It’s time for another Showcase! In these posts, we ask our Discord to share their projects so we can show them off. Previously, we took a look at Girl with the Golden Eyes by Ashes. This week we are discussing Panem et Circensis by Neptun!

Panem et Circensis is a fantasy trilogy set in an alternate world full of kings, queens, and empires. The story follows Tiberius Nepius-Vendrix. Tiberius is sold into slavery as a boy and is trained as a gladiator to fight in a prestigious competition. After winning his freedom, he sparks a love affair with the Queen of the Empire, which provokes a revolt and starts a war. Tiberius is forced to fight his childhood friend, who works for the opposing kingdom of Ushyia.

So far, the story is mostly in its planning phase. Neptun has outlined the first two books in Campfire Pro, with the third on the way. He is also sixty thousand words into writing the first piece in the series. The name Panem et Circensis means “Bread and Games” in Latin, but it’s a working title for now.

Author Bio

Neptun is a 22-year-old university student studying politics and history. He lives in Thuringia, Germany but is originally from North Rhine-Westphalia.

Panem et Circensis is written completely in German, Neptun’s first language. He uses a mixture of German and English in his Campfire Pro story.

Q&A

How did you get started writing?

To be honest? To get better grades in school. I had to write a story for homework, which was then collected by the teacher and graded. I liked the task and started doing it in my free time.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been working on this project since 2015, and in general, I started around 2011 or 2012 so about eight to nine years.

What did you work on before this project?

Short stories mostly. I hadn’t had an idea for a real book yet.

Was there any specific event that inspired you to start this project?

Not really. During the summer holiday and bad weather, I couldn’t go out. I started gathering ideas and began to write a short prologue. Plus, I had my first PC, so I could write anytime I liked.

Do you have a specific time that you write?

It depends. I’m most effective when I’m traveling on the train, but most times I just write whenever I can- between university classes or in the evening in my apartment. On holiday, I can afford to write with a schedule, so I mostly start right after getting up in the morning and write for an hour or two.

Do you draw inspiration from anywhere?

In one part history itself, to be precise Ancient Rome and the early middle ages and parts from some other times, like the Prussian military and the values of Friedrich II (Fredrick the Great). Another part, the Sharpe Series and The Last Kingdom Series, by Bernard Cornwell, as well as Karl May’s books.

How do you use Campfire while you’re writing?

When I first started I had hundreds of documents where the info was stored, then bought Campfire and could finally put it all in one file. My current use is mostly like this: When I have an idea, say for Book 2, I put it in Campfire, or I can look up any information I need, like the correct spelling of a name. I also put all the stuff I want in the series in there so I don’t lose track of where it all is.

In the timeline page, green tracks the Main Character and red is the timeline in the world. In red, there are major story events like big battles or sieges. The blue event’s under the divider are Luvin, Tiberius’s rival.

What do you use in Campfire Pro the most?

The Worldbuilding Pack. During my testing of the WBP, I started with the templates, which are a good base, and then I added panels when needed. I use all the modules but magic and language. I can make flowcharts of armies or describe a race very easy. It’s a great tool where I can fill in the information and don’t forget about important stuff.

What is your plan for the story once it’s done?

The plan would be to write a second and third part then rework all three so there are no issues with continuity and stuff like that. Then I’m going to try to get them out on the market.

Neptun first became interested in history when he was young- reading comics like Asterix. As he grew up, he learned more about history and fell in love with it. No matter how much he read, there was always more to learn. He became interested in the politics of days past when he heard a phrase that inspired him: “Why is history repeating itself? Because no one listened the first time.” Neptun wants to learn about the past with the hopes of avoiding the same mistakes.

Now Neptun is channeling his love of history into his studies and into writing. He takes concepts from history such as battle strategy and politics and weaves them into his fantasy epic.

If you are interested in sharing your work for a possible Showcase post down the road, join our Discord and send it to me (Levi) in a PM. We can’t share everybody’s work, but I’d love to give yours a read!



Weekly TL;DR: Panem et Circensis is a planned series of novels by Neptun. He uses Campfire Pro extensively to plan his story and is currently sixty thousand words deep into his first novel.

If you have any questions or comments, join the discussion on our Discord! Next week we’ll be discussing how to learn from your favorite authors by reading with a critical eye. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter below to stay in the loop on the blog and Campfire news.