HNS2025 Presenters
Brook Allen
Brook Allen is the award-winning author of the Antonius Trilogy and West of Santillane. She has recently retired from public education and is looking forward to a life of researching historical gems and writing about them. She loves travel, hiking, camping, Labrador Retrievers, and becoming immersed in research for her latest project. She lives in Blue Ridge, Virginia in the heart of Appalachia.
Victoria Alvear
Victoria (Vicky) Alvear is an award-winning author whose works include Cleopatra’s Moon and A Day of Fire, which has been picked up by Amazon/UK for a six-part series with Ridley Scott producing. She has written about history and mythology for children and has been a docent for the Carlos Museum of Antiquities at Emory University in Atlanta for nearly twenty years. Her latest book, The Cleansing (2025, Hypatia Press), tells the true story of a Vestal Virgin defending herself in court after she is accused of having sex and thus “causing” Rome to lose a key battle.
Tracy Barrett
Tracy Barrett is the author of more than twenty books (both fiction and nonfiction) for young readers, including the award-winning YA historical novel Anna of Byzantium, which has sold more than 200,000 copies. Formerly the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Regional Advisor for the Midsouth and then SCBWI’s Regional Advisor Coordinator, Tracy is now the Historical Novels Review’s US and Canadian Children’s and YA Reviews Editor. Tracy has been awarded an NEH grant and an SCBWI Work-in-Progress Grant. She has taught writing courses and has made many presentations on writing for children and on children’s literature.
Jessica Berg
Read Jessica Berg’s bio on our Agents & Editors page.
G. J. Berger
G. J. Berger is a multiple award winner for two historical novels, South of Burnt Rocks–West of the Moon, and Four Nails. Both won recognition as the best published historical fiction of 2012 and 2015-16 respectively, from the San Diego Book Awards. Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and the Huffington Post have praised G. J.’s novels. G. J. published an Amazon best-selling memoir in 2024. He reviews historical novels for the HNS and has helped several New York Times bestselling authors get their projects into the best shape.
Maryka Biaggio
Maryka Biaggio is a psychology professor turned novelist who specializes in historical fiction based on real people. Doubleday published her debut novel, Parlor Games, in 2013. Her second novel, Eden Waits, was published by Milford House Press in 2019. In 2021, Milford House Press released The Point of Vanishing and in 2022 The Model Spy. Her fiction has won several accolades, including Willamette Writers Award, Oregon Writers Colony Award, Historical Novel Society Review Editors’ Choice, La Belle Lettre Award, an Upper Peninsula of Michigan Notable Books Award, and a Regional Arts & Council grant. She lives in Portland, Oregon.
Amy Bishop-Wycisk
Read Amy Bishop-Wycisk’s bio on our Agents & Editors page.
Elizabeth Blackwell
Elizabeth Blackwell is the author of the historical-fiction novels While Beauty Slept, In the Shadow of Lakecrest, On a Cold Dark Sea, and Red Mistress. She graduated from Northwestern University with a double major in history and communications and later received a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. In her varied career, she has worked as a restaurant hostess, waitress, TV station receptionist, medical school secretary, magazine editor, and freelance writer. Book author is by far her favorite. Elizabeth lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, three children, and an ever-growing stack of must-read books.
Georgie Blalock
Georgie Blalock is a history and movie buff who loves combining her different passions through historical fiction, and a healthy dose of period piece films. When not writing, she can be found prowling the nonfiction history section of the library or the British film listings on Netflix or in the dojo training for her next karate black belt rank. Georgie writes historical romance under the name Georgie Lee.
Shelley Blanton-Stroud
Shelley Blanton-Stroud, a retired Sacramento State University writing professor, is the author of the Jane Benjamin Novels—Copy Boy, Tomboy, and Poster Girl—historical mysteries set in 1930s and 40s Northern California. Her upcoming novel, An Unlikely Prospect, unfolds in post-WWII San Francisco. Her work has won a Readers’ Favorite gold medal for historical mystery and been shortlisted for multiple awards, including the Sarton Book Awards and IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards. She serves on the Board of Advisors for the Gould Center for Humanistic Studies at Claremont McKenna College and lives in Sacramento, California.
Jeffrey Blount
Jeffrey Blount is a #HNS2025 spotlight author. Read his bio on our Special Guests page.
Elizabeth Boyle
Elizabeth Boyle is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twenty-five novels, several novellas and short stories. Her books have won the Romance Writers of America RITA Award, the RT Love and Laughter Award, and garnered starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Booklist. A writer who loves to dig into the nooks and crannies of storytelling, she shares her passion for great writing craft with writers from all over the world. Her most recent novel, O Little Town of Bethlehem, a story of unlikely friendships, starting over, and a fair bit of knitting, was released in 2024.
Jennifer S. Brown
Jennifer S. Brown’s debut novel, Modern Girls, was a USA Today bestseller, a Massachusetts Book Award “Must Read,” and a 2016 Goodreads Choice semifinalist for Historical Fiction. Her writing has been published in Fiction Southeast, McSweeney’s, The Best Women’s Travel Writing, The Southeast Review, and the Bellevue Literary Review, among other places. She teaches writing, both in-person in the Boston area and online through the Loft Literary Center. She holds a BFA in film and television from NYU and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Washington. The Whisper Sister, is her second novel.
Carrie Callaghan
Carrie Callaghan is the author of the historical novels A Light of Her Own and Salt the Snow, both of which have queer characters though it isn’t always easy to tell! Her short stories have been published in multiple literary journals, and she is a senior editor with the Washington Independent Review of Books. She lives in Maryland with her family and four ridiculous cats. She loves seasons of all kinds, history, and tea.
