Conference Directory

Your place to connect, collaborate, and carry forward A Writing Revolution.

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Special Guests

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Addison Armstrong

Meet the Delegate
Addison Armstrong is the historical fiction author of The Light of Luna Park (Putnam, 2021) and The War Librarian (Putnam, 2022). She lives in New York City with her husband and teaches third grade to English language learners.

Joining the Revolution Because…

Presentation(s):
Presentation: The More the Merrier - Writing Multiple Timelines, Characters, and Points of View (In-Person)

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Georgie Blalock

Meet the Delegate
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 non-fiction 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 also writes historical romance under the name Georgie Lee.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I am an author and a presenter.

Presentation(s):
Presentation: Potions, Pills and Poppies: How to ease your character’s pain or put them out of their misery (Virtual)

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Marthese (Mar) Fenech

Meet the Delegate
Marthese Fenech is the bestselling author of a historical saga set in sixteenth-century Malta and the Ottoman Empire. She has also written an award-winning script based on her Siege of Malta trilogy and is a highly sought book editor. Research has taken her to the ancient streets her characters roamed, the fortresses they defended, the seas they sailed, and the dungeons they escaped. Obstinate curiosity has led her to seventy countries across six continents. She does her best plot weaving while hiking mountain trails, wandering through local markets, paddleboarding in cliff-sheltered bays, and sitting at home with her Siberian husky curled at her feet.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I will be doing a presentation on how to conduct and incorporate practical research to enrich your historical fiction novel and invite the reader into the world of your creation.

Presentation(s):
Presentation: Making Past Present – Authentic, Immersive Research (Virtual)

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Madeline Martin

Meet the Delegate
Madeline Martin is a New York Times, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, and international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance with books that have been translated into over twenty-five different languages.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I'm a speaker and I love history and writing historical fiction.

Presentation(s):
Workshop: Writing Full Time – Making the Leap (In-Person)
Speaker: Closing Remarks (In-Person)

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Sarah Penner

Meet the Delegate
Sarah Penner is the New York Times & internationally bestselling author of three novels, including The Lost Apothecary, which has sold over one million copies worldwide. Sarah regularly speaks across the country to readers and aspiring writers. She lives in Florida with her husband.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Connect with histfic friends! And teach/mentor other writers in the genre.

Presentation(s):
Speaker: Saturday Opening Remarks (In-Person)
Workshop: Social Strategy for Authors: Platforms & Online Presence (In-Person)

HTF Authors

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Alina Adams

Meet the Delegate
Alina Adams is the NYT best-selling author of soap opera tie-ins, figure skating mysteries, and romance novels. Her 1995 Regency Romance, "The Fictitious Marquis," was named a first #OwnVoices Jewish Historical by the Romance Writers of America. Her Soviet-Jewish historical fiction includes "The Nesting Dolls," "My Mother's Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region" and the May 2025 release, "Go On Pretending," the latter two published by History Through Fiction.

Joining the Revolution Because…
To make some history... through fiction!

Presentation(s):
Group Presentation: Telling the Untold Tale: Finding and Writing (and Selling) the Historical Fiction Nobody Else Is (In-Person)

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Brynn Barineau

Meet the Delegate
Brynn Barineau is the author of Jaguars and Other Game, a historical adventure set in 1809 Rio de Janeiro, and the forthcoming Jungle of Ashes with History Through Fiction. With a master’s in international communication and background in international education, her writing is rooted in the power of relationships across cultures and languages. Brynn lived in her husband’s native Brazil for fourteen years before moving back to her hometown of Atlanta with her Brazilian-American family.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Cause everyone knows the coolest kids are the history nerds.

Presentation(s):
Workshop: Reimagining Setting as Character (In-Person)

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Ron Blumenfeld

Meet the Delegate
I’m a native New Yorker, pediatrician and health care executive who reunited with his inner writer in retirement. I surrendered the pleasure of writing columns on various topics for my local newspaper in Connecticut to focus on my debut novel, The King’s Anatomist.

