Heidi Herman's Blog

A new book coming in 2025!

Hey, everyone! You may have noticed I've been pretty quiet the last couple of months. Well, it's because I've been very busy FINALLY finishing one of my passion projects!

Over the past couple of years, I've shared a few of my vegetable-infusion recipes. I'm what you could call a veggie-averse adult. Well, after sharing a few, I realized how many others were out there like me who might love more of these recipes.

So, I've had the intention of creating a new cookbook, and I'm excited to say that HUGE steps have been made toward that goal!

Stay tuned—I’ll be sharing more soon.

Final Draft of my New Novel

Sportswriter Walter Wellesley “Red” Smith was asked during a 1949 interview if it was difficult writing a daily column. He said, “Why, no. You simply sit down at the typewriter, open your veins, and bleed.”

It has been a long road but I've finally attached the words "the end" to the last page of my current book. I started working on this novel several years ago, completing first draft complete in 2019 when I sent it out to beta readers. The feedback was lackluster and I put it on the back burner to help my mom organize a motivational book she wanted to publish. She was full vitality for life and at the age of 93 wanted to encourage people to stay active by setting an example. From May 2018 to May of 2019, from her 93rd to 94th birthdays, she set about to experience 93 new things in her life. She accomplished that, and in the summer of 2019, she began working on a book to memorialize that year.

She passed away on October 9, 2019 before her book was complete. I was compelled to finish it but when I was done, I felt like there was more to say. Her completed book, Never Too Late, was a photo journal of the experiences, but I wanted to go further. That ended up being a motivational book, On With the Butter, where I share the philosophy I learned from her and how anyone could apply that to their own life to get some of that vitality. Both of those book were published in the fall of 2020.

In time, I turned back to the novel I had shelved. My outlook on life had changed, and the message I wanted to share was much more defined. I realized the story I had created was a watered-down version of what I truly wanted to say. The process of writing non-fiction had helped me clarify my writing and as hard as it was to do, I erased more than half my novel. It wasn't right.

I started over, this time allowing myself to, paraphrasing Red Smith, emotionally bleed on the page. What developed was the story of a middle-aged woman devoted to a successful career who begins to wonder if it's all been worth it - the sacrifice of family and children for a job the would never love her back. When that job is threatened, she fights to protect it, terrified to lose the only thing of importance to her, but at the same time, wonders if the life she's created is still worth fighting for. Add to the mix a trio of close friends each batting their own mid-life challenges, a wise and charismatic vineyard-owning aunt, and a team roping brand inspector who introduces her to the life philosophy of a cowboy and a great story emerged.

I love the characters in this book and I'm excited to continue their stories in three more book in this series. This week I'll finish the polishing and spell-check then it's off to beta readers, then my editor before it's pitched to new agents.  It will be a while before readers can get their hands on it, because I will be pursuing the route of traditional publishing. I've loved the experience of owning a small publishing company, and will continue to use Hekla Publishing for all my Icelandic-inspired work but I'd like to reach a broader readership with my women's fiction.

These new novels will all have a small slice of Icelandic influence somewhere but not Icelandic-themed. The cowboy in the current work has an energetic Icelandic sheepdog named Gaski (in Icelandic, the word gáski means high spirits or merriment), but it's a contemporary story that takes place in Colorado and Wyoming. The next three will all have their own peppering of Icelandic elements I'm looking forward to sharing. Yes, the next three are already outlined and I hope to start writing the second in the series next month.

For now, I am relishing this moment where I typed the words "the end" on the last page of a story I love.

 

Vitality and Viking of the Midwest

 It's been a year of changes, adaptations, and adjustments for all of us and one of challenges and difficulty for some. And yet, we persevere. We keep going, keep moving forward, and keep focused on the business of life. I have enjoyed starting to join events and festivals again and have had the pleasure of being a guest speaker for several events this summer.

