Due to some technical problems with the site (sigh) we have extended the date for submissions for the HWA Crowns to midnight on Friday 9 May 2025. If anyone has continuing problems with the site, or you want to check that your submissions have been received, please email Imogen on chair@historicalwriters.org
Roman Empire
Submissions are open for the 2025 Crown Awards!
We are inviting submissions for the 2025 Debut, Gold and Non-Fiction Crowns. You can find all the details via the Awards Page and congratulations again to the brilliant 2024 winners:
For the Gold Crown – Disobedient by Elizabeth Fremantle. For the Non-Fiction Crown – Four Shots In the Night: A True Story of Stakeknife, Murder and Justice in Northern Ireland by Henry Hemming and for the Debut Crown The Tumbling Girl by Bridget Walsh
Dorothy Dunnett / HWA Short Story Competition is now open!
You have until midnight on 1 July to send us a historical short story of up to 3500 words. Entry fee is still £5 and we’ll publish the six shortlisted stories in our annual anthology. All details here. Open this post for the link, or go direct to https://historicalwriters.org/ddshwass-award-2025/
Many congratulations to our 2024 winner, K.F. MacCarthy, our highly commended writers, Liz Kershaw and Elaine O’Connor, and our shortlisted writers Laura Karim, Muiread O’Hanlon and Cath Staincliffe. The anthology is available here
The Crown Awards 2024
For a full report on a very fun evening go to https://www.historiamag.com/winners-hwa-crown-awards-2024/ There will be pictures up there soon too. Many congratulations to the winning and shortlisted authors.
HWA Crown Awards 2024 – The Shortlists
Have a look at the amazing books shortlisted for this year’s awards. The winners will be announced on 20 November – but everyone of these books is a gem.
The Dorothy Dunnett / HWA Short Story Winners 2024
Our judges had an inspiring but difficult task to choose the winning stories from over two hundred entries. The six shortlisted stories will be available as an anthology and we hope you enjoy them as much as we did.
Winner
St Kilda Bird Song – K.F. MacCarthy
A magical and immersive story of a late nineteenth century teacher on the remote island, told from diverse perspectives with fluency and confidence. A very special piece of writing about a remarkable place.
Highly Commended
After Jutland, 1916 – Liz Kershaw
A touching and assured story of motherhood and family as a widow struggles to raise her three boys after losing her husband. A tale of ordinary heroism done with a light touch.
No Competition – Elaine O’Connor
A gentle tale of triumph, full of quiet pride. A teacher gives a memorable student her moment and changes her life.
Shortlisted
Mother’s Fury – Laura Karim
A taught slice of violence and revenge at the climax of the peasant’s revolt in 14th century England.
Bonfire Night – Muiread O’Hanlon
A fresh and convincing voice of boyhood adventure in Ireland. Vivid and compelling.
Nebraska – Cath Staincliffe
Richly imagined story of frontier adventure and resilience.
Thank you so much to all the writers who submitted stories this year. As always the standard was very high, and the judges were deeply impressed by the range of periods, places and people brought to life by the entrants. We read adventure, romance, mystery and enjoyed delicate portraits of forgotten characters.