Joining the Revolution Because…
HTF author/panelist

Presentation(s):
Panel: Digging Up the Past: Research Like a Novelist, Think Like a Historian (In-Person)

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Patricia Bernstein

Meet the Delegate
Author of four books, three narrative non-fiction and a debut novel, "A Noble Cunning: The Countess and the Tower" based on the true story of a persecuted Catholic noblewoman who rescued her husband from the Tower of London the night before his scheduled execution with the help of her women friends. The novel won three gold medals, including an IPPY award and best Catholic novel of 2023 by the Catholic Media Association.

Joining the Revolution Because…
An opportunity to learn more and to meet other novelists.

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Jane Dietzel-Cairns

Meet the Delegate
Jane is a Massachusetts-based writer, local historian, and author of "Exalted Objects," coming from HTF in 2026. She’s an active member of GrubStreet in Boston and a graduate of its highly selective Novel Incubator program. An alumna of Smith College, she’s worked as a columnist and researcher for dozens of trade magazines, including Publishers Weekly and Library Journal. Currently a board member of the Andover (Mass.) Center for History and Culture, she speaks and writes on popular topics of social and economic history.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I'm eager to meet and talk with other HF writers and readers

  • jcairns412@gmail.com

  • Substack
    Instagram: @janedietzelcairns

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Jillian Forsberg

Meet the Delegate
Author of The Rhino Keeper & The Porcelain Menagerie. Animal lover, business owner, Kansan, and mentor.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Learning, camaraderie, and networking.

Presentation(s):
Presentation: The Archetypes of Animals (In-Person)

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Ezra Harker Shaw

Meet the Delegate
I'm a non-binary (they/them) Scottish author and educator with a passion for supporting emerging writers. My novel The Aziola's Cry was written as part of my creative wring PhD, and is now published by History Through Fiction, and won the IBPA historical fiction award. I'm a writing mentor, and an editor for Selkie Songs Publishing. I currently teach at Lloyd Williamson School in London.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Love of historical Fiction

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Lisa E. Oakley

Meet the Delegate
Lisa Oakley is a genealogist-turned historical fiction writer who transforms decades of research into compelling stories of the past. With a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University and over 30 years of experience, she is passionate about uncovering forgotten lives from the 1800s to early 1900s, blending accuracy with heart she writes to help readers connect deeply with history.

Joining the Revolution Because…
There are many facets to becoming a writer and publishing your work. I appreciate the opportunity to learn from experienced authors, editors and publishers and gain insights into a variety of experiences and expertise.

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J. E. Weiner

Meet the Delegate
J. E. Weiner’s debut novel, The Wretched and Undone, a searing Southern Gothic tale set in the Texas Hill Country, was released by HTF Publishing in March 2025. The book was named a Killer Nashville Top Pick for 2024 and a Claymore Award Finalist for Best Southern Gothic. Weiner’s creative nonfiction has appeared in Madcap Review, Five Minutes, HerStry, and Chicago Story Press, and her work was recently shortlisted for The Letter Review Prize.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Author and presenter

Presentation(s):
Revolutionary Rountable: Honoring Silenced Voices of the Past: Infusing Memoir, Oral History, and Archival Research into Fictional Narratives (In-Person)

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Eric Z. Weintraub

Meet the Delegate
Eric Z. Weintraub is the author of the novel South of Sepharad. He lives in Los Angeles. When not writing fiction, Eric profiles true stories of complex medical cases where he works at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I am participating in multiple panels.

Presentation(s):
Panel: How Do I Know When My Manuscript is Ready? (In-Person)
Panel: Digging Up the Past: Research Like a Novelist, Think Like a Historian (In-Person)
Workshop: The Art of Description (Virtual)

Literary Agents

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Jessica Berg

Meet the Delegate
Jessica Berg is a literary agent, author, and founder of Rosecliff Literary. She seeks bold, emotionally resonant fiction—especially upmarket, historical, and supernatural suspense—featuring haunting atmosphere, layered relationships, and characters on the cusp of reinvention. An MFA graduate of Spalding University, she contributes to Writer’s Digest, serves on the boards of the Women’s National Book Association and the Historical Novel Society, and teaches nationally on querying, comp titles, and sustainable careers. Her clients include Vincent Zandri, Lisa Roe, and Arizona Bell.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I am participating in multiple panels.

