Nicola here. Today it is my very great pleasure to welcome back to the blog one of our favourite Wench guests: Christina Courtenay. Christina is an award-winning author of historical romantic fiction and in particular time slip and time travel romance in the great tradition of Barbara Erskine and Susanna Kearsley so it's no wonder her books are an auto-buy for me and will appeal to a lot of Wench readers too! Her latest novel, Echoes of the Runes, is set in the present day and in the vivid 9th century world of the Vikings, and she is here today to tell us more about the book.
Christina, welcome back to the Wenches! Echoes of the Runes is getting some wonderful reviews and rightly so! Please tell us about the book.
Thank you, that’s very kind of you to say! Echoes of the Runes is a Viking timeslip/dual time novel set mostly in Sweden, both in the present and the past. It tells the story of Ceri, a Welsh noblewoman who is taken hostage by a Viking, Haukr inn hvíti (“the White Hawk”), in 869AD. Back in the present day, an archaeological dig at her late grandmother’s home leads Mia Maddox to uncover secrets of the past which will influence her life in ways she could not have imagined. As the present begins to echo the past, and enemies threaten, they will all have to fight to protect what has become most precious to each of them.
What was the inspiration for this particular story and its setting?
When I had a significant birthday, my parents gave me a Viking style ring which is an exact replica of one kept in the so-called Gold Room at the Historical Museum in Stockholm (an amazing place – do visit if you ever get the chance!). As I’m a history buff, this was the perfect present for me. Of course, the next time I visited Stockholm I had to go and check out the real one, and when I stood there comparing the two (they really do look identical) I was struck by inspiration for a story. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and although it was many years before the novel was finally finished, that was how it all started. (And I still go and look at that ring every time I’m in Stockholm – I can’t resist).
What an amazing gift and a wonderful piece of inspiration! Your love of Swedish history infuses the book with a particularly vivid atmosphere. It's beautiful! In what ways did growing up in Sweden influence your interest in story-telling and in history?
Well, first of all I lived in a small town surrounded by huge forests and hundreds of lakes. My Swedish grandmother used to tell me stories about elves and trolls, and I totally believed every word – you would too if you’d ever walked around those forests at night! 😊. When we started learning about history at school, I was fascinated by the Vikings and read all the Norse sagas. (I more or less lived at the local library, as I’m sure you all did too, and was always looking for something new to read.) Lots of places in Sweden have runestones and other Viking reminders, and I think growing up there you can’t fail to absorb this heritage. It’s part of your national consciousness.
You particularly enjoy travelling to research your novels and doing what I call “method research” where you get hands on with places, artifacts or whatever you are writing about. Why is this particularly important to you?
I think that it helps to infuse the stories with those tiny details that you can only get from actually experiencing something yourself. Obviously, we can’t know exactly what it was like in Viking times, but I found some amazing museums where they have recreated the Viking world in great detail. For example, in Ribe on Denmark’s west coast, at the Viking Centre there, they have built two chieftains’ halls (longhouses), workshops, a smithy, lots of other houses and even a very early Christian church. Sitting on a bench in the dim interior of a reconstructed longhouse, on top of a variety of dirty old pelts (sheep, wolf, lynx and even badger!), I could really imagine myself back in time. And at the Roskilde Viking Ship Museum I was able to go on a short journey in a reconstructed longship, where I had to help row it and watch the sail being hoisted. That sort of experience is invaluable!
In your research did you come across anything that surprised you or was particularly special to you?
I’m the sort of person who usually turns green at the sight of a mere row boat, so I was very surprised to find that I didn’t feel sick in the slightest on board that longship! It glided through the water so smoothly, I wasn’t aware of any up-and-down movement at all. That said, we were in a sheltered bay and I’m sure it would be different out on the open sea, but still …
It must be in your DNA! What is it that appeals to you about writing timeslip and time travel?
I find it fascinating because there are endless possibilities. As I said, I love history, but with timeslip and time travel you get an added dimension – the paranormal, magical or ghostly elements. It’s a combination that just really appeals to me and it is pure escapism, which is what I want when I read. I want to be fully immersed in the story and completely forget about the real world. I also really love the idea of twin souls, or love that can last for eternity if only you find that one special person you belong with, so the romantic possibilities of time slip/time travel are intriguing.