Leslie Carroll
Leslie Carroll is the author of twenty-two books in three genres: women’s fiction, historical fiction, and historical nonfiction. She is a professional actress and an award-winning audiobook narrator. Her novels have been translated into several languages and optioned for film and television. Leslie can be seen spilling the royal tea on Travel Channel, NatGeo, and History Channel documentaries. A native New Yorker, Leslie and her husband reside a stone’s throw from Central Park. Learn more about her at www.lesliecarroll.com.
Nat Case
Nat Case has been making maps professionally for a third of a century. He is co-owner of INCase, LLC, with his wife, Ingrid, who is a nonfiction writer and editor. He has worked with National Geographic, many university presses, and Hedberg Maps, a specialty regional map publisher based in Minneapolis where he was head of production until 2013. He also works with a variety of fiction and nonfiction authors, directly and via Reedsy.
Edie Cay
Katie Stine, writing as Edie Cay, is an award-winning romance author. Her first series, When the Blood Is Up, is about women’s boxing during the Regency era. Her second series, The Ladies Alpine Society, is about Victorian women mountain climbers. She obtained dual BAs in Creative Writing and in Music from Cal State Hayward, and her MFA in Creative Writing from University of Alaska Anchorage. She is a founding member of Paper Lantern Writers, and has appeared in anthologies and as a contributor to Crafting Stories From the Past. You can find her at www.ediecay.com, or on social media @authorediecay.
Christopher M. Cevasco
Christopher M. Cevasco’s debut historical novel, Beheld: Godiva’s Story, was published by Lethe Press in 2022. He is currently under contract with Sapere Books, writing a new series of novels based on the earliest Arthurian legends. Chris was the founding editor of the award-winning Paradox: The Magazine of Historical and Speculative Fiction from 2003 to 2009 and has been attending HNS conferences since the first North American conference in 2005. He served as Registration Chair for the 2023 conference in San Antonio and is Program Chair for the 2025 conference.
Yangsze Choo
Yangsze Choo is a #HNS2025 spotlight author. Read her bio on our Special Guests page.
Susan (Carol) Coventry
Susan (Carol) Coventry is a longtime member of the Historical Novel Society and a lifelong historical fiction fan. Her first novel, The Queen’s Daughter (Henry Holt-BYR, 2010), is a YA medieval historical novel. Since then, she has moved from YA to adult fiction, and from medieval Europe to turn-of-the-twentieth-century U.S. Her first adult biographical novel, Till Taught by Pain, will be released in November (Regal House Publishing) 2025. In addition, writing as Carol Coventry, she has a four-part Regency Romance series, The Taverstons of Iversley, out from Dragonblade Publishing this past year. (https://susancoventry.com)
Stephanie Cowell
Stephanie Cowell has been an opera singer, balladeer, founder of Strawberry Opera and other arts venues including a Renaissance festival in NYC. She is the author of Nicholas Cooke, The Physician of London, The Players: a Novel of the Young Shakespeare, Marrying Mozart, Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet, and The Boy in the Rain. The Man in the Stone Cottage: a Novel of the Brontë Sisters releases September 2025. Her work has been translated into several languages and adapted into an opera. Stephanie is the recipient of an American Book Award. Stephanie is a lifelong NYC resident.
Erin Cox
Erin Cox (Senior Manager, Consumer Products & Services Development, Ingram Content Group) has over fifteen years of experience on the marketing and retail side of the book industry. In 2021, she joined Ingram to help launch their consumer marketing business. She has a graduate degree in publishing from New York University and studied history at the College of William & Mary.
Carol M. Cram
Carol M. Cram from Vancouver, Canada, is the author of three historical novels in the Women in the Arts Trilogy (The Towers of Tuscany, A Woman of Note, and The Muse of Fire). She is also the founder of the Art In Fiction Website and the Art In Fiction Podcast on which she interviews authors who write novels inspired by the arts. Her podcast is ranked in the Top 10% worldwide on ListenNotes. Carol also runs the Artsy Traveler blog, was on faculty at Capilano University for over 20 years, and holds an MA in Drama and an MBA.
Glen Craney
Glen Craney is a novelist, screenwriter, journalist, and lawyer. After attending Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, he joined the Washington, D.C. press corps to report on national politics for Congressional Quarterly magazine. He has received numerous awards, including the Nicholl Fellowship Screenwriting Prize from the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences. His historical fiction has taken readers to Occitania during the Albigensian Crusade, Scotland of Robert the Bruce, and Georgia during the Civil War. His most recent novel, The Cotillion Brigade, won an HNS Review Editor’s Choice. He is a past president of the HNS Southern California Chapter.
Nicolette Croft
Nicolette Croft comes from a family of American and European storytellers. She has an English B.A. and worked at a weekly newspaper after college. She holds a post-Bac in special education, an MA in Education, and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Nicolette’s private counseling practice specializes in neurodivergent people, trauma, and grief. Storytelling, including her Narrative Therapy counseling style, has always been part of how she sees the world. The Curse of Maiden Scars, is her first novel brought to publication. She has previously published journalism and short fiction.
Fiona Davis
Fiona Davis is a #HNS2025 special guest. Read her bio on our Special Guests page.
Tracee de Hahn
Tracee de Hahn is the author of both fiction and nonfiction, including mysteries published by Minotaur Books, and historical topics for young adults published by Chelsea House. Her master’s degree focused on European history, themes which permeate her writing and teaching. She is on the Board of Directors and serves as President of Sisters in Crime.
Sarah Eberhardt
This year’s Hooch Through History mixologist historian, Sarah Eberhardt is a lifelong artist, seeker of stories, and teller of tales. She is an East Coast transplant with two decades of experience in hospitality. A background in theater from Baltimore, Maryland, (including interactive pirate cruises) naturally led her to an exciting career as a bartender in New York City. She loved the stories people shared with her from around the world. After loading up her wagon and heading west in search of new adventures, she became enthralled with Las Vegas. She and her husband, and their trusty adventure Pomeranian, have had so much fun exploring their new world.
