HISTORY IN THE COURT 2011

Goldsboro Books hosted the first History in the Court festival in association with The Historical Writers’ Association on the 29th September 2011. This will become an annual event that will be an informal gathering for history fans to meet the best writers of historical fiction and non-fiction published today.

London independent Goldsboro Books is sponsoring a new prize for debut historical fiction from the Historical Writers Association - The Goldsboro Crown for Debut Historical Fiction.

The inaugural prize will be for the best debut published in the UK in 2010 and 2011 and will be presented at the independent bookshop’s History in the Court Festival on 27th September 2012.

The HWA said the aim of the prize was to highlight the wealth of new fiction authors whose novels fit into this genre. Manda Scott, author and chair of the Historical Writers’ Association, said: “The HWA is delighted to enter into this partnership with Goldsboro Books, and particularly pleased that our first prize will be for first-time authors: every new author deserves as much encouragement as they can get and even to be placed on the shortlist should be a significant boost to a new writer’s career.”

David Headley, m.d. of Goldsboro Books, said: “Historical fiction is one of the most popular literary styles at the present time and Goldsboro Books is delighted and honoured to be sponsoring the Historical Writers’ Association prize and in raising the profile of debut writers of historical fiction.”

The judges on the panel for the new prize will be Mantle publishing director Maria Rejt; Society of Authors chairman Tom Holland; Manda Scott; David Headley; and author Ayo Onatade.

Among the authors attending were: James Aitcheson, Michael Arnold, AL Berridge, Richard Blake, Elizabeth Chadwick, Rory Clements, Bernard Cornwell, Saul David, Nick Drake, Angus Donald, Stella Duffy, Patrick Easter, Barbara Erskine, Robert Fabbri, James Forrester, Essie Fox, Iain Gale, David Gibbins, Adrian Goldsworthy, Douglas Jackson, Michael Jecks, Nigel Jones, Ben Kane, Mark Keating, Giles Kristian, Claire Letemendia, Robert Low, Karen Maitland, Fiona Mountain, William Napier, Thomas Penn, Anthony Riches, Imogen Robertson, Hallie Rubenhold,    William Ryan,  Guy Saville, Simon Scarrow, Manda Scott, Harry Sidebottom, Alex Von Tunzelmann, Russell Whitfield, James Wilde, A. N. Wilson, Laura Wilson & Robyn Young.

I didn't manage to get photos of everyone but there's a good selection here - just click on the main picture to see the information of who is who ....