MEET THE TEAM
Edward Ferrari-Willis
Edward is The History Quill’s executive editor and lead content editor. Also a freelance writer and pitch coach, Edward has a first-class degree in History and French from the University of Exeter, which included a year teaching English in France. He is an avid reader and writer of historical fiction and loves nothing more than helping people to tell stories. A content editor and tutor with The History Quill, Edward also speaks French. His first novel, set in 15th-century France, was longlisted for the Cheshire Novel Prize in 2024.
If Edward were stranded on a desert island, the two historical novels he would want with him are A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles – the most charming reminder of how to stay positive, creative and classy in isolation – and, for sweeping scope and engrossing escapism, The Lions of Al-Rassan, Guy Gavriel Kay’s alternative history of Reconquista-era Iberia.
Historical fiction subgenre specialisms
Action/adventure |
Biographical |
Crime/mystery/thriller |
Drama |
Fantasy/alternate history |
Literary |
Young adult |
Historical period specialisms
Ancient (3000 BCE–500 CE) |
Medieval (500–1450) |
Early modern (1450–1800) |
Late modern (1800–1945) |
“Edward’s structural report for my novel was superb. It was encouraging and constructive, helping the story both in structure and content. Edward also saw possibilities in my work that spurred me into making the story stronger. He displayed a firm grasp of the historical background to the story. His input was so valuable that I have already booked him for a follow-up edit, and I would fully recommend him to others.”