Celtic Folklore Workshop, New Book Releases, AI Everywhere, Author Features, Book Fairs & More…
Indie Author Insights March 2026 (#71)
The Celtic warrior fought with steel. The indie author fights with story. Persistence wins both battles! ~ WriterKat
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WELCOME
Let’s welcome new subscribers by checking out their books, newsletters, or other creative projects:
Armand Rosamilia, juliana frost, Dan Catalano, Jill Cooper, Jeffery Scott, Thomas Tiernan, Pamela Asai, Terry Malone, Karen Brees, James Richards, Felisa Ordep - Author, OMNIGod, Richard Hogan, MD, PhD(2), DBA, Raquel Y. Levitt, Kathy Mandell Travel Dog Lady, and Lenny.
Welcome to Indie Author Insights! 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 comments or emailing kathy@indieauthorsassociation.com.
Happy Spring, Indie Authors and Curious Creatives
Month three, already?! I’m happy to be on the other side of winter. The older I get, the more challenging winter seems. I love spring! Sunshine, fresh air, vibrant colors, and plenty of new books to read. Check out New Releases below to see what’s on my radar.
I have been busy getting our Bookworm Orchard Bookstore up and running. If you’re in the area, we would love to see you. If you’re far away, you can still help support us when you shop on Bookshop!
https://bookshop.org/shop/bookwormorchard
Please check it out and select Bookworm Orchard as your preferred bookstore if you don’t already have a favorite selected for your book purchases. Bookshop gives selected bookstores a portion of their proceeds without any additional cost to you. It’s a great way to support your favorite independent bookstore!
Indie Author Meetup
Our second local author group meetup will be Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10-11 AM in the banquet room across from Bookworm Orchard located in the lower level of the Boston Hill Center, 428 S Washington St, Marion, Indiana. This is a fun way to get to know other writers and learn what’s new in the world of indie publishing and marketing. Join us if you can!
Author Features
If YOU would like to be a featured author, simply write something up or answer the author interview questions you can find at writerkat.com and I’ll take it from there. There is no charge for this service thanks to the generous support of Indie Author Insights patrons.
Check out these previous author features: Teresa Keefer, Bess Sturgis, Hiram Foster, Jill Ebstein, Leland P. Gamson, Paul Barile, Ashley Gary Johnson, Morgana Shae, Andie LaComb, Alan Losure, Austin Valenzuela, Nancy Nau Sullivan, Beth Powers, Joshua Dent, Sarah Styf, Dan Klefstad, Russell Nohelty, Stella Fosse, Birgit Constant, Kathy Marcuson, Herman Renfro, Benjamin Bradley, Barbara Shoup, Jill Ebstein, Mike Matzdorff, Paul Cobbin, J.T. Kelly, Marissa Malson, Tom McAuliffe, Stella Fosse, Michael Deeze, Randy Dupree, Christopher Stolle, Chris McWhirt, Craig Jackson, Nancy Simmonds, John Sherman, Jonathan Goodman, and Marylee Pangman.
Stories From The Orchard Anthology
The Kickstarter pre-launch hasn’t taken off like I expected. Several people have requested a way to support the book launch for the bookstore outside of Kickstarter. So, I’m looking at other distribution methods, including Draft2Digital who has partnered with Bookshop.org.
NOTE: If you publish on Amazon KDP, your book may not show up on Bookshop!
New Book Releases
AI Everywhere, Vol. 1: How Women Are Changing The World With Artificial Intelligence by Karen Smiley et al
How appropriate Karen Smiley’s #1 New Release, AI Everywhere, is launching during Women’s History Month!
When my youngest granddaughter was little, I used to read Rebel Girls to her, which is a book series about women in history. She loved it, and I always learned something new.
Learning something new is what AI Everywhere is about for me. I’m in awe of the women from around the world who are involved in this project, and grateful to Karen for bringing their stories to us. I love technology and am excited to learn how to use AI ethically.
Revelation: Book 3 Of The Adamic Chronicles
Chris is launching Revelation, his latest sci-fi book #3 of The Adamic Chronicles, right down the road from me at the Gas City Public Library on Saturday, March 14, 2026 from 11 AM - 12 PM. Come say hi and get a signed copy, if you’re in the area!
Autumn in the Skin by Connor Landon Freeman
Connor says his latest book is a horror and historical fiction story that is “dark, spooky, creepy...and boy is it weird.”
If you like spooky, creepy, weird stories, this one is for you!
Scribe Bytes
The past couple of months I have called ChatGPT my virtual medical assistant as I have used it to decipher lab reports. It helped me know that I should ask my NP for an echocardiogram, which probably saved my life! Because of the results of the echo, I’m following Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn’s SOS-Free WFPB (sugar-oil-salt-free, whole food plant-based) diet in an effort to reverse heart disease!
