Author Feature, New Releases, Calendar of Events, Book Fairs & Marketing Opportunities
Indie Author Insider V55 - November 2024
“Prepare yourself for hard work and failures, but always stand up and try again.” ~ Dr. Birgit Constant
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WELCOME!
Let’s welcome new subscribers by checking out their books, newsletters, or other creative projects:
, , Leland P. Gamson, , , , Taylor Robinson Johnson, and .Welcome to Indie Author Insider! We are looking forward to getting to know you and your writing journey. Please share your book launches, signings, and other events by posting info in the comment section or emailing kathy@indieauthorsassociation.com.
INDIE AUTHOR MEETUP & COOKOUT
Thanks to Leland Gamson and his wife, Bonnie, for hosting a cookout for local writers, artists, and creatives. It was fun getting to know each other, doing a show and tell with our creative projects, playing trivia games, being outside on a beautiful day, and talking with friends who are into the arts. I’m looking forward to our next meetup!
NEW BOOK RELEASES
Author Platform Solution: How to Build an Author Platform that Will Help You Sell More Books (The Minimalist Author) by
Capy & Pug Pug Get Spooky by Christopher and Thomas Peek
Explore Indiana by Kathy Marcuson
Imaginari by Kristina Kelly
Warrior of Two Kings by Dr. Birgit Constant
AUTHOR FEATURE – Dr. Birgit Constant
Birgit Constant has a PhD in medieval studies, has learned eleven languages and worked her way through translation, IT and Public Relations before ending up in the world of books. She has been working as an author, writer, and editor in Landshut, Germany, since 2014. She writes historical fiction for readers who want to immerse themselves into medieval history and languages. She has also published a guide for budding authors. When Birgit is not working on her manuscripts, you can find her hiking or biking in Landshut, where she lives with her family.
Click on the audio link if you would like to hear Birgit answer the questions in her voice.
Tell us about you!
Hi Kathy, thanks for having me on your podcast. And also hi to everyone listening. My name is Birgit Constant, I write historical fiction for language nerds, because I love languages – ancient, medieval and modern – and the Middle Ages.
How many books have you written?
So far, I have published four novels, two short stories and a non-fiction book for budding authors.
What is the most recent book you have published?
I have to give you two answers to this question, I am afraid, because I publish in German and in English. My most recent German book is a fictional biography about Marie de France, the first named French writer who actually wrote in, well, French, not Latin, in the 12th century. In English, my first full-size novel Warrior of Two Kings has just been released. It is book 1 of my Northumbria Trilogy and is a coming-of-age story of a young warrior in the 11th century, in the years of the Norman conquest. It’s similar to Son of Mercia and The Last Kingdom, but with less blood and gore.
What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
I hope the biggest takeaway is that history is more than just the big names. Less well-known people and places mattered in shaping world history, and they also have their own particular history which we have yet to discover. In Warrior of Two Kings, I delve into the history of two teeny-weeny villages in Yorkshire, Leavening and Wilberfoss, around the year 1066. Leavening is one of the few places that, according to Domesday Book, was not completely wasted during the Harrowing of the North by William the Conqueror’s army. Wilberfoss is not even mentioned in Domesday Book, because it lay within the manor and soke of Catton at that time, but it had an area of grassland which could have been the site of a manor, and also a Benedictine monastery – both of which are essential to the story of the Northumbria Trilogy.
Apart from getting readers to learn about and appreciate what is so aptly called hidden histories, I also hope that readers will enjoy the deep-dive into the languages spoken in those days. Like all my books, Warrior of Two Kings is sprinkled with medieval words and phrases, so if you love languages as much as I do, this book is for you.
What was the most challenging aspect of getting your book published, and how did you overcome it?
The most challenging aspect was to find my way through the umpteen print sizes and choose the most suitable ones for my book. I was lucky to have an experienced cover designer, Patrick Knowles, who was able to offer guidance and advice.
