Imagining The Past

About Imagining The Past

The Imagining the Past podcast series is brought to you by the Historical Novel Society Australasia (https://hnsa.org.au/). We feature authors appearing at our biennial conferences (https://hnsa.org.au/conferences-events/) or have been recognised in our $150,000 ARA Historical Novel Prize (https://hnsa.org.au/ara-historical-novel-prize/). Our HNSA hosts, Greg Johnston and Kelly Gardiner, discuss researching, writing and publishing historical fiction with acclaimed writers of the genre in its many forms from crime to fantasy to literary fiction, set in eras stretching from ancient times to the Swinging Sixties, and for readers of all ages. Subscribe to our newsletter (https://hnsa.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=49e3be019736f1209eb79eaab&id=9291f1437e)for updates on our writing programs and the ARA Historical Novel Prize. #writing #history #historicalfiction #fiction #books #podcast Imagining the Past is listed in the Top 25 Historical Fiction Podcasts (https://podcast.feedspot.com/historical_fiction_podcasts/). Our hosts Greg (G.S. )Johnston is the author of three historical novels – Sweet Bitter Cane (2019), The Cast of a Hand (2015), and The Skin of Water (2012), and a fourth novel set in contemporary Hong Kong, Consumption (2011). After completing a degree in pharmacy, a year in Italy re-ignited his passion for writing and he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. Feeling the need for a broader canvas, he started writing short stories and novels.  He is the Treasurer of HNSA. Kelly Gardiner writes historical fiction for all ages. Her latest series is The Firewatcher Chronicles. Her other books include Goddess, based on the life of Mademoiselle de Maupin; 1917: Australia’s Great War, shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Young People’s History Prize and Asher Award; the Swashbuckler pirate trilogy; and a picture book, Billabong Bill’s Bushfire Christmas. Her young adult novels Act of Faith and The Sultan’s Eyes, were both shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, while Act of Faith was shortlisted for the ASA’s Barbara Jefferis Award.

Publisher

Imagining The Past

Category

arts · fiction · history

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Jun 2017

Latest episode

29 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

101 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Sept 2026

   S12 Ep15: Imagining the Past—2026—Malcolm Knox

   At the sparkling new bookshop in Sydney’s Summer Hill, Rose Read, Malcom Knox launched the sequel to The First Friend, imaginatively titled The Second Child. He was in conversation with Shankari Chandran and Sid Chandran

2. 

   6 Sept 2026

   S12 Ep13: Imagining the Past—2026—Emily Maguire

   Emily Maguire’s Rapture won the inaugural ARA History Novel Prize Reader’s Choice Award in 2025. Emily chats with Greg Johnston about writing and researching this breakthrough novel.

3. 

   3 Sept 2026

   S12 Ep14: Imagining the Past—2026—Karen Brooks

   In September, Karen Brooks launched her new novel, The Extraordinary Florence Stoker, at the Peacock Theatre in the Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart.  She was joined by her publisher, Jo Mackay.

Who has been a guest on Imagining The Past

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Natasha Lester
• Kate Mildenhall
• Gina Cole
• Jennifer Mills
• Leah Kaminsky

Podcast Authority Score: 41 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

63

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

50

Contact Imagining The Past

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.