I have followed Dr. Esselstyn’s wife, Ann, and his daughter, Jane, on their YouTube channel for plant-based recipes, but I had no idea that sugar, oil, and salt damages the endothelial cells, and that green leafy vegetables along with balsamic vinegar are necessary to increase nitric oxide that the heart needs to heal.
I am grateful that AI is helping me be an advocate for my health!
Still, I would love it if AI could automatically format documents to books. I think I would become a millionaire if I created a bot that could instantly format books. If someone beats me to it, let me know!
2026 Indie Author Calendar of Events
Book Marketing, Networking & Selling Opportunities
Do you want to connect with authors, meet book lovers, and sell more books? Check out these opportunities:
MARCH 2026
Indie Author Group Meeting, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10 - 11 AM, 428 S Washington St, Suite 121, Marion, Indiana.
Celtic Folklore Workshop, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 11 AM - 1 PM, 428 S Washington St, Suite 121, Marion, Indiana.
Chris McWhirt Book Signing, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 1 - 3 PM, at Half-Price Books, 533 E Coliseum Blvd, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
New Orleans Book Festival, March 12-14, 2026, Tulane University, 200 Broadway Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Chris McWhirt Book Launch of Revelation: Book 3 Of The Adamic Chronicles, Saturday, March 14, 2026, 11 AM - 12 PM, at Gas City Public Library, 135 E Main St, Gas City, Indiana.
Venice Book Fair, Saturday, March 28, 2026, West Blalock Park, Venice, Florida.
APRIL 2026
BOOKWORM ORCHARD GRAND OPENING & AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING EVENT. Saturday, April 25, 2026, 10 AM - 3 PM, 428 S Washington St, Suite 101 & 121, Marion, Indiana. Attending authors include: Angela Herrington, April Decton, Ava Cuvay, Bess Sturgis, Bob Freeman, Chris McWhirt, Christine Lawrence, Connor Freeman, Elizabeth Woodrow, Erin Hayden, Jana Strickler, Jessica Miller, Laura Petrucce, Leland P. Gamson, Liz Flaherty, Lori Goss-Reaves, Mark Saluke, Mona Mehas, Pilar Del Ray, Rebecca Gulley, Rochelle Bradley, Shae Smith, Sheri Ann Richerson, Stephanie Renee, Terra Chism, and Valeria Horton along with bookstore co-owners: J.J. Devine, Teresa Keefer, and Kathy Gerstorff.
Stories From The Orchard Book Launch, Saturday, April 25, 2026, 4-6 p.m., 428 S Washington St, Suite 101 & 121, Marion, Indiana.
MAY 2026
Reader and Author Gathering Event (RAGE), Saturday, May 2, 2026, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Hotel Versailles, 22 North Center Street, Versailles, Ohio. Look for Bess Sturgis at this event.
Indy Lit Con, Saturday, May 16, 2026, Dallara Experience Hub, 1201 N Main St, Speedway, Indiana. Complete interest form if you want to be a vendor.
Newark Book Festival, Saturday, May 16, 2026, Canal Market District, Newark, Ohio. Look for Bess Sturgis at this event.
SEPTEMBER 2026
Legendary Lexington Book Bash, Saturday, September 12, 2026, Lexington, Kentucky. Look for Bess Sturgis at this event.
OCTOBER 2026
Books By The Arch, Saturday, October 17, 2026, St. Louis, Missouri. Look for Bess Sturgis at this event.
Check out this Google Spreadsheet of Author Events to see if there is an event that interests you!
Do you have an upcoming book signing or event to share? Post in the comments or email kathy@indieauthorsassociation.com.
Thank You!
Thank you for reading the March issue of Indie Author Insights (#71). 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 Indie Author Insights patrons and Indie Authors Association members:
Ashley Gary Johnson of Vita Continuat, Bess Sturgis Chris McWhirt, Christopher Stolle, Fleur Hull, Jennifer Huston Schaeffer, Jill Ebstein, J.J. Devine, Kay Castaneda, Karen Smiley, Leland P. Gamson, Lloyd Mullins, Morgana Shea, Mike Nelson (Michael Deeze), Nancy Nau Sullivan, Paul Cobbin, Sarah Styf, Teresa Keefer, Terra Chism, Tina Susedik, and Wendy Mayhew.
Thanks also to the Substack Publications recommending Indie Author Insights! Here are the top three:
Thank you for supporting independent authors. We appreciate you!
Kathy Gerstorff
WriterKat
Indie Authors Association
Bookworm Orchard
Thanks so much for the notification & invite. I do hope your event goes exceedingly well, and I’m more than happy to participate if so desired. TTYL.