Last week I was tagged in Elizabeth Caulfield Felt’s blog to participate in a “Meet My Main Character” blog hop. Her link is here, where she wrote about her current project, Snow White and the Queen. She writes that it is being submitted to agents at the moment and a publication date will hopefully be forthcoming. So, thanks, Elizabeth, for letting me introduce you and other readers to Mari, of ODIN’S PROMISE. Here are the blog hop questions, with my responses: What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person? My main character is Mari, an eleven-twelve year old girl. She is entirely fictional, but her development was very much shaped by the research I did on the history surrounding…
A Middle-Grade Historical Novel of Norway, a War, a Girl, and an Elkhound
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Even though I’m still digging out from under the tasks I set aside during recent weeks, I’m rarely doing so without a smile on my face. That’s because I feel the constant glow of support from the recent party, emails, calls, and other contacts. The warmth with which Odin’s Promise has been welcomed to the world is not only heartwarming, it truly surprises me. After years and years of steeling myself for rejection letters and “not quite right”s, it’s almost too hard to believe. I’ve been feeling the same about the virtual support I’ve received through the amazing cyber-world of children’s literature. I shared individual links as reviews, guest posts, and interviews appeared in the past couple of weeks. Now I want to…
Since ODIN’S PROMISE became available, readers are being introduced to a variety of Norwegian foods and holiday traditions. That includes Christmas, (Jul) of course. The delicious cookies and kranse kake pictured and described in previous posts are wonderful examples of that. Other occasions, like weddings, confirmations, and birthdays, incorporate treats like these, as well as lefse, favorite meals, and family-specific practices. The national celebration of Constitution Day, the 17th of May (Syttende Mai), also has distinctly regional practices. These varied over the decades and across the vast expanses of the regions of Norway. As with our Fourth of July, the size and scope of the celebrations in the capital, in Norway that’s Oslo, are some of the most elaborate. Click this link for an example from YouTube:…
Tagged: lefsa, Stoughton, Syttende Mai, traditions
I can’t think of a few ways my launch party for Odin’s Promise could have been better. That’s due in large part to the generous efforts of my friends, including Nancy, baker extraordinaire. She not only baked THIRTY DOZEN specialty cookies, she set up a display of the tools of her trade, so to speak. Kranse Kake (Ring Cake)Traditional Norwegian Celebration Cake Flaky almond cakes in concentric rings are stacked and “glued” with thin powdered sugar frosting. Traditionally a bottle of aquavit (anise flavored alcohol) or a bottle of wine is placed inside the stack. To serve, the glazed rings are removed one at a time and broken in small pieces to share. Norwegian flags on the Kranse Kake are traditional. I asked Nancy…
Tagged: krans kake, recipe
April 24 is a night I’ll always remember, and here are just a few glimpses at what I mean: I’ll get busy creating a page dedicated to party pictures and comments, but for now here are just a few more: I’m equally excited to “go visiting” with cyber-friends like Suzanne Warr, who wrote such a lovely review last week (here). Today I’m honored to be interviewed by her and her delightful pet-family (here)! Take a few minutes to join us at her blog, Tales From the Raven. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for TWO chances to win a copy of Odin’s Promise. Thanks, Suzanne, for helping me keep this celebratory spirit rolling!
Tagged: giveaway, party, Suzanne Warr
Tomorrow (Thursday) is the Book Birthday party at Norway House. (Details here) The location couldn’t be a more perfect match for this story, and I’m thrilled that it was available. Norway House is a busy place. It is used regularly for Sons of Norway events, rented for events by a wide range of other organizations, and is also booked for wedding receptions, parties, and events like the Rosemaling Show. The Sons of Norway Lodge also offers scheduled public events that are very popular. One of these is their fabulous TORSK SUPPER, which is not lutefisk, but boiled cod. They offer this eight times a year, and the last opportunity until fall will be Saturday, April 26. Here’s the buffet menu: Boiled Cod Fish Norwegian…
Tagged: Norway House, Torsk Supper
Three days from now I will be at Norway House in Milwaukee (details here) to celebrate the “Book BIrthday” of Odin’s Promise. It’s available for sale now, even though the official publication date is May 17. That’s when I’ll be in Stoughton, Wisconsin, to sign books and celebrate during their annual Syttende Mai (Norwegian Constitution Day, May 17) festival. I expect to meet lots of people with an interest in Norway there, but I know very few folks in that part of the state. This local “birthday party” is an opportunity to share the fun with long time friends, other writers, former students and their families, neighbors, and anyone who has an interest in Norwegian history, World War Two, books, door prizes, and Norwegian…
Tagged: blog tour, Fosselyngen Lodge, Norway House, party
It’s exciting to hear from so many friends who hope to attend the book birthday party for Odin’s Promise on April 24, 2014 at Norway House. (details here) My hard working, enthusiastic, classy friend Barbara has made huge contributions to the prep work for this party. Now she’s packaged up the door prizes to make sure they are even more appealing. This isn’t a raffle, just a chance for everyone who attends to enter for the prize of their choice and a chance to have their name drawn. Check out the details below: “The Kitchen Package ” includes: Towel/hot pad set Chocolate-raspberry jam and crackers Scandinavian Sweet Treats cookbook Sandbakkel Tins Expert-made Norwegian Cookies “Book Package One” includes: Odin’s Promise Snow Treasure, by…
Tagged: book birthday party, door prises
Nothing has humbled me more than the responses of the first school readers of Odin’s Promise this week. I’ve played it back in my mind so often that I’m sure I’ll never forget them or our time together. (Maybe I should use that strategy when trying to recall where I parked in the lot or left my keys, but somehow the emotional component just doesn’t measure up.) I even have proof of their enthusiasm in the copies of the reviews they presented to me at the end of our meeting. With their permission, I’ll share them here, transcribed just as they were written. They thrill me in their words of praise for the story and characters, of course. But, as a teacher, I’m equally…
Tagged: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, reviews, School visit
This afternoon I met with teacher Colleen Roth and five delightful readers. Months ago Colleen asked when she could share Odin’s Promise with a group of students. It was only natural to invite her to use advance reading copies with her group to pilot the use of my study guide. For the past few weeks Lily, Emma, Megan, Elliot, and Ryan have been reading Odin’s Promise with Mrs. Roth, discussing the book, responding in notes and book talks, and making connections with their own lives. Colleen sent me brief updates as they went along to let me know they were enjoying it, which allowed me to uncross my fingers. (It’s hard to get any work done with fingers crossed!) Writing is a solitary process,…
Tagged: School visit