Presentation(s):
Workshop: The High-Concept Hook: How to Make Your Story Stand Out (In-Person)

Presenters

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Joan Fernandez

Meet the Delegate
Joan Fernandez is a historical fiction author and speaker who uncovers the overlooked stories of women who shaped history. Her debut award-winning novel, Saving Vincent: A Novel of Jo van Gogh, released in April 2025 and is based on the true story of Vincent’s sister-in-law who preserved his art and made him an icon. St. Louisan Fernandez also writes the weekly Substack blog, Digging In with Joan Fernandez, exploring resilience and second acts.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Presenter on author panel on "Presentism: A Modern Take on Writing Historical Fiction for Today's Readers"

Presentation(s):
Panel: Historical Fiction and “Presentism”: A Modern Take on Writing Historical Fiction for Today’s Readers (In-Person)

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Jody Hadlock

Meet the Delegate
Jody Hadlock’s love of history goes all the way back to junior high, when she was a member of the Junior Historians of Texas—so it’s no surprise her first novel is historical. Before writing fiction, Jody was a TV news reporter and anchor, and also served as vice president of a nonprofit in Washington, DC. She’s currently researching and writing her second historical novel, which will also be set in the 19th century.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Because I love history and historical fiction! Also, I'm honored to be moderating a panel at the conference.

Presentation(s):
Panel: Historical Fiction and “Presentism”: A Modern Take on Writing Historical Fiction for Today’s Readers (In-Person)

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Lara Lehman

Meet the Delegate
Lara Lehman is an award winning educator and writer now in her West Coast era. While much time is devoted to a novel about the Salem Witch trials, she also writes poetry, craft essays, and creative non-fiction. Her work has appeared in The Writer's Chronicle, The Amethyst Review, The English Journal, and The Artisanal Writer, among others. She reads for Broad Ripple Review and is a member of the Bad Pitch Lab in Los Angeles.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I'm knee deep in a novel of historical fiction, and I'm seeking inspiration and community for that work. I will also present a workshop in person on the effective use of poetry and painting as prompts to access the "ever-present past." On the Prologue Day, I'll be offering a presentation on how to hide key information about your character in plain sight, so clear a reader can't miss it, so obvious they soon forget it. I love a conference, and I'm excited to meet other writers in this genre.

Presentation(s):
Panel: The Mechanics of Misbelief: How to Hide Big Truths in Plain Sight (Virtual)
Workshop: Poetry & Art as Portals to the Ever-Present Past: A Revolutionary Approach to Process (In-Person)

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Terri Lewis

Meet the Delegate
Terri Lewis fell in love with history in college. Not the dates or wars, but the mysterious daily lives of people. Her debut, "Behold the Bird in Flight," tells the story of an unknown British queen and is available through Amazon and Simon & Schuster. Her second book, "When They Came Home," won the 2025 Miami University Press Novella Prize and will publish in May.

Joining the Revolution Because…
To meet histfic writers, old friends and new. And to present at the "Presentism" panel.

Presentation(s):
Historical Fiction and “Presentism”: A Modern Take on Writing Historical Fiction for Today’s Readers (In-Person)

Nancy (N.J.) Mastro

Meet the Delegate
N.J. Mastro is an historical fiction author who published her debut novel, Solitary Walker: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft, in 2025. She also writes Herstory Revisited, a blog featuring reviews of biographical novels about prominent women from the past, with a peek at the facts behind the fiction.

Joining the Revolution Because…
To network with other writers and sharpen my craft!

