Welcome to the Historical Novel Society Australasia

The Historical Novel Society Australasia is recognised as the home of the historical fiction genre in Australasia as the third arm of the international Historical Novel Society. The society considers the genre provides entertainment and education to readers while offering a valid perspective beyond the viewpoint of the historian. Both the imagination and dedication of historical novelists create authentic worlds which can enrich a reader’s understanding of real historical personages, eras and events.

ARA historical novel Prize

The ARA Historical Novel Prize is the richest genre-based literary award in Australasia, thanks to our Foundation Partner, the ARA Group. The Prize incorporates a category for outstanding Children and Young Adult (CYA) literature, in addition to the Adult category. As such, after just three years of operation, the ARA Historical Novel Prize is worth a total of $100,000 in prize monies. The Prize awards $50,000 to the Adult category winner, with an additional $5,000 awarded to each of the remaining two shortlisted authors. In the CYA category, the winner receives $30,000, while the two short listers receive $5,000 each. Entries for the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize are now closed.  Subscribe to our newsletter to hear news of the results.

2023 HNSA CONFERENCE RECORDINGS

The 2023 HNSA Conference was held on 21-22 October at the Southern Sydney Event Centre at Hurstville.

The event was a combined live and online affair with sessions being live streamed. Here’s your chance to catch up with post conference recordings. You can access 21 fabulous sessions across our two stream program. These will be available to view on demand until midnight on 29 February 2023. You can find full program details here.

Guests of honour were Melissa Lucashenko, Anna Funder, Judy Nunn and Tom Keneally.

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

The HNSA promotes the writing, reading and publication of historical fiction, especially in Australia and New Zealand, through its biennial conferences held since 2015. Our events showcase the best literary talent and enable readers, writers and publishing professionals to celebrate the genre. 

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LITERARY CONTESTS

The inauguration of the ARA Historical Novel Prize is the crown jewel in HNSA’s suite of literary contests.

HNSA also runs the the Elizabeth Jane Corbett Mentorship for Young Adult historical novelists

Open book on a desk in library's reading room. Stacks of books in the background.

LATEST NEWS & INTERVIEWS

giveaway – the women by kristin hannah

BULLETIN – THIS GIVEAWAY HAS BEEN EXPANDED Due to the overwhelming response to this giveaway, Pan McMillan is offering 5 more books with signed bookplates and 5 unsigned copies. Commenters who’ve posted after the first 5 contestants will now go into a draw to be determined by Random.com. Here’s a wonderful way to kick off

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Giveaway – THE FROZEN RIVER BY ARIEL LAWHON

  Here’s a wonderful way to cap off 2023! Simon & Schuster Australia is very kindly offering a giveaway of 10 copies of Ariel Lawhon’s new release, The Frozen River. The first 10 commenters will be the lucky winners of The Frozen River. From the bestselling author of Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical

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POST CONFERENCE RECORDINGS ON SALE

Missed the HNSA 2023 Conference? Here’s your chance to catch up with post conference recordings. You can access 20 fabulous sessions across our two stream program. These will be available to view on demand until midnight on 29 February 2023. You can find full program details here. Online and In-Person conference attendees can view the sessions via their existing ticket at no

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Historical Novel Society

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