Mary Anna Evans
Mary Anna Evans is the author of sixteen crime novels of history and archaeology which have won awards including the Florida Historical Society and the Will Rogers Medallion Awards. Her new release, The Dark Library, is a Gothic mystery set in 1942 New York and inspired by the movies of Alfred Hitchcock. She’s a university professor whose research specialties include crime fiction and Agatha Christie, so find her in the bar if you want to talk about historical poisons. She’s also a licensed professional engineer, which comes in handy for a crime novelist more often than you might expect.
Louise Fein
Louise Fein writes historical fiction told from unusual perspectives. Her Leipzig-set, internationally bestselling debut, Daughter of the Reich, was published in 2020. Her second novel, also an international bestseller, The Hidden Child, centers around the eugenics movement in 1920s England and America. Her latest novel, The London Bookshop Affair, is set during WWII against a backdrop of espionage and looming nuclear war in 1962 London. Book of Forbidden Words, coming early 2026, is a dual timeline set in the 1550s and 1950s. Louise lives in Surrey, U.K., with her family, and is a slave to the daily demands of her pets.
Joan Fernandez
Joan Fernandez, an award-winning novelist, champions the stories of brilliant women throughout history. After a successful marketing career, she retired to pursue her passion for writing. In 2020, she founded a thriving historical fiction affinity group within the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Her work has been published in anthologies, and her debut novel, Saving Vincent: A Novel of Jo van Gogh, was released by She Writes Press. A sought-after speaker, Joan presents on building author communities and portraying the past ethically. She resides in St. Louis and Sedona, Arizona, enjoying travel, café lattes, and the antics of her grandchildren.
Ariele Fredman
Read Ariele Fredman’s bio on our Agents & Editors page.
Rachelle Gardner
Read Rachelle Gardner’s bio on our Agents & Editors page.
Hazel Gaynor
Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning New York Times and internationally bestselling author of historical novels which explore the defining events of the twentieth century. Recipient of the 2015 RNA Historical Novel award and the 2024 Audie award for Best Fiction Narrator, she was also shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Gold Crown and Irish Book Awards in 2017, 2020, and 2023. Co-founder of The Inspiration Project, Hazel recently programmed and hosted Historia Live events in association with Dublin UNESCO City of Literature in 2024. She lives in Ireland with her family.
Amanda Geard
Amanda Geard is a dual-timeline author and exploration geologist, two careers that reflect her passion for uncovering the past—from eons or a century ago. Her debut, The Midnight House, was inspired by a historic manor on Ireland’s wild Atlantic coast, where she discovered a secret message hidden in the rafters. Her second novel, The Moon Gate, intertwines the secrets of a crumbling house with the lives of three generations of women in Ireland and Australia. A former fiction tutor at the University of Galway, she loves reading and writing stories that sweep across time and place. Originally from Australia, Amanda now lives in Ireland.
Margaret George
Margaret George is the author of eight epic biographical novels of outsized historical characters, and is a New York Times bestselling author, with twenty-one foreign editions and over two million sold internationally. Her The Memoirs of Cleopatra was made into an Emmy-nominated ABC-TV miniseries in 1999. She has been a speaker at Hampton Court, the Tower of London, and the Folger Shakespeare Library, as well as being interviewed on A&E and the History Channel, and has twice has been invited to the National Book Festival at the Library of Congress.
Jody Hadlock
Jody Hadlock is the author of The Lives of Diamond Bessie, a historical novel based on a true crime in nineteenth-century Texas. Her debut novel won several indie awards, including a gold IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award, and the Eric Hoffer Book Award. Jody spent more than a decade as a TV news reporter and anchor in Texas and South Carolina, then served as Vice President of Communications for a nonprofit in Washington, DC for another decade before returning to Texas. She’s currently researching and writing her second historical novel, which will also be set in the nineteenth century.
Nicola Harrison
Nicola Harrison is the author of three historical fiction novels, Montauk, The Show Girl, and Hotel Laguna. Her next book, The Island Club, will be released in the spring of 2026. Born and raised in England, she moved with her family to Southern California when she was 14. She is a graduate of UCLA and received her MFA from Stony Brook University. Prior to writing novels, she worked as a fashion journalist in New York City, where she lived for seventeen years. Now, she resides in Manhattan Beach, California with her husband, two sons, and a high-maintenance chihuahua named Lily.
Shannon Hassan
Read Shannon Hassan’s bio on our Agents & Editors page.
Olivia Hawker
Olivia Hawker is the pen name of Libbie Grant, an American author living in British Columbia, Canada. She specializes in historical fiction tailored for book clubs, as well as solo readers who enjoy thought-provoking novels with complex characters and rich emotional landscapes. Currently, Olivia Hawker’s books are available exclusively from Lake Union Publishing. Among her three pen names, Libbie has hit the Washington Post and Amazon Top 100 of the Year bestseller lists and has been a finalist for the Washington State Book Award, the Willa Literary Award for Historical Fiction, and the Audie Award for outstanding audiobooks.
Gwen Hernandez
Gwen Hernandez, the author of Scrivener for Dummies, helps writers all over the world master Scrivener through online courses, in-person workshops, and private training. When she’s not using Scrivener to write romantic suspense while surrounded by houseplants, this lifelong nomad likes to travel, read, run along the beach, practice tree pose, and explore her current home of Southern California.
Elise Hooper
A native New Englander, Elise Hooper spent several years writing for television and online news outlets before getting an MA and teaching high-school literature and history. Her debut novel, The Other Alcott, was a nominee for the 2017 Washington Book Award. Three more novels—Learning to See, Fast Girls, and Angels of the Pacific—followed, all centered on the lives of extraordinary but overlooked historical women. Her next book, The Library of Lost Dollhouses, releases in spring 2025. Elise lives in Seattle with her husband and two daughters.
