, but I agree that it was disappointing that there weren't more agents/editors available. York was a lovely city to visit, of course, but it seems as though London is probably a better place to hold such meetings in order to attract more attendees from both sides of the writing desk. It was great to meet up with pdr and Past Midnight, and to share a chat with murmel over breakfast.
Are there agents in the UK who specialize in historical fiction in particular? Just curious --- there are certainly some in the States who make it enough of a sub-speciality that a visit to an HNS meeting would be worthwhile to them.
necessary in the UK sphere of publishing. You can work without one.
But yes, there are a couple of agent groups who do like historicals.
I think that this year the committee did not anticipate the number of writers or what they would like. And there is a fact that to book people like agents and publishers you need to work a year ahead and the conference wasn't organised like that this time.
Our summer competitions open on Sunday 1st of June.
The same as last year they are:
The Fish-Knife Award: A short story competition run in conjunction with the
Crime writers' Association for those of you who fancy tackling a juicy
crime story.
http://www.fishpublishing.com/fish-knife-award-2008.php
Short Histories IV: A short story competition for stories with a historical
theme and setting. This competition is run in conjunction with the
Historical Novel Society.
http://www.fishpublishing.com/historical-short-fiction-prize-2008.php
And then of course we have the aptly named Criminally-Short Short Histories
Award: This is a one-page competition (up to around 300 words) which is
split into three sections, Crime Stories, History Stories and of course
Historical Crime stories. We had a wonderful set of entries last year and
we are looking forward to reading these little gems again this summer.
http://www.fishpublishing.com/criminally-short-histories-2008.php
-oOo-
The Micro-Fiction Showcase is also open. The May competition closes at
midnight tonight, but that's OK because the June competition opens at
midnight tonight.
The Micro-Fiction Showcase runs for three months, with monthly prizes, and
a final showdown of all the monthly winners from May, June and July, where
you, all the registered Fish Authors, get to vote for the ultimate winners
in each category. All the monthly winners will appear in the NEXT Fish
Anthology.
You can find out all about this year's Micro-Fiction Showcase at:
http://www.fishpublishing.com/Micro-fiction-showcase2.php
And you can read the winning entries from last year's competitions at:
http://www.fishpublishing.com/showcase.php#top
Registration for the 2009 Historical Novel Society conference in Chicago is now open:
http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/2009/registration.htm
It is kind of pricey --- $300 for members --- but there are only 300 slots, so get 'em while they're hot. I'm going to be there, at least some of the time.
Could be an interesting conference for writers, lots going on, and a pitch session available too.
funidream
11-29-2008, 12:04 AM
I'm all signed up and ready to attend the conference. :hooray:
I'm excited for an opportunity to hear Edward Rutherford's keynote speech. I am a fan.
I'm also excited to have been invited to speak on a panel about writing dialogue in historical fiction. Donroc is slated to be speak on a panel about publishing with small presses.
We have until June, but attendees from this board really ought to organize some sort of get-together at the opening reception. It is hard really hard to read name tags in a crowd that size. Maybe we should all wear red carnations?
donroc
11-29-2008, 12:06 AM
We can look up each other's web or blog sites, print, and see if the photographs match reality.
funidream
11-29-2008, 12:09 AM
Ugh!
I hate pictures of me!
I prefer the red carnation method.
How about a rose in our teeth?
Makes it harder to chat up editors I suppose.
I'm bouncing this (and double posting) because I just discovered today that I will be able to be at most of the conference instead of having to abandon half of it for convocation, so I'm feeling...bouncy.
C'mon, you know you want to attend! You can meet me! And Julianne! And donroc! And funidream! Here's a link to the program, etc:
http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/2009/conference.htm
donroc
02-07-2009, 03:34 AM
Got my plane, got my reservations. Arriving Thursday the 11th. Will be on Small Publisher Panel.
I am leaning toward dinner in the mall across from the hotel at Texas de Brazil Thursday evening for a carnivore's delight of all the meat one can eat Brazilian rodizo style. The more the merrier (belch!).
PastMidnight
02-07-2009, 04:04 PM
I still really want to be there. If I am in the States that early in the summer, then I will be at the conference, no question. But, with the school schedules here, am not sure that I will be able to be in the States as early as mid-June. Still crossing my fingers that something will work out!
That would be wonderful --- I'd love to meet you!
donroc --- mmmm, meat! Alas, I won't get to Schaumburg until the Friday.
GirlWithPoisonPen
02-08-2009, 07:22 AM
I'm bummed that I won't be able to go to this. I've got a schedule conflict. :(
DMarie84
02-10-2009, 11:54 PM
I'd love to go; Schaumburg isn't too terribly far (I live in Dayton, Ohio).
