Finding My People
I just wrapped up three incredible days at the Historical Novel Society’s North America conference in Las Vegas, and I’m still processing everything I learned and experienced. I met so many talented writers, so generous with their time, and I had conversations that left me feeling inspired, motivated, and eternally grateful for their guidance and encouragement.
Workshops that lit a fire in me
I attended two workshops hosted by Jessica Berg, an agent with Rosecliff Literary: The First 10 Pages: Captivate Your Readers and Leave Them Begging For More and Conflict That Hooks. They were both so engaging and insightful—we dissected our manuscripts, debated the merits of prologues, and explored how to create conflict that immediately pulls readers in. I walked away feeling optimistic and excited about how to make my first chapter even better.
I also attended a workshop hosted by Sarah Penner, whose novel The Lost Apothecary was the first to spark my love of dual timeline stories in historical fiction. The workshop, Two Timelines, One Story: Navigating Dual Timeline Narratives, was full of practical advice and left me inspired to tackle the structure of my own manuscript. She also left time at the end for Q&A so I was able to ask her a lot of questions about her process and experiences.
Moments I’ll hold onto
Sarah Penner (The Lost Apothecary, The London Seance Society, The Amalfi Curse) – As I mentioned earlier, her book, The Lost Apothecary, was my introduction into historical fiction dual timelines. It sent me down a rabbit hole of reading that I have yet to emerge from! She was so kind and insightful, and we share so much in common: fitness, mental health, yoga, and nutrition. It was so fun getting to know her!
Nicola Harrison (Montauk) – I was so grateful for the time Nicola took to read the first 10 pages of my manuscript during the Blue Pencil Cafe session, which was an incredible opportunity for new authors like me to receive one-on-one mentoring from experienced, published authors. I was especially excited to have Nicola as my mentor since I’d read her book Montauk and absolutely loved it. Her feedback was thoughtful, energizing, and incredibly helpful. I left our conversation feeling confident and optimistic about my story’s direction, and it meant so much to receive guidance from an author I truly admire.
Amanda Geard (The Midnight House, The Moon Gate) – Her novel, The Midnight House, resonated deeply with me—and she’s absolutely lovely. We bonded over our love of remote cabins, Norway, and historical fiction with dual timelines. I’m currently reading her latest book, The Moon Gate, and had a hard time putting it down to work today!
Jeffrey Blount (Mr. Jimmy From Around the Way, The Emancipation of Evan Walls) – Author, journalist, and former director of both the Today Show and NBC Nightly News. He was so thoughtful to pull me aside between sessions and ask about my novel, and share his insightful advice. His encouragement for me as a new author lifted my spirits more than I can express—I hope he knows how grateful I am.
Hazel Gaynor (Before Dorothy, The Last Life Boat) – I found Hazel Gaynor so relatable and inspiring. Her journey feels very similar to mine so far: choosing to prioritize family and pursue her dream over the corporate 9-to-5, waking up at 4 a.m. to write before the kiddo wakes up, and making time because it matters. She was open about her path to finding an agent and getting published, and her advice on pushing through discouragement or self-doubt was invaluable for us new authors.
Susan Meissner (The Nature of Fragile Things, The Map to Paradise) – I had a total fangirl moment telling her how her book sparked an unforgettable discussion in my book club. She was so warm and kind—I can’t wait to share the experience with my neighborhood book club ladies!
Fiona Davis (The Dollhouse, The Lions of Fifth Avenue) – Fiona spoke beautifully about why authors of historical fiction and nonfiction need to support each other. It was wonderful meeting her, and I can’t wait to dive into her books next!
I came back from the conference re-energized, inspired—and with a huge stack of books from the conference bookstore. My haul was so big my husband, Clark, had to pack some in his suitcase for me (thankfully he’s very supportive!). Since I couldn’t carry home every book I wanted, I also grabbed a few on Kindle and Audible. I’m the kind of reader who always has at least three books going at once: a physical copy, one on Kindle, and one on audiobook.
Meeting so many incredible writers, readers, and lovers of history was the highlight of the conference. Every conversation left me feeling uplifted—everyone was so inclusive, welcoming, and just as passionate about historical fiction as I am. I came home feeling truly accepted, and it meant the world to me.
I feel like I found my people!
I’m more excited than ever to keep writing and sharing my journey with all of you. Thank you for following along—and please let me know how I can support you on your own reading and writing adventures.