Presentation(s):
Workshop: The Heroine's Journey: A Narrative Structure for Creating Compelling Character Arcs

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Janis Robinson Daly

Meet the Delegate
Inspired by the discovery that an ancestor founded the Woman’s Medical College of PA, Daly’s first two books honor the work of pioneering women in medicine. Her third book, Under Two Flags, is a retelling of a memoir of a young Boston woman who travels to Berlin in 1916 to study opera. The original memoir, was ghostwritten by Daly's grandfather.

Daly graduated from Wheaton College, Norton MA, at the time, a women’s college. where she developed a keen appreciation of female-centric issues. Her annual literary citizenship program, #31titleswomeninhistory, has gained recognition from historical fiction authors and avid readers as an innovative way to celebrate Women's History Month in March.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Learn, network, present

Presentation(s):
Presentation: #authorssupportingauthors – Banding Together to Lift All Boats (In-Person)

  • janis@janisrdaly.com

  • https://janisrdaly.com/

  • Instagram: @janisrdaly_writer
    Facebook: @janisrobinsondalyauthor

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Linda Ulleseit

Meet the Delegate
A founding member of Paper Lantern Writers, Linda Ulleseit is a California native who writes heritage fiction. She is a retired elementary school teacher who believes in the unspoken power of women living ordinary lives. Her award-winning novels are inspired by stories of her ancestors.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I'll be presenting as well as attending sessions

Presentation(s):
Panel: Rethinking Individual Promotion of Your Work (Virtual, Prologue Day)
Group Presentation: Revitalizing Your Novel (In-Person)

In-Person Delegates

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Karima Alavi

Meet the Delegate
My stories have appeared in Sufi Magazine, other online journals, and on National Public Radio (All Things Considered). I’ve presented workshops for organizations such as the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian Institution. My novel manuscript, Minister of Color, is set in the Vatican during the Renaissance and includes excursions into Afghanistan, India, and Iran. I’m currently revising a novel set in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, where I worked as a teacher.

Joining the Revolution Because…
To find my "tribe." I love the connections and support I see at HTF online events and on the social media of HTF authors. Looking forward to meeting many of you.

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Swapna Chakrabarti

Meet the Delegate
I write historical fiction set in Colonial British India. I am a proud alum of the Novel Generator program at Grub Street in Boston MA.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Meet other HF authors and agents, spread the word about my Substack

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Anthony Earth

Meet the Delegate
I am an international lawyer and foreign policy expert. I currently co-chair a committee that advises NASA on space policy and law issues.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I want to learn from other writers of historical fiction and support the work that History Through Fiction is doing to advance historical fiction stories and authors.

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Constance Garcia-Barrio

Meet the Delegate
A native Philadelphian, Constance writes about Black history in her hometown. Her column for Grid magazine addresses issues such as students experiencing homelessness. The Philadelphia Inquirer has run her essays. She received an award for a magazine article from the National Association of Black Journalists. Her novel, Blood Grip, features a fugitive from slavery who survives alone in 1830s Philadelphia using her skills as a seamstress, herbalist, and practitioner of West African spirituality.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I hope to make connections to move my novel toward publications.

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Katy Hammel

Meet the Delegate
Katy is a fomer civil rights lawyer and now a National Board Certified Teacher of gifted elementary school children in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has published three novels and supported more than fifty students publish short novellas. She was Gilder Lehrman's History Teacher of the Year for New Mexico in 2025.

Joining the Revolution Because…
To build my network and skills as I transition to writing full-time when I retire from teaching in a year.

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Linda Hannon

Meet the Delegate
After a ghost tour in Savannah George, Linda became enthralled by the ghost story of sixteen-year old, Irish indentured servant, Alice Riley, the first woman hanged in 1735 in the colony for a murder she may (or may not) have committed. After five years of research including thousands of personal letters and journals from the original colonists of Georgia, she is currently working on spinning the story into her first novel.

Joining the Revolution Because…
To meet other people on the same journey and learn as much as I can on how to be successful.

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Susan J. Hudson

Meet the Delegate
Susan J. Hudson is a former journalist who now does communications for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her short fiction has been published in Sky Island Journal, Hoxie Gorge Review, Gramercy Review, The Argyle Literary Magazine and Half and One. “Lords and Ladies,” an excerpt from Flintlocks at Dawn, her historical novel-in-progress set in colonial Virginia on the cusp of the American Revolution, was History Through Fiction’s August 2025 short story.

