Anyone going to the Historical Novel Society Conference?

[Divia]

I blew my chance to go to the one in Albany which is just 3 hours away :mad: Now I see the one in Chicago is coming up. I was wondering if anyone was going..or even if I should go since it will be expensive: Fee is $325, hotel is.. dunno its got to be around 300 too and plane tickets have to be At least 300 bucks. Its gonna be at least a grand to go.

Im working on the second draft of my manuscript and might have that done by June but it will need to be edited..and I dont know if it will be. Would it be worth it for me to go?

Anyone else going?

http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/2009/conference.htm

[Ariadne]

Well, I'll be there!

I'm one of the organizers so I may be biased :D but I can provide a little more info... hotel is $119/night plus tax, fees are $300 for members or $325 non-members, but it includes all meals. The prices are as low as we can make them (we're not going to make a profit on this conference).

We should have the list of attending editors and agents, as well as info on the program schedule and speakers, online within another month or so - which should make it easier for people to decide.

[donroc]

So far, I am planning to go.

[Christine Blevins]

I went to Albany and had a wonderful time.
The 2009 conference is about a twenty minute car ride from home for me, so I am definitely going.

[Divia]

How far in your manuscript should you be before you talk to agents at the conference? :confused:

[Ariadne]

I would say you should have a completed manuscript (or very very near complete) so that you'll have something to send them if they ask you to follow up with them afterwards.

[Divia]

I would say you should have a completed manuscript (or very very near complete) so that you'll have something to send them if they ask you to follow up with them afterwards.

Bummer. Guess that pretty much means I'm out.

[pat]

Bummer. Guess that pretty much means I'm out.

Go for the experience of it! You might pic up lots of usefull advice.

[Divia]

Yeah but money is tight right now. I need to be very careful how I spend a grand, if not more.

[pat]

Yeah but money is tight right now. I need to be very careful how I spend a grand, if not more.

Fair enough! Instead, work on your manuscript and save for the next one!

[michellemoran]

I'll definitely be there! And Divia, it's a fantastic place to meet authors, who will (hopefully) become important to you once you publish. As an author, you'll need blurbs from other authors, and contacts in the industry in general don't hurt. I'm hoping Christopher (who frequents this forum) will be coming, along with Karen Essex if we can convince her! I would highly recommend going if you think you want to publish, even if it's just for the contacts (and authors know other authors, who all talk a lot, so meeting one author can be like meeting five or ten). I can also show you around to the other authors if you don't feel comfortable doing it while there. I cannot stress enough the importance of having author contacts in the industry to give you advice about editors, marketing, publicity, etc. Ideally, an agent would be your bf and tell you everything you need to know, but that rarely happens, which is where writing friends come in. All of this, of course, is if you want to publish (which you do!).

Edited to say: and if you don't think you can make this conference because money is tight, try to get to the next conference, or another, closer conference where an author will introduce you to other published authors if you don't like to go up and say hi yourself!

[donroc]

It will be interesting to see the faces of our fellow posters from here as well as the AW and HSN sites.

[donroc]

It will be interesting to see the faces of our fellow posters from here as well as the AW and HSN sites and chat with them.

[michellemoran]

I agree! I can't wait to meet everyone :]

[Julianne Douglas]

I'll definitely be going! I've been waiting for this one since the day the last one ended. The conference in Albany was wonderful, and I'm sure this one will be too. It's a great conference even if your manuscript isn't ready to shop yet. You'll learn lots from the talks, and as Michelle said, contacts are so important. If nothing else, you'll come back all energized to write!

Count me in!

(I'm SO lucky it's the weekend AFTER my daughter's high school graduation. If it had been scheduled one week earlier, I wouldn't be able to make it and I think I'd die. :) Can you tell I don't get out often?)

[princess garnet]

Hmm, this is something I'd like to attend. I'd like to get enough leave hours to do so though.

[diamondlil]

If you all do meet up we would love to hear about it!

[Divia]

I'll definitely be there! And Divia, it's a fantastic place to meet authors, who will (hopefully) become important to you once you publish. As an author, you'll need blurbs from other authors, and contacts in the industry in general don't hurt. I'm hoping Christopher (who frequents this forum) will be coming, along with Karen Essex if we can convince her! I would highly recommend going if you think you want to publish, even if it's just for the contacts (and authors know other authors, who all talk a lot, so meeting one author can be like meeting five or ten). I can also show you around to the other authors if you don't feel comfortable doing it while there. I cannot stress enough the importance of having author contacts in the industry to give you advice about editors, marketing, publicity, etc. Ideally, an agent would be your bf and tell you everything you need to know, but that rarely happens, which is where writing friends come in. All of this, of course, is if you want to publish (which you do!).

