Join us and celebrate the 250th Birthday of America as only writers can with our historical-themed workshop, From Sea to Shining Sea: Writing the American Historical with Beth Daniels.
Editors and readers are looking for something not set in the Scottish Highlands or Regency/Victorian London. Why not closer to home? Explore how to create a niche of your own in American history. Register today.
From Sea to Shining Sea: Writing the American Historical
Instructor: Beth Daniels
Start Date: Monday, July 6, 2026
End Date: Friday, July 31, 2026
Location: Hearts Through History Website platform
Duration: 4 Weeks
USD Fee: $20 HHRW Members/$30 Non-Members
Register: https://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/portal/course/writing-american-historical/lessons
About the Workshop
When you cruise the shelves at the bookstore, or the online listings, it’s easy to find stories of daring-do and hot clinches set in the Scottish Highlands, Regency or Victorian London or a country house within these periods, and occasionally take a trip back to the Medieval or Age of the Viking. But what about the history that is nearer to home for many of us – you know, American history!
Once upon a time, historical American romantic adventures were on equal footing with their European cousins. Then they seemed to vanish, fall by the wayside as the bodice rippers gave way to a different style of storyline.
And yet, editors and readers are looking for something different. They get burned out on their favorite periods occasionally. A solid diet of one setting can begin to lose its spark for acquiring editors and readers alike. And I say that despite having a reader tell me at a book signing that if I wrote stories that took place in Scotland, I’d sell more than I did with the American West as my stage. I doubt she had any idea how much research starting over from scratch would require, much less that I hated stories about men in kilts.
Spark is what grabs a reader’s interest. Spark is what American history can supply for your storytelling, too. The earliest settlement of English colonists dates back to 1607 at Jamestown, which means we have nearly 420 years to cruise to find the perfect stage for our characters. Oddly enough, the Jacobite rebellion in 1715 had Scottish prisoners transported to the American colonies as indentured servants, so if you do like guys in kilts, you could buy the services of one for seven years and lure some of those readers away from the Highlands.
Oddly enough, what you can bring to American (or Australian) settings are the same people used in the tales set in Scotland, in Ireland, in Britain, or elsewhere in Europe. You know, immigrants. They aren’t all poor and downtrodden, though many are. What all immigrants are is daring, bold, hopeful. Adventurous. Passionate. All wonderful traits for characters. Setting them down on a fresh new stage brings all that to the forefront. Plus, a bit of fear. At least for the first ones to arrive. But being daring, bold, hopeful, adventurous and passionate are traits they hand down to their descendants, who may be your characters, too.
So, bring that Highland laddie, that Irish rogue, the Regency dandy, the Plantagenet or Tudor lord, the roving Viking warrior to the New World. Match him with a heroine he might never have met in the Old World.
How do you decide where best to set this couple down? What neck of the woods or coast or plain, what period? That’s what we’ll do in a quickly moving 4-weeks. Consider the landscapes available from the earliest settlements to the Roarin’ Twenties or beyond and see how well American History works as a setting…a fairly untouched setting these days…to revitalize your storytelling or create a niche of your own. There’s plenty to harvest with these spacious skies, purple mountains majesty, and waving fields of grain…not to mention a cast that can be of Spanish, French, English, Dutch, or Native American blood.
About the Instructor
Beth Daniels was a devoted Anglophile until she moved West from her home state of Ohio. Spending 22 years bouncing from California to Nevada to Arizona or Nevada to Arizona to California and back to Nevada as she trailed in first one then another husband’s job footsteps changed her mind about where to set her historical characters. She’s had 35 romances published, most as Beth Henderson, seven of which are historical romantic adventures set in the Old West but as Nied Darnell she dapples in Weird West Steampunk and Twenties Dieselpunk as well. Oddly enough, she holds a BA in American History with a minor in British Modern History, as well as an MA in English Composition and Rhetoric. Find her as Beth Henderson on Facebook at http://bit.ly/2GvFyog.