Joining the Revolution Because…
To learn more about the world of historical fiction, meet people with shared interests, and pitch my historical novel.

Katherine R. Hutt

Meet the Delegate
After a successful career in non-profit public relations, I am done ghostwriting for others! I’m transitioning to creative writing full-time: my first historic fiction was inspired by my Hungarian great-grandparents and my WIP was inspired by Frances Perkins and those who fought for labor and workplace reforms after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Both follow the theme of love triumphing over religious intolerance (a message the world desperately needs right now).

Joining the Revolution Because…
To learn from other writers and to pitch agents

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Jane Lancaster

Meet the Delegate
Story-teller, historian, immigrant, I view American history through different eyes. After four non-fiction books, my first historical novel offers an alternative view of the American Revolution. After moving from the UK I earned a PhD in history from Brown, and since then I've been writing, publishing, and telling stories about American women's history.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Inspiration and contacts

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Kelsey J. Lawrence

Meet the Delegate
Kelsey J. Lawrence is a former Emmy and National Edward R. Murrow Award–winning journalist who now writes historical fiction rooted in early 1900s Montana. Her dual-timeline novel follows a homesteader family and explores legacy, loyalty, and the cost of carving out a life in untamed country. Speaking of untamed, she’s also a toddler mom who spends her days chasing adventure, both on the page and in the backyard.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Networking and the comradery that comes from being in a room full of fellow authors and history lovers who just get me.

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Terri Lonier

Meet the Delegate
Terri Lonier (lone-yay) is the author of five nonfiction books on creative self-employment. A PhD historian, innovation consultant, and former studio potter, she brings both research depth and hands-on entrepreneurial experience to her work. Her debut historical fiction series follows a young woman navigating the Lunar Society of Birmingham, England in 1776, when Watt, Wedgwood, and Darwin were still figuring out how to change the world. She publishes “The Lunar Society Letter” on Substack.

Joining the Revolution Because…
In making the leap from nonfiction to historical fiction, I’m looking for craft guidance, community, and fellow writers who understand why 1776 in England is as revolutionary as it is in America.

J. A. McIntosh

Meet the Delegate
J. A. McIntosh, a recovering attorney, writes novels about imperfect people seeking justice. Her most recent novel, Swift River Secrets, is set at the Swift River Valley Historical Society and has historical elements. After receiving a B.A. in journalism and mass communication and a MFA in popular fiction, she taught at the college level and in community workshops. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Straw Dog Writers Guild.

Joining the Revolution Because…
To meet and talk with other writers

Sally Milliken

Meet the Delegate
SALLY MILLIKEN writes contemporary and historical mysteries and crime fiction, and her short stories appear in various anthologies and online magazines. As well as bringing villains to justice, she enjoys bending clay to her will on the pottery wheel and playing ice hockey. She is working on her first novel, a historical mystery set in 1882 Massachusetts. Sally is a member of Sisters in Crime, SinC NE, SinC Guppies, MWA/NE, and the Short Mystery Fiction Society.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I look forward to meeting other authors and learning more about their projects, as well as improving my own novel.

David Nestoff

Meet the Delegate
Born in the midwestern US, David Nestoff’s writing career has been captured across newspaper bylines, marketing copy and 100 original songs. His debut novel, CIRCUS DOGS, pulls from he and his wife’s lived history of rescuing old animals. He works as a software engineer and lives in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I’m an author who has a finished HF manuscript and want to continue to expand my skills of self-promotion while landing the right agent for my career as an author.

Cynthia Reeves

Meet the Delegate
Lisa Olech loves art, pirates and a cranky curmudgeon she affectionately calls the Wizard of O. Currently the author of thirteen published titles in both the contemporary and historical genres, she uses witty dialog with a side order of sexy to bring to life multi-faceted, adventurous, smoldering characters you’ll not soon forget.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Meet other historical fiction writers and build connections in this wonderful genre.