I have created a new presentation - Aging with Vitality - that blends together some of the ideas from my book, On With the Butter! with five principles of Scandinavian philosophies. This is a great session for Scandinavian Clubs, Community Groups, and Library events. 

Contact me for scheduling and to talk about a program for your group or event.

https://www.heidihermanauthor.com/boo...

You've Already Grown Up - At Retirement, now you Grow On

 -Written as a guest post for BloomerBoomer.com

What do you want to be when you Grow On?

-Heidi Herman, author of On With the Butter!

As children, we were often asked,“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Our answers were often based on the idea of a particular lifestyle - a cowboy, rock star, ballerina, fire fighter. In high school, our thoughts turned to college majors or technical skills and the next question was, “What are you going to be when you graduate?” The way we answer that question becomes part of our identity, but it doesn’t define us as people.

An article on Seek.com poses new thought-provoking questions: Are you your job? When did you last hear yourself saying: “I’m an administrator,” “an electrician,” or “a journalist”?  It’s hard-wired into our culture to label others and ourselves. During many if not most of our income-producing years, we have a professional identity and the loss of that identity is often part of retirement. Who will you be in retirement? You’ve already grown up, but now it’s time to grow on. But onto what?

Facing retirement is difficult for many people because they haven’t given much thought to “growing on.” The majority of people focus only on the financial aspects of retirement without making a plan for how they will use their time. So, it’s time to ask yourself the question again: What do I want to be? It takes only a moment of consideration to realize the answer cannot be “nothing, I'm retired.” When we give ourselves permission to grow on in whatever way sounds most fun or interesting to us, we immediately realize that retirement doesn’t have to be a slow-down. It’s not end of activity and new experience, it’s the beginning.

This is the next chapter of your life and, and you can spend it any way you like. Whether your plan is to pursue your ambition to raise prize-winning roses or to participate in a 10K run in every state, having a purpose in life is crucial to your health and well-being. If you haven’t figured out what’s next, the quest can be exciting, even exhilarating. ,When we embrace the challenge of finding new things to love in life, we try new activities, explore more possibilities and are open to all sorts of adventures.

The health benefits of having a purpose in life include reduced risk of Alzheimer’s, improved sleep, reduced risk of strokes, and improved mental functions. [https://practicalneurology.com/articl...] These benefits, among others, have been shown in numerous research studies including studies conducted by Rush University in Chicago, University of Stirling in the UK, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Michigan.

Purpose doesn’t have to be philanthropic or complicated, it can simply be pursuing activities that are important or enjoyable to you.A business owner may look forward to the day they can work part-time, or serve on a board of directors in an advisory capacity, even mentor small business owners. A doctor may want to pass the practice on to the next generation and occasionally write articles for medical publications. Others may wish to leave all aspects of their career far behind and embrace the RV lifestyle, continually exploring and traveling. A world of opportunity is waiting for you. 

And like the teenager you were years ago, you’re faced with the question, “What do I want to be?” 

Special In-Person Events Coming!

I'm happy to share that I have three events coming up in South Dakota. Each one is in a different city, so local rules apply for social distancing and masks. It will be great to interact with readers and make new friends at these events!

Huron Farmers Market
Saturday, October 39:00am - 12:00 pmCampbell Park, Huron SDAuthor Meet & Greet, book signing, books available for purchase, plus giveaways and special promotions.​Arts & Crafts FestivalSaturday, October 1710:00 am - 4:00 pmFaulkton High School1114 Court Street, Faulkton, South Dakota 57438Author Meet & Greet, book signing, books available for purchase, plus giveaways and special promotions.​ Craft & Gift FairSaturday, November 149:00 am - 3:00 pmEvent & Wellness Center705 Wilder Lane, De Smet, South Dakota 57231Author Meet & Greet, book signing, books available for purchase, plus giveaways and special promotions.

Growing On

Sometimes, you can think of life as being divided into two parts: childhood and adulthood. As clear as day from night. In truth, there are many phases we go through in our life journey. Some are abrupt or monumental and will always be a pivotal point of change: graduation, marriage, move to a new city, loss of a loved one.

