Abir Mukherjee is the Times bestselling author of the Wyndham & Banerjee series (Vintage Publishing) of crime novels set in Raj-era India which have sold over 400,000 copies worldwide and been translated into 15 languages. His books have won numerous awards including the CWA Dagger for best Historical Novel, the Prix du Polar Européen, the Wilbur Smith Award for Adventure Writing and the Amazon Publishing Readers Award for E-book for the Year. Alongside fellow author, Vaseem Khan, he also hosts the popular Red Hot Chilli Writers podcast, where every fortnight, joined by special guests from the media and literature, he takes a wry look at the world of books, writing, and the creative arts, tackling everything from bestsellers to pop culture.
Historical fiction: From research to submission
This course is now fully booked – however our bursary space is still available, with applications open until 27 August. If you’d like to be added to the waiting list for any cancellations, please contact us on 01766 522 811 / tynewydd@literaturewales.org
Historical fiction continues to captivate readers- offering an escape into the past while also shedding light on the present. Join award-winning authors, C J Cooke and Abir Mukherjee to explore the gripping and increasingly popular world of long-form historical writing. During the week, you’ll travel back in time and find inspiration from real people and events as well as the fantastical and gothic. You’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the historical setting of Tŷ Newydd, a Grade II* listed building which dates back to the fifteenth century, and also build a community of fellow-minded historical fiction writers.
Whether you’re looking to develop a new piece of fictional work, or simply curious about an individual story or historical event, the tutors will guide you through the complete process from research to first draft. At what point is your research complete? How do you capture a sense of time and place? How do you turn historical figures into convincing characters, and transform factual timelines into a compelling narrative? Through participative workshops, and one-to-one tutorials, you’ll be encouraged to consider to what extent writers have the licence to reimagine history and the key differences between historical fact and fiction. You’ll gain confidence in your writing and develop new skills and techniques which will enable you to recount history from your own unique voice.
Come prepared to write, experiment and discover, and expect to leave feeling inspired and with a renewed sense of direction for your historical fiction writing.
Bursaries
One £250 bursary space is available for this course. To apply, please complete this application form
Deadline for applications: Wednesday 27 August 2025
For further information about the support available, please visit our Financial Assistance page: https://tynewydd.wales/courses-retreats/financial-support/
Tutors
Abir Mukherjee
S.J. Parris
S.J. Parris is the pen name of Stephanie Merritt who began reviewing books for national newspapers while she was reading English literature at Queens’ College, Cambridge. After graduating, she went on to become Deputy Literary Editor of The Observer in 1999. She continues to work as a feature writer and critic for the Guardian and the Observer and from 2007-2008 she curated and produced the Talks and Debates program on issues in contemporary arts and politics at London’s Soho Theatre. She has appeared as a panelist on various Radio Four shows and on BBC2’s Newsnight Review, and is a regular chair and presenter at the Hay Festival and the National Theatre. She has been a judge for the Costa Biography Award, the Orange New Writing Award and the Perrier Comedy Award.
Guest Reader
Rachel Dawson (Digital)
Rachel Dawson is a lesbian, working-class Welsh writer. Neon Roses is her debut novel, and it was shortlisted for the Wales Book of the Year Award 2024. She was awarded a bursary by Literature Wales in 2020, which enabled her to write it. She was born in Swansea and has done a variety of jobs, including selling sausage rolls and vibrators (not at the same time), and volunteering for an MP. She now works in the third sector and lives with her wife in Cardiff.