Friday 7 February – Sunday 9 February, 2025
The History Quill will host a three day virtual convention for historical fiction writers on 7–9 February, 2025. Each day has a theme, and you can attend one, two, or all three days, depending on where your interests lie. As this is a virtual convention, participation will be exclusively online, via Zoom.
There will be multiple events on each day, all of them matching the theme of the day. These will include expert presentations, panel discussions, live critiques, and discussion groups.
The vast majority of the convention will be recorded (the only exception is discussion sessions – these are marked on the agenda). You’ll have access to recordings for the days you have booked, and we’ll give you a choice between lifetime access for an extra fee or two weeks’ access for free.
You can read more about each day below. We’ve included a summary of the theme of each day, some highlights, a full event list that you can toggle, and a link to download the convention agenda. You can book your place at the convention using any of the ‘book now’ buttons on this page.
Early bird discount expires in...
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
Themes
DAY ONE (Friday 7 February) – HISTORICAL FICTION IN 2025
We will kick off our convention with a day dedicated to discussing historical fiction in 2025. We’ll explore current and emerging developments in the historical fiction book market, marketing trends, the connection between historical fiction and contemporary issues, the future of historical fiction more broadly, and much more. The day will help you get ahead of the curve in understanding and capitalizing on the changes on the horizon.
Highlights
Here are three of our top highlights from day one:
The future of historical fiction: top predictions for 2025 and beyond
Amy Durant
Vaseem Khan
Orna Ross
Past meets present: addressing contemporary issues through historical fiction
Lola Jaye
The historical fiction book market in 2025
Lucy Richardson (Bonnier Books)
Olivia Davies (United Agents)
Jane Chun (Transatlantic Agency)
Click here to see a full list of day one events
All events are recorded except for those marked with an asterisk (*). If you can’t participate in an event live due to the timing/time zone, the recording will enable you to watch it at a time convenient for you.
11:00 – 12:00 (GMT) / 06:00 – 07:00 (EST)
Past meets present: addressing contemporary issues through historical fiction
Lola Jaye
13:00 – 14:00 (GMT) / 08:00 – 09:00 (EST)
Maintaining a career in historical fiction
Louise Fein, Louise Hare, Eleni Kyriacou, Frances Quinn
15:00 – 16:30 (GMT) / 10:00 – 11:30 (EST)
The historical fiction book market in 2025
Jane Chun, Olivia Davies, Lucy Richardson
18:00 – 19:30 (GMT) / 13:00 – 14:30 (EST)
The future of historical fiction: top predictions for 2025 and beyond
Amy Durant, Vaseem Khan, Orna Ross
20:00 – 21:00 (GMT) / 15:00 – 16:00 (EST)
How to market historical fiction in 2025
Sandra Beckwith
21:30 – 22:30 (GMT) / 16:30 – 17:30 (EST) (*)
Discussion group: networking session
23:30 – 00:30 (GMT) / 18:30 – 19:30 (EST)
A writer’s assistant? Exploring the role of AI in storytelling and publishing
Thad Mcllory
01:00 – 02:00 (GMT) / 20:00 – 21:00 (EST)
Making authentic connections with readers in today’s book market
Debra Borchert
You can download the full convention agenda, including detailed summaries of each event, speaker bios, and timings, using the button below.
Ready to book?
Use the button below to review the pricing and book your place!
DAY TWO (Saturday 8 February) – WRITING AND RESEARCHING HISTORICAL FICTION
Day two will explore what it takes to write and research great historical fiction. We will explore key debates and challenges specific to the genre, encompassing both craft and research topics. For those just getting started in historical fiction, this day is the perfect introduction, while more experienced writers will benefit from developing their knowledge, hearing new perspectives, and making connections.
Highlights
Here are three of our top highlights from day two:
Writing compelling historical fiction
Emma Darwin
Breathing life into history: crafting unforgettable characters in historical worlds
Giles Kristian
Patricia Bracewell
Steven A. McKay
Matthew Harffy
Follow, bend, or break? The rules of historical fiction
Denny S. Bryce
JC Duncan
Sarah Sundin
Click here to see a full list of day two events
All events are recorded except for those marked with an asterisk (*). If you can’t participate in an event live due to the timing/time zone, the recording will enable you to watch it at a time convenient for you.