Other phases start or end more gradually. Those might be along the lines of lifestyle changes. Over time, you might transition from spending time with college friends to professional colleagues. After becoming a parent, your circle of friends and choice of activities might change to more kid-friendly events.

Retirement is one of those lifestyle changes that is both gradual and sudden. The moment of your farewell party, or packing a box of belongings on your last day of work might signal the sudden moment of retirement. The first few weeks might be an adjustment of schedule as you work to create a new routine. For some, there's a flurry of activity - finally able to do all those projects and finish the to-do list.  Others find the time on their hands weighs heavy and they start to feel fear. What to do with all that free time looms large.

 I recently read a Facebook post that can be applied to this idea:


       In 2006 a high school English teacher asked students to write a famous author       and ask for advice. Kurt Vonnegut was the only one to respond - and his response       is magnificent: “Dear Xavier High School, and Ms. Lockwood, and Messrs Perin,       McFeely, Batten, Maurer and Congiusta: I thank you for your friendly letters. You      sure know how to cheer up a really old geezer (84) in his sunset years. I don’t make       public appearances any more because I now resemble nothing so much as an iguana.
      What I had to say to you, moreover, would not take long, to wit: Practice any art,        music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry,        fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get        money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside        you, to make your soul grow.
      Seriously! I mean starting right now, do art, and do it for the rest of your lives.       Draw a funny or nice picture of Ms. Lockwood, and give it to her. Dance home       after school, and sing in the shower and on and on. Make a face in your mashed       potatoes. Pretend you’re Count Dracula. ... You have experienced becoming,        learned a lot more about what’s inside you, and you have made your       soul grow. God bless you all!"                                     -Kurt Vonnegut 


Retirement is not the loss of your identity or the demise of your usefulness. It is not the end of your purpose, it's simply the beginning of the next phase. As a child, it was about Growing Up and becoming an adult. Now that your income-focused days are behind you, think of this stage as Growing On. Mr Vonnegut said it well and I'd like to take it one step further - every day, focus on the practice of living life. Not a routine to earn money or care for children - those days are likely behind you in retirement. Now is the time to find new purpose and activity. You may choose to work, for a number of reasons, or volunteer, learn, travel, relax, or play.

The advice to a high school senior can apply just as well to a chronological senior - Practice any art...no matter how well or badly..to experience becoming [and] find out what's inside you. Welcome today and the new experiences it can bring you. Life is no longer about growing up and becoming an adult, your focus is now about growing on to learn more and do more in life. It may be small things that you've always wanted to do, like learn to bake or plant a garden, or big dreams like travel Europe or finish your college degree. If you're not sure, that can be even more exciting - you can try a little bit of everything. Why can't life be like an endless buffet? Try a little of this, a little of that, and be sure to include a few things you're nearly certain you won't like. Why? Life's all about experiences and getting outside your comfort zone can have surprising results.

So, take on the day. Go out and have fun!


--------
Need some inspiration or ideas?
On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life
Heidi Herman
Hekla Publishing LLC
ISBN: 978-1-947233-03-4
Release Date: 08/14/2020

Strawberry Shortcake

If you read my last blog, you know it's strawberry season and I scored 48 pounds from the local grower. I made several batches of strawberry filling and have been finding all sorts of yummy ways to use it. I had planned on canning most of it so I would have strawberry filling all year. At the rate we're eating it in my house, I'm not sure I'll have much to preserve.

But there are so many wonderful recipes to try! When I came across a recipe on Facebook for white cake from I Am Baker, I immediately thought of strawberry shortcake. It was perfect!



I make a white cake following the recipes exactly and stopped short of frosting it. When it was cooled, I cut it into 9 squares. Each square would be one serving.

I cut each slice horizontally, and to be extra decadent, I spread a layer of white chocolate pudding and topped it with the strawberry filling. I replaced the top of the cake, added more strawberry filling and a dollop of whipping cream. Voilà! Strawberry shortcake!

