The Launch Weekend

Saturday - Triskele invades Leatherhead!

Kat, Barbara, Liza, Gilly, Jill and Jane

Tipped off by fellow authors Roz Morris and Jane Davis, we knew Peter Snell, owner of Barton’s Bookshop, was open to indie authors. When we approached him to suggest launching six new books in one afternoon, his response was pragmatic.

"Never done six before, but there’s a first time for everything."

Peter Snell of Barton's Bookshop

We needed no further encouragement. So we turned up, complete with books and themed props, and scattered ourselves around the shop.

Peter and his staff, Cameron and Harvi, did not seem to resent the invasion, but welcomed us, cheerfully supplying coffee. Peter had even made us a chocolate cake. What a host!

A lovely afternoon spent in a beautiful bookshop, with the added bonus of meeting readers and friends.

Thank you, Barton's Bookshop!


Sunday – IAF#14

This was our second time at Chorleywood LitFest.
The previous year we launched our 2013 novels and loaned ourselves out as a Human Library. When we started planning back in April, we wanted to do something different for 2014.

“What about a fair?” I said. “For indie authors.”

“There’s a thought,” said Catriona. “We could have a pop-up bookshop.” 

“Yes, that should be easy enough to organise,” we agreed.

Seven months later, we were kneeling in the mud trying to attach The Indie Author Fair banner to the railings, before lugging boxes of books down a slippery flight of steps, setting up the pop-up media centre, meeting our sponsors, directing authors to their stalls, answering media enquiries and posing for photographs.

Forty authors, hundreds of books, sixteen readings, four sponsors, a thousand catalogues and three hours of buzzing activity, all organised by Triskele Books, with the support of The Alliance of Independent Authors(ALLi) and Chorleywood bookshop. 

Not to mention afternoon teas with more homemade cakes.

At five o’clock, we celebrated with all the other indie authors with a well-deserved glass of wine. According to the feedback, our first ever Indie Author Fair had been a huge success. Catriona, our Triskelite on the ground, reminded me of that early conversation. Easy to organise? Not so much. But between us, we pulled it off.

Roll on next year. 

By JJ Marsh

Chorleywood Launch!

Triskele Books at Chorleywood

Thanks to the tireless enthusiasm and endless curiosity of Sheryl and Morag (the people who run Chorleywood's award-winning independent bookshop),Triskele Books became part of the Chorleywood Literary Festival. Festival guests this year include Ranulph Fiennes, David Suchet, Kate Adie, Terry Wogan, Hadley Freeman, Bill Bryson and ... Triskele Books! And what a wonderful day it was. When we arrived to set up, the venue was full of happy children, who'd just enjoyed the LitFest Storytime. Which explains why Morag was dressed as a unicorn.

Three events made up the indie fringe:

The Human Library

The Human Library

The Triskelites offered ourselves as reference books on all aspects of independent publishing. Attendees could borrow any one of us for a one-to-one chat on whatever subject they wanted to discuss. Chorleywood festival-goers kept us busy. Catriona's first client was an 80-year-old children's author, whereas Jill's was an 11-year-old fantasy adventure writer, who'd done all her own illustrations. We met a sports psychologist, a photographer, two sci-fi imagineers and a host of people who would not consider themselves writers, but were bursting with ideas. So busy engaging with our 'borrowers', we were almost late for the next event.

The Rise of the Author Collective

Perry and the Triskelites

Moderated by Perry Iles, our proof-reader and writerly colleague, we answered questions on the practicalities of operating as a collective. Jane explained how we remain independent while working as a team. Gilly shone some light on how five authors communicate across three countries and two time zones. Liza gave an honest insight into how much work really goes on behind the scenes. The audience had so many intelligent and perceptive questions, we ended up running far over our allotted time.

The Launch

Three new releases and unusually for Triskele, all in the same genre: historical fiction. But the time periods in question could not be more dissimilar.
Liza Perrat's Wolfsangel takes place in a rural French village under the shadow of WWII Nazi occupation.
JD Smith's Overlord is set in 3rd century Syria and follows the rise of warrior queen Zenobia.
Catriona Troth's Ghost Town explores race, racism and identity against the backdrop of 1980s Coventry.

The passion for the story radiated from each author, and the brief readings seemed to enthuse and excite the audience, so that our books table was overrun.



Celebrations in the pub and an extraordinarily lively Chinese meal rounded off a marvellous weekend in the company of writers, readers and booklovers. Thank you, Chorleywood!

Triskele at Chorleywood LitFest

“The greatest little litfest you’d never heard of – until now”

Chorleywood LitFest  

6 - 21 November

Featuring Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Bill Bryson, Terry Wogan, David Suchet, Douglas Hurd, Kate Adie, Hadley Freeman and ...

Triskele Books! 

Saturday November 16 sees three firsts: 

 

The Human Library

Participants can borrow one of the Triskele authors to discuss any aspect of indie publishing

The Rise of the Author Collective

The panel discuss lessons learned on the self-publishing journey and the benefits of working together

The Launch

And the launch of the next three new releases from the Triskele Books collective:

· Wolfsangel - Liza Perrat

· Overlord - JD Smith

· Ghost Town - Catriona Troth

All events are free but to book your place: here's more information
And for maps, directions and the right Tube line: Where's Chorleywood?