This panel on “Research Your Novel” is a collaboration between the New York City chapters of the Romance Writers of America and the Historical Novel Society. On July 13, 2024, Ursula Renee (A Bookie’s Odds) of the RWA moderated a panel of acclaimed authors from the Historical Novel Society. Stephanie Cowell (The Boy in the Rain ), Loretta Goldberg (Beyond the Bukubuk Tree), and Faith L. Justice (Becoming the Twilight Empress) shared the tricks, tools, pitfalls, and delights of doing scholarly, library, internet, and site visit research. We're pleased to present this joint venture to our members and hope to do more in the future with this and other writing organizations.

Additional information:

RWA/NYC website: https://rwanyc.com

Contact: info@rwanyc.com

HNS-NYC website: https://www.hnsnyc.org

Contact: info@hnsnyc.org

The New York City Chapter of the Historical Novel Society presents this recording from a live presentation on June 25, 2024. Stephanie Cowell (The Boy in the Rain) is in conversation with two award-winning authors Loretta Goldberg (Beyond the Bukubuk Tree: a World War II Novel of Love and Loss) and Lance Ringel (Flower of Iowa) about writing their novels featuring military men struggling to sort out the challenges sparked by their unexpected mutual attraction in the cauldron of war during WWI and WWII. They discuss the genesis of their stories, the epic journeys both took in researching their times and places, and the difficulties in getting published. A fascinating discussion for our writer and reader members alike. More information available at our website: https://www.hnsnyc.org

Link to downloadable PDF file with images mentioned in the early part of the program: https://lorettagoldberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Beyond-mini-slide-show.pdf

The New York City Chapter of the Historical Novel Society presents this recording from May 15, 2024. Loretta Goldberg moderated our Open Mic Night at the Jefferson Market Library. Ten members joined her in the intimate Mae West Room to read excerpts from their works in progress and published books. The historical times ranged from 5C Rome to 1960’s San Francisco. Here are the readers in order:

1. Andrew Kass reads from Distant Thunder (WIP)

2. Lisa Yarde reads from The Order of the Dragon (Book 2)

3. Helen Lundstrom Erwin reads from The Lure of Water and Wood

4. Diane Simmons reads from Kidnappers: A Love Story (WIP)

5. Christina Britton Conroy reads from His Majesty’s Theatre

6. Jeri Hilderley reads from Fire Dragon Street Theater 1962-1967

7. Kate Hornstein reads from A Little Amity (WIP),

8. Martha Hoffman reads from The Queen’s Nun (WIP),

9. Anne Marie Brumm reads from her untitled work in progress

10. Faith L. Justice reads from Becoming the Twilight Empress

Additional information:

HNS-NYC website: https://www.hnsnyc.org/

The New York City Chapter of the Historical Novel Society presents this recording from April 10, 2024 "Two Authors, One Novel or How to Collaborate on a Novel While Remaining Friends." Stephanie Cowell (The Boy in the Rain) is in conversation with Kate Quinn and Janie Chang about their experience in co-writing their novel The Phoenix Crown set during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. They cover what made them decide to work together, what was it about that time period that sparked their interest, how they created a process that allowed them to work remotely on the same book, and—of course!—their extensive historical research. A fascinating discussion for our writer and reader members alike.

The video of this program can be views on our website: https://www.hnsnyc.org

The New York City Chapter of the Historical Novel Society presents this recording from February 2, 2024 where our presenters discuss new ways to market historical fiction. Using her experience with podcasting as an example, Libby Hawker advises authors to ignore the conventional musts of marketing. She suggests we be our authentic selves in a chosen medium we love as a better and more enjoyable path to finding readers. Helen Lundstrom Erwin reinforces that advice with a demonstration and discussion of her trailblazing digital marketing set in virtual reality. A fascinating presentation for our writer members.

The video of this program can be found on our website: https://www.hnsnyc.org

Presenters:

Libby Hawker https://www.hawkerbooks.com/

October in the Earth https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BW1GFPV3

Helen Lundstrom Erwin https://helenerwin.com/

The Lure of Water and Wood https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKXW59YV

Host:

Loretta Goldberg https://lorettagoldberg.com/

The Reversible Mask https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J5W4Z85/

The New York City Chapter of the Historical Novel Society presents this recording from January 18, 2024 on working with editors in the writing process. Content editors. Story editors. Copy editors. How are they different? What do they do? Why and when should you use them? Stephanie Cowell (The Boy in the Rain) is in conversation with Susanne Dunlap (The Portraitist ) and Melodie Winawer Anticipation) on how/when/where they used editors during their writing journeys.

The video of this program can be found on our website: ⁠https://www.hnsnyc.org

The New York City Chapter of the Historical Novel Society presents this recording from December 13, 2023. Susan Wands (Magician and Fool) is in conversation with Sarah Relyea (Playground Zero) and Michael Bourne (Blithedale Canyon) about the upheaval and gentrification of the Bay Area neighborhoods portrayed in their novels. They explore the clash between the old world of artists and dream makers and the new order of corporate fortune-makers. The authors describe the journey of creating unlikely protagonists who must fight to belong to the new world order.

The video of this program can be found on our website: ⁠https://www.hnsnyc.org

The New York City Chapter of the Historical Novel Society presents this recording from November 1, 2023 on the many paths to publishing. Faith L. Justice (Twilight Empress: A Novel of Imperial Rome) is in conversation with authors Nancy Bilyeau (The Orchid Hour), Stephanie Cowell (The Boy in the Rain), Loretta Goldberg (The Reversible Mask) and Susan Wands (Magician and Fool) about their experiences with large press, small press, hybrid, and indie publishing. They discuss how they came to their path, what kinds of contracts and production support they negotiated, pre- and post-publication marketing, and much more in the program for up and coming writers.

HNS-NYC website: ⁠https://www.hnsnyc.org