The History Quill Podcast: Writing and Publishing Historical Fiction

For many aspiring writers, the challenge isn’t just learning the craft – it’s giving yourself permission to be a writer in the first place. In this episode, Katherine Pandora shares how she built a career in academia while quietly holding on to a long-standing desire to write fiction, and what changed to make her start taking her writing seriously. We talk about the subtle expectations that can sh...

Marketing your books can feel uncomfortable, especially if you’re an introvert who’d much rather stay behind the scenes. In this episode, Carol Amorosi shares her journey from avoiding visibility to gradually finding a way to market her books that works for her. We talk about what makes social media feel so daunting, reframing marketing around passion rather than selling, and learning from the exp...

What if the problem isn’t your creativity – but the way you’ve been trying to write? In this episode, Robert Dempsey shares how years of frustration with the ‘conventional’ way of writing left him stuck, convinced he simply wasn’t capable of doing it. Robert talks about how being diagnosed with ADHD helped him understand how his brain works, and how discovering a different approach to writing allo...

Why do so many writers tell themselves they 'just don’t have time' – and what’s really going on underneath that? In this episode, Emma Strangwayes-Booth talks about the stories she told herself about not having enough time to write and how they were tied up with self-doubt, fear of failure, and the pressure to write in the 'right' way. Emma shares how a solo writing retreat and the confidence boos...

The books we read as children are hugely formative, shaping our tastes long after we’ve moved on to adult literature, and often drawing us back to old favourites to re-read to ourselves or future generations.    It’s an opportunity and responsibility that Karen Inglis is well aware of. Karen talks about drawing inspiration from everyday life, digging beyond the moment of initial inspiration, and t...

Learn the secrets of writing great historical crime fiction with Vaseem Khan, international bestseller and winner of the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Historical Dagger.    Vaseem, who is also the first non-white chair of the CWA, is a fount of knowledge on creating charismatic crime-solving characters who grow over the course of a series, how to adjust when you find your carefully...

Research is so important to piecing together the material world of your novel. Not only are archives an important tool in helping you avoid anachronisms that can be jarring for readers, but good archival research can have a huge positive impact, helping you access primary details that make your setting and characters come alive.   In this episode, Julia and Theo speak with Steve Dacus, founder of...

Hazel Gaynor, bestselling author on both sides of the Atlantic, joins Theo and Julia to talk about the processes and priorities for writers of dual-timelines. She explains how weaving back and forth between characters and eras can create mystery and allow the author to provide both light and shade in order to ensure variety in tone and mood.    Having written novels set both close to home and far...

Join bestselling novelist and writing coach Katherine Clements as she discusses the deep, human connection between reader and characters that distinguishes historical fiction from history. This episode also takes in topics including how to remain teachable as a writer, following your gut, and what a meaningful and bold writing career looks like.   Those wanting more detail on this crucial topic or...

For the first episode of season two, returning hosts Theo and Julia are joined by bestselling author of Lancelot, Camelot and the Raven and Sigurd trilogies, Giles Kristian .    Although best known for writing bloodthirsty but heartfelt, lyrical tales set in the Dark Ages, the former pop star is a renaissance man. His many talents have seen him collaborate with Wilbur Smith, release the captivatin...

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...

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 dis...

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 . Listene...

​​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 conv...

​​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...

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 e...

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 i...