Valhalla Conversations

*First recorded and premiered on YouTube in June 2024.

On the release of his fourth comic anthology on Kickstarter, I'm delighted to get some time with comic writer, Asa Wheatley, who has creatively blended the tale of a lone shield maiden, a female warrior, with his love of the Western genre.

We discuss how Shield Maiden began, how he used both Viking Age history and Norse Mythology, his unique connection with an ancient Queen of Norway, the juggling act of a single character but multiple timelines, share our equal fascination with the myths and the history and discuss stories and characters from Books 1, 2 and 3 and reveal exciting details about Book 4 and future plans for this comic anthology series which is sure to be a hit with fans of the Vikings TV series and also fans of Neil Gaiman.

Shield Maiden Blurb:

Sagas of the Shield Maiden is a Viking western comics anthology series that recounts the legends, or sagas, of the titular Shield Maiden as she traverses Scandinavia and beyond the North Sea.

Each tale takes place at a different point in the Shield Maiden's life. From her first raid in England to her life as a mercenary for hire and her eventual death. As well as obviously being heavily influenced by Viking history and Norse mythology the stories all draw upon traits and themes commonly found in the western genre.

Website - https://asawheatley.bigcartel.com/

*First recorded and premiered on YouTube in May 2024.

In Episode Six of Valhalla Conversations I am joined by my special guest (and another favourite author), ‪@tessagratton‬ to discuss her trilogy The United States of Asgard (The Lost Sun, The Strange Maid and The Apple Throne).

The blurb of one book says the following "Norse-influenced alternate world of the United States of Asgard, where cell phones, rock bands, and evangelical preachers coexist with dragon slaying, rune casting, and sword training in schools. Where the president runs the country alongside a council of Valkyries, gods walk the red carpet with Hollywood starlets, and the U.S. military has a special battalion dedicated to eradicating Rocky Mountain trolls."

This just gives a flavour of the rich and deep alternative world that Tessa has created from rewriting history and bringing the Gods down to earth, literally. I ask her questions about how her ideas came about, how she researched norse mythology, share my theories and understanding (and appreciation) for her interpretation of the role of Valkyries and even ask her which path of life she would follow if she could exist in her own fictional world. She also reveals some exciting news regarding future development of this series and openly shares the tough time she had publishing them originally.

Please visit her website www.tessagratton.com to follow future developments and news of her other amazing books.

You can find my reviews of all three books and the anthology of short stories set in the same universe, following other characters, on my book blog: www.beckybookwyrm.blogspot.com

*First recorded and premiered on YouTube in March 2024.

In Episode 5 of Valhalla Conversations I'm delighted to talk to one of my latest favourite authors, Kate Heartfield, author of The Valkyrie, an epic retelling of the Volsung Saga/Nibelunglied from the point of view of Brynhild, the fallen Valkyrie and Gudrun, sister to the ill-fated Gunnar. Her exploration of Valkyrie's role, duty, abilities, why Bryn and Odin had a disagreement, and refreshingly modern adaption of the original sources makes this a truly exceptional narrative and one I encourage anyone with an interest in norse mythology or valkyries to read. ‪

Kate Heartfield’s latest novel is The Valkyrie, a retelling of old Norse and Germanic legends. Her 2022 novel The Embroidered Book won Canada’s Aurora award, as did her debut novel, which was republished in a revised edition as The Chatelaine in 2023. She also writes interactive fiction through Choice of Games, and Assassin’s Creed tie-in novels. Her fiction has been shortlisted for the World Fantasy, Nebula, Locus, Aurora, Sunburst and Crawford awards, as well as the Ottawa Book Award, and her journalism for a National Newspaper Award. Kate grew up in Manitoba and now lives in Ottawa.

Website: https://kateheartfield.com/books/

My Book Review on my "Becky the Bookwrym" blog: https://beckybookwyrm.blogspot.com/20...

Kate's recommended read "Thunder Road" by Chadwick Ginther: https://chadwickginther.com/bibliogra...

*First recorded and premiered in February 2024.

In our fourth episode of norse themed conversation I'm joined by five extraordinary women, each with their own passion and interest in Norse Mythology, as we discuss and review the Netflix series 'Ragnarok'.

