Historical Writers Association
The HWA, the Historical Writers Association, is a new society aimed at all genres of HF and is hoping to do for HF what the CWA did for crime fiction. Anyone is welcome to participate and what may interest Worders is that not only can you directly communicate with authors and pick our fraying, wine-addled brains but the HWA lists a large proportion of agents, editors and publishers willing to answer questions and offer advice where pertinent.
At the moment it's a bit Roman heavy and would like more genres
represented. Don't think that it's all Tudor and togas; anything
up to and including 20th century fiction counts as
long as it is in an historical context and as I said writers and
readers are invited to participate, although there is a criteria
for authors wishing to join, anyone can post and be active in
discussions. So come along and have a look!
http://www.thehwa.co.uk/
Mark Keating. Author of the Pirate Devlin and Hunt for White
Gold.
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4 Comments
Mind you, if the HWA can get within touching distance of the RNA's reputation for drunken parties, I'll be impressed.
Seriously though the aim is that HF is a growing genre both in scope and popularity and yet is still not recognised in the mainstream. Not many bookshops have a dedicated HF section (particularly the chains) and there are no major awards. Wolf Hall was a HF book but the distinction was never made. It's not about patting on the back but trying to group together and raise the profile of HF for both the commercial and literary writers and readers. You should certainly consider joining, Emma.
There is a major award, now - the Walter Scott Prize, which I think Hilary Mantel won as well as winning the Booker. But it's perfectly true that it doesn't have the profile that Crime does. Partly because of the commercial genres crime is the one which is coolest - just compare how sexist and snobbish people are about the RNA and its members and image, relative to the CWA. It'll be interesting to see how the HWA comes to be regarded, along that spectrum; there are still people in the world who think that if it has a long skirt and swords, it must be bodice-ripping tosh.
Click here to sign up now.