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Cynthia Reeves

Meet the Delegate
Cynthia Reeves is the author of three award-winning books: the novel-in-stories FALLING THROUGH THE NEW WORLD; the Arctic novel THE LAST WHALER; and the novella BADLANDS. Her short stories, essays, and poetry have appeared widely. She’s won residencies to Hawthornden Castle, the 2017 Arctic Circle Summer Solstice Expedition, Spitsbergen Artists Center, Atelier, and Vermont Studio Center. She earned an MFA from Warren Wilson College and taught creative writing at Bryn Mawr and Rosemont Colleges.

Joining the Revolution Because…
networking; learning

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Sara Revsin

Meet the Delegate
Sara Revsin is a writer living in the Boston area. Currently, Sara is working on a historical novel based on the life of her relative, who was a White House secretary under FDR and Truman. She has her MFA in creative writing from Emerson College. In her previous career, she was a marketing executive for technology companies. She lives with her husband, two young daughters (5 & 3), and formerly feral cat.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I'm in the middle of revising my first historical novel after leaving my career in tech last spring. I love historical fiction, and am so excited to immerse myself in the world of writers and readers of it. Plus - I'm local!

Eileen Harrison Sanchez

Meet the Delegate
Eileen Harrison Sanchez is retired after a forty-year career in education. She started as a teacher and ended as a district administrator. Her debut novel FREEDOM LESSONS has received several awards and is currently required reading for a final teacher prep class at Rutgers University Graduate School of Education. Eileen writes regularly with a circle of eight and working on HOME RULES her WIP. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society, Story Circle Network (SCN), History Through Fiction (HTF) and Philadelphia Stories Writers Community. She is the coordinator of SCN eCircles. A reader, a writer, and a perennial—a person with a no-age mindset—she considers family and friends to be the most important parts of her life, followed by traveling and bird watching from her gazebo.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Long time fan of Colin and to energize my writing for my WIP, my sophomore novel HOME RULES

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Jonna Shutowick

Meet the Delegate
Jonna Shutowick writes historical fiction with a focus on women’s history and overlooked voices of the past. Her current project explores the life of Ida Alice Shourds Flagler, the forgotten second wife of industrialist Henry Flagler. A retired history teacher based in Parkland, Florida, she also pens the newspaper column On the Bright Side for The Happy Herald.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Collaboration and inspiration

Lawrence Serven

Meet the Delegate
I am the author of two non-fiction books now turning my attention to Historical Fiction. I have a story brewing about a Suffragette (my grandmother) and I am coming to this conference to learn from others. Recently moved to Pine Hills (Plymouth) and looking forward retiring from a career in business that took me Cork, Ireland and metro New York.

Joining the Revolution Because…
To learn from others who are far more experienced

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Rachel Spekman

Meet the Delegate
Rachel Spekman is a writer, therapist, and career coach whose work explores identity, belonging, and the untold stories that shape us. She has just completed the first draft of her debut novel, a historical fiction queer love story inspired by her grandmothers’ relationship. Through vivid storytelling and emotional honesty, Rachel brings to life a hidden history of courage, tenderness, and defiance in the face of convention.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I need a deadline to have finished my first and second drafts of my book and I'm looking for an honest, thoughtful, and bad-ass editor!

Hope Stewart

Meet the Delegate
Having spent my career in economic development, both locally and internationally, I am fascinated by the role of women in economic history. Although I grew up as a military brat, moving around from desert to swamp, I am proud to call Annapolis my hometown. I’ve always wanted to be a writer and self-published my first book (about a palomino horse) at the age of 12, instantly selling out the single copy.

Joining the Revolution Because…
To be with "my people."

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Olive L Sullivan

Meet the Delegate
Retired journalism professor Olive L. Sullivan is a poet, playwright and author who lives half in southeast Kansas and half in her imagination, which is most often somewhere in the middle ages. She lives with her aged mother and a beautiful dog named Balthazar.

