And, of course, don’t forget to register!

May 18: Julianne Douglas hosts Teralyn Pilgrim Teralyn is a historical novelist seeking representation for SACRED FIRE, a novel about a vestal virgin in ancient Rome who had to perform a miracle to escape execution. She will be speaking on the panel Depicting Religion in Historical Fiction.

May 17: Erika Mailman hosts Diana Gabaldon Diana is the author of the award-winning, best-selling OUTLANDER novels,and emcee’d the fabulous Late Night Sex Scene Readings at the San Diego conference in 2011. Luckily for us, she will be reprising this scandalous event againfor HNS 2013!

May 16: Audra at Unabridged Chick hosts Stephanie Cowell Stephanie is the award-winning author of a number of historical fiction novels, including MARRYING MOZART and CLAUDE & CAMILLE: A NOVEL OF MONET. She will be speaking on the panel To Trump or Trumpet the History Police.

May 15: Julianne Douglas hosts INVITED SPEAKER C.W. Gortner We’re very pleased to announce that C.W. Gortner, bestselling author of four historical novels, including THE QUEEN’S VOW and THE TUDOR SECRET, will be our featured speaker at the Saturday luncheon. He will be speaking on the panels To Trump or Trumpet the History Police and Sex in HF: How to Make It Hot.

May 14: Elizabeth Felt hosts Kathleen Kent Kathleen is the author of the bestselling novels, THE HERETIC’S DAUGHTER and THE TRAITOR’S WIFE, and was awarded the David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Historical Fiction. She will be speaking on the panel The Witchcraft Window: Scrying the Past.

May 13: Daphne at Tanzanite Castle Full of Books hosts Mary Sharratt Mary is an award-winning novelist who focuses on writing women back into history. Her latest novel, ILLUMINATIONS, was widely acclaimed. Mary will be speaking on the panels Depicting Religion in Historical Fiction; Is ‘Genre’ a Dirty Word? Commercial v. Literary HF; and The Witchcraft Window: Scrying the Past.

May 12: Julianne Douglas hosts Donna Russo Morin Donna is the author of four historical novels, “most recently of THE KING’S AGENT (Kensington, 2012), which earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly. She will be speaking on the conference panel Sex in Historical Fiction: How to Make It Hot.

May 11: Audra at Unabridged Chick hosts Stephanie Dray Stephanie is an award-winning author of historical fiction and fantasy set in the ancient world. She will be speaking on the following panels: Depicting Religion in Historical Fiction; Location, Location: Transporting Readers to Historical Settings; and HF Set in the Ancient World: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

May 10: Erika Mailman hosts GUEST OF HONOR Anne Perry Anne is an internationally-known and bestselling writer whose award-winning work has never been out of print–she has over 26 million books in print world-wide. We are thrilled to have her speaking as our Guest of Honor for the opening ceremonies on Friday night!

May 9: Elizabeth Felt hosts Heather Webb Heather will be speaking on the panel Virtual Salon: Historical Fiction Blogs. She is a blogger extraordinaire and a novelist whose debut historical, BECOMING JOSEPHINE will be published by Plume/Penguin in January 2014.

May 8: Stephanie Renee dos Santos hosts Jeanne MacKin Jeanne is the author of several historical novels and, writing as Anna Maclean, a trio of mysteries featuring Louisa May Alcott as an amateur sleuth. She will be giving a presentation on Writing the Cinematic Novel.

May 7: Stephanie Lehmann hosts GUEST OF HONOR Steve Berry Steve is a New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of eight Cotton Malone adventures, four stand-alone thrillers, and four short-story originals. His books have been translated into 40 languages with more than 15 million printed copies in 51 countries. We are lucky to have him speaking at our Saturday night banquet as our Guest of Honor!

May 6: Daphne at Tanzanite Castle Full of Books hosts David Blixt David is an author and a playwright whose novels span the early Roman Empire (the COLOSSUS series) to early Renaissance Italy (the STAR-CROSS’D series) up through the Elizabethan era (his espionage comedy HER MAJESTY’S WILL, starring Will Shakespeare and Kit Marlowe as inept spies). He will be conducting the Combat Workshop:The History of Weaponry & Practical Skills.

May 5: Judith Starkston hosts Kris Waldherr Kris is an author, illustrator, and designer whose art has been exhibited in the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Her upcoming publications include her debut novel THE LILY MAID, and she will be speaking on the panel Is ‘Genre’ a Dirty Word? Commercial v. Literary HF.