About our Classes
We have no set times for our workshops and you can go through the lessons at your own pace. The classrooms remain open for one month afterwards.
You can see all of our 2026 courses on our Workshops Page.
Questions? Ask them here or contact Kim at Workshops@Heartsthroughhistory.com
We hope to see you in July. Sign up today!
Kimberly Pride
Education Chair | Workshop Moderator
Hearts Through History
Would you like to learn how to make professional-looking ads, marketing graphics, promotional items (bookmarks!) and more--using free software available on the web and programs already on your computer? Then Graphic Design for Busy Writers is for you.
Joan Koster will cover the principles of design, color, font selection, sizing, and composition of design elements, and more. She says if some of those words sound like a foreign language or bring back frustrating memories of an art or photography class, don't panic. She promises that you don't need any art background or specialized skills to create your own marketing visuals and this workshop will show you how. Register today!
Graphic Design for Busy Writers
Instructor: Joan Koster
Start Date: Monday, July 6, 2026
End Date: Friday, July 31, 2026
Location: Hearts Through History Website platform
Duration: 4 Weeks
USD Fee: $20 HHRW Members/$30 Non-Members
Register: https://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/portal/course/graphic-design-busy-writers/lessons
About the Workshop
Learn to make professional-looking ads, marketing graphics, promotional items such as bookmarks, and more using free software available on the web and programs already on your computer with a special emphasis on using Canva and its competitors effectively. In this workshop, you will start to develop the visual elements of your author brand and leave with a easy-to-use collection of templates for quickly putting together advertisements for your books. Note: This course does not address book cover design.
About the Instructor
With a degree in art and an avid interest in technology, Dr. Joan Koster has taught computer-assisted graphic design on a wide variety of platforms at the college level and in numerous workshops. As a multi-published author of historical fiction and romantic suspense, she has designed all the promotions and swag for her books. In recent years, Canva has been her go-to platform because of the ease of use and wide range of options. She looks forward to sharing what she has learned with fellow writers.
Find her on her website
Facebook
Instagram
About our Classes
We have no set times for our workshops and you can go through the lessons at your own pace. The classroom remains open for one month afterwards. Sign up today before the upcoming 4th of July holiday sidetracks your schedule. You can see all of our 2026 courses on our Workshops Page.
Questions? Ask them here or contact Kim at Workshops@Heartsthroughhistory.com
We hope to see you!
Kimberly Pride
Education Chair | Workshop Moderator
Hearts Through History
2026 PRISM FINALISTS
(Listed in Alphabetical Order by Book Title)
Dark Paranormal
Captured Prey, A Primal Play Novella by Reno R. Mist
Moon Dance: The Blood Pack Book One by Kay Zempel
Thrice Bound by Nicole E. Kelleher
Light Paranormal
Captivated by Dominik by Sarah Westill
Once Upon a Midnight Dreary by Michelle Miles
Poison Ivy by Shannon Curtis
SciFi/Futuristic
Chosen by Leigh Wyndfield
Destined by Leigh Wyndfield
The Nascent Bloom: Book One Caught by Evie Kelley
Fantasy
Clash of Stone and Steel (Book 3 of The Last Triumvirate) by Karen C.P. McDermott
Crown of Night and Rain by Susan Person
Death and Coffee by Lisa Acerbo
*Finalists are listed alphabetically by book title; the order does not reflect the winners of this contest.
The winners for each category, including Best of the Best (top score) and Best First Book (for debut authors), will be announced during an evening presentation on July 14, 2026, at the RWA National Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. All FFPRWA members attending the conference may attend the awards announcement event.
More information will be provided to PRISM entrants, judges, and chapter members regarding streaming information for virtual attendance of the July 14, 2026 announcement event.
