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.
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
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
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
Historical Novel Society