May 4: Stephanie Lehmann hosts Maryka Biaggio Maryka will be speaking on the panel Writing About Women in History: Animating Their Times and Voices. Her novel PARLOR GAMES, based on the true story of a gilded-age baroness who tangled with the Pinkertons, was published by Doubleday in January 2013.

May 3: Judith Starkston hosts Deborah Swift Deborah is a novelist and poet from a small village on the edge of the English  Lake District. She has written novels THE LADY’S SLIPPER and THE GILDED LILY, and will be speaking on the panels Virtual Salon: The Historical Fiction Blog and Making it to Mainstream – And What Comes After.

May 2: Stephanie Lehmann hosts Michelle Cameron Michelle Cameron is the author of novels THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS and IN THE SHADOW OF THE GLOBE, and is currently completing a novel about the Babylonian exile of the Judean people. She will be speaking on the panel Is ‘Genre’ a Dirty Word? Commercial v. Literary HF.

May 1: Judith Starkston hosts Mitchell J. Kaplan Mitchell will be speaking on the panel Is ‘Genre’ a Dirty Word? Commercial v. Literary HF. His historical novel BY FIRE, BY WATER has won numerous awards and he is hard at work on his next novel, which deals with the conflict between the Roman Empire and Judea.

The first of May, or May Day, has long had a place in history as an occasion of celebration. Wikipedia has a summary of such festivities across time and place, but I know our society members can attest to more accurate descriptions of Maypole dancing, treat baskets left anonymously on doorsteps, and the ever popular Beltane flower festival </grin>.

So what more fitting day to announce the first of a series of monthlong (and more) blog posts celebrating participants in our 2013 Historical Novel conference? Our debut interview can be found on Judith Starkton’s blog and features Mitchell James Kaplan, award-winning author of By Fire, By Water.

Read, enjoy, and pass the word along! Our Twitter hashtag is #HNS2013, and our catchphrase of the day comes from our own conference Guest of Honor, Steve Berry: History Matters!

And please, check back each day to read about the next featured speaker!

Vanitha Sankaran,

Program Chair

Email Vanitha at info@vanithasankaran.com for more information.

There will be winners in two categories – most accurate historical costume and best evocation of an historical person or fictional character. You don’t have to choose in which category you’d like to be considered.

Also – we are seeking a judge or judges who are very knowledgeable about period costume! Please get in touch with Gillian Bagwell with questions or submissions for judges. gillianbagwell@hotmail.com

SCHEDULE of Sessions.

> Cost of the conference–For HNS members, it’s $325; for non-members it’s $350 – which includes everything starting from the Friday evening reception & dinner through to Sunday at noon. (NB: There are no “one-day” registrations allowed.)

 > We have a special One-Day, EXTRA workshop program on Friday, June 21^st – a morning and an afternoon with Charlotte Cook – see the “Friday Workshops” tab above for more information about timing and cost.

> Special Guests of Honor: Keynote Speakers Anne Perry and Steve Berry, plus Luncheon Speaker C.W. Gortner (click on the links for more info)

And if you haven’t registered yet,
just click on the flamingo!

“The First Five Pages”–Workshop #1 – Friday, June 21, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. A boxed lunch will be provided. Cost: $75.00 — 50 spaces available

Ever wonder what an acquisition editor does when she reads your submission? Want to know when and why an editor stops reading or asks for more pages? This is an interactive workshop during which you can listen to the initial thoughts and reactions of a publisher and acquisition editor as she sorts through participants’ opening pages. Learn the differences between what peers suggest and when that works, and what an industry professional advises and when that’s important. Charlotte gives a balanced accounting of what drives an editor to keep reading, stop reading, or ask for more pages.

“Pitching Your Query” — Workshop #2 – Friday, June 21, 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Cost: $40.00 — 100 spaces available.

Agents and publishers have heard thousands of pitches, which means you need to connect with the object of your pitch. Most agents and editors are much easier to approach than you think. But what you say, how you act and how you respond is all part of the success of your pitch. Yes, you’re allowed to be nervous. Nerves are a good sign. In this interactive workshop, Charlotte will help you get to the part of your pitch that makes the agent or publisher want to see your manuscript. She’ll talk pitch, synopsis, and etiquette—a potent combination that will give you the results to make you successful in the moment and in the future work you do. Charlotte will use her “Magic Three, Six and Nine” tool to show you how to write and improve your pitch.

You can also sign up for BOTH workshops at the special price of $100.00 (it still includes the boxed lunch!).  These options are available on the Registration Form.    Click on the Flamingo if you want to register now!