From Hook to Book

Archive for the tag “HNSA”

01 Nov 2019

#HNSA2019

Wow! What a wonderful weekend?

HNSA 2019 was a brilliant conference bringing together authors, academics and readers. It was a weekend featuring fabulous organisation, so many terrific panels spread over three separate streams, fantastic food, a swashbuckling sword fighting demonstration over Sunday’s luncheon, and the chance to catch up with so many fellow writers and meet so many more.

As part of the official Social Media Team, I was kept busy tweeting away during panel sessions with so many quotable quotes and tips from authors, academics and authorities in the historical fiction book world.

At the conference dinner, the shortlist and winner of the short story competition were announced, along with the winners of the inaugural Colleen McCullough Residency, established and aspiring categories. (See details at the end of this post.)

The HNSA conference was also a great opportunity to meet some of my literary heroes and come away with signed copies of their books. So many acclaimed authors including, Lucy Treloar, Robyn Cadwallader, Kate Forsyth, Sophie Masson, Nicole Alexander, Ali Alizadah, Meg Keneally, Michelle Aung Thin, Kelly Gardiner and too many more to mention. (Note to self: Next time take a bigger suitcase for books!)

I’m already excited and eager for #HNSA2021.

Since I was on the Twitter team, I think the best way to show some of the happenings and quotable tips from the conference is via some tweets. Enjoy!

Congratulations to Christina King winner the ARA HNSA Short Story contest for her story The Ink Stain. Congrats also to shortlistees: Lou Greene for her story Fare Thee Well, Dell Brand for The Driver, Nicole Wardley Dear Anna and Dorothy Simmons To Liberty.

Congratulations to Liss Morgan, winner of the First Pages Pitch Contest.

Congratulations to Sally Colin-James winner of the Colleen McCullough Residency for an Aspiring Writer. I’m ecstatic to say that I was chosen as the winner of the Established Writer category. (See link for an excited post on the award.)

 

Posted in Competitions, Historical Novel Society Australasia, HNSA, HNSA Colleen McCullough Residency 2019, HNSA2019 and tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment
16 Aug 2019
6 Comments

HNSA Melbourne Chapter Readings Night

With a debut novel coming out in a few months, it will soon be time to start spreading the word on my new novel. But recently, I was really honoured to be asked by the Historical Novel Society of Australasia Melbourne Chapter to be their featured reader at their July Readings night.

Held at the historic PMI Victorian History Library in Prahran, it was a delightful evening where I read an extended piece from my upcoming novel The Swing Tree. (News on a title change soon.)

It was very reassuring to have my piece so well received and the opportunity to gauge some audience reactions. I found myself absolutely loving question time and quite forgot to be nervous. It was a joy to share some of my on-the-ground research experience in Scotland and the background to my story with the enthusiastic audience.

The floor was then opened to interested participants to share a short reading from their own works-in-progress or a work of their choice. I thoroughly recommend these regular evenings as a fantastic opportunity to read your work aloud and to get some audience reaction. It’s not critiqued at all, just reading aloud to your peers.

At the conclusion of the formalities, everyone is invited to continue the discussions and evening over dinner at a nearby bistro. It’s a great networking and social opportunity too.

For me, it also just showed how much I love talking about this story.

 

(The next HNSA Melbourne Chapter readings evening will be held in September: https://tinyurl.com/y4h6xxak)

Posted in HNSA Melbourne Chapter and tagged ,
11 Sep 2017
7 Comments

#HNSA2017 Brilliant!

What a fantastic, inspiring conference was HNSA 2017! This second Historical Novel Society Australasia Conference, I have to say, was even more brilliant and better than the first.

The hugely diverse and wide-ranging program of speakers, super sessions and workshops provided so much choice – from sessions on ‘personal histories’ with renowned writers such as Kate Forsyth, Sophie Masson and Deborah Challinor, giving insight into their processes and work, to panel discussions on Modern Voice in Historical Fiction and Authenticity Vs Truth to the insightful publisher Pathways to Publication and First Pages critiques. There was also a separate academic program and hands-on opportunities to learn of armour and armouring and historical costumes.

The conference was also a wonderful opportunity to catch up with many writing friends and fellow authors and to meet quite a few new ones during the frequent breaks and/or the cocktail party and dinner nights.

I had a fabulous time and came away inspired, motivated and with lots of new resources and authors to check out.

I got a bit excited too on the tweeting side, and, with so much of value to share, rather than go into all the insights and memorable moments, I’ll share them again below in tweets.

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If you’d like to check out any other snippets of wisdom I shared or pics, you can find them on my Twitter feed @chrisbellwrites.

I’d like to say a special thank you to Elisabeth Storrs, Chris Foley and the wonderful Historical Novel Society Australasia team for an amazing event. Roll on 2019.

Posted in Conferences, HNSA, HNSA2017, Inspiration, Publishing and tagged ,
13 Apr 2015
9 Comments

#HNSA2015

Stepping into the past is something all historical fiction authors and readers love to do, and in a room full of like minds and 21st century technology, it’s even more fun. Just ask the hundred and sixty enthusiastic attendees/tweeters gathered recently in Sydney for the inaugural Australian Historical Novel Society Conference.

I took plenty of notes, but also discovered how fantastic Twitter is for capturing quotes and the essence of talks and then for sharing them, both with those attending and any interested to follow at #HNSA2015.

Rather than go into heaps of detail about the diverse range of sessions, ranging from personal histories to What is it about the Tudors, to YA historical fiction competing against volumes of vampires, I’m just going to let a few of the tweets talk. Along with some of the pics, including those of a fun and fabulous reading between our lovely conference patron Kate Forsyth, cheeky keynote Colin Falconer and (missing her second calling) the marvellous Jess Blackadder.

If you’d like a snapshot of the conference from tweeters including @KateForsyth @jesseblackadder @kmjgardiner checkout #HNSA 2015 on Twitter.

Many thanks to Chris Foley, Elisabeth Storrs and all their team for a fantastic event. I cannot wait until the next one *** IN MELBOURNE*** in 2017.

Posted in Conferences, HNSA and tagged ,

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