Join us for our next historical-themed workshop beginning Monday, June 15. Shannon Donnelly explores the rapid growth of London from 1800 to 1840, with new businesses, streets, and even a reshaped Hyde Park through writings, photos, maps and PowerPoint presentations. If you write Regency or are interested in old London, you won't want to miss this workshop!
We have no set times for our online workshops and they're accessible for a month afterwards allowing you to go through the lessons at your own pace. Registration remains open until the last day of class. What are you waiting for? Sign up today!
You can see all of our 2026 courses on our Workshops Page.
Regency London: Hotels, Chop Houses & Hyde Park
Instructor: Shannon Donnelly
Start Date: Monday, June 15, 2026
End Date: Friday, June 26, 2026
Location: Hearts Through History Website platform
Duration: 2 Weeks
USD Fee: $10 HHRW Members/$15 Non-Members
About the Workshop:
London grew rapidly from 1800 to 1840, with new businesses, streets, and even Hyde Park being reshaped. This workshop will look at London of that era with written files, images, maps and Power Point presentations that cover:
1 – London Hotels and Inns
2 – Power Point Tour of Hotels and Inns
3 – Coffee Houses, Curry Houses, Chop Shops (and other offbeat places to eat)
4 – Power Point Tour of Eating Houses
5 – Hyde Park: It’s History and Appearance in the Regency Era
6 – Power Point Tour of Hyde Park
About the Instructor:
Shannon Donnelly’s writing has won numerous awards, including the Indie BRAG Gold Medallion, a nomination for Romance Writer’s of America’s RITA award, the Grand Prize in the "Minute Maid Sensational Romance Writer" contest, judged by Nora Roberts, and others. Her writing has repeatedly earned 4½ Star Top Pick reviews from Romantic Times magazine, as well as praise from Booklist and other reviewers, who note: "simply superb"..."wonderfully uplifting"....and "beautifully written." She has several times won the Indie BRAG Gold Medallion, including for her Regency romances Lady Chance and Lady Lost, and for her Regency romance novella Davinia's Duke, which also won the Bookseller's Best award for best novella, judged by readers and booksellers.
In addition to her Regency romances, she is the author of the Mackenzie Solomon, Demon/Warders Urban Fantasy series, Burn Baby Burn and Riding in on a Burning Tire, and the SF/Paranormal, Edge Walkers. Her work has been on the top seller list of Amazon.com and includes the Historical romances, The Cardros Ruby and Paths of Desire.
Hope to see you in June!
Kimberly Pride
Education Chair | Workshop Moderator
You know you need some structure in your writing, but only the thought of outlining makes you break out in hives! Join our June Zoom workshop and increase your chances for success in that first draft. Leslie Hall shows you how to create a strong foundation for your story, including character arcs, big scenes, theme, character change and the big story question. Don't miss out! Sign up today.
Becoming a Plan-tser: Workshop for Recovering Pantsers
Instructor: Leslie Hall
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Time: 11:30 AM EASTERN (Note the change from our usual start time)
Location: ZOOM Platform
Duration: ~60 min
USD Fee: $10 HHRW Members/$15 Non-Members
(Zoom workshops will be recorded and registrants will have replay access for 30 days. No excuses! Register today!)
About the Workshop:
Pantser is a term for writers who write by the seat of their pants, vs. starting with a detailed outline. There is no right or wrong way to structure a story, but bit of planning can increase the chances of finishing a more workable first draft. Learn to create a strong foundation for your story. Covers character arcs, big scenes, theme, character change, and story question.
About the Instructor:
Leslie J. Hall is the author of the Kaitlyn Willis Road Signs Mysteries, an amateur sleuth series starring a Pacific NW code enforcement officer. Her short story, “A Strange Rain,” will be published in an anthology by White City Press in 2026. Leslie began writing in elementary school where she co-wrote her first suspense story: How to Wash a Ghost. When not writing mysteries and women’s fiction, Leslie is a cheerleader for writers through teaching and critiquing. After that, you’ll find her at the beach with a book. Leslie lives in Bremerton, WA. Learn more about her at www.lesliejhall.com
You can see all of our 2026 courses on our Workshops Page.
