Tempted by the Runes

Christina here. In just a few days, my new Viking time travel story TEMPTED BY THE RUNES will be published and it’s based on the first Viking settlement of Iceland in the 860s/870s AD.

The Viking era is usually said to be roughly from 793 AD to 1066 AD, ie from the first Viking raid on the monastery at Lindisfarne to the Battle of Stamford Bridge when the last Viking king, Harald Hardraada, lost his bid for the English throne. When I first started writing this series, I knew I couldn’t cover all that time and I had to decide which parts to base my stories on. So I made a chart of all the events that were known to have happened from 750 AD onwards, and discovered that the years between 850 and 900 AD were jam-packed with possibilities. At that time, the Swedes were heading east and south down the Russian rivers, the Danes (and others) were raiding and conquering in Britain and Europe, the Norwegians established a kingdom in Ireland and started settling on Iceland, and there were internal power struggles in Scandinavia too. This gave me a rich historical tapestry from which to choose events that my characters could be part of.

One of the most exciting seemed to me to be the settlement of Iceland, mainly because it was so different from anything else the Vikings did. Here they didn’t have to fight with any local inhabitants or try to integrate with them, because the place was empty. They couldn’t take over any existing farmland or villages, but had to create their own from scratch. And they had to contend with an environment that was, in many ways, different to what they were used to. All grist to a writer’s mill!

I had to save it for the fourth book, though, as I figured the youngest brother in the family would be the one most determined to make a new life for himself. Also, the events in the previous books in the series take place before the settlement of Iceland, and I try to be as historically accurate as possible.

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs (here and here), I was lucky enough to travel to Iceland back in June to do some research for this book. Among other things, I visited the museum that houses the replica longship Islendingur, which was very helpful. I was fascinated by the idea of the Vikings travelling across the North Atlantic for days (weeks sometimes) in a ship that seemed to me to be essentially just a large rowing boat with a sail. I felt it must have been sheer madness to even attempt it! And the fact that they had to bring everything they could possibly need in order to settle there, including animals, was incredible. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how the poor cows, sheep, goats etc must have felt when being brought along on such a journey.

And yet, when I stood on board the Islendingur, it was so much bigger than I had thought and I felt safe. I learned that Viking ships were very seaworthy and because of the way they are constructed, they cut through the waves effortlessly, without the deck becoming drenched or swamped. Fully loaded, it would lie no more than 1.5 metres below the water line, and the keel is shaped so that it compresses the water between the keel and the hull. That means that even while sailing through crosswinds, it stays upright and doesn’t list more than at the most 10 degrees. And when the ship is wet, the planks expand into each other and thereby keep it water tight. All that was very comforting to know.

An ocean-going Viking vessel could carry up to 25 tonnes of cargo, and the settlers had to plan for every eventuality and bring enough provisions to survive for at least a year. Breeding pairs of the various animals and food to eat while on board, grain for eating and sowing until their first crop the following year, food and water for the journey, and a huge variety of implements, as well as household goods. It must have been a nightmare trying not to forget something vital! But the settlers were resourceful, and I have no doubt that whatever they didn’t bring, they tried to produce.

I really enjoyed writing this story and had a lot of fun with the main characters, Maddie and Geir. They are both the youngest siblings in their respective families and they each have something to prove. Geir no longer wants to be beholden to his older brother for everything – he’s looking to acquire his own domain, while Maddie would love to prove that you don’t have to be academic to succeed in life. (She’s dyslexic and, unlike the rest of her family, finds studying a great trial). When fate, in the shape of the Norse gods and the Norns (goddesses of destiny), takes a hand in their lives, can they fight it? Or is it better to give in gracefully?

Here is a short blurb:-

Born centuries apart. Bound by a love that defied time.

She couldn’t believe her eyes. The runes were normally so reliable and she had never doubted them before.

Madison Berger is visiting Dublin with her family for a Viking re-enactment festival, when she chances upon a small knife embedded in the banks of the Liffey. Maddie recognises what the runes on the knife’s handle signify: the chance to have her own adventures in the past.

Maddie only intends to travel back in time briefly, but a skirmish in 9^th century Dublin results in her waking up on a ship bound for Iceland, with the man who saved her from attack.

Geir Eskilsson has left his family in Sweden to boldly carve out a life of his own. He is immediately drawn to Maddie, but when he learns of her connection to his sisters-in-law, he begins to believe that Fate has played a part in bringing them together. Amidst the perils that await on their journey to a new land, the truest battle will be to win Maddie’s heart and convince her that the runes never lie…

And here is a short excerpt:-

Maddie became aware of hushed voices just as she registered the almighty pounding inside her skull. A rocking sensation soothed her somewhat, and she was warm and dry, but splashing noises and something that sounded like flapping made her frown. Where was she? Her eyes fluttered open and she groaned, putting a hand to the side of her head above her left ear, where most of the pain seemed to be concentrated. She grimaced as her fingers encountered a rough bandage. ‘Ouch!’

