The Historical Writers Association

The official website of the HWA

News

New Dates for announcement of Crown Awards long and shortlists

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We are delighted by the number of submissions we’ve received, up almost 50% on last year. The number of excellent books means we’ve decided to change the dates of the announcements of the longlist and shortlist so our panels have the chance to come to a considered decision. See below for details.

The 2022 Crown Awards (Debut, Gold and Non-Fiction) are for full length books published for the first time in English in the UK between the 1 April 2021 – 31st March 2022. For fiction, the bulk of the narrative of the work submitted must take place at least thirty-five years prior to publication. For non-fiction, the key events must have taken place, or the subject have been primarily active at least thirty-five years prior to publication.

Our judges are writers, historians, booksellers and enthusiasts and we support all our longlisted and shortlisted books with extensive social media and features on Historia. An author does not need to be a member of the Historical Writers Association for their book to be entered.

Crown Awards Timeline

Nominations closed: 30 April 2022

Longlists announced: 21 September 2022

Shortlists announced: 25 October 2022 

Awards ceremony: 23 November 2022

Dorothy Dunnett / HWA Short Story Award 2022

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We are delighted to announced our short story competition, run in partnership with the Dorothy Dunnett Society is now open for entries! All details and how to enter here. The word limit is a generous 3500 and the entry fee is still £5. Transport us into the past and you could win mentoring, inclusion in our anthology of short listed stories. The deadline for entries is 1 July.

The Crown Awards 2022 are now open for submissions!

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Publishers! It’s that time again. Please submit your entries for the HWA Debut Crown, NonFiction Crown and Gold Crown by the end of April. Books must have been published in English in the UK for the first time between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022 and there is a £35 charge per book. All the details and the entry form are here.

HWA / DDS Short Story Competition

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The final results are in. Huge congratulations to our winners and to the longlisted and shortlisted writers. Competition was as fierce as ever and we look forward to sharing the six shortlisted stories with you as an anthology later in the year. The longlist can be found here: http://www.historiamag.com/hwa-dd-2021-longlist/

And the winner, highly commended and shortlisted stories are:

Winner

His Mother’s Quilt by Naomi Kelsey

A gothic gem. A woman trapped in bed fights the ghosts that surround her. Tense, delicate writing. Lace woven with steel threads.

Highly Commended

Her Own Kind by Fiona Whyte

A story of sacrifice and loss, told with a gentle touch and vivid characterisations.

The Sister Time Forgot by Rachel Blackmore

A fresh narrative construction and liquid prose bring a Tudor Princess vividly to life.

Also shortlisted (and will be included in the anthology)

Twelve Years to Grow Before Dark by Hazel Turner

A great voice and superb nature writing combine in elegant simplicity

Guard of Honour by Liz Kershaw

Perfect writing and sharply observed characterisations as one man makes a choice.

The Fortune Teller by Helen Cannam

A bright and sprightly story which darkens as it unfurls through a summer’s day.

Many thanks to our final round judges – Janet Angelini, Matt Casbourne, Katherine Clements and Norah Perkins.