Questions? Ask them here or contact Workshops (at) HeartsThroughHistory.com
We hope to see you in June!
Kimberly Pride
Education Chair | Workshop Moderator
Hearts Through History
Ann Peterson
Web Chair
Hearts Through History
Come join our first June workshop Monday June 1st! Be the first to participate in this new workshop by Hearts Through History member Cynthia Owens! Learn how to drop hints into your stories and awe your readers with your cleverness. Don't miss it!
June can be a hectic month and we understand. Kids are home from school. Summer camp begins. Vacations are planned. Life suddenly has a new schedule. We can help with your writing goals. With no set times for our online workshops and by keeping them open for a month afterwards, you are free to catch your breath and go through the lessons at your own pace. Registration also remains open until the last day of class. No excuses! Register today!
You can see all of our 2026 courses on our Workshops Page.
The Trail of Breadcrumbs: Foreshadowing Your Story
Instructor: Cynthia Owens
Start Date: Monday, June 1, 2026
End Date: Friday, June 26, 2026
Location: Hearts Through History Website platform
Duration: 4 Weeks Online
USD Fee: $20 HHRW Members/$30 Non-Members
About the Workshop:
Do you want to keep your reader guessing, wondering what will happen next, and keep them turning the pages? You can do it, with a little help from the trail of breadcrumbs known as foreshadowing.
The Trail of Breadcrumbs: Foreshadowing Your Story, is a four-week workshop that helps authors carefully drop hints into their stories that will make your readers say, “Of course! Why didn’t I notice that coming?”
The workshop will cover:
- Lesson One – What is Foreshadowing?
- Lesson Two – Foreshadowing Tools
- Lesson Three –Direct Foreshadowing
- Lesson Four – Indirect Foreshadowing
- Lesson Five – Event Foreshadowing
- Lesson Six – Purposeful Foreshadowing
- Lesson Seven – Prologues
- Lesson Eight – Chekhov’s Gun.
About the Instructor:
I believe I was destined to be interested in history. One of my distant ancestors, Thomas Aubert, reportedly sailed up the St. Lawrence River to discover Canada some 26 years before Jacques Cartier’s 1534 voyage. Another relative was a 17th-century “King’s Girl,” one of a group of young unmarried girls sent to New France (now the province of Quebec) as brides for the habitants (settlers) there.
My passion for reading made me long to write books like the ones I enjoyed, and I tried penning sequels to my favorite Nancy Drew mysteries. Later, fancying myself a female version of Andrew Lloyd Weber, I drafted a musical set in Paris during WWII. A former journalist and lifelong Celtophile, I enjoyed a previous career as a reporter/editor for a small chain of community newspapers before returning to my first love, romantic fiction. My stories usually include an Irish setting, hero or heroine, and sometimes all three.
I’m the author of The Claddagh Series, The Wild Geese Series, the Irish Hearts Series, and the Children of the Swan Series.
A lifelong resident of Montreal, Canada, I still live there with my own Celtic hero. I have two adult children.
Hope to see you in June!
Kimberly Pride
Education Chair | Workshop Moderator
In case anyone is interested, there’s a box set of Historical Trailblazers on kickstarter.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ahpublishing/historical-trailblazers-romance-collection
Don't miss our next Zoom workshop this Saturday, May 16 at 11:00 AM Eastern. From live dictation to transcribing recorded audio, Hillary DePiano will cover the hardware and software you need to become a dictation pro.
Our Zoom workshops are recorded and registrants have replay access for 30 days. Zoom invitations will go out Friday, May 15.
Our workshops are open to everyone. Sign up today!
