Dr Catherine Hanley is a historian who started her career as an academic before deciding that there were better and more fun ways to engage with public interest in all things medieval. She now writes about the Middle Ages for a wider audience under her own name, historical fiction as CB Hanley, and more non-fiction […]
Historia interview: Nicola Cornick
Nicola Cornick is an international bestselling and award-winning historical novelist who has written more than 30 books over 22 years. She talks to Historia about mixing genres, dual timelines, her love of history and her newest book, out in April. How has your writing changed since your first book, True Colours, was published in 1998? […]
Historia interviews: Anna-Marie Crowhurst
In this sixth and final interview with authors shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Crown Awards, Anna-Marie Crowhurst, shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown, talks about the background to her novel, The Illumination of Ursula Flight. She also has some tips for other first-time writers. The HWA Debut Crown celebrates new voices in historical fiction. Have […]
Historia interviews: Laura Shepherd-Robinson
The fourth in Historia’s series of interviews with writers shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Crown awards is with Laura Shepherd-Robinson. Her acclaimed novel, Blood & Sugar, is set in London and Deptford in the 18th century and is shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown. The HWA Debut Crown celebrates new voices in historical fiction. Have […]
Historia interviews: Caroline Lea
This is the fourth in Historia’s series of interviews with writers shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Crown awards. Caroline Lea is the author of The Glass Woman, which is shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown. The HWA Debut Crown celebrates new voices in historical fiction. Have you always been interested in history? Absolutely. At school, […]
Historia interviews: Matthew Plampin
This is the third of Historia’s interviews with writers shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Crown awards. Matthew Plampin is the author of Mrs Whistler, which is shortlisted for the HWA Gold Crown. It tells the story of Maud Franklin, model, muse and madame of James McNeill Whistler and would-be artist in her own right. How […]
Historia interviews: Abir Mukherjee
This is the second of Historia’s interviews with writers shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Crown awards. Abir Mukherjee’s Smoke and Ashes, set in India in 1921, was listed in the Sunday Times list of 100 Best Crime novels since 1945 and is shortlisted for the HWA Gold Crown Award. Smoke and Ashes is your third […]
Historia interviews: Giles Kristian
This is the first in a series of Historia interviews with writers shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Crown awards. Giles Kristian’s Lancelot, in the Gold Crown category, is a masterful retelling of the Arthurian legends. Lancelot’s a bit of a departure from your previous books. How did the idea of retelling the Arthurian legends come […]