The past month has brought quite a variety of updates for Ambergrove! We had (possibly) our last events of the year, started some new communication avenues, rearranged the alcove, made some connections for new events and shelf availability, brought home a new monster, and worked on two publications!
The Table
First thing’s first: what’s with that table? I got a table this month and rearranged my alcove to use the table as my main desk. The table is from my grandma. She moved to a retirement home recently, and soon after she needed to use a different table in the dining room, so I asked for this one. I have many memories at this table. It was the dining table in my grandparents’ farmhouse while I was growing up, and I spent countless afternoons sitting at the table and talking to my grandma. I stopped by after school a lot just to chat, and perhaps sometimes to mildly harass my grandpa while he was listening to the radio yard-sale segments. I went there when our farm truck’s engine block cracked while I was driving it, and I sat at this table with her until my parents came to get me. I was sitting at this table when I told her about most of the big events in my life. I was sitting at this table when she gave me life advice of all kinds. I told her my life stories at this table. Now, I get to use it in my alcove to tell Ambergrove’s stories to you.
This also prompted me to rearrange my alcove to better use the space, and it’s certainly pleasant to simply be in.
The Events
The end of September and the start of October brought two events for Ambergrove: the first was new and the second was a staple.
Clayshire Castle Medieval Faire
Hurricane Helene, while extremely devastating to other parts of the US, only mildly affected us the last weekend of September. There were moderate winds and heavy rain on the weekend, which caused power outages and roadblocks. However, many, many people still braved the weather and came out. We had a fantastic time despite the rain, and we had four fun playthroughs of Paeor’s Game on the D&D side of the booth.
It was gorgeous out there at the castle, and it reminded me of the lovely Scottish weather and the rolling hills I love so dearly. As long as they’ll have us, we’ll be attending the Clayshire Castle medieval faire every year. They’ll have us on the map and the D&D games listed in the program. Look out for it for the last weekend of September next year!
MCPL Author Fair
The first weekend of October brought the fourth annual MCPL author fair. As always, it was a fantastic little event. I met some new authors, gained a few new readers, and was able to participate on my first author panel. The panel itself was fantastic. The organizing librarian selected a prolific mystery author, a prolific romance author, a children’s comic author (who was unfortunately unable to participate), and myself. We had a lovely discussion about writing styles, the publishing process, preparing for events, and author philosophies. I hope to be able to participate in more panels in the future.
Next year is MCPL author fair’s fifth year! They will be moving to a larger venue and possibly adding more cool elements. If you’re anywhere in the central Indiana area, keep an eye out for announcements about the event next year!
The Newsletter
After my events and after things had settled down, I decided to delve a little deeper into the social media thing. I began by interacting more on Instagram, and then I created a Threads account, and while I was talking with other authors on there, I discovered how much fuller the community could be if I was able to put out a newsletter to connect more consistently. Not everyone is going to see the blog posts—and I am aware that they are often overlong. Sometimes you just don’t want to read this much. Not everyone uses social media. So, a newsletter! I’m building materials on Mailchimp and will be starting a newsletter on the first of the month every month beginning with November 1. Sign up for the newsletter and prepare for your first email on the first day of the Celtic year (November 1)!
The Discord
What? A Discord? Yes!—or at least we’re going to see! I’m currently working on setting everything up and making sure I’ve done it correctly. I’m not so experienced with Discord, so there’s some things to iron out. I know it can be a bit awkward to join something like that when it’s just starting and there aren’t many others in the community—and there may not be a community that grows out of it—but since so many use Discord, I figured I would give it a try to see if any adventurers want to connect with each other to discuss Ambergrove or related interests. Check back on the website homepage or contact page for the invite link (included with the social media buttons). I hope to see you there after it’s ready!
The Monster Baby
Our family recently grew by one! Bandit was an outside gal all her life (9 years), and now that her previous family are moving where they cannot have roamers, she came to our home to spend her retirement years laying on the couch.
She’s a little spicy (or at least she thinks she is), and it’s taking her some time to realize that our other gals are her big sisters and aren’t out to get her. She’s a snuggler already, so we’re hoping once she’s more confident around here she’ll start hanging out with us on cozy surfaces.
The Anthology & Some Sharing
The anthology I’m part of, Black Cat Tales, is moving forward steadily. The cover was revealed and the Kickstarter begun this week. Check the Other Publications page for more information about the book and publisher.
They also released the author blurbs this week as they led up to the cover reveal and Kickstarter. Since my bio for the anthology was included with that, I figured it was time for me to share a personal detail. My story for this anthology is a domestic violence story. I am passionate about the subject because I am a survivor myself. I have carefully kept that past separate from Tales of Ambergrove thus far for two reasons: (1) it is just that—the past—and while I live with the aftereffects over a decade later, I am in a healthy marriage now; (2) there is no domestic violence, sexual violence, or any element of child abuse in Ambergrove. Though I have not touched on it yet, I had intended to mention it organically. The time is coming soon. It is mentioned in the core book coming out later this year, and it is detailed further in Ember on the Anvil, which is planned for next year, via the introduction of one character: Medusa. Not a medusa, as in standard D&D—the Medusa of Greek myth. She will tell her story to Ember directly in EotA when Ember visits Medusa’s village and finds her revered.
If any of my readers are survivors, I see you. And if you imagine yourself walking through a doorway into the fantasy lands you read and have imagined doing so with Ambergrove, know that I created a world where your personal monsters cannot go.
The Core Book
Promises, promises. I am working double time to get this book ready to submit. It’s by far the longest book I’ve ever published, coming in at over 30,000 words longer than any of the other books—almost half again what the others are. All materials have been submitted to the publisher besides the actual manuscript, which I hope to have submitted by the end of the week. Once the final materials are submitted, I expect it to take about a month for retail availability. We’re looking at late November or early December. Fingers crossed!
The Rest of the Year
Officially, we are done for the year. I am working on getting the core book through the publishing process, but the events are done, and it’s otherwise just down to preparing for next year and working on EotA. If the core book is available when I’d like it to be, I may have one final small event in December that’s focused on the D&D branch of Ambergrove. I’ll provide more news when I have it! In the meantime, I’ll be more active on Instagram (and sharing the posts to Facebook) and intermittently active on Threads.
Until next time, adventurers!
Tales of Ambergrove 