All three seasons are discussed in this one episode so THERE ARE SPOILERS you have been warned. *

Special guest panelists are: Professor Carolyne Larrington, a retired tutorial fellow in medieval English Literature at St John’s College, Oxford. She is author of ‘The Norse Myths: A Guide to the Gods and Heroes’ and 'How the Norse Myths changed the way we think.'

https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/discover/peo...

Joanne Harris, author of four Norse fantasy titles - Runemarks, Runelight, The Testament of Loki and The Gospel of Loki - all set within the same fictional universe. She has been personally studying the Norse Myths and Translations since a young age.

https://www.joanne-harris.co.uk/

Kaitlin Felix, she writes Norse historical fiction and fantasy, her debut novel 'Ran's Daughers' is set to be published by Outland Entertainment. She hoards tea like Smaug the dragon hoards dwarf-gold. When Kaitlin's not gaming, she's working on her next crochet project. She resides near Zurich, Switzerland with her frost-giant husband and very tall son.

www.katifelix.com

Genevieve Gornichec earned her degree in history from The Ohio State University, where her study of the Norse myths and Icelandic sagas became her writing inspiration. Her debut novel, The Witch's Heart, was released in 2021 and has been translated into over a dozen languages. Her sophomore novel, The Weaver and the Witch Queen, was released in 2023. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio.

Instagram: @gengornichec

Louie Stowell worked in children’s publishing for 15 years before becoming a full-time writer. Her debut novel for children, THE DRAGON IN THE LIBRARY, came out in 2019, followed by two more in the series, THE MONSTER IN THE LAKE and THE WIZARD IN THE WOOD. In 2021 she published OTHERLAND, a middle grade novel (very) loosely based on Spenser’s Faerie Queene, with a touch of Queenie from Blackadder. Translated into 30 languages and counting, Louie’s bestselling and multi-award-winning LOKI: A BAD GOD’S GUIDE series began in 2022 and, if she has anything to do with it, will go on for many years. She also writes short stories and writes and draws comics. Louie lives in Hackney with her wife, Karen, her dog, Buffy, and a nameless creepy puppet that is probably cursed.

www.louiestowell.com

*First recorded and premiered on YouTube in April 2023.

In this episode we will be discussing the Real Lives of three often over-looked historical figures, which have recently been revived on the small screen in Netflix's Vikings: Valhalla series, which Season 2 debuted in January. We will be talking about historical events and other historical figures/characters and comparing developments between Season 1 and Season 2 so there WILL BE SPOILERS - BUT - the True History is 100% more dramatic and exciting than what Netflix has written.

We will be initially focusing on Emma of Normandy - who was crowned Queen of England twice and was also Mother to 2 different future Kings of England. Godwin, Earl of Wessex - the often forgotten about father of the future Harold Godwinson and Harald Sigurdsson, otherwise known as Hardrada, but led quite a remarkable life BEFORE he became King of Norway and the fateful year of 1066. And this is the main goal of this discussion, to inform and enlighten history fans and fans of the series what truth there is in the complex and tangled tale of the script.

Joining me to explore and discover the 11th century where a lot of the drama is set - are three truly exceptionally knowledgeable people who really should have been consulted when writing the script:

Patricia Bracewell - historical fiction author of a trilogy about Emma of Normandy and her years married to Aethelread the Unready whilst Swein Forkbeard and Canute invaded England. Her trilogy begins with "Shadow on the Crown". - http://www.patriciabracewell.com/

Justin Hill - historical novelist having written Sunday Times Bestseller "Viking Fire" novel about Harald Hardrada's lifelong adventures. As well as "Shieldwall" a historical novel following Godwin's life as he survived the political and military turmoil of England during the invasion of Swein Forkbeard and Canute's eventual rise to claim the Throne. - https://www.justinhillauthor.com/

Sharon Bennett Connolly - popular historian who has spent years researching and writing books about many forgotten women of history including Queen Emma among others. Her book "The Silk and the Sword - Forgotten Women of 1066" is a recommended read. - https://historytheinterestingbits.com...

*First recorded and premiered on YouTube November 2022.

