Interview with a Fictional Hero

Christina here. Next week sees the publication of the fifth book in my Vikings Runes series, PROMISES OF THE RUNES, and today I thought I would interview the fictional hero, Ivar Thoresson, in order to introduce him to readers. He has quite an interesting story to tell! As long as you believe in magic, that is …

He arrives to the interview dressed in black jeans and biker boots, but with a Viking tunic instead of a t-shirt. It’s pale blue and trimmed with beautiful handwoven bands and he tells me a special someone made it for him. All manner of things hang off his leather belt – a pouch, a knife and what looks like a real battle axe. Intimidating if I didn’t know that he’s only brought it to show me. His dark blond hair is long, but pulled back into a manbun, and he has a closely cropped beard. Basically, he has the look of a very modern Viking.

Christina: Ivar, thank you for joining us today. I know you’re a busy man, basically living a double life. Can you tell us a bit about how it all started?

Ivar: Yes, I’m an archaeologist, and I used to work at the Historical Museum in Stockholm, which is sort of where it began. Before I go any further, I have to tell you – in strictest confidence – that I and my foster-family are rather unusual in that we have been granted privileges by the Norse gods that few others have been afforded.

Christina: The Norse gods? You believe in them?

Ivar: Oh, absolutely! I mean, how else do you explain the magic? OK, I need to start by saying that magic exists. Seriously, I should know! Several members of my extended family have been lucky enough to time travel, including me, and the only way that is possible is through the use of magical items. And who could create such objects, if not the Norse gods?

Christina: I suppose that makes sense. If you believe in that sort of thing.

Ivar: Well, I can safely say that when you are suddenly hurtled a thousand years back in time, you have no choice but to believe! And you either deal with it or perish.

Christina: And this happened to you, quite by accident?

Ivar: [looking slightly shifty]: Er, not exactly … You see, I was jealous of my sister Linnea and her friend Sara, who had both time-travelled back to the Viking age. I mean, come on! What self-respecting archaeologist wouldn’t want to go as well? I knew that they had done it by way of a magical object with a very special runic inscription on it – “Með blōð skaltu ferðast” (which means “with blood you shall travel”) – so I looked for a similar thing in the museum’s archives. It took me ages, but I found one. A little pair of shears that had belonged to a Viking seeress. I, um, kind of borrowed them.

Christina [raises eyebrows]: Borrowed, eh?

Ivar [his expression turns sheepish]: OK, fine, I stole them. But I had every intention of putting them back eventually, I swear!

Christina: Right. So then what happened?

Ivar: There was another reason why I wanted to go back to the Viking age as well. I’m an orphan and my dad died when I was fourteen. He was obsessed with our forefathers and in particular, he claimed that we were descended from a Viking named Thorald. Dad owned a sword that had been passed down through the generations and it was inscribed with Thorald’s name, so it was possible this tale was accurate. Of course, having no other blood relatives, I was keen to meet Thorald for myself. And when Linnea happened to mention that one of her neighbours in the Viking world was called Thorald, I wondered if it could be the same man. Surely it couldn’t be coincidence?

Christina: You wanted to meet him.

Ivar: Of course I did! I was very curious, and with the help of the shears I figured I could make it happen. And I did. I travelled through time, to the ninth century, and met Thorald. It was uncanny, I have to say, because we actually look alike! We could be brothers, and lots of people think we are.

Christina: Hang on, you’re talking in the present tense now. Is he here with you, in the 21^st century?

Ivar: No, no, he’s still living in the Viking age. But because I have the shears [Ivar coughs and clears his throat] – yes, I know, I should have given them back, but I haven’t got round to it yet – anyway, I can go and see Thorald whenever I want. We meet up as often as we can, and we really are brothers now. Brothers-in-arms and best friends. It’s amazing!

Christina: I can see that it would be very satisfying, finding a long lost relative like that. A bit weird to have to go a thousand years back in time though.

Ivar: Yes, but it is what it is. [shrugs]

Christina: That wasn’t all you found in the past though, right? I hear you tried to rescue a damsel in distress.

Ivar [laughs]: Oh, yes, Ellisif! I first saw her in a strange vision I had when I found this little silver amulet at the museum and held it in my hand …

Christina: Another stolen item?

Ivar: Ahem, borrowed. Temporarily. But yes, when I held it, I saw this image of a beautiful Viking woman being taken captive. I know it sounds unbelievable, but it was as if she was begging me for help. When I eventually came across her at the kaupang – er, market place – in Skiringssal, I just had to help her, you know? It was the right thing to do.

Christina: Sure. And the fact that she’s rather pretty had nothing to do with it, of course.

Ivar: [turns slightly pink]: Well, maybe? Fine, I admit that there was chemistry between us right from the start. But I hadn’t gone back in time in order to fall in love. I only wanted to experience life in the Viking age and to get to know Thorald, both of which I did. Meeting Ellisif was an unexpected bonus, but it wasn’t like we could date or anything. That’s not how these things worked back then. It made everything a bit complicated, to say the least.