‘Lie still and don’t touch that. I think the bleeding has stopped, but you wouldn’t want to set it off again.’

The big man who had come to her aid earlier swam into focus, although there wasn’t enough light to see him properly. In the half-darkness his features looked handsome but unreal, wreathed in shadows, a frown of concern etched on his brow. She couldn’t make out the colour of his eyes, but they were studying her intently. He pulled at her fingers and she tried to swat his hand away, just as the memory of what she’d done returned with full force, making her freeze.

Jesus, it had worked! She had time travelled back to the Viking age. She’d barely had a chance to register this before, as almost the moment she’d opened her eyes in what she’d hoped was the ninth century, four thugs had spotted her and decided she was theirs for the taking. Their faces had lit up at the sight of her and she’d heard their cries of glee as they thought their evening’s bed sport was secured. The hell it was . . .

Their exact words and the ensuing fight were a bit of a blur, but as soon as this man had started talking to her afterwards, she’d known for sure she was in the Viking era because he was speaking Old Norse. Thank goodness she’d paid attention to all the lessons she’d had recently. Her sister Linnea had insisted they all learn, just in case she visited with her husband and any kids they might have, which was fair enough.

But . . . she was still here? No, no, no! That wasn’t how she’d planned it.

You can find Tempted by the Runes in bookshops and online (UK, US and Australia).

I’m giving away a signed copy to someone who comments and because it will be Christmas soon, I’ve added a Thor’s hammer Christmas tree bauble. I’ll pick a winner at random – giveaway closes at midnight on Saturday 11^th December.

Do you think you would have been brave enough to set off on a venture like Maddie and Geir’s, heading for an unknown land with all your possessions in tow? I’m not sure I would.

Comments

[Minna Puustinen]

Hmm. Maybe not quite THAT unknown land... Me, I like to know a bit more about where I'm going before I go there.

[Christina Courtenay]

Me too Minna - guess I'm just not very adventurous!

[ML]

Love the excerpt, especially for how it addresses the language issue. And thinking of Maddie, as the adage goes, if you want to make God laugh, have a plan!

When it comes to moving to an unknown land, I always think of my immigrant grandparents. My grandmother was 16 when she left her family to come to the US (and she never saw many of those family members again). I'm not sure I could do this. But necessity or the desire to gain a better life is a powerful motivator....

[Christina Courtenay]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! And yes, lots of people don't have a choice do they and hopefully things turn out better for them.

[Annette N]

Thanks for this post and the excerpt. Fascinating. These people were amazing and no wonder they have changed the world as they have.

I would like to believe I would have been brave enough to step out into the unknown. But, I am not sure I would have been that brave. The Vikings were ready for anything.

I believe that the people here in the US who decided to go west were brave too. I may have been able to do that, because it was not going over the ocean....the ocean and its vastness would have scared me to death.

I just looked, and I have a huge yellow streak down my back.....I am a coward. The Norwegians would have found me quite lacking in the courage they all had.

Hope everyone is well and safe and happy.

[Pamela DG]

Your book sounds marvelous! I've read a few books set in Viking times. What a challenge for a modern woman! I like to limit my "time traveling" a reenactment, I can spend Friday through Sunday in corsets and gowns as long as I have modern medications hidden in my cooler (made to look like a 19th Century hardtack box by a dearly departed friend). I have Viking blood coursing through my veins by way of my 3rd generation Norwegian-American Mom. (My maternal line is mainly Norwegian and Scottish...I'm descended from many strong and fiercely loyal woman! Plenty of inspiration for my own heroines.) The most adventurous I've been lately is to make lefse and krumkake and drink coffee in front of my fireplace in my nice warm living room.

[Kareni]

What a fascinating post, Christina!

I think about my mother who left The Netherlands in the nineteen fifties to settle in New Zealand (a new start in a new place albeit one that was already settled). That likely took more bravery than I realized!

[Christina Courtenay]

Thank you, Annette! I'm the same as you - not very keen on going across the vast ocean. Just the thought of how deep it is underneath you is terrifying! But Vikings weren't scared of anything - lucky them :-)

[Christina Courtenay]

That sounds adventurous enough to me, Pamela, not to mention delicious! I'd love to get into reenactment as well, it looks like such fun. But lovely to be able to have some hidden modern medication just in case.

[Christina Courtenay]

Yes, that does sound very brave, Kareni! So many people emigrated after the war and I'm sure lots of them never saw their families back home again. Must have been an extremely difficult decision! My grandmother's sister went to Australia with her husband and she only saw her once thirty years later.

[Jane Nelson]

I doubt very much that I would be that brave. But you don't really know unless you are in that position. As a genealogist, I can't help but think of the early settlers of America, who also set off into the unknown. Or my German great-grandfather who came to Ohio with his parents and siblings at the age of 7, not speaking a word of English!

