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

Tickets are now on sale for our 2023 HNSA Conference to be held on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 October. We’re excited to once again be able to rub shoulders with our historical fiction community. The event will be held at the Southern Sydney Events Centre at Hurstville, conveniently located close to Sydney Airport and Hurstville Station. The event is a combined in-person and online affair with sessions being live streamed. Both in-person and virtual audiences will have on demand access to the entire program for 3 months after conference ends. We’re thrilled our Guests of Honour are Melissa Lucashenko, Anna Funder, Judy Nunn and Tom Keneally.

Pitching appointments with industry professionals are available.

Early bird tickets are now on sale.

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. 

The 2023 HNSA Conference will be held in Sydney on 21-22 October.

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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

2023 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 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize. This year’s Longlists traverse a vast tapestry of settings and eras, delving into tales of love against prejudice, the resilience in the face of

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Pitching Appointments

announcing our pitching appointments

HNSA is committed to assisting aspiring writers to reach their potential. With this in mind, we’re delighted to introduce pitching appointments to our 2023 conference program. Here’s your chance to pitch your manuscript to a stellar list of industry professionals. Our pitch takers include Annette Barlow (Allen & Unwin), Tara Wynne (Curtis Brown Australia), Meredith

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EARLY BIRD TICKETS FOR HNSA 2023 ON SALE

Tickets are now on sale for our 2023 HNSA Conference to be held on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 October 2023 at the Southern Sydney Event Centre at Hurstville, conveniently located close to Sydney Airport and Hurstville Station. Take advantage of our early bird registration discount which ends on 20 September 2023. THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS We’ve decided

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Historical Novel Society

Historical Novel Society

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