10:00 – 11:00 (GMT) / 05:00 – 06:00 (EST)
History in historical fiction: icing on the cake or main ingredient?
Margaret Skea
11:30 – 12:30 (GMT) / 06:30 – 07:30 (EST)
From cookbooks to wills: discovering story ideas in everyday history
Dreena Collins
13:00 – 14:00 (GMT) / 08:00 – 09:00 (EST)
Beyond the page: hands-on research methods for historical fiction writers
Michelle Cameron
14:00 – 15:30 (GMT) / 09:00 – 10:30 (EST)
Follow, bend, or break? The rules of historical fiction
Denny S. Bryce, JC Duncan, Sarah Sundin
16:00 – 17:30 (GMT) / 11:00 – 12:30 (EST)
First page live editors’ critique
Pippa Brush Chappell, Edward Ferrari-Willis
18:00 – 19:30 (GMT) / 13:00 – 14:30 (EST)
Writing compelling historical fiction
Emma Darwin
20:00 – 20:45 (GMT) / 15:00 – 15:45 (EST) (*)
Discussion group: sharing craft tips
21:30 – 23:00 (GMT) / 16:30 – 18:00 (EST)
Breathing life into history: crafting unforgettable characters in historical worlds
Patricia Bracewell, Matthew Harffy, Giles Kristian, Steven A. McKay
00:30 – 01:30 (GMT) / 19:30 – 20:30 (EST)
Strong women are not anachronistic: writing women in historical settings
Edie Cay, Alina Rubin, Linda Ulleseit
You can download the full convention agenda, including detailed summaries of each event, speaker bios, and timings, using the button below.
Ready to book?
Use the button below to review the pricing and book your place!
DAY THREE (Sunday 9 February) – MASTERING HISTORICAL FICTION
On day three, we’ll move on to more advanced topics, such as using more sophisticated writing techniques and exploring strategies for publishing and marketing your books. This day is ideal for experienced and intermediate writers, but also for beginners who want to challenge themselves and see what lies ahead in their writing journey.
Highlights
Here are three of our top highlights from day three:
Advanced techniques to take your writing to the next level
Janice Hardy
It's not just KPIs... unusual marketing moves to make in 2025
Melissa Addey
Using themes and motifs in historical fiction: from the universal to the unusual
David Bishop
Click here to see a full list of day three events
All events are recorded except for those marked with an asterisk (*). If you can’t participate in an event live due to the timing/time zone, the recording will enable you to watch it at a time convenient for you.
10:30 – 11:30 (GMT) / 05:30 – 06:30 (EST)
It’s not just KPIs… unusual marketing moves to make in 2025
Melissa Addey
12:00 – 13:00 (GMT) / 07:00 – 08:00 (EST)
This age of publishing: balancing self-publishing, independent presses, and traditional publishing
Emily Murdoch
14:00 – 15:00 (GMT) / 09:00 – 10:00 (EST) (*)
Discussion group: historical periods
15:30 – 16:30 (GMT) / 10:30 – 11:30 (EST)
Using themes and motifs in historical fiction: from the universal to the unusual
David Bishop
17:00 – 18:30 (GMT) / 12:00 – 13:30 (EST)
Pitch your novel: live critique
Amy Durant, Cate Hart
19:30 – 21:00 (GMT) / 14:30 – 16:00 (EST)
Advanced techniques to take your writing to the next level
Janice Hardy
21:30 – 23:00 (GMT) / 16:30 – 18:00 (EST)
Building a beautiful book: self-publishing that looks traditional
Edie Cay, Mari Anne Christie, Jonathan Posner, Alina Rubin
00:00 – 01:00 (GMT) / 19:00 – 20:00 (EST)
Making your writer’s voice unique
Jill George, Ezra Harker Shaw
You can download the full convention agenda, including detailed summaries of each event, speaker bios, and timings, using the button below.
Ready to book?
Use the button below to review the pricing and book your place!
Testimonials
See testimonials below from writers who attended our previous conventions.
I have wanted to be a writer for a long time but never thought it was possible to change careers at this stage of my life. This conference changed my mind. After being immersed in all that the History Quill had to offer, I feel like my life has changed. I can do this. Why did I ever think differently? Thanks for creating a safe space for authors like me to grow.
