Forged for France? The Curious Case of Groix’s Viking Shield Bosses.
The Groix Ship Burial | Launch Days Are the Worst | The Empress and Her Wolf
Welcome to the newsletter, where history, storytelling, and inspiration meet. Every week, I share some of the fun historical research I’ve done while writing my novels, writing reflections (and sometimes tips), and sharing updates on my work and journey. If you were forwarded this message, you can join the weekly newsletter here.
Today’s Dispatch
Viking History: What four shield bosses on Groix tell us about the Vikings.
Writing and Publishing: Launch days are the worst.
Author Update: The Empress and Her Wolf releases TOMORROW
This week’s book recommendation.
Viking History
The Ship Burial on Groix and What it May Tell Us About the Vikings
The ship burial on the island of Groix off the southern coast of Brittany reveals something fascinating: not all Viking equipment fits the Scandinavian mold. Among the weapons and armor uncovered at the site, including 33 shield bosses of the typical Scandinavian make, were four shield bosses unlike any previously found in Scandinavia. These bosses were plain, rounded, and slightly steeper than the typical hemispherical shape. But what truly sets them apart is the design of their rims.
Two bosses feature six-pointed projections, each secured with three rivets.
Two others display eight rounded projections, each with three rivets.
A fragment from another rim shows densely set rivet holes and a finely indented border—perhaps decorative, or maybe functional.
These atypical designs suggest something more than regional style—they may indicate adaptation. The Groix burial is strong evidence that Norse warriors in Brittany were not simply transplanting their gear, but modifying it—possibly to suit new forms of combat, local materials, or even to align with Frankish or Breton aesthetic and martial traditions.
It’s a reminder that the so-called “Vikings” were more than raiders—they were agile, observant, and strategically flexible. And when they came ashore in Brittany, they didn’t just bring their weapons—they reimagined them.
Want to see these artifacts for yourself? Check them out here »»»
Writing and Publishing
Launch Days Are the Worst. Or Are They?
Tomorrow is launch day for The Empress and Her Wolf. You’d think I’d be excited—and I am, sort of—but if I’m being honest, launch days are always a bit of a rollercoaster for me.
There’s enormous pressure in the publishing world to make launch day the most important day. The big six publishing houses (I call them “the cartel”) treat it like a high-stakes moon landing: press releases, author interviews, email blasts, and paid reviews timed down to the hour. The prevailing wisdom is that if you don’t hit big in the first 24 to 72 hours, you’re toast. The industry moves on.
But I’ve learned that’s not the whole story in indie publishing.
Take The Lords of the Wind. When I released it, I didn’t even have a formal launch plan. No countdown. No party. No press. Just a quiet “soft launch” to see what would happen. For the first 60 days, not much did. A few sales here and there. A handful of reviews. Crickets, mostly.
Then something changed.
Perhaps it was all the marketing I did (I’m sure that helped), along with word of mouth, and probably a significant amount of the algorithm gods smiling down on me, but within weeks, sales began to climb. Ten books a day. Then twenty. Thirty. Forty. By day 90, The Lords of the Wind hit #1 in its category. And when I enrolled it in Kindle Unlimited, it held that top spot for an entire year, long enough for me to write and launch the sequel with thousands of eager readers waiting.
That’s the magic of being indie. You’re not on a ticking clock. You don’t have to “make it or break it” in three days. Your book can grow organically, on its own merit, over months or even years. I still get chart spikes during promotions for books I released years ago.
So yes, launch day is stressful. It feels like it should be huge. But I’ve come to see it as just one step in a longer journey. If you’re an author feeling that pressure, take a breath. Focus on the long game. Build something worth reading, and the readers will come. Consistency is key. Like fitness, if you want results, you build your lifestyle around your goals, and it will all fall into place…eventually.
And if you are excited for The Empress and Her Wolf, I’d love your support tomorrow. Every pre-order, review, and share still helps. But I promise: I won’t vanish if we don’t hit #1 on day one.
We’re in this for the long haul.
Author Update
The Empress and Her Wolf
The Empress and Her Wolf, book 5 of the Hasting Saga, hits shelves TOMORROW. Here’s the blurb:
Power. Revenge. Forbidden love in the heart of a dying empire.
When Viking warlord Hasting arrives at the gates of Constantinople, he knows he can’t conquer it. Not with deeds of arms alone. But fate has other plans.
A failed raid turns into a devil’s bargain: serve Empress Theodora as her sword-for-hire, or die. Hasting chooses survival and quickly proves himself more capable than the generals she no longer trusts. But the empire is a viper’s nest of betrayal, and when an attempt to scare off his men ends in the death of his lover, Hasting’s mission changes.
He came for wealth and glory. Now, he wants blood.
But revenge in Miklagard is no simple feat. The city runs on whispers, not war cries. Enemies hide behind silks and smiles. And as Hasting grows closer to the empress—ally, ruler, and eventually lover—he finds himself torn between love and vengeance.
One wrong move could cost him everything.
Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Giles Kristian, Peter Gibbons, and Conn Iggulden, The Empress and Her Wolf is a heart-pounding saga of war, loyalty, and ambition set against the glittering, dangerous world of the Byzantine Empire.
Book Recommendations
I’m a Viking! A History Book About the Vikings for Kids
Blurb:
“I’m a Viking!” is a history book about the Viking Age for kids. Join Leif, a chieftain’s son who wants nothing more than to grow up to be a Viking just like his dad. Follow Leif as he gives you a tour of his life—the things he must learn, the things he likes to do for fun, and much more.
Conceived and written by author and historian C.J. Adrien and illustrated by the talented Crystal Whithaus, “I’m a Viking!” is an excellent primer for young minds interested in the past. Don’t be fooled—grown-ups may learn a thing or two, too.
And, as always…
Buy my novels!
