The History Quill Podcast: Writing and Publishing Historical Fiction

Elevate your writing: the power of critique groups, with Syd Young

In this episode, hosts Theo and Julia are joined by Syd Young, an author, lawyer, and longstanding participant in The History Quill’s group coaching programme. 
 
Syd's debut novel is a biographical contemporary historical fiction piece, centered around Lady Bird Johnson in the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination. Together with our hosts, she explores the unique challenges and opportunities of writing about more recent historical figures. During the conversation, Syd discusses how working with a critique group helped shape her novel and writing process, sharing insights from her own experience as part of a community of historical fiction writers.
 
Applications for the group coaching programme open in September 2023. If you're eager to receive guidance, connect with fellow writers, and elevate your craft, follow the link below to join The History Quill’s group coaching programme.
 
https://thehistoryquill.com/group-coaching/
 
If you want to find out more about the topics discussed, visit https://thehistoryquill.com/6 for the episode page on our website, where you can access a range of relevant resources. You can also join our email list at https://thehistoryquill.com/join-our-email-list/ to receive new podcast episodes and more content for historical fiction writers.

Writing gothic historical fiction, with Anna Mazzola

In today’s episode, Theo and Julia are joined by Anna Mazzola, the award-winning and bestselling author known for her captivating gothic historical novels. With a background in law as a human rights and criminal justice solicitor, Anna brings a unique perspective to her storytelling, exploring the impact of crime and injustice in her works. 
 
Throughout the conversation, Theo, Julia, and Anna discuss writing across different genres, the importance of confidence in one's own writing, and how to balance a successful writing career with another profession. Her latest novel, The House of Whispers, is a ghost story set in Fascist Italy and is a Sunday Times Historical Fiction pick for 2023.
If you want to find out more about the topics discussed, visit https://thehistoryquill.com/5 for the episode page on our website, where you can access a range of relevant resources. You can also join our email list at https://thehistoryquill.com/join-our-email-list/ to receive new podcast episodes and more content for historical fiction writers.

Unearthing forgotten tales, with Piper Huguley

In this episode, hosts Theo and Julia are joined by author Piper Huguley to explore the power of historical fiction in uncovering hidden narratives, and the art of crafting compelling biographical stories.  
 
Piper's dedication to writing about African American characters shines through as we delve into the lesser-known story of Ann Lowe for her historical fiction work, By Her Own Design. Listeners can expect to gain insights into the challenges and rewards of exploring and resurrecting these narratives, and the role that historical fiction plays in amplifying underrepresented voices.
If you want to find out more about the topics discussed, visit thehistoryquill.com/4 for the episode page on our website, where you can access a range of relevant resources. You can also join our email list at https://thehistoryquill.com/join-our-email-list/ to receive new podcast episodes and more content for historical fiction writers.

Creating a community of readers, with Octavia Randolph

​​In today’s episode, hosts Theo and Julia are joined by Octavia Randolph, author of the critically acclaimed Circle of Ceridwen Saga. With eleven books (and counting) set in 9th century England and Scandinavia during the Viking incursions, Octavia's meticulously researched and imaginatively crafted Norse sagas have gained a cult following among readers and listeners worldwide.
 
During the conversation, Octavia shares insights into the challenges and rewards of building a community of loyal readers, as well as the process of writing and researching historical fiction. Listeners can expect to hear about the importance of authenticity in historical fiction, and how Octavia's passion for the subject matter (and persistence) has driven her success as an independent author.
If you want to find out more about the topics discussed, visit thehistoryquill.com/3 for the episode page on our website, where you can access a range of relevant resources. You can also join our email list at https://thehistoryquill.com/join-our-email-list/ to receive new podcast episodes and more content for historical fiction writers.

How to find a good literary agent, with Charlotte Colwill

​​In this episode, hosts Theo and Julia sit down with Charlotte Colwill, co-founder of the independent literary agency Colwill & Peddle, to discuss how both aspiring and established authors can find the right literary agent for them.
 
Charlotte brings a wealth of experience to the conversation, having worked in bookselling before transitioning to the world of literary representation, where she currently represents authors of fiction, nonfiction, and children's literature.
 
Listeners can expect to learn about the role of a literary agent and what makes a strong pitch, as well as hearing anecdotes and examples from her own experiences working with authors and publishers. 
If you want to find out more about the topics discussed, visit thehistoryquill.com/2 for the episode page on our website, where you can access a range of relevant resources. You can also join our email list at https://thehistoryquill.com/join-our-email-list/ to receive new podcast episodes and more content for historical fiction writers.

Historical research and writing WW2 fiction, with Madeline Martin

For our first ever episode of The History Quill Podcast, our expert hosts (and authors in their own right) Theo Brun and Julia Kelly are joined by New York Times and International bestselling author of WW2 historical fiction and historical romance Madeline Martin. Based in sunny Florida, Madeline is a die-hard history lover with her works spanning medieval castles and Regency ballrooms.
In this episode, Madeline shares why she loves writing about the WW2 period, what goes into her historical research, and how using a humble magnifying glass has helped to bring her stories to life.
Books referenced in the episode:
The Last Bookshop in London (Madeline Martin)
The Librarian Spy (Madeline Martin)
The Keeper of Hidden Books (Madeline Martin)
The Light Over London (Julia Kelly) 
If you want to find out more about the topics discussed, visit thehistoryquill.com/1 for the episode page on our website, where you can access a range of relevant resources. You can also join our email list at https://thehistoryquill.com/join-our-email-list/ to receive new podcast episodes and more content for historical fiction writers.

Welcome to The History Quill Podcast: Writing and Publishing Historical Fiction

The History Quill Podcast is all about writing and publishing historical fiction. Brought to you by The History Quill and hosted by historical fiction authors Julia Kelly and Theodore Brun, each episode features a special guest sharing their insights and experiences. Some are bestselling historical fiction authors, others are aspiring writers sharing their journey so far, and others are industry insiders and experts. We cover writing craft, research, traditional publishing, self-publishing, book marketing, and more – all through the unique lens of the historical fiction genre. Join us!