Historical Writers Association launches

Transworld/Bantam novelist Manda Scott has formed the Historical Writers’ Association as a forum for writers and to promote the genre.

The internet-based group, which already boasts around 100 members including authors Simon Scarrow, Stella Duffy, Robyn Young, Laura Wilson, Tom Holland and James Holland is aimed at writers of historical fiction and non-fiction. Agents, editors and publishers have also already joined including Charlie Viney, Jane Judd, Broo Doherty and Bill Hamilton plus David Headley, m.d. of Goldsboro Books.

Scott said: “I used to be a member of the CWA-an extraordinary resource as an up-and-coming author, enormously useful. I’ve been writing historical fiction for nearly a decade, and I realised there wasn’t anything [for us]. Crime writing is the big brother of all the genres. I wanted to create something to be a forum [for] writers of historical fiction and non-fiction to get together.”

The HWA will hold a literary festival in conjuction with Kelmarsh Hall’s annual Festival of History, 16th-17th July, and Scott is also looking for sponsorship for prizes next year. She is also intending to hold a HWA Christmas party.

A temporary page for the website, which will be a “home on the web for historical writing” with a forum, blogs and links, is currently at www.thehwa.co.uk. Membership costs £75 a year, £80 for those paying by cheque or Paypal.

Scott added: “We welcome published authors, their agents, editors, publicists  - and booksellers - all and any who have a passion for history. I'll feel we've succeeded if history as a genre grows to match crime writing in the eyes of publishers, booksellers  and, most importantly, the book-buying public.”