Hmm. You're right. I should know better cause in the comicbook industry its all about connections too. But I guess thats like anywhere. Maybe I let my bad luck recently cloud my judgement. Thanks for the offer too. I may take you up on it :)

[Leyland]

And take pictures for us! As Don says, seeing faces would be an interesting thing, as long as no one minds their face being uploaded.

[Divia]

It will be interesting to see the faces of our fellow posters from here as well as the AW and HSN sites and chat with them.

We could do one big ol' HFO pic :D
Look at me..talkin like I've already made up my mind to go :o

[michellemoran]

Oh you should go - if at all possible! And I'm not sure what "bad luck" you were referencing, but this is definitely a good luck conference ;) Lots of great people!

[donroc]

And take pictures for us! As Don says, seeing faces would be an interesting thing, as long as no one minds their face being uploaded.

But never photoshop us.

[Leyland]

But never photoshop us.

Photoshopping can be your friend sometimes though, if done with skill and good taste! ;) A few nice group shots would be fun to see for the ones like me that would love to be there. I hate 'candid' shots - that's where creative photoshopping can be a good thing.

[pat]

Please send pics!

[Ariadne]

If anyone's interested, registration for the conference (http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/2009/conference.htm) is open now. The schedule is a work-in-progress as more speakers confirm, but here's the program (http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/2009/schedule.htm) as it stands today.

[donroc]

I will arrive on Thursday because I cannot trust the airlines to be on time if I leave the Orlando airport Friday Morning.

[Divia]

Hmm, now that is a thought! I just checked and flights are rather cheap...but hotel costs are for Fri-Sat only.

[donroc]

Hmm, now that is a thought! I just checked and flights are rather cheap...but hotel costs are for Fri-Sat only.

Good news, Divia:

The Hyatt will honor the $119 rate for a 2-day period both before and after the conference dates, space permitting.

[Divia]

oh! Thats good news :)

But what if there is no space permitting? :confused:

[Ariadne]

The hotel isn't likely to sell out on the Thurs or Sun nights... it's a pretty large place. But it'd be good to make reservations well in advance to be safe, since our block is for Fri and Sat only.

I'll be there starting Thurs. night as well, maybe earlier.

[Julianne Douglas]

Sarah, the conference looks wonderful! Thank you in advance for all your hard work putting it together. I'll be registering later tonight. :)

[Divia]

I think I'm giong but I intend on taking an early morning flight like at 6:40 and shoudl be there around 7 or something..whenever. I really want to go, and I think I need to go.

[cw gortner]

I'm hoping Christopher (who frequents this forum) will be coming, along with Karen Essex if we can convince her!

Yes, I'll be there, speaking on two panels - one with Michelle and Karen - and one with C.C. Humphreys, moderated by Diane Gabaldon. Karen Essex is also coming, too, I believe. She's already on the schedule as part of the panel with Michelle and me.

I also echo Michelle's sentiment; the first HNS conference I attended led to my finding my current agent and selling The Last Queen and my Catherine de Medici book. If you're not published and want to be, sign up for the editor / agent meetings ASAP. I met Rachel Kahan (now at Putnam, formerly at Crown) at one of those meetings, and she offered me terrific advice and encouragement. Eight minutes may not seem like much time; but it's amazing how much can be said. I also met an editor from MIRA books who was very enthusiastic about historical fiction. Bring copies of your proposals, sample chapters, and perfect that pitch.

Most importantly, however, meeting fellow hf readers and authors is great fun, and the conference is always very well organized and interesting. Well worth the time and money, because it's the reunion of our tribe! Plus, I'd love to meet you all in person!:)

[Sheramy]

I mailed in my registration materials earlier this week. Julianne helped convince me. :) I am excited because it's my first writing conference (I've only been to academic conferences, and let's just say they don't include costume contests and late-night sex scene readings!!) And I certainly look forward to meeting new people and meeting online friends in person for the first time.

Unfortunately, Sunflowers (aka my baby) is not coming out until October, but I'm hoping to have an ARC or two to donate as a door prize and bookmarks to distribute. If I can figure out how to create the latter!

[Divia]

I havent signed up yet. Money is tight. Do you think I'll be able to do it at the end of Dec?

[Ariadne]

Sheramy, that's great! Library conferences don't have those events either - and the book cart drill team competitions really don't do it for me :D

Divia - end of Dec should be no problem. The conf will sell out eventually, I'm sure (it always has) but that won't likely happen until next spring.

[Divia]

Oh good! :)

[Julianne Douglas]

Can't it be June already????????

[Divia]

Can't it be June already????????

Yeah really. The sooner I get done with his crappy job the happier I'll be!