Writing Historical Fiction: A Writers' & Artists' Companion is an invaluable companion for a writer working in this challenging and popular literary genre, whether your period is Ancient Rome or World War II.

PART 1 includes reflections on the genre and provides a short history of historical fiction.

PART 2 contains guest contributions from Margaret Atwood, Ian Beck, Madison Smartt Bell, Ronan Bennett, Vanora Bennett, Tracy Chevalier, Lindsay Clarke, Elizabeth Cook, Anne Doughty, Sarah Dunant, Michel Faber, Margaret George, Philippa Gregory, Katharine McMahon, Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Hilary Mantel, Alan Massie, Ian Mortimer, Kate Mosse, Charles Palliser, Orhan Pamuk, Edward Rutherfurd, Manda Scott, Adam Thorpe, Stella Tillyard, Rose Tremain, Alison Weir and Louisa Young.

PART 3 offers practical exercises and advice on such topics as research, plots and characters, mastering authentic but accessible dialogue and navigating the world of agents and publishers.

Celia Brayfield is a multi-award winning novelist and a creative writing tutor. Her nine novels include Wild Weekend (2004) and Sunset (1999).

Duncan Sprott is the acclaimed author of The Ptolemies (2004), Daughter of the Crocodile (2006), and Our Lady of the Potatoes (1995). He was awarded a Literature Bursary by the Arts Council of Great Britain in 1995. The Guardian described him as 'The natural successor to Robert Graves and Mary Renault'. He has nearly 20 years' experience of teaching Creative Writing.