Check out the cake recipe from IamBaker:


White Cake RecipeOriginally from iambaker.net
From I Am Baker Prep 15 minutesCook 38 minutesTotal 53 minutesIngredients 1/2 cup (113g) butter, softened1 cup (200g) granulated sugar1/2 cup (123g) whole milk, room temperature1 tsp. vanilla extract1/4 tsp. pure almond extract, optional1 1/2 cups (180g) cups cake flour2 tsp. baking powder4 (120g or 4 ounces) egg whites, room temperatureInstructions Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare 8x8 square pan with butter and flour or baking spray.Beat butter at medium speed with a hand-held mixer until creamy, roughly 3-4 minutes.Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.Stir together milk and vanilla. (If you are adding almond extract, add it here)Sift together flour and baking powder; add to butter mixture alternately with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition.Beat egg whites at medium speed until stiff peaks form; gently fold into batter. Pour batter into prepared pans.Bake at 350° for 35-38 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes.Optional: Cover with white frosting.

Strawberry Picking!

I love strawberries. 
They’re a summertime treat that for many years I just enjoyed when they were in stock at the grocery store. Now, I have more free time and look for new activities and try new things. When I saw a post on Facebook from a local farm that strawberries were in season and I could come to pick my own, I thought, “this is something I must do.”
I called a few friends and arranged for a day of berry-picking. I drove forty miles to the farm and then realized I probably should have called ahead to confirm.  The fruit wasn’t quite ripe, and we were unable to pick, so we settled on a girls’ lunch out instead. Over the next several weeks, schedules were busy, days of pelting rains happened, and other events conflicted, making it impossible to make it back to the farm. We knew mid-July was coming, and the strawberries would be out of season, so we had to make time. 
2 20# buckets and a flat.But, the day came in early July when the farm announced it was the last week of the season. I no longer had time for my berry-picking experience, so I settled on buying a quantity of pre-picked strawberries instead. I came home happy, with my haul of 48 pounds of strawberries.

I planned some for strawberry-rhubarb jam. The rhubarb was picked, prepped, and frozen, ready to be used. Some would be used in pie, and some processed and packaged for baking. I took the stems off, cleaned them, and packaged them in one-pound bags, using my food-saver to seal them for extended storage. Once I had 18 pounds safely tucked away, I pulled out some new recipes to try.
One pound packages frozen.  My first one was strawberry filling that promised to be thick enough for cake fillings and topping. Fruit-filled sweet rolls are one of my favorites, so it seemed like an excellent recipe to test. 
A nice filling should be suitable for sweet rolls, but if the consistency was right, it would make great ice cream topping, strawberry shortcake filling, and a few other tasty treats. I got to work on the first batch. 
It was very easy, but took longer to then that I expected. The result was worth it. The flavor and consistency was everything I had hoped. It smelled heavenly as it simmered away and I couldn't wait to try it in a few recipes. 
The mandatory taste-testing we performed along the way got better with each spoonful. Strawberries start off whole, then cook down into a thick sauce.
 Here’s the recipe: Strawberry Filling or Topping Ingredients 4 cups fresh strawberries1 cup granulated sugar4 Tbsp cornstarch4 Tbsp lemon juice2 Cups Water - DIVIDED1/2 tsp saltInstructions Put 1 cup of water in a large saucepan, adding the sugar, salt, and lemon juice. Mix to blend then add the strawberries. Heat the fruit on low to medium until sugar is dissolved, stirring until it begins to bubble.In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with the remaining 1 cup water to dissolve completely.Add the cornstarch water to the saucepan and continue to cook on low for about 30 minutes. Cook until it thickens and has a deep red glossy color. Test on the back of a wooden spoon. When it coats, it’s done.Store in refrigerator to use within a few days or seal in jars.  
I used about half my first batch in strawberry cream cheese sweet rolls. I have a wonderful recipe for sweet rolls and cinnamon rolls that is made-from-scratch but only takes an hour, so it’s my go-to favorite. 
The yeast dough is mixed then rests only five minutes before you roll it out and add the filling. The first filling layer is cream cheese, which is followed by fruit, then you carefully roll it up and slice to bake.
Dough covered in cream cheese filling, ready for the strawberry topping.

