Suzanne G. Rogers's Blog, page 54

Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – The Brisingamen Caper

The theft of Freyja’s famous necklace, Brísingamen, was quite a coup.  How the deed was accomplished presented a mystery, but the goddess of love was determined to track the cat burglar down.  The case would require the highest level of expertise as well as discretion.  Since the necklace was stolen while Freyja slept, certain tongues might wag.

Enter Detective Heimdallr.

Although the guardian of the Rainbow Bridge had a day job, he could not resist coming to the aid of a lady in distress (particularly one as beautiful as Freyja).

Heimdallr possessed all the necessary skills for a crack detective, such as extraordinary hearing and eyesight.  His vision was so keen, in fact, that he could see into the future.

Heimdallr’s investigation turned up clues that pointed to The Pink Panther of the Norse Pantheon…Loki himself.

It’s one thing to catch a thief, and another to recover the booty.  Loki had cleverly disguised himself as a seal, so Heimdallr transformed himself into a seal too.  The battle between Loki and Heimdallr was short and pitched, but the brightest of the gods prevailed.

See authentic historical recreation HERE

Freyja was happy and relieved when Heimdallr returned Brísingamen.  No mention was made of any reward, although perhaps the whole episode was kissed by a seal, er, sealed with a kiss.

~ S.G. Rogers

Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – Fenrir

Fenrir the wolf was born under a dark star.   The son of the infamous Loki and a giantess, Fenrir was the subject of ominous prophecies.  After kicking the subject around the table awhile, the Æsir came up with a brilliant plan to contain the threat.

The Æsir appealed to Fenrir’s vanity, and asked him to test his strength with some nifty shackles.  Breaking out of the first pair was too easy for the enormous wolf, so the gods made a second pair twice as strong.  Fenrir took that challenge too, and won.

Hmm, what to do?

The gods appealed to the smithy dwarves to forge something impossible to break.  They fashioned a ribbon-like shackle called Gleipnir, woven of impossible items (see recipe, below).  Fenrir, suspecting a trick, refused this challenge.  The gods pinky-swore to release Fenrir if he couldn’t break out.

Fenrir was unimpressed.

But he offered the Æsir a deal.  If one of the gods would put his or her hand in Fenrir’s jaws as an act of stupidity good faith, he’d take The Gleipnir Challenge.

The brave and heroic god Týr volunteered.

When Fenrir was unable to break free from Gleipnir, the gods rejoiced. All except for Týr, of course, who could no longer clap.

~ S.G. Rogers

 

 

 

Loki Quakes In His Cement Shoes

Alas, poor Baldur!  Pierced by a spear of mistletoe, Odin and Frigga’s son perished and went to Helheim.

In a last-ditch effort to save her son, Frigga sent an emissary to make a deal with Hel.  If everything and everyone mourned Baldur, Hel agreed to let him go.  Since Baldur was beloved, it was a sweet deal.  A hue and cry went up on Baldur’s behalf, and it seemed as if Baldur was a free áss.

But…Loki couldn’t leave well enough alone.  He transformed himself into a giantess who wouldn’t join in the mourning and the deal was off. 

When the gods learned about Loki’s latest mischief, there was no place in the nine worlds of Norse mythology for him to hide. The gods seized Loki and gave him cement shoes, Norse style. They lashed him to a bed of rocks and suspended a snake possessing acid-like venom over his head. Loki’s wife, Sigyn, stuck a bowl under the drip to spare her husband.  Unfortunately, the bowl had to be emptied every so often, which left Loki exposed.  Whenever the acid dripped on Loki, the result was an earthquake.

Otherwise known as a Teutonic shift.

~ S.G. Rogers

Special Guest: Author Mary S. Palmer

Today I turn my blog over to author Mary S. Palmer, a multi-published author whose most recent release is To Catch A Fish (co-authored with David Wilton).  Enjoy! ~ S.G. Rogers

I started writing when I was five years old in Mobile, Alabama. I remember walking up and down my block and going to each of the twenty houses to sell my news sheet to any neighbor who’d give me a nickel. Remembering this later, I was reminded of the similar sequence on Andy Griffith when Opie did much the same thing and I wondered if I’d embarrassed my parents as he did.

