I'm so excited to be attending this year's Historical Novel Society Conference, especially because it's being held right here in my home town of Portland, Oregon. So far, the hardest part has been deciding which of the multitudes of costumes in my closet to wear to Thursday night's costume contest. I'm looking forward to meeting some of my favorite historical novelists, including Stephanie Cowell, Gillian Bagwell, and Mary Sharrat, who has a fantastic new take on Shakespeare and Aemilia Bassano Lanier in her new novel, The Dark Lady's Mask.
There are also workshops and panels on everything from current trends in the publishing world to historical weaponry to women's undergarments through the centuries, as well as an absinthe-tasting and a Regency-era dance party. The Readers' Festival on Saturday afternoon is open to the public, so feel free to come by and say hello!