How did you come up with the idea for your book?
Warrior of Two Kings actually has a very peculiar history. You see, everything started off with a call to papers from a small publishing house. The theme was “Devilish beasts, beastly devils” and I came up with a rather gruesome story involving a huge hound. In the end, there was no such hound in the novel that sprang from this idea and the story was not as gruesome anymore. In addition, my then writing coach said that the male secondary character deserved his own book – and this is how Warrior of Two Kings came about. It is the first in the trilogy, but it was written after book number 2.
What is your favorite genre to read and write?
I am actually very hard to please when it comes to reading and have a rather eclectic taste. To be honest, I love non-fiction books and probably read more of those than novels. I guess, I take life-long learning to extremes sometimes. Anyway, when it comes to fiction books, I generally tend to read novels off the mainstream – I certainly stay away from romance, thriller, crime and if I see a bestseller stamp, I take to my heels. Of course, I love to read medieval historical fiction, especially set in the centuries before 1200. The same applies to writing. I think it’s because it gives me a reason to spend hours researching.
What is your writing routine, and any specific habits or rituals that have helped you stay productive?
Being productive is a challenge for me, as I am a very slow writer. I type fast, but I find it really hard to put words on paper, virtual or physical. Besides, there is always so much research to do for my novels and it can easily distract from staying on track writing. I am a morning person, so I try to get as many words down before midday. I usually have a very detailed plot outlined down to each and every scene in the book, which helps to keep me going. I do not have to think about what comes next, but just need to look at my plot to continue.
How do you handle writer's block or moments when you feel creatively stuck?
A detailed plot actually helps me to avoid or at least circumvent writer’s block. If I am stuck with a scene, I simply pick another one further down the line which seems to be easier to write. When I get back to where I left off, the scene has usually unstuck itself, so I can then finish it.
What are you working on next?
I am writing a collection of short stories featuring the people at the lowest end of the social ladder in medieval England, and I also want to publish book 2 of the Northumbria trilogy in 2025.
If you could do a book signing anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Actually, I have never done a book signing before, so that’s a difficult question. As it stands, it would probably be York in the UK, which I have grown quite fond of while writing the Northumbria trilogy. I visited York many years ago and would love to go back.
Where is the most exciting or unusual place you promoted your book?
I’d love to do a walking tour through Wilberfoss and read out select related passages from Warrior of Two Kings at the various places. I doubt this type of public reading has ever been done before in Wilberfoss.
What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
Prepare yourself for hard work and failures, but always stand up and try again.
What is one thing you love about being an author?
Being an author gives me lots of flexibility in fitting my work around my family life.
What do you dislike about being an author?
It can be hard to keep up the self-discipline and motivation if book sales are low for no obvious reason or if writing doesn’t go quite as fast as you would like.
What has helped you sell the most books?
Writing a series has definitely made selling books easier.
What is the most valuable lesson you've learned on your journey as an author that you wish you had known before you started?
The most valuable lesson I learned as an author is really something that applies to life in general: Don’t do something just because others do it. Check for yourself if it is truly a good fit for you and your books or if you are simply wasting your time and/or money.
What is your favorite quote? (It can be yours or from someone else.)
My favourite quote is from Pope Gregory’s Pastoral Care, as translated by King Alfred the Great, so it is in Old English. "Beo ðu abisgod ymbe rædinge", literally "Be thou busy with reading", that is, "Give attendance to reading".
Where can we find you?
If you want to be a featured author, please write a post or complete the author interview questions at writerkat.com and email it to kathy@indieauthorsassociation.com.
2024 INDIE AUTHOR CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Do you want to connect with authors, meet book lovers, and sell more books?Check out these upcoming book fairs, marketing, and networking opportunities!
November
11/2/24 – 37th Annual Buckeye Book Fair, Saturday, November 2, 2024, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM at Greystone Event Center, 50 Riffel Road, Wooster, Ohio.