It took a long time to progress to essays and poetry, but I kept trying. When a publisher in New Orleans gave me an assignment to write a biography of Governor George Wallace, I was thrilled. But I came back down to earth when, after six months of research, the company went out of business. That didn’t stop me. Another publisher showed interest and I kept researching, making many trips to Montgomery and even to Maryland to talk to people in Laurel, where Wallace was shot and paralyzed, including his doctor, and hospital administrators. I also interviewed Wallace and seven other governors of different states.

The second publisher ended up not taking the book. Two New York agents tried, but didn’t sell it. I ended up returning to college and using the book KEEP ON KEEPING ON: THE STORY OF GEORGE WALLACE as my Master’s Thesis for a degree in English. As it turned out, I was the first person at the University of Alabama to complete that degree with a Concentration in Creative Writing.

I continued writing but I like to switch genres. My first published book, coauthored with Elizabeth Coffman, Ph.D., was a collection of essays, short stories, and the history of Mobile. Congressman Sonny Callahan wrote the Foreword. It is entitled:

MemoraMOBILEia: Alabama Gulf Coast Potpourri. I also coauthored False Gods (fiction about a corrupt TV evangelist) with Dr. Coffman. My coauthor on The Callings (true crime) was Loretta Theriot and I coauthored a biography of James McEnery entitled Quest for Forgiveness.

My most recent book is an e-book by Musa Publishing called To Catch a Fish (novel about friendships and philosophy, plus the sanctity of the sea) coauthored with David V. Wilton.

Blurb:

When a fisherman is accused of murder, Alabama’s first black lieutenant governor may give up his career to defend his friend.

Davey Simpson, a fisherman, is charged with the murder of a powerful Alabama politician’s son. His childhood friend, Ben Johnson, an attorney, has to decide whether to resign as the first black lieutenant governor of Alabama in order to take Davey’s case.

While in the Mobile County Jail awaiting trial, Davey has a unique way of surviving confinement. Since he can’t endure living in the present, he lives in the past, recalling memories of his two childhood friends—his lost love, Pokey, and his best friend, Ben.

Those memories allow Davey to escape the unbearable loneliness of incarceration.

Davey’s plight causes childhood friends, separated by time and space, to reunite and renew their relationships. Unexpected twists reveal the many complications involved in the case and in Davey’s life.

Musa Publishing has also published Time Will Tell, a science fiction book about aliens who use an earthling to help them integrate back into society to share knowledge of cures for fatal diseases despite enemies from their planet trying to stop them.

Blurb:

Reporter Mona Stewart finds herself in another world of warring factions and one of them holds the key to immortality and cures for fatal diseases.

In the inner space of outer space, an earthling, reporter Mona Stewart, discovers that living almost forever in idleness, and without challenges, is much worse than having too much to do. The only reprieve from boredom for the Svarians is outwitting the Aliens.

I currently teach English at Faulkner State Community College in Fairhope, Alabama and at Faulkner University in Mobile. I have taught creative writing, too. I love to travel and I have been very fortunate to have visited all fifty of the United States and every continent except Antarctica. Most of the time, I come home with a story that I use in a book.

Side Notes:

For me, the easiest thing is to find a topic to write about. I also like plot development. Even in fiction, I do a lot of research. If I write about a particular place, whether I use the real name or not, I like it to be authentic–have the plants it really has, or the same lighting or furnishings, for example.

The hardest? Making sure it has complete unity from beginning to end, showing not telling, not repeating words or phrases and using all of the senses.

The most rewarding thing about writing is not just having it published, it’s when someone is as excited about reading it as I was about writing it. Most of all, it’s thrilling to have a reader discuss the characters and the plot with me after they’ve read the book. That’s what makes the labor of writing worthwhile.

~ Mary S. Palmer

Links:

To learn more about Mary S. Palmer, visit her blog!

See the Mobile Arts Council Artist Directory page for Mary HERE

Find Time Will Tell on Amazon and BN.com as well as on the Musa Publishing (in all formats) on-line store.

