Blog | Alison Morton's Thrillers

The Historical Novel Society and Facebook

“Historical” and “Facebook” might sound like a conundrum, but they are intimately linked. Facebook launched its site in February 4, 2004. Historical novels have been going on for a little longer.

La Princesse de Clèves, published anonymously in March 1678 is considered the beginning of the modern tradition of the psychological novel in Europe, and as a great classic work; its author is thought to be Madame de La Fayette.

Jane Porter’s 1803 novel Thaddeus of Warsaw is one of the earliest examples of the historical novel in English and went through at least 84 editions.

Sir Walter Scott was the first fiction writer who saw history not just as a convenient frame in which to stage a contemporary narrative, but rather as a distinct social and cultural setting. Scott’s Scottish novels such as Waverley (1814) and Rob Roy (1817) explored the development of society through conflict. Ivanhoe (1820) was credited for the revival of interest in the Middle Ages.

The Historical Novel Society was founded in the UK in 1997 and has grown to be the best and most complete guide to the genre through its reviews of mainstream and independently published historical fiction (e.g.its review of AURELIA). It awards prizes for short and long historical fiction, and sponsors excellence. Anybody genuinely interested in historical fiction anywhere in the world can join: readers, writers, publishers, agents, journalists. The Society’s conferences are held in the UK, US and Australia and sell out quickly.

Historical in name, but modern in approach, the HNS boasts a a good presence on social media: a public Facebook page, an active Twitter account and a lively Facebook group where members and enthusiasts can discuss topics and exchange views on every aspect of historical fiction.

I’ve just taken over as chief admin on the Facebook group, so I’m hoping to make its presence known even more…

STOP PRESS!
The next UK Historical Novel Society Conference will take place in Oxford, 2-4 September 2016.
You can sign up for updates at https://hnsoxford2016.org Just click through and enter your email address. You’ll receive an email when the site goes live, which will be some time during September. Exciting or what?

Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS and SUCCESSIO. The fourth book, AURELIA, is now out.

Find out Roma Nova news and book progress before everybody else, and take part in giveaways by signing up for her free monthly email newsletter.

Why litfests are important

Signing for a reader

I was delighted and flattered when I received an invitation to speak at the Charroux LitFest here in deepest Poitou-Charentes in France. This is my home area, and being part of the inaugural year of a new litfest is thrilling. You see, I love conferences, book fairs, launches and literary festivals whether I’m a delegate, helper, speaker, panel member or chair, or interviewer/interviewee. I chaired a panel at the Historical Novel Society conference in Denver at the end of June and I still haven’t got over the buzz of the whole weekend.

Writers and readers come together for a number of days and can enthuse with like-minded souls without the usual guilt about possibly boring other people. We all love fiction; characters, plot, frocks, swords, families, crime, comedy, emotional grip, soul journeys, drama and world-building are there for the begging.

Interviewed by Sue Cook

Writers

– meet their readers
– meet other writers they’ve only known on-line or from reading their books
– find mentors, critique partners and beta readers
– have the opportunity to share what they’ve learnt and tell stories about the strange business of writing and publishing
– learn new techniques and craft skills both in the classroom and bar
– talk about and sell their books
– have fun!

Readers

With Lindsey Davis at an HNS conference

– meet their favourite and/or new authors
– discuss every aspect of reading and their favourite books with other readers (and writers are keen readers, too!)
– discover what’s behind the books they love
– learn how a story gets from idea to finished book
– buy books and get them signed by the author
– find out about new forms of work they wouldn’t otherwise
– have fun!

So I’m packing up my four Roma Nova Novels – INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO and AURELIA – plus The 500 Word Writing Buddy and yes, I’d like to sell and sign them all. Empty book boxes are so satisfying! But the buzz of contributing, talking books for three whole days, discovering new work is what I’m there for.
See you there!

Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS and SUCCESSIO. The fourth book, AURELIA, is now out.

Find out Roma Nova news and book progress before everybody else, and take part in giveaways by signing up for her free monthly email newsletter.

AURELIA - Editor's Choice at the Historical Novel Society

High whoops as I discovered that AURELIA had been selected as an indie Editor’s Choice when this quarter’s Historical Novel Society’s reviews were released on 1 August.

To be chosen for an HNS review is the first step; not every book gets past this stage. To receive a good review from this well-respected society is wonderful. To be selected as an Editor’s Choice means a rush for the champagne bottle.

Here’s what they said:

“Late 1960s Roma Nova, the last Roman colony that has survived into the 20th century Aurelia Mitela is alone – forced to give up her beloved career as a Praetorian officer. But her country needs her unique skills. Somebody is smuggling silver – Roma Nova’s lifeblood – on an industrial scale.”

The Roma Nova series of excellent alternate history books is a pleasure to read as modern-day exciting thriller adventures, and in the scenario of what if Rome had survived and women ruled?

We are taken to the Roma Nova of the 1960s, to Aurelia Mitela’s story – the grandmother of our heroine in the previous books. She is a young woman experiencing devastating loss. Her career in the Praetorian Guard appears to be finished but she is sent to Berlin to find those responsible for stealing Roma Nova’s silver reserves. Prepare to enter a world of alternative history written so thoroughly believable it is hard to accept that the Roman Empire along with all its intrigues and politics did not survive into the twentieth century.

Alison Morton’s skill as a writer is superb; her heroines are feisty and full of kick-ass determination; the heroes are heroic, and the villains are the thoroughly nasty bad-guys they are meant to be. Add to that, the overall feel and presentation of the books shriek professionalism throughout – starting with the stunning cover design.

Strictly speaking the series does not quite slot into the HNS guideline of ‘Historical Fiction’ (novels are to be set fifty years in the past) but anyone interested in Roman History will enjoy the concept– and as this one is set in the sixties, it ticks all the boxes and deserves to be selected as Editor’s Choice.