We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kiersten Marcil a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kiersten, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?

For an author, the “customer” is the reader. However, as a tour guide through American history, my duty is also to the men and women from the past whose stories I am recreating. Sometimes this requires absolute accuracy to the who, what, where, when, why of things (or as close as can be achieved, centuries after the events being transcribed on the page). Occasionally, a little artistic license is necessary so as to honor the individual or their place in the greater scheme of the narrative. For example, in fiction, shifting an event to an earlier or later place sometimes serves the story better, because it leads the reader to a greater understanding of what transpired. Because, in the end, the customer of historical fiction is best served when they close the final pages of a novel with a sense of having witnessed something important.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The beatific scenario of tapping away on a typewriter alongside a European waterway lives (mostly) within the realm of modern cinema. Reality wears the garb of being an authorpreneur–constantly swimming in financial spreadsheets, order forms, marketing materials, and the hustle, hustle, hustle. And for more than ninety percent of authors, it is accomplished within the hours separate and apart from the day job that pays the bills.

There is a darn good number of business philosophies discussed in “Good to Great” by Jim Collins that are timeless and essential, regardless of the industry in which one inhabits. Especially as an author, embracing the reality that once a rolling boulder picks up speed; sure, you can change its direction. But that usually means slowing or stopping what you are doing to regroup, redesign, then pick up speed with your business in that new direction. Or in other words: create your brand as an author, build on the momentum of your success, shift your mentality and approach as needed, and just keep going!

In planning out one’s approach to their authorpreneurship, the Franziska Iseli book, “Social Media for Small Business,” is an excellent inspiration source for developing a recognizable brand and presenting it consistently and effectively.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Passion and showing up.

My brand as an “Author & Adventurer into History” was a serendipitous slip of the tongue while introducing myself in a social media post. “Historian?” Oh no. That honorific belongs to lifelong dwellers in research and academia, experts in the field. And yet, I am privileged enough to play in their arena, speak their language, moderate their programs, exchange research, and banter over our century of choice. Why? Because I love what I do, and I’m not shy about sharing that. So, I will jump outside my comfort zone and present at conferences, give interviews on the subject of the American Revolution, and deliver on my promises (as best the Fates allow) to be there and do. And if I fall off the horse, if something goes awry (I’ve given inaccurate info during a podcast before and shudder still,) well… Back in the saddle and off we go, because the alternative is calling it quits. I owe myself, my readers, and history more than that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kierstenmarcil.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kierstenmarcil/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KierstenMarcil/

Image Credits

Jeffrey Waldin (photo of lecture), Mia Ertas (photo in historical house), all others by Kiersten Marcil