The finished product, fresh from the oven and drizzled with icing.
Here’s my full recipe:
One Hour Sweet RollsMakes 10-12
Ingredients FOR THE DOUGH: 1 cup warm milk 4 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast {2 1/2 packages} FOR BEST RESULTS USE 1 1/2 PACKAGE ACTIVE DRY AND 1 PACKAGE FAST-ACTING.1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 egg (room temperature) 1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil 4-4 1/2 cups all purpose unbleached flourFILLING4 ounces cream cheese, (softened) 2 tablespoons butter, (softened) 1/4 cup granulated sugar1 teaspoon vanilla1 1/2 cups frozen raspberries, apples or other fruit1/2 tablespoon cornstarchGLAZE1/4 cup butter, (softened)1 ounce cream cheese1/2 teaspoon vanilla3/4 cup powdered sugar3 tablespoons of milk1 teaspoon corn syrupInstructions Making the Dough- In a large liquid measuring cup, stir warm milk, yeast and 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar together to dissolve. Stir and proof 5 minutes. Into a larbe bowl, measure out 4 cups of flour, the remaining sugar, and salt. Once yeast mixture looks bubbly and frothy, pour in with dry ingredients. Start to stir on low with mixer or by hand. Add in the egg and the oil. Scrape edges of bowl to stir flour in evenly. Knead 5 minutes on low. If dough seems a bit sticky, stir in 2 tablespoons of flour at a time until it starts pulling away from the bowl. Rest dough 5 minutes. Lightly spray a 9x13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. MAKE CREAM CHEESE FILLING - Beat together the cream cheese, butter, and sugar until smooth. Stir in the vanilla.PREPARE FRUIT FILLING: Toss the FRUIT in the cornstarch, evenly coating, if you're using fresh raspberries or blueberries. For apples, I toss in cinnamon sugar and for the strawberry, I used the prepared filling.Sprinkle counter with flour and roll dough to be about 18x24. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the dough. Sprinkle with the raspberries and Lightly press the FRUIT/cream cheese into the butter using a rolling pin. Roll up tightly starting on the long edge. Pinch edges to seal together. Slice into rolls into about ten 1 1/2 inch rounds and place on prepared pan. Cover and let rise 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake about 25-30 minutes or until tops start to brown lightly.Remove the rolls from the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes.
CREAM CHEESE GLAZE While the rolls cool, mix the glaze ingredients together in a medium bowl. Add more milk if necessary to thin the glaze.Pour the glaze over the warm rolls and serve. Good Morning!