Hands Free Writing with Dictation and Voice-to-Text
Instructor: Hillary DePiano
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM EASTERN
Location: ZOOM Platform
Duration: ~60 min
USD Fee: $10 HHRW Members/$15 Non-Members
Register: https://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/portal/course/hand-free-writing-with-dictation/lessons
About the Workshop:
Have you ever noticed that your best writing ideas always seem to come when you're nowhere near a keyboard? Stuck in traffic, doing the dishes, folding the laundry... if only there was a way to write hands-free! Fortunately writing with voice-to-text has never been easier or more accessible. Writing with your voice can be faster than typing and the secret to fitting more writing around your already busy schedule. From live dictation to transcribing recorded audio after the fact, join us for this Zoom workshop where we'll cover everything from the hardware and software you need to get started to tips for becoming a dictation pro!
About the Instructor:
Hillary DePiano is a playwright, fiction and non-fiction author best known for fantastically funny fairy tales, surprisingly sweet slapstick and unrelentingly upbeat writing advice. With over two dozen plays for everyone from pre-schoolers and up, she’s been honored to have her work performed in schools and theatres around the world.
A consummate cheerleader for writers at every experience level, Hillary teaches a variety of workshops and writing classes on everything from storycraft to marketing and beyond. She also teaches eBay, e-commerce and selling online under the name T. W. Seller (TheWhineSeller.com).
For more information about her books, plays, and blogs or for the schedule of upcoming events and workshops, visit HillaryDePiano.com.
Questions? Ask them here or contact Workshops (at) HeartsThroughHistory.com
Kimberly Pride
Education Chair | Workshop Moderator
Hello all!
I remember there was talk of meeting up on Tuesday 14th in Albuquerque. Is that still happening? If so, morning or evening? I don't want to miss it!
Thank you 🤗
May workshops begin Monday, May 4 and our workshops are open to everyone.
Are you "Canva-curious" or are you already using it and would like to be more productive? Learn how to use Canva to design all the graphics you will need to establish your presence and market your books, from logos to color schemes to font choices and more with Joan Koster.
Registration is open until the last day of class, and latecomers are always welcome. Our online workshops have no set times to meet and you can progress through the lessons at your own pace. The classrooms remain open for a month afterward to give you time to save the material.
See all our 2026 courses on our Workshops Page and register today!
Canva for Writers
Instructor: Joan Koster
Start Date: Monday, May 4, 2026
End Date: Friday, May 29, 2026
Location: Hearts Through History Website platform
Duration: 4 Weeks
USD Fee: $20 HHRW Members/$30 Non-Members
Register: : https://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/portal/course/canva-for-writers/lessons
About the Workshop:
Unify your brand! This workshop focuses on how to use Canva to design all the graphics you need to establish your presence and market your books. We will cover logo design, color schemes, font choices, photo styling, and making reusable templates that match your style. This is suitable for both total beginners and those who have some working knowledge of Canva but want to streamline how they use it.
*This workshop does not address book cover design but covers just about everything else.
- Introduction to Canva
- Developing a Brand
- Selecting Colors and Fonts
- Making Your Mark: Logo design & more
- Styling Your Photos
- Building a Promotion Set
- Finding the Perfect Size
- Organizing and Storing Your Graphics
About the Instructor:
With a degree in art and an avid interest in technology, Dr. Joan Koster has taught computer-assisted graphic design on a wide variety of platforms at the college level and in numerous workshops. As a multi-published author of historical fiction and romantic suspense, she has designed all the promotions and swag for her books. In recent years, Canva has been her go-to platform because of the ease of use and wide range of options. She looks forward to sharing what she has learned with fellow writers.
Questions? Ask them here or contact Workshops@HeartsThroughHistory.com
Don't miss our other two workshops in May: "What did Jane Say? Enlivening your Regency Dialogue" with Louise Cornell and our May Zoom: "Hands Free Writing with Dictation and Voice-to-Text" with Hillary DePiano.
Kimberly Pride
Education Chair | Workshop Moderator
Hearts Through History