The History Quill team and the speakers were just outstanding. It felt like you were coming online to hang out with your much smarter historical author friends. The knowledge that was passed on to us has opened up pathways for us all. We came out of this conference with new friends, new contacts, and so much new knowledge. If you did this five times a year I would be at every single one. I wouldn’t want to miss one minute. I can’t say enough good things.
This was a superbly organised conference with a focus on a genre that usually gets neglected at similar events. It was a pleasure to attend, network and learn with like-minded authors. I would definitely recommend it to all writers of historical fiction and am looking forward to booking my ticket for the next conference.
The History Quill provides one of the very finest, most immersive online conferences I’ve ever attended. The presenters’ breadth of knowledge and experience in all areas of historical fiction creation and publishing is outstanding, and will benefit any writer at any stage in the challenging journey towards publication. This annual event is highly recommended.
The History Quill has found creative ways to connect a big and growing community of writers – what some would describe as ‘herding cats.’ It does it well and offers everything: practical how-tos; thought-provoking discussions on how to manage the writing life; and inspirational guidance. The conferences have recharged me and helped immensely with my work.
As a writer, I have to be very cognizant of how I spend my conference budget. This conference can have all my money! The quality of the presenters coupled with the professionalism of the staff made the experience outstanding. Even though the conference is virtual, the myriad formats available for interacting with other participants made me feel connected to a global community in a personal way. Thanks to this conference, I feel like I have finally found my writing community.
I’ve been to several writers’ conferences and this one was my favorite. It was almost supernaturally well run, with a level of quality of presentations that I’ve never seen. I made wonderful connections, a beginning on finding the kind of community that’s been missing in my life – other historical fiction writers. Even though my completed book has been edited within an inch of its life, I got feedback in the critique sessions that I immediately used and am very happy with the resulting improvements.
The History Quill convention has become a must attend event for me. The quality of programming, excellent moderators, and great camaraderie make for an excellent conference. Being able to purchase lifetime access to recordings is icing on the cake!
This conference exceeded my expectations with a brilliant lineup of talented presenters providing outstanding content. The management of the entire event was professional and well-organized. Most of all, the conference created a friendly, supportive environment, which is not easy to do, especially on Zoom. I felt like I was with my people.
Ready to book?
Use the button below to review the pricing and book your place!
Frequently asked questions
Your Title Goes Here
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
Which countries do you accept bookings from?
We welcome bookings from people who are resident in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and any EU country. If you are not resident in one of these countries, unfortunately we won’t be able to accept your business at this time.
Please note the stipulation about time zones below.
Will you accommodate different time zones?
We have organised the convention schedule to align well with US and European time zones. Most events will take place at times of the day that are suitable for both US and European participants. A small number of events will take place either in the early morning in the US or the late evening in Europe, but most of these events will be recorded for you to watch later.
If you are outside the US and Europe, you can still participate, but the convention may not align well with your local time zone. However, most of the convention will be recorded for you to watch at your convenience.
Will the convention be recorded?
Yes, the vast majority of the convention will be recorded and available for viewing for up to two weeks afterwards for free. You also have the option of getting lifetime access to the recordings for an extra fee equal to 20% of the cost of the days you have booked. You can select this option on the checkout page.
The only events that won’t be recorded are the discussion groups, as these are focused entirely on live participation. These are marked on the agenda.
Where can I find the full agenda?
You can access the full agenda via this link.
How interactive will the sessions be? Can I ask questions?
The convention will be very interactive. All of our panels and presentations will include some time for questions and answers at the end, and several of our sessions will focus on interactive discussion and critique.
What if I can't attend some or all of the convention but still want to have access to the events?
No problem! If you want to attend but are unable to join us live for some or all of the convention, you can watch the recordings at your convenience instead.
How much does the convention cost?
Go to the booking page here to see the pricing. You can attend one, two, or all three days, depending on where your interests lie.
I would like to participate in one of the interactive critiquing sessions. How can I do this?
We are offering two interactive critiquing sessions during the convention – a first page editor critique session on day two and a query pitch critique session on day three. They will only be available to those who book the corresponding days and will require work to be submitted in advance. We will provide more information about how you can participate in these in January.
If you do not wish to have your work critiqued, you are still welcome to attend these sessions to observe.
Where can I see the full terms and conditions?
You can view our full terms and conditions here. There is a section dedicated to virtual events and the convention.
More questions?
If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing us at events@thehistoryquill.com.