James A. Humphrey
At 78 years old, James A. Humphrey’s family tales of Cherokee blood (from the second wife of Sequoya) became a late-life citizenship validation of ten years of research and historical novel writing. His formative years culminated with a U.S. Air Force tour in Southeast Asia. The GI Bill provided him with a 1973 Mass Communications degree from Pratt Institute, New York City, and careers with LTV Aerospace and The Arc of the United States. Retired, he lives in Grapevine, Texas, and explores his creativity through oil and watercolor painting (www.jamesahumphrey.com), filmmaking (www.humphreyedwardsfilms.com), and public speaking about his books’ Cherokee history, language, and culture (www.cherokeetrilogy.com).
Amanda Jain
Read Amanda Jain’s bio on our Agents & Editors page.
Kelsey James
Kelsey James is the author of three novels of historical suspense: The Woman in the Castello (a Library Reads and Indie Next pick), Secrets of Rose Briar Hall, and The Colony of Lost Souls. A graduate of Dartmouth College, she lives in the suburbs outside of New York City with her husband, three children, and King Charles Cavalier. In addition to being a writer, Kelsey is an experienced content marketer who has led teams for both early-stage startups and global corporations.
Williamaye Jones
Williamaye Jones is a book editor and writing mentor with over twenty-five years experience in publishing, specializing in historical fiction and other richly layered genres. She’s passionate about helping writers bring their stories to life, whether through self-publishing or the traditional route. As a book coach, she works with authors to craft authentic and emotionally compelling novels, with a focus on connecting with readers. She’s guided countless writers through the editing, querying, and publishing process. A lifelong lover of history and storytelling, Williamaye inspires writers to embrace creativity and courage on their journey to publication.
Dana Kaye
Dana Kaye is the founder of Kaye Publicity, a literary public relations agency. Known for her innovative ideas and knowledge of current trends, she’s a frequently sought out speaker and media source. She was profiled in Crain’s Chicago Business for her success in launching a business during a recession, was a Publishers Weekly Star Watch honoree, and has been interviewed by dozens of media outlets on the topics of book publicity, online marketing, and the future of publishing. She is also the author of Your Book, Your Brand: The Step-By-Step Guide to Launching Your Book and Boosting Your Sales.
Eliza Knight
Eliza Knight is an award-winning USA Today and international bestselling author. Eliza is an avid history buff and her love of history began as a young girl when she traipsed the halls of Versailles. She writes women’s contemporary fiction as Michelle Brandon. Eliza is the creator of the popular historical blog, History Undressed, and host on the History, Books and Wine podcast. Her books have been translated into multiple languages, and most recently, her co-authored title, A Day of Fire, was optioned for film. Knight lives on the Suncoast with her husband, three daughters, two dogs,and a turtle.
Laura Knoy
Laura Knoy hosts the ReadLocalNH podcast, celebrating New Hampshire’s authors, independent bookstores, and their loyal readers. She was the founding host of New Hampshire Public Radio’s “The Exchange,” a live daily call-in program which ran for twenty-five years, featuring interviews with prominent individuals and presidential candidates. In addition, she has guest-hosted on National Public Radio and appeared on a roundtable talk show on New Hampshire Public Television. Since leaving broadcasting, she has been a sought-after speaker, moderator, interviewer, and narrator. She completed her first WWI-WW2 historical novel, The Shopkeeper of Alsace.
Stephanie Landsem
Stephanie Landsem writes about women in history for women who love history. Her first three novels, published by Simon & Schuster—The Well, The Thief, and The Tomb—are stories of women transformed by encounters with Jesus. Her fourth novel, In a Far-Off Land, is a re-writing of the parable of the Prodigal Son. Her latest release, Code Name Edelweiss, was the winner of the 2024 Carol Award for Historical Fiction. Stephanie’s next novel, The Fault Between Us, will release in October 2025.
Patrick Larsimont
Patrick Larsimont was an advertising executive with several globally recognized creative agencies. Fascinated by history, he took to writing stories during lockdown. His debut, The Lightning and the Few, was published in December 2022. It’s the story of Jox McNabb, a Scottish schoolboy earning his wings in his country’s darkest hour. Four further WW2 Aviation novels have been published and are going strong with thousands of positive Amazons ratings. For details, please see: www.patricklarsimont.com. Patrick released his first stand-alone novel, a paranormal military thriller, The Brookwood Boys, in October 2024. It is the story of ghosts in a military cemetery.
Jade Lee
Jade Lee is a USA Today bestselling author with over two decades of experience crafting unforgettable romance stories. With a passion for blending passion, humor, and heart Jade has captivated readers with her wide range of historical and contemporary romance novels. Her career spans more than twenty years, earning her a devoted fan base and critical acclaim. Known for her ability to create rich, compelling characters and evocative settings, Jade’s books continue to top bestseller lists, making her a staple in the romance genre. Her enduring success is a testament to her storytelling mastery and dedication to her craft.
Natasha Lester
Natasha Lester is the New York Times bestselling author of, The Paris Seamstress, The Paris Orphan, and The Paris Secret, and a former marketing executive for L’Oréal. Her novels have won several awards (including the RNA Historical Novel Award) and have been longlisted for the ARA Historical Novel Prize, and translated into twenty-one languages. When she’s not writing, she loves collecting vintage fashion, practicing the art of fashion illustration, and traveling the world. Natasha lives with her husband and three children in Perth, Western Australia. Her latest book is The Mademoiselle Alliance.
Judith Lindbergh
Judith Lindbergh’s new novel, Akmaral (May 2024, Regal House), about a nomadic woman warrior on the ancient Central Asian steppes, was called “crackling” by Publishers Weekly and “gripping” by #1 New York Times bestseller Christina Baker-Kline. Her debut novel, The Thrall’s Tale, about women in Viking Age Greenland, was an IndieBound Pick and praised by Geraldine Brooks. Judith has published with the Smithsonian Institution and provided expert commentary for The History Channel documentaries. A 2024 Fellow of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Judith is the Founder/Director of The Writers Circle, a creative writing center based in New Jersey.