Exciting New Directions

Isn't it exciting when you feel invigorated and motivated to a new direction? Especially when you feel like it's been a tough road getting there.I’ve been absent from this blog for quite a while, but now I’m ready to start sharing again. Sometimes there are events in life that take us by surprise, and we must readjust. Other times, it’s a matter of choosing a path and direction for life. I had been struggling with that some last year, and then had one of the most difficult experiences to overcome - the passing of a loved one.
I treasure my Icelandic heritage and love writing children’s stories based on Icelandic folklore. I’ve had a wonderful time traveling with my mother to Scandinavian festivals and sharing the Icelandic culture through our books. But I wanted to explore new challenges as a writer. My greatest desire was to focus on novels, specifically women’s fiction. My first book blended my Icelandic heritage with a modern-day storyline based in America.
I was searching for a way to balance these loves, trying to decide if I had to choose one path of writing - novels or Icelandic folklore - or whether I could continue with both. I started working on a series of four novels based in the American West but introduce aspects of Iceland into each. While working on those, I also spent time with Mom, helping her with a new memoir-style book she was writing. Her story followed one year from her 93rd to 94th birthdays, where she set a goal to have 93 new life experiences. It was a fun year for her and those that followed her adventures on social media. So much so, that when the year was finished, people asked, “what now?” So, I suggested she put the experiences together into a book so that her message could reach more people. It was a simple message, but powerful - Just keep moving.  That year of new experiences finished up with her birthday in May 2019. We started working on the book a few months later. We weren’t in a rush to finish and enjoyed reliving the memories as I helped her organized the book. She continued to travel and always welcomed new experiences, relishing each day. In September, we spent several days together and made great progress on the book. We were optimistic that it would be complete by Thanksgiving. But life is fragile. On October 9th, after returning home from a long weekend trip visiting family, she suffered a massive stroke which proved fatal.
It was difficult for me to continue on and complete the work without her, but I had made a promise. A promise to Mom that we would finish her book, but also a commitment to myself that I would follow her example and be a second-generation life adventurer.  I wanted to share her philosophy, one that had become part of my own life outlook, and keep encouraging people to keep moving and continue enjoying life no matter what their age. I enlisted the help of an expert developmental editor who helped me create a motivational book to share that idea.
Next month, Hekla Publishing will be releasing two new titles and both are available today for pre-orders:


Never Too Late , a journal-style memoir following the year-long adventure of 93 new experiences of Ieda Jonasdottir Herman between her 93rd and 94th birthdays.
On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everday Life , a motivational gift book that offers a wide variety of activities and challenges, along with inspiring and heartwarming stories.
I chose the unusual title based on an Icelandic expression Áfram með Smjöri - on with the butter - which means to ‘carry on, keep doing what you’re doing, forge ahead, or keep moving.’ It seemed perfect for the idea I wanted to share. Mom would have loved it.
I’m excited about these new books and have created a Facebook group of the same name, On With The Butter, (https://www.facebook.com/onwiththebutter/) for people to join and share their own stories of life adventure, movement, and encouragement.
I’m still working on that new series of novels, but I’m also going to be posting more of my personal adventures - large and small - to encourage everyone to live life to the fullest. Let’s adventure together!
On With the Butter!

Modern Fiction Inspiration from Iceland's WWII era

Inspiration comes from many sources for a writer. It’s often a situation, snippet of conversation, image, or the unique personality of a memorable person. That spark of inspiration grows, and it becomes a story, and it happens to me all the time. I have never found myself short on inspiration, the stories grow naturally from experiences all around me. 
Recently, I had the occasion to reminisce on one such inspiration that found its way into my first novel.  My mother is from Iceland and met my father in 1944 during WWII when he was stationed with US forces at Keflavík. At an Icelandic heritage event in Mountain, North Dakota, I had the pleasure of chatting with several Icelandic dignitaries, one of who was extremely well-versed on WWII and Iceland’s unique role in the conflict.
Iceland wished to remain neutral. The British recognized the island’s strategic importance and the German diplomatic presence in Iceland was disconcerting to the British. At this time, Iceland was a fully sovereign state known as the Kingdom of Iceland but still maintained union under the Danish king. When Germany took over Denmark on April 9, 1940, King Christian was still considered the Icelandic head of state. Britain approached Iceland, seeking cooperation in exchange for assistance both a ‘belligerent and an ally,’ but Icelandic officials declined. After that failure, the British Royal Navy and Royal Marines invaded on the morning of 10 May, 1940, to occupy Iceland and deny it to Germany. 
The Royal Regiment of Canada quickly followed suit, Empress of Australia which landed at Reykjavik on June 16, 1940. Defending the move, the Prime Minister of Canada, Mackenzie King on June 18, 1940, said: “I need hardly point out the strategic importance, not only of the security of the North Atlantic sea lanes but to the defence (sic) of this continent, of maintaining control of Iceland.”