To Catch a Fish is available at Musa Publishing (in all formats).  Coming soon to Amazon and BN.com!

 

 

Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – Baldur

 

Baldur was a popular fellow, and his good reputation was well deserved.  Handsome, smart, and well mannered, his very aura screamed star quality. Baldur, Odin’s second son, was one of the good guys.

Only the good die young, it seems.

As it so happens, Baldur and his mother Frigga both dreamed about his death.  Understandably freaked out, Frigga went around making everything and everyone promise not to harm her boy.

EXCEPT for most harmless of plants…mistletoe. 

Because of his mother’s hard work on his behalf, Baldur became like the god of steel. Loki uncovered the loophole, of course, and fashioned a spear of mistletoe.  He brought it over to a party, where the gods were playing a fun new game called Bounce Stuff Off SuperBaldur. 

What could go wrong?

Loki thought it would be a hoot to press the spear into the hands of Baldur’s blind half-brother, Hodur.  Poor hapless Hodur launched the mistletoe at Baldur.  As a result, the party ended early.

Word of advice…next time, try a piñata.

~ S.G. Rogers

New Book Club With Benefits

Pure. Fiction.

Astraea Press has started a new book club on Facebook you will want to join. Why? For a two week period at the beginning of each month, Astraea Press will offer ONE free e-book to readers to read and enjoy At the end of the month you can come back for a chat with other readers and the author. Readers are encouraged to post a reader review on Amazon, B&N and/or Goodreads with their thoughts on the book

The fun starts in June, and you must join the group HERE to be eligible to receive the book.  The very first free read will be…Come on over to Facebook and join the fun.

~ S.G. Rogers

ExDRAGONganza

I’ve got a new Goodreads giveaway underway HERE, that ends on Friday, June 15th. I’m offering three paperback copies of The Last Great Wizard of Yden to readers in the USA and Canada.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE…

In addition, from now until midnight May 31st, Child of Yden will be giving away a super cool tote bag and t-shirt! Plus, I’ll be stuffing that tote bag with author swag, including pretty postcards and refrigerator magnets.

There are several ways to enter…pick the one easiest for you and leave a comment, below, to tell me which way you entered. Unfortunately, the tote bag and t-shirt giveaway is limited to the USA (due to the exorbitant costs of postage ) BUT if you are international, I will pick a second winner for an e-book copy of The Last Great Wizard of Yden or Minna & The Valentine. Winners will be announced on June 1st.

How to enter (you need pick only ONE):

VOTE for The Last Great Wizard of Yden on Goodreads’ Listopia list about dragons HERE; or

VOTE for Minna & The Valentine on Goodread’s Listopia list about dragons HERE; or

ADD any one of my books to your to-read list on Goodreads HERE; or

LIKE my author page on Facebook; or

Follow me on Twitter HERE.

I LOVE to give away stuff, so please enter my giveaways!

~ S.G. Rogers

[100% pre-shrunk cotton T-shirt is size large.  Dimensions of 100% natural 8 oz. cotton canvas tote bag are 14" x 14" x 3"]

Thor Tips His Helmet This Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a great occasion to remember the men and women in the military who serve their country.  In homage to Memorial Day, we revisit the grandest warrior of them all…Thor.

Thor wasn’t just a hammer-wielding hunk of a god.  He also knew how to use his brains.  There once was an amorous dwarf, Alviss, who aspired to wed Thor’s daughter.  Doting father that he was, Thor wasn’t having any of it.  Nevertheless, he convinced the dwarf he could gain his consent if Alviss answered his questions on a number of weighty topics.

Alviss was indeed a smarty-pants, and managed to wax enthusiastically and at length about the worlds he’d visited.  Thor and the lovelorn dwarf yakked all night about this, that and the other thing.  Just before dawn, Thor was forced to admit he’d never seen a wiser soul. 

But as George Harrison sang, “Here Comes The Sun.”  (VIDEO) Thor kept Alviss talking so long the rising sun turned him to stone.  End of problem.

The question is, if Alviss was so wise, how come he didn’t see that one coming?