Joining the Revolution Because…
My historical fiction book is almost done and I'm interested in meeting with agents and getting feedback.

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Alicia Troike

Meet the Delegate
Some stories are best told face to face—say hello at the conference.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Avid reader and researcher who has a couple of ideas floating around in her head! Looking for inspiration, consistent practices and direction.

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Jacqueline Van Hoewyk

Meet the Delegate
I’m a former English as a second language teacher who writes about outsiders seeking their place in the world, family, and how place shapes us. Historical settings I love include the South (my home) and France and Japan, whose languages and histories I studied at university. I share my love for history, mystery, and everyday magic on my Substack, “Collecting Dust.” My short story, “The Bright Leaf Legacy,” is forthcoming in HTF’s anthology this spring!

Joining the Revolution Because…
To make new writing friends, learn more about incorporating historical research in my writing, and to pitch my novel

Virtual Delegates

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Dawn Marie O'Hara Aerts

Meet the Delegate
Features Writer for local, regional newspapers, photographer, illustrator and author.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Professional development and creative inspiration.

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Ann G. Forcier

Meet the Delegate
Semi-retired psychotherapist/writer interested in all things Acadian/Canadian French. As my family's historian, I am fascinated by the lived experience of these ordinary people -- refugees from an ethnic cleansing, Prohibition-era rum runners, and a Vaudeville performer among them. Juicy cores on their own, and for fiction.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Because anything I've ever participated in that Colin runs in History Through Fiction supports and enriches my "Last Chapter" project to write an 18th-century Acadian novel.

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Mr. Dana L. Green

Meet the Delegate
Writer of short stories. Published stories: westerns, crime-mysteries and memoirs. Live on the coast of Maine. 71 yo retired.

Joining the Revolution Because…
To learn more about historical fiction through the eyes of fellow writers. Learn about the art self publishing. I have over 200 short stories and novellas.

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Stephanie Hoops

Meet the Delegate
Stephanie Hoops is a California-based author with a background in law and journalism. She worked as an award-winning newspaper reporter before turning to fiction. Her reporting background and legal training inform her research-driven approach to historical storytelling, including her work reconstructing the world of nineteenth-century legal journalist Myra Bradwell.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I’m attending the conference to deepen my understanding of both the craft and the business of historical fiction. I’m especially interested in learning from experienced authors about how research-driven stories find their readers and how writers build sustainable careers in the genre.

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Patricia Hudson

Meet the Delegate
Patricia Hudson is the author of Traces, a retelling of the Daniel Boone saga from the perspective of Boone’s wife, Rebecca and their two oldest daughters. Traces won the 2024 Sarton Award for Historical Fiction. A freelance writer for 35 years, Patricia specializes in history and travel topics. She was a contributing editor at Americana magazine for more than a decade. Her book credits include a volume in The Smithsonian Guide to Historic America series.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Continuing to learn from, and connect with, other authors

Jayda Justus

Meet the Delegate
Jayda Justus is the creator of The History Mom where she reviews historical sites and provides corresponding book recommendations. She has appeared on several podcasts and media outlets and has written for publications on historical and bookish topics. She is a former legislative director for a Member of Congress and now lives in Richmond, Virginia where she is actively seeking representation for her debut novel about Louisa Catherine Adams.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I love historical books and am actively seeking representation for my historical novel on Louisa Catherine Adams.

Rachel S. Kennedy

Meet the Delegate
I write historical and contemporary fiction set in coastal Maine. I currently live 1.5 miles from where Harriet Beecher wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin in1852. I also reside 5 miles from the town of Lisbon, Maine, where horror writer, Stephen King, attended high school and set his novel, “11/23/63.” While this may create some weird converging of the magnetic field lines of literary genres, it’s all inspiration.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I am currently writing an historical novel. I hope to make contacts with other writers and publishers in the historical fiction genre. To date, Several of my short stories have been published in a fanzine, “Hell’s Half Acre.” (Not to worry, no one else has heard of it either.). I have attended the Ocean Park Writers Conference (Old Orchard Beach, Maine) each summer for the past 11 years, winning the short-story fiction competition several times. This year’s win was titled, “Four Letters and a Red Paisley Shawl,” set in Maine at the start of the Civil War.