Which of the characters in Echoes of the Runes is your favourite?
I think it has to be Haukr, the Viking jarl (chieftain). He isn’t your stereotypical, bloodthirsty marauder, but a laid-back landowner, content with his lot for the most part. He just wants a peaceful life, working to improve his holdings and life for his dependents, but his avaricious wife has other ideas. When she questions his courage, he has no choice but to act – that is one insult he can’t let pass. He’s slow to anger, but once riled he gets really mad. Little did he know that his actions would lead to him meeting a woman who would be so much more perfect for him, if only he wasn’t married already …
I really liked Haukr too, not just because he was a very attractive hero (!) but he felt a very real and rounded character. I actually loved that he was a henpecked Viking and yet he still possessed all those heroic qualities we look for: courage, loyalty and integrity.
If you could time travel for a day, what time and place would you go to? And what object would you bring back?
That’s a really difficult question as I have several favourite periods of history! I’d love to go back to Viking times, of course, and would probably bring back a piece of gold jewellery (maybe like this massive Thor’s hammer necklace or a snake bangle?). But I’d also like to spend a day at the court of Charles I to meet some of his Cavalier courtiers (and his nephew Prince Rupert!) – in that case I’d try to bring back a Van Dyck painting – they are amazing!
Those are great choices. If a time machine becomes available a number of us may be lining up to meet Prince Rupert!
Who have been the biggest influences on your writing?
Barbara Erskine’s Lady of Hay first made me want to write in this sub-genre myself. All of Susanna Kearsley’s wonderful time slip books and yours, Nicola, also inspired me! Georgette Heyer for the sense of humour that infuses her books – I so wish I could do that! And I have always loved Johanna Lindsey’s books because of her amazing storytelling and the way she writes such incredibly satisfying endings, something I try to emulate.
Thank you! That's wonderful company to be in. What part of the writing process do you find most difficult?
Editing – I’m a ‘pantser’, so I sit down and write and just get carried away by the story. That first draft is always fun as you don’t know exactly where it will take you, and the characters and story are all new and exciting. Once you get to the editing stage, and you’ve had input from your agent and editor, and changed things, the magic wears off. And when you’ve read through the book umpteen times, it starts to feel like the worst story ever written! I really don’t like that stage as that is when the doubts creep in – is anyone even going to want to read it?
Interesting! I love revising a manuscript but I think I'm maybe in a minority on that. I totally agree though that once you've read and revised a book umpteen times you're too close to judge quality properly. We all need some distance from our writing after a while!
If you weren’t an author what would you do?
I would love to be an archaeologist or perhaps study Old Norse? I’ve had a little taste of that language now, while writing this Viking series, and it’s fascinating to me as I speak Swedish, which is one of the languages descended from Old Norse.
What fascinating choices!
Please give us a preview of the sequel to Echoes of the Runes.
It’s called The Runes of Destiny and it features Linnea Berger, daughter of the present-day hero from Echoes of the Runes. While metal detecting, Linnea finds an exquisite brooch. When she reads its runic inscription, she blacks out, only to come to, surrounded by men in Viking costume who seem take re-enactment very seriously. She finds herself in the power of Hrafn, a Viking warrior who claims her as his thrall and takes her on a treacherous journey across the seas to sell her for profit. As they set sail, she is forced to confront the unthinkable: she has somehow travelled back in time to the ninth century …
Christina, thank you very much for visiting the Wenches today and for such an interesting chat!
Many thanks for inviting me!
Echoes of the Runes – blurb:-
Their love was forbidden. But echoed in eternity.
When Mia inherits her beloved grandmother’s summer cottage, Birch Thorpe, in Sweden, she faces a dilemma. Her fiancé Charles urges her to sell and buy a swanky London home, but Mia cannot let it go easily. The request to carry out an archaeological dig for more Viking artifacts like the gold ring Mia’s grandmother also left her, offers her a reprieve from a decision – and from Charles.
