#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.

Here we GO #HNSA2019 pic.twitter.com/CEeqwwf0QG

— Christine Bell (@chrisbellwrites) October 25, 2019

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!

All histories are stories @KateForsyth, patron of @HNSAustralasia is always a delight to listen to. #HNSA2019 #ANZhistfic pic.twitter.com/xYED27HELP

— Christine Bell (@chrisbellwrites) October 25, 2019

‘History is shaped always by point of view’ Paula Morris wonderful #hnsa2019 keynote speaker #historyrepeats #ANZhistfic pic.twitter.com/Y0I7velHG4

— Christine Bell (@chrisbellwrites) October 25, 2019

‘When we write a story set in the past, we need to make it work on its own terms’ Paula Morris insightful #HNSA2019 keynote speaker #ANZhistfic #historicalfiction

— Christine Bell (@chrisbellwrites) October 25, 2019

Love that @kmjgardiner wrote a short story for an anthology about two characters that made her laugh so much she’s given them a whole book. #HNSA2019 #anzhistfic pic.twitter.com/wVWLdtQ8Es

— Christine Bell (@chrisbellwrites) October 26, 2019

A good book, good story will sell whatever label (genre) you put on it. Scott Whitmont @Scottwhit27 Connecting with Readers #HNSA2019 #ANZhistfic

— Christine Bell (@chrisbellwrites) October 26, 2019

So interesting to hear of the real life characters behind the stories and challenge of including the facts without losing narrative interest. Respectful Research #hnsa2019 #ANZHISTFIC Isobel Blackthorn Paula Morris Greg Johnston Catherine Padmore pic.twitter.com/XFR1bvLU2a

— Christine Bell (@chrisbellwrites) October 26, 2019

Avoiding pitfalls in writing historical fiction: don’t overload it with facts. When writing contemporary fiction we don’t belabour all the details of contemporary life @LucyTreloar #ANZhistfic #HNSA2019

— Christine Bell (@chrisbellwrites) October 26, 2019

Well done, brave authors of #hnsa2019 First Pages Pitch Contest. Judges: publishers Clare Hallifax @hallipad, Michelle Lovi and literary agent Margaret Connolly. Beautifully narrated by @NightingaleRA #ANZhistfic pic.twitter.com/0x1YXxWfZ1

— Christine Bell (@chrisbellwrites) October 26, 2019

Privileged to listen to extracts from the beautiful novels of @Ella_Carey and @AuthorNicole. #HNSA2019 Personal Histories panel in conversation with @IrinaDunn #anzhistfic pic.twitter.com/OoencWhofZ

— Christine Bell (@chrisbellwrites) October 26, 2019

The duty of the historical fiction writer is to cast a spell, entrance the reader and create an authentic world. @ilkatampke #HNSA2019 #ANZhistfic

— Christine Bell (@chrisbellwrites) October 26, 2019

The novelist’s job is to tell a story and offer an immersive experience to the reader @KateForsyth. Kate, as author, cooks the food, wears the clothes, holds the artefacts to give psychic resonance to the past. #HNSA2019 #anzhistfic

— Christine Bell (@chrisbellwrites) October 27, 2019

Love @blindybop Belinda Castle’s questions on POV: Where is the voice coming from? What does it know? If you don’t know, you may not have quite written your way far enough to tell yet. Be brave, try again. #anzhistfic #HNSA2019

— Christine Bell (@chrisbellwrites) October 27, 2019

Though @lizziejane Elizabeth Jane Corbett’s character was young & of an era where females had no agency, she was strong in her grief, her anger and in her hurt. In order to change the protagonist’s misbeliefs she had to be strongly challenged. #ANZhistfic #HNSA2019

— Christine Bell (@chrisbellwrites) October 27, 2019

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.)

 

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HNSA Colleen McCullough Residency 2019

When I first saw the Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA) announcement of their inaugural Colleen McCullough Residency, I was blown away by the generosity of the prize and the amazing opportunity open to all eligible attendees at the 2019 HNSA Conference in Sydney last weekend.

Who wouldn’t want to spend a week on the beautiful Norfolk Island, once home and inspiration to one of our country’s most acclaimed writers? Plus airfares, transfers, hire car, tours of both the Colleen McCullough library and the island, supplied by the generous sponsors, along with the incredible bonus of staying and writing on the grounds of the McCullough estate!

I am so thrilled and excited to have been awarded the inaugural HNSA Colleen McCullough Residency for an Established Writer. AND I GET TO GO TO NORFOLK ISLAND IN FEBRUARY!!!

When the final judge of the residency shortlists, best-selling author, Nicole Alexander, began to read out a couple of telling details from the winning established author submission, ie: set in France, post-WW1 etc, my heart just about stopped beating. And when she read out my name, I really couldn’t believe it. But, eventually, I did manage to collect myself and my certificate from Nicole, and utter a few inarticulate words.

It’s taken a few days to sink in, though never the fact what an amazing opportunity I’ve been given. It’s also incredibly validating to know that the choices I made a few months ago to start my novel at a different point in the story have worked. I’m so excited about my WIP, but I won’t go into any details about the project here at this early stage of the writing.

Congratulations to Sally Colin James, winner of the aspiring category. We’ve already planned to get together at the end of the writing day and debrief, perhaps share a meal and a sunset.

No doubt, come February, this blog will feature some beautiful photos set amid the inspiration of Norfolk Island, a place I’ve always, always wanted to visit. I only wish Colleen McCullough was still in residence, per chance I could meet her. Hopefully some more of her magic will rub off on me.

My grateful thanks to HNSA, Nicole Alexander, Burnt Pine Travel, Baunti Escapes and the McCullough Estate for the opportunity, their support and sponsorship.