On 1st to 2nd November 2025 at the historic Parramatta Town Hall, the Historical Novel Society Australasia welcomed the historical fiction community to enjoy our newly rebranded History Unbound Festival. There we unloosened the bindings, blew away the cobwebs, and unlocked the secrets of bygone eras with a dynamic program celebrating historical fiction and storytelling in all its forms. Authors, readers, history enthusiasts and publishing professionals gathered together for an event dedicated to fostering engaging discussions, uncovering untold stories, and exploring how history shapes our narratives. Over 50 speakers presented across the weekend in a two stream program featuring interviews as well as panels on the writing craft.

2025 History Unbound Festival wrap up

Saturday 1st November

Guest of Honour - Toni Jordan

Our plenary sessions include conversations with our four wonderful Guests of Honour kicking off with Toni Jordan. Toni is the author of the international bestseller Addition, which was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award and adapted into a feature film, in cinemas in 2026. Her historical novel, Nine Days, was awarded Best Fiction at the 2012 Indie Awards. Over a decade later she returned to the genre with her eighth novel, Tenderfoot which she discussed with Kelly Gardiner.

In Conversation with Emily Maguire and Lauren Keenan

Emily Maguire and Lauren Keegan are both debut historical novelists whose books were longlisted in the 2025 ARA Historical Novel Prize. Emily’s Rapture ultimately won the inaugural AHNP Readers’ Choice Award, and the Queensland Literary Award (among other accolades). Linda Funnell explored why these authors decided to venture into historical fiction set in medieval Europe.

Lauren Keegan, Emily Maguire and Linda Funnell

What would Jane think? The Bridgerton Effect

Our ‘What would Jane think?’ panel featured Pamela Hart quizzing Kelly Gardiner, Sharmini Kumar (Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective) and Alison Goodman (Ill-Mannered Ladies series) on the impact of Bridgerton and their own take on Regency mysteries as we marked the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth.

Kelly Gardiner, Sharmini Kumar and Pamela Hart with Alison Goodman looming large via Zoom to join the fun.

In Conversation with Robbie Arnott and Suzanne Leal

Robbie Arnott was awarded joint winner of the 2025 ARA Historical Novel Prize Adult Category with his novel, Dusk. Suzanne Leal took top honours in the CYA Category with The Year We Escaped. Greg Johnston interviewed them on the inspiration for these books, the ideas behind certain techniques and stylistic choices, and what impact winning substantial prize money in a literary award has on a writer’s life.

Guest of Honour - Fiona McIntosh

Our next Guest of Honour was the high octane Fiona McIntosh. She has sold well over a million books in a variety of genres ranging from adult fantasy, tense crime, to children’s novels. Her lush, best-selling historical adventures are loved the world round. Belinda Lyons-Lee asked Fiona how she manages to master so many genres, what draws her to historical fiction, and also the inspiration for her new novel, The Soldier's Daughter.

The Subjective Voice: Depicting Authentic Historical Characters

In our craft stream, Robert Horne explored whether a writer can truly create an authentic historical voice for modern readers when bringing their own subjectivity to interpreting history with Marion Taffe (By Her Hand), David Dyer (This Kingdom of Dust) and Belinda Murrell, award winning author and judge of the CYA category of the 2025 ARA Historical Novel Prize.

Marion Taffe, Belinda Murrell, David Dyer and Robert Horne

Identity & Diaspora: Tracing Multicultural Identity

In this session, Renee Otmar explored with Angelo Loukakis (The Memory of Tides), Nadia Mahjouri (Half Truth) and Jelena Curic (Sing to Me) the importance of family history as inspiration for charting the diaspora and integration of migrants into their adopted homeland. Is a search for identity always the essence of these novels?

Nadia Mahjouri, Jelena Curic, Angelo Loukakis and Renee Otmar

On the Cusp: What is the essence of Young Adult Historical Ficion’

The ‘On the Cusp’:panel saw Sophie Masson, author of over 80 novels, discuss whether there were any differences in writing historical novels for children, teenagers and adults with Lauren Keenan and Rebecca Lim, two other authors who have successfully written for various age groups.

First Pages Pitch Contest

Our signature event at every festival is the First Pages Pitch Contest with $250 prize money on offer. ‘First pages’ from aspiring authors were read by a narrator, Lucy Watson, to industry experts who provided a critique of chosen submissions. The session assisted other attendees to understand what attracts the attention of agents and publishers when seeking new historical fiction. Our judges were Cassandra di Bello (Allen & Unwin), literary agent Rochelle Fernandez (Alex Adsett Literary) and Sophie Masson (Eagle Books).

Lucy Watson (narrator) reading to judges (from left) Rochelle Fernandez, Cass di Bello and Sophie Masson.

And the winner is….

Congratulations to Lee McKerracher for winning the prize with ‘You’re Not Welcome Here’. Lee is an emerging writer from Western Sydney who loves writing historical fiction. She also writes contemporary works on domestic violence, resilience, and climate change. Lee explores the darker sides of life to see what she discovers. A keen bird watcher and photographer, who likes dogs better than people.
Congratulations also to Linda Jackson and Jacky Dalton for being highly commended with ‘The Lieutenant’s Cook’ and ‘Plunge’ respectively.