As Mia becomes absorbed in the dig’s discoveries, she finds herself drawn to archaeologist Haakon Berger. Like her, he can sense the past inhabitants whose lives are becoming more vivid every day. Trying to resist the growing attraction between them, Mia and Haakon begin to piece together the story of a Welsh noblewoman, Ceri, and the mysterious Viking, known as the ‘White Hawk’, who stole her away from her people in 869 AD.
As the present begins to echo the past, and enemies threaten Birch Thorpe’s inhabitants, they will all have to fight to protect what has become most precious to each of them …
Extract:
The archaeologist glared at her. ‘When you dig up an ancient artefact, you have to take it to the nearest museum or council, where someone will tell you whether you have found anything of interest or not. If you have, they will add the item to the register of antiquities, and then possibly they’ll make an appointment to view the site where it was found. In certain cases, you may be allowed to keep your find, but mostly you’ll be recompensed and the item placed in a museum.’
‘Yes, yes, I know all that,’ Mia said, ‘but—’
He interrupted once more. ‘Under no circumstances are you allowed to keep the item for yourself if it’s valuable. That is a crime.’ He emphasised the last word while he glanced at her ring, and Mia followed his gaze, again suppressing the urge to hide the snake.
‘Is that what you’re accusing me of, Mr Berger?’ she demanded, tired of being harangued. ‘You think I’ve dug up this ring and kept it without telling anyone?’
He nodded. ‘Judging by the length of time you stood in front of the display case downstairs, it can’t have escaped your notice that there is a ring exactly like it in the museum’s collection. As far as I’m aware, no permission has been granted to any jewellery company to make replicas of it, although I know a few of the others have been copied. That must mean that yours is as old as the one kept here. May I see it, please?
He held out an imperious hand and Mia felt obliged to remove the gold snake and pass it across to him. It was an almost physical wrench. That ring was her last link to her beloved grandmother, who had died only a week ago. She couldn’t bear to part with it now, and she could have sworn the serpent was just as unwilling to leave her, since it took her a moment to wriggle it off her finger.
He received it reverently, turning it this way and that so the gold glimmered in the light from the small window. After a while, he hunted in his desk drawers until he came up with a magnifying glass, then studied the ring some more. At length, he looked up again and regarded her with a solemn expression.
‘Viking. Ninth century, probably the middle to later part. An exact replica of the one downstairs, or as near as makes no difference. I happened to be looking at it only the other day. Now, I should very much like to know where you found it. Wherever it was, I’m afraid you can’t keep it. It belongs to the state.’
Mia took a deep breath to contain the anger swirling inside her. How dare he treat her like a thief? She was nothing of the sort, and she knew as much about the subject as he did. Staring him straight in the eyes, she prepared herself for a fight.
‘Now that’s where you’re wrong. And I can prove it.’
Echoes of the Runes purchase links:-
The Runes of Destiny (published 10th Dec 2020):-
Author links/social media:-
http://www.christinacourtenay.com
https://www.facebook.com/christinacourtenayauthor?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/PiaCCourtenay
https://www.instagram.com/ChristinaCourtenayAuthor/
Christina is giving away a copy of Echoes of the Runes and some other Viking-inspired gifts (see picture above!) to one lucky commenter between now and midnight on Thursday. To enter simply leave a question or comment for Christina on the blog, or tell us what you would bring back as a souvenir if you travelled back into the past!
Great interview. This book looks wonderful and I'd be thrilled to win a copy!
Posted by: Annie Whitehead | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 03:34 AM
Thank you so much Annie, really glad you enjoyed it!
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 03:45 AM
Great interview! I'm really looking forward to reading the book. My maiden name has Viking roots 😊
If I went into the past I would do my best to bring back a piece of jewellery, preferably a ring because rings are a weakness of mine. And made of gold! Gosh I don't want much do I? 😉😀
Posted by: Angela Baxter | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 03:48 AM
Really enjoyed reading this interview, thank you! I’ve always been fascinated with Egypt. I was fortunate enough to travel there many years ago, and loved learning more about the country’s rich ancient history. I would love to go back to those times! I think I would bring back a piece of jewellery, maybe a bracelet. Or maybe a papyrus book! I would’ve said I’d bring back an Egyptian man, but I already have one; and I married him in 2018! 😉🥰 I can’t wait to read your book!
