What are we looking for?

We want to offer HNS 2026 delegates a varied programme with presentations on the historical fiction genre, writing craft, marketing and publishing. We welcome submissions from traditional authors, indie authors, editors and publishers.

We will consider proposals from solo speakers and groups of authors who wish to present as a panel.

Sessions will be 1 hour (up to 45 minutes to speak and 15 minutes for questions).

Our conference theme, 'Print the Legend', explores the balance between authenticity and entertainment in historical fiction

We prefer that speakers address our theme, although it is not compulsory.

"When the legend becomes fact, print the legend..."

Aspects of our theme include:

FINDING THE LEGEND

– drawing inspiration from history: heritage, archives, myth, folklore and setting.

OWNING THE LEGEND

– discussing reparative history, conservative history, and representing minorities and alternative views. Choosing who speaks in the voice of the past.

DEFINING THE LEGEND

– should our definition of ‘historical’ remain at 50 years ago? Or should we move the cutoff to, e.g. 80 years ago, or beyond living memory?

PUBLISHING THE LEGEND

– crafting a compelling and immersive historical novel, editing, design, creating a submission, finding an agent, self and traditional publishing, marketing and communications. How the Legend grips the imagination of readers, influencers and the media.

RECONSTRUCTING THE LEGEND

- working between fact and fiction in the biographical novel. Reanimating a major historical event. Or imagining a historical figure in a new role, such as a detective.

The UK Society of Authors have provided us their list of speaker fees for 1 Jan 2025 - 31 Dec 2026. In line with this our speaker fees for parallel sessions will be £200 for an individual speaker and £150 each for two or more speakers.

In addition, we offer speakers the opportunity to display up to 3 titles for sale at the conference bookshop which will be operated in the conference venue by the Maynooth Bookshop.

Parallel session speakers are responsible for paying for their conference ticket, travel, accommodation and extras such as excursions and the conference gala dinner.

Send us your submission

Use the link below to use our online form. You will be able to edit your submission until the closing date.