~ S.G. Rogers

Looking for an opportunity to give back to the U.S. Military?  Check out Operation Gratitude.  They send 100,000 care packages annually to servicemen and women, their children, and to the wounded.

To celebrate Memorial Day, I’m giving away an e-copy of my fantasy adventure novella, The Druid.  The next installment of my Asgard Adventure series (The Accidental Immortal) will be released June 15th, so you’re right on time.  There are many ways to enter, so pick the one easiest for you. I’ll announce the winner on May 29th.

• Follow my blog;

• Like my FB Author page;

• Add one of my books to your to-read list on Goodreads; OR

• Follow me on Twitter.

Kidnapped from Earth and abandoned in Asgard of Norse mythology, Dani Avery must fight to return home.  When she stumbles upon a band of outlaws, Prince Rein agrees to take her to the Rainbow Bridge personally. Although Dani is attracted to the handsome elf, his only interest seems to be in separating her from the magical sword and shield at her side. In Asgard City, rules, regulations and bureaucrats stymie Dani’s quest.  Increasingly frustrated and desperate, she seeks help among powerful immortals. Unfortunately, Dani becomes ensnared in a devious trap that may leave her stranded and alone in Asgard forever.

The Druid is available from Musa Publishing (all e-formats), BN.com, and from Amazon. ($2.99)  Coming soon (June 15th) is Book Two, The Accidental Immortal.

Don’t forget to leave a comment, below, to let me know which way you entered and thanks for stopping by! To return to the Musa Blog Hop list, go HERE.

Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – the Mead of Poetry

Once upon a time there was an inspirational beverage known as the Mead of Poetry.  This concoction conferred instant egghead status and poetic inspiration upon anyone who drank it.  The Mead of Poetry was not brewed in a meadery, however.  Its origins were far more…colorful.

It all started with the Æsir-Vanir War.  You see, the ‘A’ Team of Norse gods included Odin, Frigg, Thor, Baldr and Tyr, otherwise known as the Æsir.  The Vanir were a group of gods associated with wisdom, fertility and prophecy: Freyr, Freyja, Njordr, and possibly Heimdallr and Ullr.

A war broke out amongst the two groups, which eventually led the exchange of prisoners and therafter a truce.  The Vanir were ultimately brought into the Æsir fold.

To seal the deal, all the gods spat into a pot.  From this mixture of oral delight they created a wicked-smart god named Kvasir.  The fellow was font of wisdom and knowledge, a champion at Jeopardy! and very popular at parties.

Kvasir was the Johnny Appleseed of knowledge, and traveled around educating folks.  He had the misfortune to visit a pair of homicidal dwarves, Fjalar and Galar.  They killed Kvasir and used his blood to make Poetic Mead.   Yum…truly the nectar of the gods.

(Ancient Norse drinking song, Author Unknown)

~ S.G. Rogers

P.S. Rumor has it that Everclear is a descendant of the Mead of Poetry.  Ask anyone who’s hoisted a few and they will tell you how smart they are.

Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – One Ring Not Precious

Andvarinaut was a nifty magic ring that could make gold.  The dwarf who owned the ring, Andvari, became a wealthy dude.

Enter Loki, stage left.

Andvari lived under a waterfall and would frequently change himself into a fish to go for a swim.  Unfortunately for Andvari, Loki caught him in a net.  In exchange for his freedom, the dwarf was forced to hand over his stash of gold and Andvarinaut.  But Andvari had his revenge by cursing the ring. Heigh ho, Loki.

The trickster god was many things, but he certainly wasn’t stupid.

After Loki accidentally killed Otr, the son of the dwarf king Hreidmarr, Loki gave Hreidmarr the cursed ring as a Gee-I’m-so-sorry-I-killed-your-son settlement (also known as a weregild).

Smooth move for Loki, but bad deal for the dwarf king.

Hreidmarr’s other two sons, Fafnir and Regin, killed their own father to get their hands on the ring and then they turned on each other.  The ring ended up conferring disaster on anyone who possessed it, just as Andvari intended.

Where is Frodo when you need him?

~ S.G. Rogers