Thanks to our presenters, attendees, volunteers, and sponsors for helping make our first North American conference such a great success!  To be put on a mailing list for future events, please e-mail us. 

The conference program from 2005 is available (PDF; 3mb). View a slideshow of conference photos!

NEW:  For information on our next event, please see the 2007 Conference Site.

The Historical Novel Society's first North American conference presents authors, readers, and other historical fiction enthusiasts with a unique opportunity to celebrate the genre. Running from the evening of Friday, April 15, 2005, through the morning of Sunday, April 17, the conference will offer a lively combination of keynote addresses, panels, workshops, readings, and book-signings. 

Participants can build their knowledge on topics such as research techniques and how to shape a historical mystery, as well as mingle with people from across the continent who share their passion for history and fiction.  On the morning of Friday, April 15th, we are also offering optional excursions to local research libraries and museums.

WHY ATTEND THIS CONFERENCE?

Since its beginnings, the Historical Novel Society has provided a community for people who love novels set in time periods outside their own.  As a reader, the first North American conference will allow you to meet others who share your enthusiasm for historical fiction, including some of your favorite authors.  As a writer, it will create opportunities for you to read and discuss your work with others, including professionals in the field.  And as a published author, it will give you a chance to read and display your work and attend book-signings.

AUTHOR OPPORTUNITIES

The following publishing professionals will be scheduling appointments to meet with conference attendees:

• Rachel Kahan of Crown Publishing in New York will meet with authors in small group appointments. 

• Irene Goodman of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency in New York will be scheduling meetings with a selected number of prospective clients at the conference.  Unpublished authors are asked to fill out her questionnaire, which will be provided in your registration packet upon request.

• Natalia Aponte Burns of Tor/Forge Books in New York will see authors in individual appointments of eight minutes each.

• Judith Geary of High Country Publishers in North Carolina will see authors in group appointments of up to six in a group for thirty minutes. 

• Tamara Mazzei of Trivium Publishing will meet with authors in individual appointments of eight minutes each.

• Jeri Smith, who has worked as a book doctor for Romantic Times, will meet one-on-one with authors who might be interested in her services. Appointments will be eight minutes each.

Sign-up sheets for all of the above will be made available in your registration packets. Promotional materials (flyers, bookmarks, galleys, copies of books, etc) may be sent to us at:

HNS Conference Publicity
PO Box 711114
Salt Lake City, UT  84171-1114

Items must be received by April 6, 2005, so that we have time to see them to their proper place.  Single copies of books are welcome and will be used as door prizes or as gifts for our volunteers.  If you or your publisher has sufficient materials to distribute to all attendees, please estimate 200 copies.  Whatever you can contribute, we appreciate your generosity!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?

Choose any of the menu options on the far left for more information on registration, speakers, and more.  In all, we hope this web site will answer many questions about the conference, but we would be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.  Please contact either of the conference co-chairs: Ann Chamberlin (setzers@msn.com) or Sarah Johnson (cfsln@eiu.edu), or 217-581-7538).