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.
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 are now open. Subscribe to our newsletter to hear news of the contest
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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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.
Time for a giveaway for our HNSA newsletter subscribers! Thanks to Harper Collins Publishers, there are 5 copies of Siobhan O’Brien’s debut release, All the Golden Light. The novel is a sweeping work of historical fiction, exploring First World War Australia and how we find connection, meaning and beauty in a time of darkness. Perfect
Our 2024 season of Imagining the Past has kicked off! Our first episode features Amelia Mellor, winner of the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize – CYA category. Amelia discusses with our podcast host, Greg Johnston, the intricacies of writing CYA historical fiction, and her award-winning novel, The Bookseller’s Apprentice. Click below to listen to the
THE RICHEST LITERARY PRIZE IN AUSTRALIA AND nEW ZEALAND As entries open for the 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize, The Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA), in partnership with founding sponsor ARA Group, are pleased to announce a significant increase in the prize money for the award to $150,000– placing it as the richest individual literary
Historical Novel Society
