The Historical Novel Society UK 2024 conference

Jules Larimore, Michele Callard, and Keira Morgan

Are you dreaming of seeing your novel come to life on the silver screen or as a captivating TV series? Then you will want to join our panel as we delve into the rich tapestry of historical fiction set in France. For many in the United Kingdom and the United States, France remains mysteriously attractive with a ‘je ne sais quoi’ that represents an unattainable ideal. Historical dramas based on French history feed the desire to escape to a dazzling world where power, passion, and betrayal collide to create a gripping story. We will explore this fascination—an enduring allure that bewitches readers and viewers alike. Michèle Callard, Jules Larimore (pictured), and Keira Morgan are representing France’s Splendid Centuries, a collaborative of international authors with a deep passion for and expertise in crafting historical fiction set in France. Drawing from our collective experience, we will explore the parallels that contribute to the success of French historical dramas in three mediums—film, television, and print—and might improve the odds of a novel becoming a candidate for screen production. We will ask: With the success of English-language French historical films and series, why haven’t more English-language French historical novels been published? As part of the session, we provide tips and tools, such as a list of successful French historical novel adaptations, primary and secondary research sources, and French translation tools to set you on the right track for writing a historical novel set in France that is primed for screen adaptation.

The members of our French historical authors’ collaborative contribute articles to France’s Splendid Centuries Facebook page, a place to share our passion for French history previous to the 20th century and encourage followers to share their interest in French historical figures and places. In addition to the three presenters, the collaborative also includes Rozsa Gaston, author of the four-book Anne of Brittany Series and several other historical fiction works set in France, and Ann McClellan, a published non-fiction author of books about trees and their stories, whose fiction projects focus on Renaissance France. 

https://www.facebook.com/FrancesSplendidCenturies/