AnNETTE BARLOW

Annette Barlow is a commercial fiction publisher at Allen & Unwin, looking forward to hearing about historical fiction in most sub-genres this weekend. Her list includes Kate Morton, Kirsty Manning, Minette Walters, Alex Miller, Kerry Greenwood, Bryan Brown and Holly Throsby. Annette is very interested in both commercial and literary historical fiction and loves a high-concept, page-turning novel.

What is the minimum word-count your agency or publishing house accepts? 
65,000 words

Which historical sub-genres or genres are you not looking for?
Military, horror, medieval

Is there a historical sub-genre you're particularly keen to see?
I love a dual timeline historical; happy to see romance winding through history in the text; keen to see what sort of Australian historicals are pitched.

Which historical sub-genre is your personal favourite?
As above, I love a dual timeline historical that cleverly weaves both threads to impact on the other. Historical mysteries, and family mysteries.

What is your major turn-off in a book?
The classic information dump in the first few pages. It slows the pace, confuses the reader and most of the necessary information can be inserted as the reader needs to know.

What is likely to really impress you besides an engaging voice and well-written book?
Writing that feels fresh, that compels me to turn the pages; writing that connects me to the characters and their situations; strongly defined characters; a plot that is well thought out and a pace that does not lag...

Any advice to your potential pitchers?
Don't be nervous, we all want your book to be 'the one'. Try not to read your pitch. Practice it a lot before you come. If you're quoting comparison titles, ensure your comps are realistic.

If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?

Can I dine with two? Jane Austen and Anne Boleyn for me. I wonder if they'd get on? I'd be rather scared of both but over dinner and a glass of wine, what secrets would be revealed!