A Bookends University Workshop

A Bookends University five-week online introductory course to writing historical fiction with author Allison Epstein

Whether it's your first historical novel or your fiftieth, coming up with a new idea is thrilling—but figuring out what to do with that idea can be overwhelming. In this five-week online course led by historical fiction author Allison Epstein, we'll explore what it takes to turn your idea into a complete novel that captures your reader's imagination.

Through a blend of practical tips and hands-on exercises, we'll practice some of the elements that bring a historical novel to life, from first chapters that sweep the reader back in time to plots that balance the personal and the political. We'll spend our last meeting talking about what happens once you've completed a full draft: revision strategies, tips to incorporate feedback, and various paths to publication.

Tuition: $245

Besides their instructional value, Bookends University workshops are intended to create connections among customers, bring visibility to authors, and support visiting and purchasing books from the bookstore. Since this workshop does not require the purchase of a textbook, your ticket includes a $10 gift card, which you can use toward the purchase of one of the instructor’s books, or toward a book of your choice about writing, or any other book. Or give it away to someone you want to encourage to shop at Bookends!

REGISTER HERE!!

Allison Epstein is a writer and editor living in Chicago. Her debut novel, A Tip for the Hangman, is a historical thriller about the espionage career of the Renaissance poet Christopher Marlowe, and her second novel, Let the Dead Bury the Dead, will be published by Doubleday in September 2023. She is also the author of the Substack newsletter Dirtbags Through the Ages, which profiles a different weird, wacky, or unpleasant historical figure every other week. Allison holds an MFA in fiction from Northwestern University and a BA in English from the University of Michigan.