"Truth, Lies, and Style: Writing and Publishing Historical Fiction"

For Honors creative writing alum Allison Epstein ('14), the journey between "inspiration" and "publication" was a long one—seven years long, to be exact. After drafting a novel for her senior honors thesis, Allison went on to pitch, sell, and publish that thesis as her debut novel: A Tip for the Hangman (Doubleday, Feb. 2021). Hangman is a historical thriller that follows the life of the 16th-century poet Christopher Marlowe and his secret career in service of Queen Elizabeth I's spymaster. (Her agent refers to the novel as "the Dirtbag Kit Marlowe book," a tagline Allison endorses.)

Allison will share the inspiration and historical context behind her novel, along with a behind-the-scenes look into the world of literary publishing. From the ins and outs of historical research to the white whale of signing with a literary agent, she'll explain the lesser-known aspects of how a book makes it to print. She'll also answer any questions you care to ask about Early Modern spies, a subject she delights in.


Allison Epstein is a historical fiction author based in Chicago. By day, she works as a marketing copywriter for a firm serving higher education and not-for-profit institutions. She earned her B.A. in English and creative writing from the University of Michigan in 2014 and her MFA in fiction from Northwestern University in 2020. When not writing, she enjoys good theater and terrible puns. Find her at allisonepstein.com, or on Instagram and Twitter @rapscallison.

Register on Sessions: https://myumi.ch/zxoVD