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Janilyn Kocher

Meet the Delegate
I am a History and Political Science professor at a college in Illinois. I am also a book reviewer on IG – Booksreadbyprairiegirl. I love reading historical fiction and dream of authoring a book one day.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I’m interested in learning more about the craft of writing and also publication of historical fiction.

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Shauna McIntyre

Meet the Delegate
Shauna McIntyre is a developmental editor and book coach at Creative Roots Editorial and a former academic researcher and writer in the social sciences. Her monthly newsletter, Creative Roots Letters, offers inspiration, resources, and personal anecdotes for those writing historical fiction and family history. She is currently working on a novel about female prairie homesteaders.

Joining the Revolution Because…
To connect with and and learn from other writers of historical fiction.

Cathy Pegau

Meet the Delegate
I live in Alaska and spend the cold, dark days working on historical fiction usually featuring queer characters, sometimes with romance, sometimes with paranormal elements, almost always with a dead body involved.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I want to expand my understanding of writing historical fiction and look forward to being inspired by the panels and participants.

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Margaret Porter

Meet the Delegate
Award-winning, USAToday bestselling author of fifteen highly acclaimed historical novels in various subgenres and two contemporaries. Since studying British history in the U.K., Margaret has worked professionally in theatre, film, and television, and regularly conducts research in Great Britain and Europe. She 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.

Joining the Revolution Because…
To access the wisdom & experience of my HistFic colleagues, to receive market updates and current marketing advice.

Erin Pucko

Meet the Delegate
Archivist by trade, writer by compulsion. #amrevising

Joining the Revolution Because…
To learn!

Katy J. Schroeder

Meet the Delegate
YA author, educator by day 📕Historical Fantasy and Historical Horror set in 19th century America ✍️ PhD in creative writing (focus on MG/YA fiction) 📚 Equal parts skulls and rainbows 💀🌈

Joining the Revolution Because…
The learning opportunities, inspiration, and connecting with other hisfic authors

Lisa Walker

Meet the Delegate
I was trained as a Russian historian and spent an earlier phase of my career managing government overseas assistance, working in the international development and humanitarian aid sector. I'm now finding my way back to history, through creative writing and fiction.

Joining the Revolution Because…
To hear fellow authors speak about their writing craft, particularly how they approach historical fiction; to meet or make connections with others interested in and practicing this kind of writing.

Conference Committee

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Robin Henry

Meet the Delegate
Robin Henry is an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach with an MLS (Library Science) and MA in Humanities. She loves editing historical fiction—it is her favorite genre. She is a fan of the Oxford comma, hot beverages, and running half marathons in new places.

Joining the Revolution Because…
As part of my work with History Through Fiction. I will be behind the scenes helping to make everything run as smoothly as possible and trying to give all the attendees a fantastic experience.

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Colin Mustful

Meet the Delegate
Colin Mustful is the founder and director of History Through Fiction and the 2026 History Through Fiction Conference. An author, historian, and publishing professional, he has written five novels, including the Midwest Book Award–winning Reclaiming Mni Sota. With an MA in history and an MFA in creative writing, Colin also supports writers through editing, coaching, and education. He is dedicated to building community around authentic, engaging historical narratives and the craft of storytelling.

Joining the Revolution Because…
Nothing sparks fresh ideas like a room full of storytellers trading insights, building connections, and fueling each other’s passion for history and fiction.

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Amanda Symes

Meet the Delegate
Amanda Symes is an author, editor, and book coach, co-founder of Dead Birds Publishing and Associate Editor at History Through Fiction. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing, and helps writers develop, refine, and polish stories, specializing in dark genres like horror, thriller, fantasy, science fiction, and magical realism. The only thing she loves more than reading is drinking coffee while watching thunderstorms.

Joining the Revolution Because…
I'm an avid reader and writer, and enjoy sleuthing through history.