Sunday 2nd November

Guest of Honour - Pip Williams

Our first Guest of Honour on Sunday was Pip Williams who has had a meteoric rise internationally with her historical novels, The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Bookbinder of Jericho. Kate Evans from Radio National’s The Bookshelf program interviewed Pip on why her books have resonated with so many readers, and explored the pressures and pleasures involved in writing Pip’s current work-in-progress.

In Conversation with Matthew Reilly and Malcolm Knox

Next up was a converstion with Matthew Reilly and Malcolm Knox (2025 ARA Historical Novel Prize shortlister). Matthew has achieved fame as a New York Times bestselling thriller writer. Malcolm Knox is a critically acclaimed author and award winning journalist. Both have now written novels playing with historical figures such as Lavrentiy Beria and Albert Einstein. Stephen Romei delved into why these authors chose to write historical fiction, and discussed the research required to create the world of Stalin's murderous coterie in Knox's The First Friend or the labyrinthine machinations of Hitler's inner circle and New York gangsters in Reilly's Mr Einstein's Secretary.

Matthew Reilly towering over Malcolm Knox and Stephen Romei

Live Book Club with Nicole Alexander and Kate Forsyth

Our inaugural live Book Club featured doyennes of Australian historical fiction, Nicole Alexander and Kate Forsyth, who enjoyed answering questions on their writing process, inspiration, research methods, and novels: The Limestone Road and Psykhe.

Nicole Alexander and Kate Forsyth in our inaugural book club session

Guest of Honour - Natasha Lester

Natasha Lester loves historical fiction because it combines her passion for history, research, travel, fashion and extraordinary trailblazing women such as in her new book, The Mademoiselle Alliance. Elisabeth Storrs took the audience on a journey with Natasha from her first steps as an aspiring writer to her transformation into a New York Times bestselling author.

First Nations Voices: The Importance of Oral Histories

The histories of First Nations peoples have effectively been erased or ignored in written sources but not forgotten in memory. Indigenous authors are now being given opportunities to tell stories of invasion, enslavement, massacre and dispossession as well as portray the culture and beauty of ancestral times. Oral history plays a significant part in enabling their voices to be heard. Leonie Norrington (A Piece of Red Cloth), Lenora Thaker (The Pearl of Tagai Town) and Tasma Walton (I am Nannertgarrook) discussed with Yvonne Weldon the challenge of drawing on oral history to write their novels, and how consent and consultation is vital in ensuring a respectful re-imagining.

Leonie Norrington, Tasma Walton, Leonora Thaker and Chair, Yvonne Weldon.

Meet the Debutantes: The Highs and Lows of a First Time Author

Expectations of a debut author can be high when excitedly stepping into the world of publishing after years writing and researching a book. Which, if any, are met? Roanna Gonsalves chatted with debut authors Kyra Geddes (The Story Thief), Amanda Willimott (Winter of the Wolf) and Vanessa Croft (Where in All the World) about writing, submitting, editing, launching and marketing a book for the first time.

Roanna Gonsalves with Amanda Willimott, Kyra Geddes and Vanessa Croft (via Zoom)

The Future of Publishing: AI, Audio & Digital Publishing

The traditional print publishing model is no longer the only option for an author to reach readers. 'Direct to audio' publishing harnesses the popularity of audiobooks. Savvy authors can make their name alternating between trad and self publishing by taking advantage of the power of the digital backlist. But will publishing be totally undermined by Open AI stealing works without payment to affected authors? Sophie Groom discussed the pros and cons of this brave new publishing world with authors Sandie Docker and Alison Stuart, together with Chiara Priorelli from Wavesound.

Colonial Crime: Sleuthing and Survival under British Rule

Nilima Rao's Sergeant Akal Singh detective series lays bare the dark secrets of colonisation in pre WW1 Fiji. In Michael Burge's The Watchnight, a C19th Methodist pastor is forced to become a sleuth amid the Frontier Wars in NSW. Alexandria Burnham's Swallow tells the extraordinary tale of the last man arrested for piracy in convict Australia. Claudine Tinellis asked these authors what challenges they faced in researching the colonial histories of their books, and what devices and ploys they use to keep their readers turning the page.

Historic Heads: A Parlour Game

With tongue firmly in cheek, our MC, Lucy Watson, had fun challenging Natasha Lester, Pamela Hart, Michael Burge on just who they were - Thomas Edison, Robert the Bruce or Eleanor of Aquitaine among other historical figures. A relaxing and hilarious end to a fantastic feast of inspiration and ideas.

Here’s to History Unbound 2027!

You can learn more about all the speakers at the 2025 festival here. The HNSA Committee are extremely proud to have brought you History Unbound 2025 through our volunteer labour and the able assistance of the Will Organise Event team. Now it’s time to start preparing for 2027! Please consider giving a tax deductible donation to assist us fund the next event - any contribution great or small is massively appreciated!

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History Unbound Festival Wrap Up - a feast of historical fiction