Kristina Makansi
With degrees in political science and education, Kristina Makansi has focused her career on communications, marketing, and design. Since 2011, she’s been principal editor and designer for Blank Slate Press and Amphorae Publishing Group. She has worked on over 160 books, some garnering starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Benjamin Franklin awards, and IPPYs. Her first novel, Oracles of Delphi, is an historical suspense/romance written under the pen name Marie Savage. She is a co-author of The Seeds Trilogy (The Sowing, The Reaping, and The Harvest). Her latest novels include The Trouble with Roommates and The Alchemist of Aleppo.
Madeline Martin
Madeline Martin is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance with books that have been translated into over twenty-five languages. Her 2021 release, The Last Bookshop in London, was an Amazon Editors pick, and her 2023 release, The Keeper of Hidden Books, was a 2023 Goodreads Choice Finalist for Best Historical Fiction. She’s a self proclaimed research nerd and loves to travel, attributing her fascination with history to having spent most of her childhood as an Army brat in Germany.
Michelle McGill-Vargas
Michelle McGill-Vargas is a teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing. Her debut novel, American Ghoul, was published by Blackstone in September 2024. It is a darkly humorous novel set in the post-Civil War era where a newly-freed slave travels to northwest Indiana with an undead companion. Michelle also serves on the Board of Directors for the Midwest Writers Workshop, provides manuscript critiques and presentations for Writing Day Workshops, and is Registration Chair for the 2025 HNSNA Conference. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Michelle resides in northwest Indiana with her family and two fur babies.
Kristina McMorris
Kristina McMorris is an American author of several New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling books and a former actress. Her works of fiction include two novellas and seven historical novels, most notably the million-copy bestseller Sold on a Monday.
Brock Meier
After a half-century career of scientific research, Brock Meier now explores the incredible, untold stories of little-known people from centuries past. Written, cultural, and material history are the springboard from which his “Stories Begin Where the History Ends.” When not writing, Brock makes exotic wines and experimental desserts as he listens to jazz, opera, and classical music—all while thinking where the next story is headed. Brock lives in the quiet beauty of the Texas Hill Country. His debut novel, The Stone Cutter, was awarded the Ancient World Historical Fiction Book of the Year by the Historical Fiction Company.
Susan Meissner
Susan Meissner is a USA Today bestselling novelist with more than a million books in readers’ hands and in eighteen languages. Her critically acclaimed and award-winning works of historical fiction have been named to numerous lists including Publishers Weekly’s annual roster of 100 best books, Library Reads Top Picks, Real Simple annual tally of best books, Booklist’s Top Ten, Book of the Month, and Amazon Editors Pick. Susan lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab, Winston.
Laura Morelli
Laura Morelli holds a Ph.D. from Yale University, where she held a Mellon Fellowship in art history and a Bass Fellowship for writing in the humanities. She is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling historical novelist, with book club picks at Target, Costco, and Hudson News. Laura has taught college students in the U.S. and Italy. Her books include The Night Portrait, The Gondola Maker, The Last Masterpiece, and other novels that seek to bring art history to life. Her latest book, The Keeper of Lost Art (William Morrow 2025), is set in 1940s Tuscany.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a #HNS2025 special guest. Read her bio on our Special Guests page.
Susan Moynihan
Susan Moynihan grew up moving around as a Navy brat before her parents settled in Annapolis, Maryland, during her high-school years. After graduating from the University of Maryland, she set her sights on New York City, equally entranced by magazines and rock and roll. A chance trip to the Caribbean led her to discover travel writing, and she spent the next 20 years as a travel editor and writer from her home bases in NYC and Florida. As a writer and travel planner with her company, The Honeymoonist, she has visited 60 countries and counting, but it was a work trip to Wyoming that kicked off her fascination with the American West, and is the basis for her historical novel-in-progress. She relocated to Annapolis in 2018, and her first book, 100 Things to Do in Annapolis/Eastern Shore Before You Die, was published in 2019. She’s currently finishing her next book, Secret Maryland, due out in 2024.
Pat Murphy
Pat Murphy is the author of The Adventures of Mary Darling, a historical fantasy with a feminist twist, released in May 2025 from Tachyon Publications. Pat’s past works include The Falling Woman (winner of the Nebula Award for novel), Rachel in Love (winner of the Nebula Award for Novella), Points of Departure (short story collection and winner of the Philip K. Dick Award), and Bones (winner of the World Fantasy Award for Novella). Pat lives on the edge of the Mojave Desert, where she shares her backyard with roadrunners, rabbits, quail, mockingbirds, and an occasional coyote.
Leslie Johansen Nack
Leslie Johansen Nack’s historical fiction novel, The Blue Butterfly, A Novel of Marion Davies, has won six indie awards, including the 2023 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold in Historical Fiction. Her debut, Fourteen, A Daughter’s Memoir of Adventure, Sailing, and Survival, received five indie awards. She has a degree in English literature from UCLA and is a member of The Authors’ Guild, The Historical Novel Society, and the National Memoir Association. She lives outside Seattle with her husband.
Zenobia Neil
Named after an ancient warrior queen, Zenobia Neil writes historical fantasy and mythic retellings set in the ancient world. Her novels and short stories focus on the power of women, magic, and love. Zenobia portrays a diverse, sexually fluid ancient world where gods have too much fun, and mortals find ways to cheat fate. Her last full-length novel, Ariadne Unraveled, is a Minoan version of the myth of Ariadne and Dionysus.
Suzanne Parry
A former arms control negotiator at the Pentagon, Suzanne Parry spent time in Moscow as a college student. Both experiences created the foundation for her expertise and interest in the Soviet world. She is writing a twentieth-century historical trilogy about the USSR. Her award-winning first novel, Lost Souls of Leningrad, brings to vivid life the tragic World War II siege of that city. The Communist’s Secret, the second book of the trilogy, will release summer 2025 and explores one woman’s search for redemption and revenge under German occupation. Suzanne divides her time between Portland, OR, and Washington, DC.