Posted by: Andie Awad | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 04:12 AM
Thank you Angela, and that sounds perfectly reasonable to me! I love gold rings too and one can never have too many :-D Lots of people have Viking roots, don't they - I find genealogy fascinating.
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 04:49 AM
Many thanks, Andie, and how lovely! I totally agree with you about Eqypt, it's an amazing place. I was fortunate enough to visit when I was a teenager and although the extreme heat was difficult for a cold weather person like me, I was totally fascinated by everything I saw. Magical! And I recently went to an exhibition about Tutankhamun in London - so many beautiful objects, it would be hard to choose what to bring back :-)
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 04:53 AM
Enjoyed your interview Christina and your book sounds fascinating!And I would love to win a copy!
Posted by: Lynn Folliott | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 06:07 AM
Many thanks, Lynn, so glad you like the sound of it!
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 07:20 AM
Thanks for such a wonderful interview, Christina. I read "Echoes" last week and loved it! (How lovely to see a picture of your ring!)I'm a total history and as kid wanted to be an archeologist, so it was such fun that your hunky modern-day Haakon is one! And loved learning more about the Vikings.
Posted by: Andrea Penrose | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 07:27 AM
I did so enjoy your post Christina! I went to your web site and enjoyed that too, especially all the photos of the places you have been to doing research. How wonderful!
I am a history nut and a time/slip novel fan as well. Lady of Hay was the first I ever read too and it made me seek out other authors and the same types of books.
Thank you so much, you made my day!
Posted by: Donna H. | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 07:42 AM
Thank you so much, Andrea, that's lovely! Really pleased you liked Haakon :-) And yes, I wish I'd studied to become an archaeologist now!
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 07:52 AM
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Donna, thank you! I think Lady of Hay was a starting point for so many of us, such a wonderful story. It certainly made me look out for time slip novels as well. And thank you for the lovely comments about my blog - I do enjoy going to various places for research purposes. It's a great excuse for travelling!
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 07:55 AM
Oooh - what would I bring back? A writing desk stocked with paper, quills and ink.
Posted by: Connie | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 08:13 AM
That sounds wonderful Connie! I sometimes see writing slopes for sale at a local auction, the kind ladies took with them when they travelled. I'm always tempted to buy one. Have you ever tried writing with a quill? I haven't but I bet it's a lot harder than it looks not to splodge the ink :-) Thank you for your comment!
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 09:23 AM
What inspired you to write about the time of the Vikings? I recall a guide telling us they were so feared in England that the people changed the Lord's Prayer to ",,,and deliver us from the Vikings"!
Posted by: Linda Gawthrop | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 11:11 AM
I'm half Swedish, Linda, so Vikings are in my blood! And the truth is that most of them were actually fairly peaceful people, traders and farmers. Only a small percentage went marauding although they must have been extremely fierce for the English to fear them so much! It's a very interesting time in history - I find it fascinating!
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 12:01 PM
What a fascinating interview! Thank you, Christina and Nicola. There are a number of time periods I'd like to visit. I think it would be interesting to meet my parents in their early twenties and get to know them as people rather than parents.
If I traveled back to my own twenties, could I come back in my younger/healthier body? That would make a fine souvenir!
Posted by: Kareni | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 12:24 PM
This isn't particularly the subgenre of which I am most fond. But this interview has enticed me. I must find Echoes of the Runes.
Posted by: Sue McCormick | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 01:22 PM
What an intriguing idea, Kareni, meeting ones parents when they were young! That would be really interesting. And yes, going back to our twenties and coming back young would be wonderful!
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 01:41 PM
Thank you so much, Sue, I'm glad you've been tempted by Vikings! :-)
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 01:42 PM
I enjoy time-slip novels as they dive into the past and connect it to the present.
I would bring back a piece of jewelry that made me feel the love of an ancestor down the centuries to me directly.
Posted by: Patricia Franzino | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 08:39 PM
Well! I clicked right over to Amazon and bought the Kindle version. I have literally never done that before. You have worked some magic here, Christina!