Christina: I won’t ask you to divulge how that panned out, but you guys had some adventures together, didn’t you?

Ivar: You could say that – I actually ended up having to take part in a Viking sea battle! Not quite what I’d envisaged when I decided to take a little trip back in time. But there you go …

Christina: Well, thank you, Ivar. I’ve taken up more than enough of your time so if anyone wants to know more about what happened to you – and Ellisif – they’ll have to read your story in PROMISES OF THE RUNES. Thanks again for chatting to me today!

Ivar: No problem, my pleasure.

So there you have it – the start of Ivar’s story. If you’d like to find out more, PROMISES OF THE RUNES is published next week on 13^th April.

Are there any other heroes from books you’ve read that you would like to interview if you had the chance? Please leave a comment below for a chance to win this giveaway – a signed copy of the book and some beautiful note cards from the Oseberg Ship museum in Norway.

Comments

[Patricia Franzino]

Thank you, Christina, for this fun blog.

There is a hero from a series of mystery novels that has a time slip heroine who fell into an energy vortex to land in 1816.

The "In Time" Julie McElwain series has a hero, Alec, Marquis of Sutcliffe, who worked as a spy for the British government during the Napoleonic Wars.

The series only mentions this briefly. I would like to interview him to see how much he could tell me about this time in his life and how he felt when he first encountered Kendra, the lady from the future.

[Mary Jo Putney]

LOL, Christina! I'd preorder the book if I hadn't already done so. *G* Ivar sounds like a hoot.

[Christina Courtenay]

Thank you Patricia! Yes, he sounds like a very intriguing man and it would be great to have his take on things. I bet he was very confused when he first met a lady from the future!

[Christina Courtenay]

Thank you so much, Mary Jo! He is a little bit mischievous *G*

[Vicki L]

What a fun idea - to interview a character from the book. I very much enjoyed it. He sounds like an interesting person to spend time with.

[Pat Dupuy]

I suspect Ivar is going to take his sweet time returning the items he "borrowed" from the museum! I would love to interview Lord John Grey about his military career. He's been to a lot of interesting places in war and peacetime.

[Christina Courtenay]

Thank you Vicki, I’m so glad you liked it!

[Christina Courtenay]

I think you’re right Pat - he’d be a fool to return a time travel device! And yes, Lord John Grey is an interesting character. Good choice!

[Quantum]

Great idea to interview one of your own characters ..... next step may be to interview yourself, both past self and future self!

I don't really want to interview any fictional character but would love to interview Einstein's wife, thinking of Marie Benedict's 'The Other Einstein'. Understanding how a brilliant woman coped with having a genius as a husband would be a fascinating exercise.

My physics training makes time travel problematic for me but Ivar sounds like someone I would like to meet, so maybe I will look for one of those magical objects ..... or just buy your book!

[Christina Courtenay]

Thank you Quantum! Not sure I would want to interview myself but Einstein’s wife, now that could be interesting!

[Kareni]

Best wishes, Christina, as you publish this book and introduce Ivar to many new readers; he seems like quite a character!

Hmm, what character might I like to interview? I'll go forward in time and request an interview with Roarke from J.D. Robbed ...in Death series.

[Anne Gracie]

Fun interview, Christina. I've just finished reading my advanced copy of Secret of the Runes, and I have to say I LOVED it. Completely engrossing and page-turning. You keep coming up with the goods and provide a fabulous reading experience! I haveit on pre-order and when I get that copy, I'll review it.

[Alexandra]

Thanks for giving us a glimpse of your new book. Looking forward to continuing with the biking journey.

[Christina Courtenay]

Thank you Kareni! And I think that choice would be popular with most of the Wenches!

[Christina Courtenay]

Thank you so much Anne and I’m delighted you enjoyed the story! Many thanks also for the review, much appreciated!

[Christina Courtenay]

That’s great to hear Alexandra - thank you very much!

[Teresa Broderick]

This was a fun post Christina!! A book hero I'd like to see interviewed is Simon Morley from Time and Again by Jack Finney. He goes back to New York in the 1800's and also has the ability to come back to the future. I imagine it would be fascinating to hear what he had to say.
Best of luck with the new book!!

[Christina Courtenay]

Many thanks, Teresa! It sounds as though Simon would have a lot in common with Ivar - we should get the two of them together to discuss their time travelling experiences!

[Kareni]

J.D. Robb's!

[Kareni]

I've had Time and Again on my shelf for many years, Teresa, as it's an old favorite. Now you have me thinking I should reread it!

[Teresa Broderick]

Always good to reread an old favourite Kareni! It's a lovely story.

[Cheryl Hubbard]

Hi I'd like you to interview Mia from the runes series by Christina Courtenay, how does she feel that all her children go back in time but as yet she hasn't.
Cheryl