Authors: Learn how to make the past relevant to today's readers

Ever wanted to try your hand at historical fiction but didn't know where to start? On Oct. 1, award-winning historical fiction author Nicole Evelina will show you it's not as intimidating as it may seem, even if you're not a fan of research (though it helps if you are). Held from 10 a.m. to noon at Kirkwood Community Center, 111 S. Geyer Rd., Kirkwood, Mo., her workshop is free to St. Louis Writers Guild members; $5 for nonmembers.

Nicole will cover research methods and sources, how research informs plot, how to handle characterization in other time periods, how to bring the past to life, mistakes to avoid, and more. Whether you're just dipping a toe in the historical waters or have already published in this genre, you're sure to learn something new.

A multi-award-winning historical fiction and romantic comedy writer, Nicole’s most recent novel, Madame Presidentess, is a historical novel about Victoria Woodhull, America's first female Presidential candidate. It won first place in the Women’s US History category of the 2015 Chaucer Awards for Historical Fiction.

                      

Her debut novel, Daughter of Destiny, the first book of an Arthurian legend trilogy that tells Guinevere’s life story from her point of view, was named Book of the Year by Chanticleer Reviews, took the Grand Prize in the 2015 Chatelaine Awards for Women’s Fiction/Romance, won a Gold Medal in the fantasy category in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and was short-listed for the Chaucer Award for Historical Fiction. Been Searching for You, her contemporary romantic comedy, won the 2015 Romance Writers of America (RWA) Great Expectations and Golden Rose contests.

Nicole’s writing has appeared in The Huffington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Independent Journal, Curve Magazine, and numerous historical publications. She is one of only six authors who completed a week-long writing intensive taught by #1 New York Times bestselling author Deborah Harkness.

Her website/blog is http://nicoleevelina.com, and she can be found on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. Her email address is nicole.evelina@att.net.

Learn more about the St. Louis Writers Guild at www.stlwritersguild.org.