Posted by: Mary M. | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 11:34 PM
That sounds perfect Patricia! I love jewellery that has a special meaning and connects to someone close!
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 07:36 AM
Wow, Mary, thank you so much, that's great! Really hope you enjoy it!
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 07:36 AM
I would definitely bring back a piece of jewelry, maybe a piece of bear jewelry like this one: https://www.kalevalajewelry.com/eu/bear-pendant-1
Posted by: Minna | Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 07:57 AM
What a fascinating post which I enjoy greatly. The book is a real treasure. I would love to travel back as it would be very meaningful to be able to meet my ancestors.
Posted by: Laini | Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 09:51 AM
This is a real treasure of a novel which interests me as time travel and historicals are memorable and intriguing. I love hearing about your background, writing and interests. I would love to know how you chose the name of the main character since my last name is Berger.
Posted by: Anne | Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 10:03 AM
This sounds fascinating! I love that the Viking is not a crazed marauder (as the movies would depict) but an ordinary farmer/landowner. My paternal grandfather immigrated from Sweden prior to 1900. Too many kids to split the family farm! So several of his older siblings had already made the trip to North America.
Posted by: Pat Dupuy | Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 10:20 AM
I am intrigued with this story since it is unique and captivating. The time travel aspect is always wonderful. Who isn't interested in time travel, the past and these colorful settings and locales. If I could travel back in time I would love to bring back my treasures from my childhood, freedom, going biking anywhere, anytime, playing outside all day with friends and walking to and from school alone. I would give much more importance to my parents, in other words, learn how they grew up and lived through The Depression and were never blue and triumphed over adversity.
Posted by: Anne | Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 11:14 AM
I LOVE time slip and time travel novels and have read Christina's books. History is a wonderful subject and there are many eras I would love to go back to. I'd like to bring back an authentic piece of clothing from whatever time I ended up in. Enjoyed the interview enormously.
Posted by: Teresa Broderick | Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 01:09 PM
Ooh, I may seriously need to track down this book. Not my usual genre, perhaps, but I have a weakness for Sweden. Only traveled to Stockholm once - but picked up a souvenir from the Skansen museum of my initials in runes to have made into a necklace.
Posted by: Amy J | Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 01:40 PM
What to bring back from the past? So many options, I can't even begin to decide! What I'd most like is something related to my family history -- maybe an illustrated family tree or a Bible, that contained the answers to one of my brick walls!
Posted by: Jane | Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 04:04 PM
Sorry to be late replying - that's a lovely pendant! I can definitely see why you'd want to bring that back :-)
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Friday, March 20, 2020 at 08:36 AM
Thank you Laini, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I do genealogy and there are definitely a few of my ancestors I'd like meet and some I want to have a word with :-)
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Friday, March 20, 2020 at 08:37 AM
Thank you so much Anne! I was looking for a Norwegian surname that wasn't too long or difficult to pronounce, and when I came across Berger it seemed to fit. I think it also clicked as I'd also heard it previously because there was a music teacher at my high school with that surname. Plus there's a Norwegian singer called Margaret Berger who's Eurovision song entry I loved! ("Feed You My Love")
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Friday, March 20, 2020 at 08:40 AM
That's fascinating Pat! My mother comes from a part of Sweden called Småland which had a very high number of emigrants to America so I've read a lot about them. Thank you for your comment!
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Friday, March 20, 2020 at 08:41 AM
Many thanks Anne - that sounds great! I too miss those carefree days. Life now seems so much more dangerous and fraught!
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Friday, March 20, 2020 at 08:43 AM
Thank you Teresa! Oh, yes, that's a great idea - you should bring back some Tudor clothing as I understand hardly any survives at all :-)
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Friday, March 20, 2020 at 08:44 AM
I'm so glad you liked Sweden, Amy! I too have a necklace with my name in runes - they're fascinating, aren't they? And Skansen is a beautiful place.
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Friday, March 20, 2020 at 08:45 AM
Oh wow yes - ditto! I have so many brick walls in my family tree, it's maddening :-) It's as if some of our ancestors don't want to be found. Great idea, Jane!
Posted by: Christina Courtenay | Friday, March 20, 2020 at 08:46 AM