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How much should I explain? And how?

3 February 2020 By Emma Darwin

Dear Dr Darwin, As a reader of historical fiction I want to be in a place which may resonate in my world, but is not my world. That’s not only about politics and clothes, and how the people think and feel and believe, but in how they talk and write, and what they talk and […]

My writer’s circle friend keeps getting his facts wrong

15 November 2019 By Emma Darwin

Our resident agony aunt, Dr Darwin, answers a common question: how can we make sure our historical details are accurate – and believable? Dear Dr Darwin, Someone in my writers’ circle keeps getting facts wrong: things like calling a 17th-century character Tiffany, and giving her mother a vote in elections. He makes both of them keen […]

I want to write a parallel narrative novel, but I don’t know how

31 July 2019 By Emma Darwin

Historia’s resident agony aunt, Dr Darwin, answers another question about the craft (and art) of writing. This time: how to write a parallel narrative novel which grabs – and keeps – your reader. Dear Dr Darwin, I have fantastic idea for a novel which is made of two almost entirely separate historical narrative threads plaited […]

How do I convey necessary information without it being clunkingly obvious?

28 April 2019 By Emma Darwin

Woman writing: Pamela

Author Emma Darwin explains how you make sure historical fiction readers get necessary information without it being clunkingly obvious

Finding your historical voice

16 December 2018 By Emma Darwin

Jan Ekels the Younger: A Man Writing at his Desk

Our resident agony aunt, Dr Darwin, answers a common question: How can I find a voice for my historical fiction? Dear Dr Darwin, Writing courses boast they’ll help you to “find your voice”, and “the voice” is the thing that publishers and therefore agents say they are looking for almost above all. But what does […]

What counts as historical fiction?

29 September 2018 By Emma Darwin

Painting by Vermeer of a woman writing

Our resident agony aunt, Dr Darwin, answers a common question: what counts as historical fiction? Dear Dr Darwin, I told my grandmother that I was writing a historical novel set in the Liverpool of the early Beatles, and she laughed so hard she nearly fell off her motorbike. I told my brother the Beatles weren’t […]

How do you research historical fiction?

23 July 2018 By Emma Darwin

Our resident agony aunt, Dr Darwin, answers a common question – how do you research historical fiction? Dear Dr Darwin, Everyone says “research till your eyes bleed” – you did in your post about cultural appropriation – but when I Google, all I can find is the information I know already, repeated in a million […]

Are there multicultural boundaries we must not cross in historical fiction?

14 March 2018 By Emma Darwin

Dear Dr Darwin, I’m working on a script that begins during the 1830’s. The central character is a fictional young Black teen, and two major characters are actual historical figures: a young Native American warrior and a mixed-blood warrior; the true purpose of the script is to tell their fascinating story. I, however, am White. […]

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Latest Releases

Lady Rosamund and the Horned God by Barbara Monajem

20 April 2021

The Damask Rose by Carol McGrath

15 April 2021

Henry VII and the Tudor Pretenders by Nathen Amin

15 April 2021

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Editor’s Picks

Five surprising facts about Charles Edward Stuart

31 December 2020

Historia interviews: Hallie Rubenhold

1 April 2019

Why do Historical Authors Turn to Crime?

25 April 2018

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The Historical Writers’ Association

Historia Magazine is published by the Historical Writers’ Association. We are authors, publishers and agents of historical writing, both fiction and non-fiction. For information about membership and profiles of our member authors, please visit our website.

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ISSN 2515-2254

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