Unfortunately the $300 will be a problem. We certainly don't have that kind of money to spare with a mortgage and school loans.
Sad...I really wanted to go too. Oh well; you all will have to let me know how it is!
Anna Magdalena
02-11-2009, 12:10 AM
It was interesting to meet other devotees of historical fiction, but I agree that it was disappointing that there weren't more agents/editors available. York was a lovely city to visit, of course, but it seems as though London is probably a better place to hold such meetings in order to attract more attendees from both sides of the writing desk. It was great to meet up with pdr and Past Midnight, and to share a chat with murmel over breakfast.
Sorry, everyone but I've only just caught up with this particular discussion. Better late than never...
I was the person in charge of booking speakers for the York conference. Having already booked the York venue (and paid a deposit) because we wanted to try and be less London-centric, for once. We were disappointed by the low turn-out. I then found that indeed many people in the industry who work in London were reluctant to come up north, despite the fact that we were paying travel expenses and that there are fast direct trains. We have had agent speakers in the past (notably Carole Blake) but to be honest, many agents aren't keen to speak at these events because they get mobbed at the end by writers thrusting manuscripts into their hands and they've got plenty of those already! The same goes for editors.
The Historical Novel Society is in fact not meant solely for writers, unlike the RNA. It was founded to promote the appreciation of the genre and is therefore also for those who love to read the genre, hence the proliferation of authors--although one can, of course, ask these writers about the writing process and how they got an agent etc. Writers are always happy to come and speak. The last talk on the programme was certainly 'different' which is why I chose it. I don't believe that people speak to us from the past but I actually found it fascinating.
I did my best...
because they get mobbed at the end by writers thrusting manuscripts into their hands
to reassure agents and publishers that all attending the conference have been firmly told, and signed as part of their attending, that it is the height of bad manners to mob agents and editors and that they will be thrown out if they do it.
HNS is the 1st conference I've been to,with writers attending, where that has not been a clearly stated rule.
Nice if you can organise five minute time slots for pitching to an agent or editor, usually satisfies the writers and they don't mob, but the rule when strictly adhered to is effective.
Oh dear. Maybe I should warn my agent *not* to attend the HNS. I'd hate for her to be trampled to death or crushed under a pile of manuscript pages.
On the other hand, if we're going to have a riot, it should be around the time of the historical fashion show so at least people will be in costume.
funidream
02-12-2009, 06:08 AM
I remember speaking to an agent at the Albany (2007) conference who noted the HNS attendees were the most polite and restrained conference attendees she'd ever experienced.
That doesn't really surprise me, funidream, but it is nice to hear.
I figured I'd just wait in the ladies room, and when I see an editor go into a stall, I'll just sloooowly push my mss. under the door for her. That should work, right?
Anna Magdalena
02-12-2009, 02:51 PM
Note to self: do not use exaggeration in a vain attempt to be light-hearted.
In truth, the fact that we held it outside London proved to be the main stumbling block. Also, as I said, the HNS (unlike the RNA, say) is not primarily a writer's society. It's for readers too--and they're not as eternally fascinated by the nuts and bolts of publishing as we are. They like to listen to writers.
Frankly, as a writer and a reader, I'm much more interested in using the HNS meeting to talk mechanics and craft with my fellow writers and great books with my fellow readers than worrying about pitching editors.
I know people do find agents after these things, but most agents say that a good query letter about the same book would have hooked the agent just as well as a personal pitch.
veinglory
06-11-2009, 03:12 AM
I will be there too. I also have an apartment nearby if anyone really gets stuck for somewhere to stay.
Any chance of an AW writers get together at some point?
Look in Three Weeks to HNS.
Yes there is a group meeting. Contact Donroc.
Post 130 says it all.
I made the mistake once of going to a conference that had a majority fan participation at its core. I didn't do my research, and the lesson was hard. Agents were there to support their writers, just one agent spoke, for the whole conference. I did enjoy meeting some rabid fans, but that wasn't the reason I attended.
Don't get me wrong, it was an eye opening experience, but it wasn't what I needed in my writing career. The whole shindig revolved around the authors meeting the fans. Name tags didn't identify agents or editors etc and so unless you knew them by sight they were anonoymous, and kept to themselves, even in the bar.
I spent well over a thousand dollars for a conference I didn't need. That money came out of the family vacation fund, and boy, did I hear about it. I wish I didn't live under a budget, but I do. When you're published, a fan inclusion conference is just what you need, but when you're looking for the light into the publishing world you need a conference just for writers.
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