THE 2023 HNSA CONFERENCE IS OVER BUT YOU CAN BUY ACCESS TO ON-DEMAND RECORDINGS OF THE WEEKEND OR SAT/SUN PROGRAMS UNTIL 29 FEBRUARY 2024
The Conference was both a live and online event with in-person sessions livestreamed to a virtual audience. All recordings of in-person plenary sessions, interviews and panels are included in your access ticket. There is no option to buy recordings of individual sessions.
BUY ON-DEMAND CONFERENCE TICKET >
Enjoy our signature TCW pitch contest with $250 prize money on offer. ‘First pages’ from aspiring authors are read by a narrator to industry experts who will provide a critique of chosen submissions. The session will provide other attendees with a chance to learn what attracts the attention of agents and publishers when seeking new historical fiction. Entrants will remain anonymous other than the winner of the contest. Our judges are Meredith Curnow (Penguin Random House), literary agent Gaby Naher (Left Bank Literary) and Rochelle Fernandez (Alex Adsett Agency). Rachel Nightingale will act as narrator.
THE PITCH CONTEST HAS SOLD OUT.
Prize
- $250 prize money sponsored by TWC
- Free associate membership of the Australian Society of Authors
The contest will be recorded to enable other writers in the audience to gain the benefit of advice provided by the panel.
Submission Details
Please email the following documents marked ‘HNSA First Pages’ to contact@hnsa.org.au by Midnight 13 October AEST*
- Cover sheet with your name and **Registrant ID for your HNSA 2023 conference ticket in a separate word.docx with the file identified by your name eg ‘janeausten.docx’)
- First 500 words excerpt from your manuscript
- Elevator pitch (50 words max)
- 200 word synopsis
- The excerpt, pitch and synopis to be placed in a word.docx with the file identified with the book’s title eg ‘title.docx’. Do not place your name on the excerpt.
Purchase of an ‘In-Person’ weekend conference or day ticket is a precondition to entering the contest. Online conference registrants are ineligible to enter.
*HNSA reserves the right to refund your money and allocate your place to the next person in the waiting list if the deadline is not met.
**Your Registrant ID can be found at the bottom of your email confirmation.
Preference will be given to early bird registrants.
Limit: 8 persons
Cost: $15
About Meredith Curnow
Meredith Curnow is a publisher of fiction and non-fiction at Penguin Random House Australia.
About Gaby Naher
Gaby is a literary agent with over 30 years experience in the book industry. Her clients include Stella-prize-winning Heather Rose, New York Times # 1 bestselling author Candice Fox and Dr Norman Swan. Prior to establishing The Naher Agency in May 2008, Gaby worked as a literary agent, publicist and bookseller in Sydney, London and New York. She is the author of four books and has a Doctorate of Creative Arts. She is former President of the Australian Literary Agents Association and a Patrol Captain at Bronte Surf Life Saving Club.
About Rochelle Fernandez
Spanning a career of nearly 20 years, Rochelle has worked as an editor across fiction, non-fiction and ebooks for small and large publishing houses. She was the former publisher for Voyager, HarperCollins’s Speculative fiction imprint, and has recently made the jump to agent to champion the stories she thinks Australia needs to read.
About Rachel Nightingale
Rachel Nightingale’s previous publications include the Tales of Tarya historical fantasy series and a non-fiction book with artist Karen Scott, Mandala: Journeys Within the Circle. An award-winning playwright, Rachel’s works have been performed onstage and on radio in Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines, and her extensive theatre experience includes co-writing and performing in the popular Murder on the Puffing Billy Express steam train dinner show. She has taught in Australia, India and Vietnam. In her spare time she is a pin-cushion to a Devon Rex, a chew toy for some crazy chihuahuas, and a craft-a-holic. Being on the autism spectrum, Rachel understands what it’s like to be different and embraces diversity and acceptance.