[Quantum]

Recalling that our perception of the world is formed in the mind which is not constrained to the present space-time, I think of the time travel portals as openings in the mind accessing dream like states in other periods and locales. There are no problems then with paradoxes like killing your parents before you are born.

Navigating the North Atlantic in open boats like the Islendingur seems a horrendous prospect. You point out that the ships were very stable in rough conditions but wind gusts can reach hurricane-force and storm waves can build to more than 50 feet (15 meters)! I imagine the fatality count would have been very high.

I think circumstances would have to be very compelling for me to head for an unknown land with all my possessions in tow. If climate change makes the earth uninhabitable I might consider heading for planets new!

Thanks for another fascinating post.

[Karin]

My own parents came to the U.S. leaving everything behind, and actually they had no choice, it was a matter of survival. So I imagine I could do it too, if I had to.
The ship is amazing! It didn't look very large, until I saw the photo of you inside it for scale. Just constructing something like that is a feat, never mind sailing it! They must have used huge tall trees to get the wood, and think of hand weaving that enormous sail!

[Pat Dupuy]

I would want to be thoroughly informed about what I was getting into before making such a dramatic leap.

[Teresa Broderick]

I would love to think I would be brave enough to do this but no, definitely not!! They were brave people, even if they did plunder and take over places not belong to them :)
Here in Waterford, where I live, we were the first place in Ireland that the Vikings came into and took over. We still have a lot of Viking history here. Our most famous story is the marriage of Aoife, a Chieftain's daughter to Strongbow a Viking. It took place in Reginald's Tower which is now a museum in the City.
There has also been a lot of Viking artifacts uncovered during building projects.
Would be a good place for you to visit sometime Christina:)

[floridagardener]

I have read the first 3 books of the series. So I would like to have this one as well. I like how Christina takes us to the places she researched and gives us a glimpse of the places that the story takes place. We the have have a point of reference to base the characters. I have enjoyed the stories and am looking forward to reading this book as well.
Sending warm wishes from Florida, US for a
happy holiday season.

[Janet Murdoch]

I don't think I would be brave enough but both my mother and mother in law did virtually the same thing leaving the UK and taking their families and everything they could pack up to the west coast of Canada. Strangely enough they did it only 2 years apart - Mom in 57 and my husband's Mom in 55. So I was 4 when we made the big journey to a place where my parents had no jobs and certainly very little money. My grandparents and Mom's younger brother (just out of the army) came with us. I tell my husband of almost 50 years, that we were meant to be as we would never have met if our mothers hadn't decided to make the move! His family lived in south eastern Scotland and we lived in Birmingham, England. There have been Viking artifacts uncovered in eastern Canada so they may have actually been here first!

[Christina Courtenay]

It’s fascinating isn’t it! I do genealogy too and often wonder if those who emigrated found the great life they wanted. Either way it must have been hard for them!

[Christina Courtenay]

Thank you and good point - we (or our descendants) might have to head to different planets! I really don’t think I could cope with that.

[Christina Courtenay]

You’re right, sometimes there is no choice but I think most of the Vikings who went to Iceland wanted to go. Yes making a ship like that took ages and incredible skill, as did the sail. It’s amazing what they achieved really!

[Christina Courtenay]

Definitely but what if that wasn’t possible and you had to take a leap of faith? That’s what my characters do!

[Christina Courtenay]

I would love to Teresa and I plan on making it happen as soon as I can. That sounds fascinating and I’d love to see those artifacts!

[Christina Courtenay]

Thank you very much and warm wishes to you too!

[Christina Courtenay]

That’s a lovely story Janet and definitely seems like fate meant you to be together! I really want to come and see the Canadian Viking things!

[Patricia Franzino]

I wouldn't have enough courage to sail away to a new land.

I love reading stories about time travel. I wonder about portals that may exist for this kind of exploration.

It's a wonderful story, Christina, and I look forward to reading it.

[Cindy A]

My dad is in the military and we did this several times. It was an adventure. Probably. Or so much for my mom. I left the nest and moved away after graduation. Sometimes I wish I were closer to family when the kids were growing up.

[Christina Courtenay]

Thank you Patricia! I love time travel stories too - it's fun to imagine yourself in a different era isn't it.

[Christina Courtenay]

Thanks Cindy - I guess it helps if you see it as an adventure and just embrace the experience. I moved with my family to Japan when I was 16 and that was quite difficult at first but I grew to love it there.

[Sue McCormick]

I don't partiularly admire this period, but you will make it fascinating.

[Christina Courtenay]

Thank you Sue, that’s really lovely of you to say!

[Jane Nelson]

At times some of the records I find are heartbreaking. Families lose young children but have to move on, leaving the lonely graves behind.

[Christina Courtenay]

And the winner of the giveaway is Pamela DG - congratulations Pamela!