Gill Paul
Gill Paul’s novels have sold over a million copies, reached bestseller lists in the UK, US, and Canada, and have been translated into twenty-three languages. She often writes about extraordinary twentieth-century women marginalized or misjudged by historians. Her latest novel, Scandalous Women (2024), is set in the misogynist publishing industry of the 1960s and features ground-breaking novelists Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann. Her novel, Manhattan Girls (2022), follows four women in Prohibition-era NYC. Gill lives in London where she swims daily in a wild pond, and speaks at libraries and festivals on topics ranging from Tutankhamun to the Romanovs.
Sarah Penner
Sarah Penner is a #HNS2025 spotlight author. Read her bio on our Special Guests page.
Sophie Perinot
Sophie Perinot has enjoyed a decade-long career writing historical fiction. She’s authored solo novels—The Sister Queens and Médicis Daughter—centered on strong, royal women. Additionally, she’s worked with fellow authors including Kate Quinn, Eliza Knight, and Heather Webb on collaborative novels about the French Revolution (Ribbons of Scarlet) and the destruction of Pompeii (A Day of Fire). Recently, Sophie began writing crime fiction as Evie Hawtrey. Even her mystery (And by Fire) has history in it, featuring the 1666 Great Fire of London alongside a modern, London-set storyline. Sophie/Evie splits her time between Washington, DC, and York, UK.
Margaret Porter
Margaret Porter is the award-winning, bestselling author of fifteen historical novels in various subgenres, and two contemporary. Recent historical works include The Myrtle Wand, The Limits of Limelight, and Beautiful Invention: A Novel of Hedy Lamarr. Before working professionally in theatre, film, and television, she studied British history in the U.K.—and regularly returns to conduct research for her fact-based fiction. Margaret lives in New England with husband and dog, dividing time between a book-filled house in a small city and a waterfront cottage on one of the region’s largest lakes. More information is available at www.margaretporter.com.
Jonathan F. Putnam
Jonathan F. Putnam is an author of historical fiction, including the bestselling Lincoln & Speed Mystery series, published by Crooked Lane Books. He is on the Board of Directors and serves as the Treasurer of the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, and previously served on the Board of the Historical Novel Society of North America. He divides his time between Cape Cod and London.
Jenny Quinlan
Jenny Quinlan, aka Jenny Q, is serving her third term as Historical Novel Society North America Conference Chair. As the founder of Historical Editorial, she has helped hundreds of authors achieve their publishing goals and now manages a team of dedicated editors. She earned a degree in history from Virginia Tech and a copyediting certification from the University of California San Diego. Her first nonfiction book, The Writer’s Little Book of Self-Confidence, was published in February 2025. She lives on a farm in Virginia with her family and a spoiled-rotten German Shepherd.
Kate Quinn
Kate Quinn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of southern California, she attended Boston University where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Classical Voice. She has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga, and two books set in the Italian Renaissance, before turning to the twentieth century with, The Alice Network, The Huntress, The Rose Code, The Diamond Eye, and The Briar Club. Kate and her husband now live in Maryland with two rescue dogs.
Samantha Rajaram
Samantha Rajaram is the author of, The Company Daughters, a Historical Writers Association Debut Crown Longlisted novel, a Bisexual Book Awards finalist, a Bookbub featured new release, a Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice, and a 2021 Golden Crown Literary Society winner for debut novel. She lives in the Bay Area with her three children and is a college professor specializing in Asian-American literature.
Weina Dai Randel
Weina Dai Randel is a critically-acclaimed, award-winning author of five historical novels, including The Master Jeweler, out in June, The Last Rose of Shanghai, a Wall Street Journal bestseller, and, Night Angels, long-listed for the Massachusetts Book Awards. She is the winner of the RWA RITA Award, a National Jewish Book Awards finalist, and a two-time Goodreads Choice Awards Best Historical Fiction nominee. Her novels have been translated into sixteen languages including French, German, Spanish, Russian, and Hebrew. Weina was born in China and now lives in Boston with her family.
Anna Rasche
Anna Rasche is an author, gemologist, and historian who has previously worked in the jewelry collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her debut novel, The Stone Witch of Florence, was an October 2024 Indie Next pick, a Book of the Month add-on, and was recommended by the Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Publishers Weekly, BookRiot, and many others. Her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, CrimeReads, and elsewhere. She is currently working on her second novel, The Midnight Diamond, forthcoming from HarperCollins/Park Row.
Aimee Ravichandran
Aimee grew up in San Antonio, Texas, where she attended UTSA and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. During that time, she began working with Houston-based Sandy Lawrence, former CEO of Perceptive Public Relations, where she began to learn the ins and outs of social media and book marketing. Over her 12 years in the industry, she has helped create over 150 bestselling Amazon authors and was named one of the Top 10 Innovative Women Changing the Face of Business in 2022. You can also find Aimee in CIO Today as one of the 10 Most Promising Female CEOs to watch out for in 2022. Aimee was awarded the Influential Businesswoman Award in 2022 for Best Business Social Media Marketing Owner (Southern USA) by Acquisition International, Social Media Marketing Specialist of the Year from Corporate LiveWire’s Global Awards for 2022/2023, and Most Influential Digital Marketing Business Leader USA in 2024 by Influential Businesswoman Awards.
Cynthia Reeves
Cynthia Reeves is the author of the historical novels, The Last Whaler, named a Best Book of 2024 by Independent Book Review, and Book of the Day by Foreword Reviews; Falling Through the New World, winner of Gold Wake’s Fiction Award; and, Badlands, winner of Miami University Press’s Novella Prize. A lifelong interest in the Arctic inspired her most recent work and led her to the 2017 Arctic Circle Expedition, which sailed Svalbard’s shores, and three residencies in Longyearbyen. A Hawthornden Fellow, Cynthia earned an MFA from Warren Wilson College and taught creative writing at Bryn Mawr and Rosemont Colleges.
