Christopher Tanzer, a field guide turned indie author, is set to unveil his debut novel, The Beasts of Old, at the upcoming Helderberg Book Festival, promising a unique blend of prehistoric adventure and conservation themes.

“I’ve always had a tremendous passion for writing,” Tanzer said.

“Even at the age of eleven, I would make ‘novels’ out of exercise books, cover them with coloured paper, draw an exciting picture on the front and proudly put an ISBN number on the back!”

A Bachelor of Science in Zoology and years as a field guide in the Greater Kruger provided Tanzer with firsthand encounters with Africa’s big game, experiences that reshaped his view of how prehistoric animals are portrayed.

“In movies and books, anything that’s prehistoric is portrayed as some kind of sci-fi, people-killing monster. We tend to forget that these were real animals that existed. We even lived with some of them,” he explained.

That realisation sparked the concept for The Beasts of Old, which fellow author Rob Brooks has described as “Jurassic Park meets Willard Price.”

The novel imagines a hidden sanctuary in Alaska’s Wrangell Mountains where Ice Age creatures have survived for 16,000 years, protected by a dedicated Inuit tribe.

“The book has a strong conservation message,” Tanzer said.

“Within this exciting and inspiring setting, there is a riveting coming-of-age story that explores themes of redemption, betrayal, heritage, power and corruption, and forbidden love.”

Tanzer chose the self-publishing route to preserve creative control and avoid long delays in traditional publishing.

“I had a beautiful map that I’d hand-crafted, which I’d wanted to include in the front matter, and if my book were traditionally published, the map might not have made the final print,” he said.

“I also got to hire a cover designer that worked according to my specifications, so that the book came exactly how I’d envisioned.”

He is particularly excited to be part of a shared stage at this year’s festival.

“What really excites me about being a part of this festival is that I get to share the stage for the first time, and with so many interesting authors! We’re all so different in our secondary professions, and yet, we share this likeness in our love of writing and journeys as indie authors.”

For Tanzer, events like the Indie Authors Rise Up Book Festival offer crucial visibility for independent writers.

“Indie authors do struggle to get seen, especially when competing with traditionally published authors who have a whole corporation pushing them forward,” he said.

“Events like these allow readers to find our books and connect with our stories, readers who otherwise might never have heard of us.”

And for readers, Tanzer believes, the experience is personal and lasting.

“The stories definitely hit different when they’re home-grown,” he said.

Your reading will be enhanced by having met this author in real life, a small reminder of the memorable time you discovered who this author was, and what they were all about.”

The Indie Authors Rise Up Book Festival, taking place from Augast 16 to 24 will feature more than 34 authors, with events, workshops, and panel discussions taking place across venues in Gordons Bay, Somerset West, and Strand.

For more details and to reserve tickets, visit [https://indieauthorsriseup.co.za](https://indieauthorsriseup.co.za).

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