HNSA Chair Elisabeth Storrs in discussion with Geraldine Brooks.  

Geraldine Brooks’ first historical novel, Year of Wonders, has proved to be a portent of a world in lockdown. Her subsequent novels have restored or reimagined many lost histories. Elisabeth Storrs, HNSA Chair, explores the HNSA 2021 conference theme with Geraldine by discussing these award-winning books.

Kim Kelly discusses her latest novel, The Rat Catcher: A Love Story, with Greg Johnston, delving into technical decisions around Point of View and Voice, sensitivities required writing Australian History, and her long publishing history.  

Stephanie Parkyn discusses her latest novel, The Freedom of Birds with Greg Johnston, delving into research, technical decisions, and an antipodean writing about Europe. 

Felice Arena discusses with Greg Johnston his path to CYA Historical Fiction and his latest novel, The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan.  

Anita Heiss discusses her landmark and groundbreaking novel, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray—River of Dreams—shortlisted for the 2021 ARA Historical Novel Prize—with Greg Johnston. 

Katrina Nannestad, winner of the 2021 ARA HISTORICAL NOVEL PRIZE—CYA CATEGORY, discusses We are Wolves with Greg Johnston, and the challenges of writing CYA Historical Fiction. 

Jock Serong, winner of the 2021 ARA HISTORICAL NOVEL PRIZE—ADULT CATEGORY, discusses The Burning Island with Greg Johnston, and some of the challenges of writing his series set in the Furneaux Group of islands.  

Pip Williams discusses The Dictionary of Lost Words with Greg Johnston and they gather up stories about her writing process and some of her choices.   

Steven Conte speaks about planning and executing The Tolstoy Estate (2020), writing ‘behind the enemy lines’, the risks of shaking up a novel’s structure, and the Gurya Ghost and the Little Boy Lost with Greg Johnston.  

CYA author Susanne Gervey discusses her new time-slip novel, Heroes of the Secret Underground, migration, sculpting stories from WWII for CYA, and Pálinka with Greg Johnston