A. D. Rhine
A. D. Rhine is the pseudonym of Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson. The authors are united by their military “brat” upbringing, childhood friendship spanning two decades, and love of classical literature. Ashlee holds graduate degrees in medieval history from the University of St. Andrews (UK), and theological studies from Duke University. Danielle holds a Master of Arts in law and diplomacy from Tufts University. Their adult debut, Horses of Fire & Daughters of Bronze, an epic duology of the Trojan War, is the story they have always dreamt of writing together.
Melissa Rechter
Read Melissa Rechter’s bio on our Agents & Editors page.
Vanessa Riley
Vanessa Riley is an award-winning author of over twenty-five novels including, Island Queen (a GMA buzz pick), A Duke, The Lady and A Baby, and the Lady Worthing mystery series (2024 Georgia Author of the Year for Mystery). Her works spotlight hidden narratives of Black women and women of color, emphasizing power, sisterhoods, and family sagas across historical fiction, romance, and mystery genres. With a doctorate from Stanford University and other engineering degrees from Penn State, Vanessa brings a research-oriented approach to her inclusive storytelling about Caribbean, Georgian, and Regency eras.
Adrienne Roach
Born and raised in northern Wisconsin, Adrienne Roach is a writer and educator who spent nearly twenty years in government and politics hoping to change the world. Refusing to give in to cynicism, she writes historical fiction to illuminate the politics of our lives. She is a community college instructor of Political Science and has an MA in Global Studies from Brandeis University (US) and an MA in Novel Writing from Middlesex University (UK). She is currently represented by Hannah Strouth at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates for her debut novel, In the House of Butterflies.
Jennifer Roberts
Jennifer Roberts is a novelist, fierce library advocate, and occasional knitter who lives in Southern Oregon. She holds a PhD in English Renaissance literature with a focus on the history of science. Her debut novel, The Village Healer’s Book of Cures, was published in 2023 by Lake Union and features authentic seventeenth-century recipes, alchemy, and a wicked-smart crow. Her next novel is set in the English Civil War and features a young bookseller caught up in the world of spying and intrigue when the royal court moves to Oxford.
Kate Robertson
Kate Robertson is an author of historical suspense and mystery novels. Her Elizabethan suspense/spy series will be published by Sapere Books (from a pitch at an HNS conference!). She has degrees in history and political science and worked in politics and national security and environmental policy for over twenty years before devoting her time to research and writing historical fiction full-time. She lives in the Bay Area of California where she is always looking for the next outdoor adventure or farmers market.
Renée Rosen
Renée Rosen is a USA Today bestselling author of nine novels, including Let’s Call Her Barbie, Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl, The Social Graces, and, Park Avenue Summer. Her novels feature strong, enterprising women such as Ruth Handler, Estée Lauder, Alva Vanderbilt, and Helen Gurley Brown. In the words of New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn, “Renée Rosen is my go-to for whip-smart heroines who love their work.” Renée is a graduate of the American University in Washington D.C. She currently lives in Chicago and is at work on a new novel.
Donna Russo
Donna Russo is a bestselling author of historical, biographical, and women’s fiction, and fantasy. She has made a significant impact in the literary world with her detailed writing and compelling characters. Her notable works include multi-award-winning, Vincent’s Women, and her internationally bestselling Novels of Newport: Gilded Age series, Gilded Summers and Gilded Dreams. Her historical fantasy, The King’s Agent, earned a starred review in Publishers Weekly. An award-winning screenwriter, ghostwriter, and artist, Donna has over thirty years of experience as a certified book coach and has been a writing instructor for Writer’s Digest for over a decade. www.authordonnarusso.com
Noelle Salazar
Noelle Salazar was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest where she’s been a Navy recruit, a medical assistant, an NFL cheerleader, and, always, a storyteller. As a novelist, she has done extensive research into the Women Airforce Service Pilots, interviewing vets and visiting the training facility—now a museum dedicated to the WASP—in Sweetwater, Texas. Her debut, The Flight Girls, was a USA Today and international bestseller. It was followed by the critically acclaimed, Angels of the Resistance, The Roaring Days of Zora Lily, and, most recently, The Lies We Leave Behind. Noelle lives in Bothell, Washington with her family.
Amanda Skenandore
Amanda Skenandore is an award-winning author of historical fiction and a registered nurse. Her books have been translated into multiple languages and garnered accolades from the American Library Association, Reader’s Digest, Silicon Valley Reads, and Apple Books. In 2024, she was awarded the Nevada Arts Council Literary Fellowship. Her writing explores lesser-known corners of history and often includes themes of medicine, justice, and belonging. Amanda lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their pet turtle, Lenore.
Alan Smale
Alan Smale writes alternate history and hard SF. His novella of a Roman invasion of ancient America, “A Clash of Eagles,” won the Sidewise Award for Alternate History. It, and related novels, Clash of Eagles, Eagle in Exile, and Eagle and Empire (2015-2017) are available from Del Rey. His Roman-baseball collaboration with Rick Wilber, The Wandering Warriors, came out from WordFire Press (2020), and Hot Moon, his alternate-Apollo “technothriller with heart,” came from CAEZIK in 2022, with sequel, Radiant Sky, released in 2024. Alan has sold over forty stories to Asimov’s and other magazines and anthologies, and non-fiction essays to Lightspeed, Journey Planet, and Galaxy’s Edge.
Judith Starkston
Judith Starkston writes historical fantasy set in the Bronze Age of the Greeks and Hittites. Blending history and mythology, her six novels bring women to the fore—whether the Trojan War captive Briseis, Achilles’s wife Deidamia, or a remarkable Hittite queen who history forgot, even though she ruled over one of the greatest empires of the ancient world.
