Blog
HTF Publishing Welcomes Two New Authors: Rick Hodges and Jane D. Cairns
We’re thrilled to announce two exciting additions to the HTF Publishing roster: Rick Hodges and Jane D. Cairns, whose upcoming novels promise to captivate readers with their historical depth and unforgettable storytelling.
My Ten Favorite Historical Novels
Discover Charles Bush’s top ten favorite historical novels! The author of The Boy with the Jade, Charles shares a personal, diverse list of must-reads that span continents and centuries.
Announcing the Longlist for the 3rd Annual Short Story Contest
The results are in! Out of 110 submissions, we’ve narrowed the field to 35 stories for the longlist of our 3rd Annual Short Story Contest.
History Through Fiction Announces Prologue Day as Pre-Conference Event
History Through Fiction is excited to introduce Prologue Day, a special pre-conference virtual event taking place on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. This full day of panels, workshops, and presentations is exclusively available to registered attendees of the History Through Fiction Conference (in-person or virtual).
Why I Wrote a Historical Novel Set in China
Charles Bush, a white American from the Midwest, was inspired to write a historical novel set in eighteenth-century China after reading classic Chinese novels with his Chinese-American husband. Captivated by Hong Lou Meng and its protagonist Baoyu, Bush sought to retell the story with modern narrative techniques, focusing on Baoyu’s journey and making it accessible to contemporary readers.
Unlikely Spies: The Soldier Spy Series by Rosemary Hayes
Roseary Hayes explores the hidden world of espionage during the Napoleonic Wars, uncovering ingenious spy tactics, complex codes, and the roles of both men and women in covert operations. Highlighting figures like Arabella Williams and the notorious Joseph Fouché, she reveals real-life inspirations behind the novel “The King’s Agent,” where fictional agents navigate danger, deception, and loyalty.
Best New Historical Fiction - September 2025
September brings a remarkable lineup of historical fiction that spans continents, centuries, and genres. From the haunting unraveling of a 1950s housewife in Meagan Church’s The Mad Wife to the sweeping Revolutionary-era journey in Emerson Ford’s Every Bend in the River, these stories illuminate resilience, identity, and the enduring power of truth. Michelle Shocklee’s The Women of Oak Ridge uncovers the secrets of the Manhattan Project, while Erin A. Craig’s A Land So Wide blurs folklore and fantasy in a dark, romantic tale of survival. Finally, Charles Bush’s The Boy with the Jade transports readers to the opulent yet turbulent world of 18th-century China. Together, these novels offer readers fresh perspectives on the past and unforgettable journeys into the human spirit.
Introducing the New Historical Readers Club
We’ve reimagined our member space—welcome to the new Historical Readers Club! 🎉
👉 Exclusive stories, replays, author content & more
👉 Optional book club membership
Check out this blog post for all the details!
An Interview with Jo Carthage, Author of “Dream Swimmers”
In Dream Swimmers, Jo Carthage blends history, magic, and personal memory into a powerful tale set in 19th-century Middle East and Africa. “The biggest fantasy in this story,” she says, “is that Noor could save Rami.”
Emotional Fission: A Psychologist-Turned-Novelist on Love, Duty, and the Atomic Age: An interview with Leslie R. Schover, author of Fission
An interview featuring Leslie R. Schover, author of the upcoming novel Fission, who went from a psychologist to a novelist.
What the Record Couldn’t Hold: Writing The Doctrine of Shadows
The Doctrine of Shadows explores the hidden, unrecorded labor that shaped America’s founding—focusing on overlooked figures, silenced contributions, and the gaps in historical memory. Through real and composite characters, Gosselin’s novel honors those erased or backgrounded by the archive, arguing that true remembrance means confronting omissions, complexities, and the quiet acts that held the Republic together.
New Signing: Carol M. Cram Joins HTF Publishing with “The Choir”
HTF Publishing is thrilled to welcome award-winning author Carol M. Cram to our press. Her new historical novel, The Choir, is set for release on February 24, 2026. Set in a Yorkshire mill town in the 1890s, The Choir is a moving story of resilience, friendship, and the transformative power of music. Learn more about Carol, the novel, and what’s next for HTF Publishing in our latest announcement.
Registration Now Open for the First-Ever History Through Fiction Conference
Join us March 28–29, 2026, in Beverly, Massachusetts, for an unforgettable weekend dedicated to the art of historical storytelling. Hosted by History Through Fiction, this intimate gathering of writers, readers, editors, and agents will celebrate the genre we love with pitch sessions, workshops, keynote talks, and more—all under the theme “A Writing Revolution.”
Spots are limited—secure your place today!
Best New Historical Fiction - August 2025
Looking for your next immersive historical read? August 2025 brings a lineup of powerful, page-turning releases that transport readers from the storm-ravaged shores of Galveston to post-war Vienna, the perilous front lines of war journalism, a forbidden Victorian book club, and the untamed wilds of Depression-era East Texas.
In this month’s Best New Historical Fiction list, you’ll find unforgettable stories of resilience, love, and self-discovery from Jennifer L. Wright, Sharon Kurtzman, Erika Robuck, Madeline Martin, and James Wade. Whether you crave sweeping sagas, thrilling odysseys, or richly atmospheric tales, these new releases promise to captivate and inspire.
The Enduring Soul of China: A Journey Through the History of Jade
Jade has been central to Chinese culture for over 7,000 years, evolving from simple Neolithic adornments to symbols of imperial power and spiritual significance. Treasured for its beauty and virtues, jade’s enduring legacy connects ancient beliefs, artistry, and identity, remaining a powerful symbol in China today.
Book Feature - The Blackest Time: A novel of Florence during the Black Plague
Set in 14th-century Florence, The Blackest Time explores the city’s devastation by the Black Plague, which killed over half its population after years of famine. The novel highlights not just the historical facts, but the resilience, compassion, and struggles of survivors. Through Gino’s story, it reveals how ordinary people coped, adapted, and supported each other during unimaginable adversity.
Shadows on Summit: A Review of the St. Paul Ghost Tour by U.S. Ghost Adventures
As the sun set over Summit Avenue, St. Paul’s historic mansions seemed to exhale forgotten secrets into the evening air. What began as a scenic stroll quickly became something more—an eerie, poetic immersion into the haunted history of one of America's grandest boulevards.
Led by our guide Margo, the St. Paul Ghost Tour by U.S. Ghost Adventures unfolded like a Gothic novel come to life…
How Humor Finds a Voice in Historical Fiction
Patricia Furstenberg explores how humor enriches historical fiction, offering emotional resilience, social commentary, and deeper character connection. Far from trivializing suffering, wit reveals cultural identity, challenges power, and bridges past and present. Through jokes and satire, humor exposes human complexity, fosters empathy, and makes history relatable—showing that laughter has always been a vital tool for survival and understanding.
Would You Attend the History Through Fiction Conference Virtually? Let Us Know!
Next year, History Through Fiction is hosting our first-ever in-person conference. We’ve received so much positive feedback about the conference that we’re considering providing a virtual attendance option. Before we decide, we want to hear from you! Would you be interested in attending the 2026 History Through Fiction Conference virtually?
The More Things Change…A Look at 1970 and Today
Trish MacEnulty reflects on the parallels between the protests of 1970 and those of 2025, noting recurring struggles for justice, equality, and peace. Drawing from her novel "Cinnamon Girl" and historical events, she highlights lessons from past activism: violence breeds violence, lawlessness undermines causes, community matters, growth is vital, change requires persistence, and never giving up is essential. Despite setbacks, progress is possible through collective, determined action.