Susan Nicol's Blog: Canadian Sagas, page 2

T'is the Season

According to the Saga of the Greenlanders, Leif Eiriksson was a convert to Christianity. Not only was the King of Norway, Olaf I, involved in his baptism, he urged Leif to return to Greenland and convert his family and n...

Viking Dreams

This bedroom fit for a Viking is located within Norstead Village, Newfoundland. Norstead is an 11th century recreation of a Norse port of trade. Whoever laid their heads on the sheepskin and wool blankets peeking out fro...

Christmas Mummers

As winter holiday festivities are being launched around the world, I decided to present a hand-crafted Christmas mummer scene from St. Anthony, Newfoundland. St. Anthony features prominently in my debut novel, Sagas & Se...

Sleeping it off in Vinland

The warning on this padlocked door in the Viking encampment at the L'Anse aux Meadows, Canada, is in three official languages: English, French and Norse.

Pissing Mare Falls

Honestly, that's the real name of this waterfall in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland. Soaring 350 metres above water level (about 1150 feet), this scenic site is one of the highest falls in eastern North America. I...

Canadian Vikings

It's really not surprising that my debut novel is about Vikings in Canada. After all, I grew up with them in Manitoba's Interlake region.

Shieldmaiden Power

I just received my cheque from the book launch for Sagas & Sea Smoke held at McNally Robinson in Winnipeg this spring. It instantly reminded me of the enthusiastic support I received from friends, family, and the Scandin...

Death By Fire

This Viking re-enactor warming himself by the fire in a sod longhouse at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, probably thinks he is enjoying one of life's little pleasures.

Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Jules Verne wrote a science fiction novel entitled Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Verne was yet another writer inspired by The Icelandic Sagas.

Nalbinding Hearthkeepers

The wares on display here in Norstead Village, Newfoundland, were handknit using the ancient Norse technique of nalbinding. Norse women would spin the wool and then knit their crafts with just one needle. I particularly ...