Prime Minister Winston Churchill in an address at the House of Commons on July 9, 1941 regarding US Troops in Iceland said, “The military occupation of Iceland by the forces of the United States is an event of first-rate political and strategic importance; in fact, it is one of the most important things that has happened since the war began.”
During that time, and still today, the Icelandic population was divided in its position on the occupation and the war. It was one they referred to as "blessað stríðið" or "the Lovely War." It was a time of economic revival for Iceland, but also social upheaval and a situation some thought of as loss of sovereignty. The positive economic impact from the occupation came in the form of a new network of roads and bridges, hospitals, airfields, and harbours across the country. However, relationships between Icelandic women and occupying troops caused much controversy and political turmoil. Icelanders severely censured the sexual relationships between the two and women who engaged in such were often accused of being prostitutes or traitors.
The Icelanders referred to this as Ástandið, "The Situation." Over two hundred documented births resulted from these liaisons. They were called the ástandsbörn (children of the situation).  In 1941, the Icelandic Minister of the Judiciary investigated over five hundred women who were suspected of having sex with troops station in the country. Many Icelanders were said to be “ upset that the foreign troops were ’taking away’ women, friends, and family.”
The government opened two facilities in 1942 to house women who slept with the soldiers while they investigated. The government subsequently closed both within a year after their inquiries determined that most of the liaisons were consensual. As a result of the occupation, approximately 332 Icelandic women became ‘war brides,’ marrying foreign soldiers and relocating to their new husband’s country.
In my story, Her Viking Heart, a character recalls memories from the war-time occupation and to write these in the most realistic manner, I spent several hours interviewing my Mom and asking questions about that time. It was so touching to talking with her about those childhood memories and the special times she spent with my father as they were courting in Iceland. I used a number of the stories in my book, but I think my favorite was the USO dance. 
This is a short excerpt from that book, a fictional account inspired by my own mother’s actual memories of meeting my father for the first time:
“There was so much military there then, in the city. We weren’t touched too much by the war, but the servicemen were everywhere. We were encouraged to keep a distance, but they were so exotic compared to Icelandic men. Their courtesies and gallantry were so different. Icelandic men treated women as equals and didn’t have any of the courting rituals like flowers or holding the door open. We giggled and simpered like American girls when the military men were around, and the Icelandic men would just walk away in disgust,” she said laughing.“My, I had forgotten that. So, one day, my cousin begged me to go to the USO dance with her. They were having a famous American singer, Marlene Dietrich. She wanted to hear the music and maybe dance with one of the dashing soldiers.”Anna smiled at the nostalgic tone in Sunny’s voice.“It was late in the summer, maybe early fall. That time when the Midnight Sun doesn’t shine anymore but sometimes the early Northern Lights fly overhead.” Sunny’s eyes closed, and a sad smile played on her thin lips.“I remember a slight chill in the air as we hurried down the street. We could hear the music from at least a block away. As we got closer, there were all sorts of military men milling about on the street, coming and going. I don’t think the door ever stayed closed. When we got inside, it was heavy and warm from so many people. We left our coats and made it through the crowd to get a drink. There were a few people there I knew, girlfriends from town, but mostly it was men in uniform.”“Was that the first time you had been to the USO?”“Oh, yes. I hadn’t been in town long, but Arna knew my English was good enough I could help her talk to any young man there.” Sunny laughed. “I am certain to this day that was her intention.”Anna grinned and silently encouraged Sunny to continue.“I don’t remember the songs, really, but I remember the feeling. It was exciting and new. I wasn’t watching where I was going. I was looking all over the room. I ran right into the back of a soldier, and not just a little bump. I nearly soaked his shirt with my drink.” Sunny laughed in memory. “He turned around like he was ready to defend himself against an attack and had to look down to find the threat, I was so much shorter than he was. And then he smiled. Oh my, what a smile.”
              -Chapter 20, Her Viking Heart  
Her Viking Heart is available from Amazon and other online retailers in paperback or e-book.