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.
The $150,000 ARA historical novel Prize
With prize monies worth $150,000, the ARA Historical Novel Prize is the richest literary award in Australia and New Zealand, 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. The Prize awards $100,000 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 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize have now closed. Subscribe to our newsletter to hear news of the contest
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.
Subscribe to our newsletter to hear more.
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 HNSA First Pages Pitch Contest, the Colleen McCullough Residency and the Elizabeth Jane Corbett Mentorship for authors of Young Adult historical fiction.
LATEST NEWS & INTERVIEWS
2024 ARA HISTORICAL NOVEL PRIZE SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED
Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA), in partnership with Australia’s leading essential building and infrastructure services provider ARA Group, is excited to announce the Shortlists for the 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize. Selected from over 130 entries, the 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize Shortlists demonstrate the power of the historical fiction genre to recover lost, overlooked
Giveaway – Sarah Evans by Bernice Barry
Time for a giveaway for our HNSA newsletter subscribers! Thanks to Echo Publishing, there are 5 copies on offer of Bernice Barry’s debut novel, Sarah Evans, which explores a woman’s struggle in the pitiless streets of C18th London, and her quest to overcome brutal challenges by finding her own value and fighting for her rights.
2024 ARA HISTORICAL NOVEL PRIZE LONGLISTS ANNOUNCED!
Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA), in partnership with Australia’s leading essential building and infrastructure services provider ARA Group is excited to announce the longlists for the 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize. This year’s longlists demonstrate the depth of talent of historical novelists with books that explore a diverse range of themes, eras and cultures. From
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