A discussion about the very real Game of Thrones drama and intrigue which occurred in British History during the 11th Century. With special guest speakers, Historian & author, Sharon Bennett Connolly, historical fiction authors Patricia Bracewell and Helen Hollick. Featuring an equally fascinating cast of historical figures. Emma of Normandy, Aethelread the Unready (King of England), Swein Forkbeard (King of Denmark) and his Son Cnut, Aelfgifu of Northampton, Eadric Streona, Thorkell the Tall and more! If you have watched or plan on watching Vikings: Valhalla - then join us to learn the true history and not the Netflix "Dramatized History" Version.

Sharon Bennett Connolly is an author of a growing set of titles focusing on amazing female historical figures. Such as "Heroines of the Medieval World", "Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of influence in Thirteenth Century England", "Silk and the Sword: Women of the Norman Conqust" and recently launched "Women of the Anarchy". You can learn more about her passion for history at her own blog - https://historytheinterestingbits.com....

Helen Hollick is a historical fiction author with an Arthurian trilogy, her first real historical novel focused on King Harold II (of 1066) before she then turned to the prequel generation concerning Edward the Confessor's mother, Queen Emma (of Normandy). Her book "A Hallow Crown" (UK) and "The Forever Queen" (US) is focused on the events of the 11th century which forged the foundation for 1066. Her website is - https://www.helenhollick.net/index.html

Patricia Bracewell grew up in Los Angeles where her love of stories led to college degrees in Literature, a career as a high school English teacher, and a yearning to write. Her first novel, Shadow on the Crown, about the 11th century queen of England, Emma of Normandy, was published in 2013. Its sequel, The Price of Blood, appeared in 2015. The final book of her Emma of Normandy Trilogy, The Steel Beneath the Silk will be published March 2, 2021. Patricia lives with her husband in Oakland, California. Look for her on Facebook at / patriciabrac. . and on Instagram as Patabrace.

*First recorded in November 2022 as part of Norse-Vember. Before the Podcast had an official name.

As avid fan of Norse Mythology I've been delighted to encounter the gods and monsters re-incarnated, re-invented and revived in over 100 different fiction titles, dominantly in the Fantasy genre. I decided to invite two of my favourite authors, Amalia Dillin and Cat Rector to discuss what it is about this pantheon that audiences across centuries can't get enough of, the challenge of re-telling a Norse legend for a modern readership, diversity and challenges of this particular pantheon, and indeed, why they themselves chose to write about this pantheon.

**You can watch this Episode on my YouTube Channel where the Podcast was first founded.

Welcome to the Valhalla Conversations podcast, I’m your host Becky Hill otherwise known as Soul Chaser Becky and I am a proud Viking Geek. I fell in love with the history, culture and mythology of the Viking Age through Historical Fiction and Norse Fantasy books and I’ve been on an endless quest for more ever since.

I have read and reviewed over 100 books in the Norse Fantasy Genre and over 50 in Viking Age Historical Fiction and Viking Age Non-Fiction. I am a keen consumer of adaptations and re-telling’s of Viking Age History and Norse mythology in a variety of 21st century mediums from comics to computer games, TV and Films.

My passionate hunger for more has led me to become an annual pilgrim to the Jorvik Viking Festival in York, UK which is run by the world famous Jorvik Viking Museum. I’ve attended conferences to do with the Viking Age studies such as the Richard Hall Symposium, Norse in the North Symposium and the Midlands Viking Symposium.

I first presented on the topic of Norse Fantasy Fiction at the Nine Worlds Geek Con, London in 2018, I then co-hosted a panel discussing Norse Fantasy Fiction with authors Joanne Harris, Francesca Simon and academic Professor Carolyne Larrington, which was streamed during London MCM Comic Con 2021. Recently I made my academic debut appearance at the MARRI Symposium in Stavanger, August 2024, where I presented on depictions of Brynhild the Valkyrie in Fantasy Fiction.

Join me as I discuss all things Norse with those who have been inspired by Viking History and Norse Mythology in their creative works or those who have studied the sagas and archaeology, and review how such subjects are being presented to modern audiences today.

If you like Viking stuff, you are welcome in my Valhalla, I hope you stay for the Conversations.