Inside the Historical Novel Society Conference 2026 | Rock, Paper, Swords!

It's a bumper episode! Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill spent the weekend of 21st–23rd August at the Historical Novel Society's 2026 conference in Maynooth, Ireland — and instead of one long sit-down chat, they roamed the conference with a camera, grabbing short, four-to-six-minute interviews with authors wherever they found them. In this episode you'll meet (in order of appearance): Frances Donovan • Carolyn Morgan • Vaseem Khan • Kevin Connolly • Griff Hosker • Laura Morelli • Martin Lake • Aidan Morrissey • Lawrence O'Bryan • Anna Belfrage • Susan Nolen • Katherine Mezzacappa • Liz Harris • Naveen Sridhar • Krishor Sridhar • Alison Morton • Maybelle Wallis • Margaret Skea A few of the stories that come up: Alison Morton on the alternate-history "what if Rome never fell" world of Roma Nova, and the research discipline it demands. Martin Lake (26 books and counting) on his new post-Roman-Britain trilogy and a forthcoming Grace Kelly novel. Naveen and Krishor Sridhar, a father-and-son writing duo, on discovering the world's earliest named author — the Sumerian priestess-princess Enheduanna. Vaseem Khan previewing his keynote on who gets to write history, drawing on his own British-Indian background. Kevin Connolly on digitising Ireland's archives after the 1922 destruction of the Public Record Office. Katherine Mezzacappa on the erased women artists of Renaissance Venice. Plus Tolkien's surprising Maynooth connection, and the story behind Matthew and Justin's HNS after-dinner speech (the full video is up now on Patreon as a bonus episode). ⏱ Timestamps available in the video chapters. 🔗 All podcast links: https://linktr.ee/rockpaperswords ❤️ Support the show & get bonus episodes on Patreon:   / rockpaperswordspodcast   If you were at HNS 2026, tell us your favourite session in the comments! (A quick confession for patrons: We always read out the names of Patreon Producers and higher tiers, but in all of the excitement of editing, we forgot to include that in this episode. But that in no way lessens our gratitude to our Patreon Producers: Ben Maher, Andy Maxwell, Ben Fox, George Johnson, Matt Muller, and Tricia! Our VIP, Bader Khrais! And our Legend, Adam Turner! Usual service will be resumed in subsequent episodes.) #HistoricalFiction #HistFic #HistoricalNovel #HNS2026 #HistoricalNovelSociety #Maynooth #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #BookPodcast #AuthorInterview