11/6-10/24 – Local Authors at the Annual Christmas Gift & Hobby Show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St, Indianapolis, Indiana. Look for Kristina W. Kelly on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, from 10 AM - 2:30 PM; Leland P. Gamson on Thursday, November 7, 2024, 10 AM - 8 PM; and Lloyd Mullins on Friday, November 8, 2024 and Saturday, November 9, 2024 from 3:15 - 5 PM, and Sunday, November 10, 2024 from 10 AM - 5 PM. George Kramer will be at the event all the days from open to close!
11/11-15/24 – Author Nation (Formerly 20Books Vegas), November 11-15, 2024, Las Vegas, Nevada.
11/16/24 – Bullitt County Authors Fair, Saturday, Nov 16, 2024, 10 AM – 2 PM, Central Library, 740 Conestoga Pkwy, Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Look for Dan Klefstad at this event.
11/30/24 – Lew Wallace Hoosier Author Fair, Saturday, November 30, 2024, 5-8 PM at Fusion54 Coworking Space, 101 W. Main St., Crawfordsville, Indiana.
11/30/24 – Kristina Kelly Book Signing, Saturday, November 30, 2024, 2-4 PM. Join Kristina for her first poetry collection, Imaginari, at Gal's Guide Library, 107 South 8th Street, Noblesville, Indiana. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the author, get their books signed, and participate in a poetry reading and Q&A session.
December 2024
12/6/24 – Winter Artisan Market (formerly INDIEana Handicraft Exchange), Friday, December 6, 2024, 6-9 PM.
January 2025
1/31/25-2/1/25 – Sixth Annual Sunshine State Book Festival, Friday, January 31, 2025, 7-9 PM and Saturday, February 1, 2025, 10 AM - 4 PM, at the Best Western Grand, 4200 NW 97th Blvd, Gainesville, Florida.
March 2025
3/22/25 – Peoria Bookfest 2025, Saturday, March 22, 2025, 10 AM - 6 PM, FFC's Life Together Center, 3625 N Sheridan Rd, Peoria, Illinois.
June 2025
6/28-29/25 – Midwest Bookish Fest, Saturday, June 28, 2025, 8 AM - 8 PM, and Sunday, June 29, 2025, 8 AM - 6 PM, Minneapolis Marriott West, 9960 Wayzata Blvd, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
September 2025
9/27/25 – Readers and Writers Rendezvous, Saturday, September 27, 2025, 10 AM - 5 PM, Peoria Civic Center Ballroom, 201 SW Jefferson Ave, Peoria, Illinois.
Thank you for reading the November 2024 issue of Indie Author Insider (#55). I hope you found it helpful. You can share information about your books, events, and what you want to see in future editions by emailing kathy@indieauthorsassociation.com.
Special thanks to our sponsoring subscribers: Ashley Gary Johnson, Bess Sturgis, Bonnie Lieberman, John Sherman, Leland P. Gamson, Lloyd Mullins, Nancy Nau Sullivan, and Sarah Styf. Thank you for supporting indie authors. We appreciate you!
Thanks also to the Substack Publications recommending Indie Author Insider: Self-Publishing with Dale, The Life Strategies Playbook & Mentoring Program, Jon’s Substack, Johnny B. Truant’s Inspired as F**k, Bernie Books, Made From What's Not Real, Susan's Expressions, Art Spot, Jess Wolfie's Wonderful World, Mordicai’s Substack, John Roberts’ Weekly Rambles, Cellar Door, Letters To My Brother, Lighthouse, Book Whisperer, Bradford’s Substack, My Favorite Classical Music, John Roberts' Weekly Rambles, Courtenay Nold’s Poetry Warrior Substack, 6 P’s in AI Pods, Melissa’s Substack, and The Intellectual Investor.
Kathy Gerstorff
P.S. This newsletter contains affiliate links for books and products mentioned. I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links. There is no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.
Kathy- I appreciate you sharing this list. Stay safe this Election Day.