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!