A. M. (Alison) Stuart
Australian author, A. M. Stuart, creator of the popular Harriet Gordon Mystery series, lives in Melbourne, Australia but over her life she has travelled extensively and lived in Africa and Singapore, experiences which she brings to her writing. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a lawyer across a variety of disciplines including the military and emergency services. As well as the Harriet Gordon series, writing as Alison Stuart, she is a multi-published author of historical romance and short stories with settings in England and Australia and spanning different periods of history.
Hope C. Tarr
Hope C. Tarr is the author of more than 25 novels for Macmillan, Penguin, and Joffe Books. Irish Eyes, her historical saga and the launch of her American Songbook series, garnered enthusiastic reviews from Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, New York Times bestselling author, Fiona Davis, and the HNS. The sequel, Stardust, set during World War I, was released in February 2025. Prior to launching her writing career, Tarr earned a Master’s Degree in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Education from the Catholic University of America. Find her at www.hopectarr.com, Instagram @hopectarr and on Substack where she writes History With Hope.
Mary K. Tilghman
Mary K. Tilghman, a Maryland native, wrote her first novel after 35 years as a journalist, editor, and graphic designer. Divided Loyalties, the story of an immigrant Irish teenager who serves as a battlefield nurse during the Civil War, was published in 2017 by Black Rose Writing and reissued in 2019. It was cited in CBS Baltimore’s “Five Baltimore Authors To Put On Your Summer Reading List.” It was inspired by her work as a travel writer for Frommer’s travel guides. Mary has since released, Love Letters & Gingerbread, a Jane Austen-inspired Christmas novella of two sisters recounting the romances of two sisters living in 1831 Annapolis. She has been Technology Chair for the 2023 and 2025 HNSNA Conferences. Mary and her husband, Ray, live and sail in Maryland, and are lucky to have their three grown children living nearby.
Janyre Tromp
Janyre Tromp is not only a bestselling historical novelist, she’s an award-winning nonfiction and fiction editor with twenty years of experience in acquiring and editing books. With an additional ten years of experience in book marketing, she’s written and edited marketing copy for traditional publishers and had a hand in producing copy for several Indie authors. As a sought-after workshop presenter with more than twenty presentations logged in the last year, she adores working with writers and equipping them to make their books the best they can be.
Misty Urban
Misty Urban is a medieval scholar, creative writing teacher, and fiction writer who ranges (without shame or much oversight) across several genres from scholarly and creative nonfiction to contemporary and historical romance. Her Ladies Least Likely series is a romances set in Georgian and Regency England, and is published by Oliver Heber Books. In other guises, she is an editor and college professor, and she previously served as a reviews editor for the HNR, for which she still happily reviews. Find her online at www.mistyurban.com, @authormistyurban, or @mistyurbanwrites.
Mike Vance
Mike Vance has fourteen published works of both historical fiction and nonfiction history. Mike is a filmmaker with eight feature-length documentaries and over 150 short educational and historical films to his credit. He has won a dozen major awards for his video work, and several titles have aired numerous times on select Texas PBS stations. In producing, writing, and directing those films, he has located and utilized thousands of photographs and images. Mike made a living as a professional stand-up comedian for sixteen years before working in radio and TV.
Kris Waldherr
Author, designer, and artist Kris Waldherr’s latest novel, Unnatural Creatures, is an award-winning reimagining of Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein, told through the eyes of the three women closest to Victor Frankenstein: his mother, his bride, and his servant. Her other publications include, The Lost History of Dreams, and the nonfiction books, Doomed Queens, Bad Princess, and The Book of Goddesses. She is the creator of The Goddess Tarot which has over 250,000 copies in print, and author of Tarot for Storytellers: A Modern Guide for Writers and Other Creatives. Kris lives and works in Brooklyn. To learn more, visit www.KrisWaldherr.com.
Laurie Marr Wasmund
Laurie Marr Wasmund is a former editor, researcher, curriculum specialist, and college lecturer. She is a faculty/workshop leader and has been a featured guest on radio shows, podcasts, and media interviews. Her works include, My Heart Lies Here, a novel of the Ludlow Massacre; Clean Cut, A Romance of the Western Heart; and the White Winter Trilogy set in Colorado during the Great War. The third book of her trilogy was a 2020 finalist for the Mainstream/Literary Excellence in Writing award from Colorado Authors League. It also received a 2020 EVVY in Historical Fiction from Colorado Independent Publishers Association.
Heather Webb
Heather Webb is an award-winning, USA Today, and international bestselling author of eleven historical novels including her two most-recent, Queens of London, The Next Ship Home, and, Strangers in the Night. She is also a teacher of twenty-five years, a freelance editor of fifteen years, and a writing coach for TheNovelry.com. Heather truly enjoys helping writers find their voice and hone their craft. To date, her books have been translated into eighteen languages worldwide. She lives in New England with her family and two mischievous cats.
Alana White
Alana White is the author of the award-winning Guid’Antonio Vespucci historical mystery series set in Renaissance Florence, Italy. Book I is The Sign of the Weeping Virgin, and Book II is The Hearts of All on Fire. Book III, coming soon, won the silver medal in the 2024 HNS First Chapters Competition. A former member of the HNS Board, she is currently the HNS USA MidSouth Chapter Leader. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, and the Authors Guild among other writing organizations. She lives and writes in Nashville, TN.
Claytee D. White
Claytee D. White is a #HNS2025 local historian guest. Read her bio on our Special Guests page.
Rita Woods
Rita Woods is the author of several award winning novels: Remembrance, The Last Dreamwalker, which was the 2023 Chicago Book of the Year, and her newest, The Edge of Yesterday. A graduate of Howard University Medical School, she is the Medical Director of a men’s maximum security prison. She lives in suburban Chicago with her family and loves travel (especially if it involves cemeteries), magic, books, and coffee. Not necessarily in that order.