Suzanne G. Rogers's Blog, page 56
May 4, 2012
Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – Hi-yo, Sleipnir! Away!
Budge over, Silver. Today the spotlight shines on Odin’s grey steed, Sleipnir. The most awesome of horses ever, Sleipnir has eight legs. Not only is he fast, he can fly high enough to clear the gates of Helheim. Described in various accounts as “splendid,” “the best of horses,” and “a marvelously good horse,” Sleipnir must have a stellar pedigree, right? Er, no. His daddy was an extraordinarily strong stallion named Svaðilfari, and his
mommy was…Loki. You see, as a shape-shifter, Loki turned himself into a mare to horse around with Svaðilfari, and later gave birth to Sleipnir. Neigh, I kid you not. The other Norse gods thought this was weird, too, and called Loki “perverse” and a “pervert.” In all fairness to Loki, he did it to save a bet. Word is that Loki wrote a screenplay about the affair and shopped it to Hollywood. It was called Nightmare on Æsir Street. Although there were no takers, given the success of Jersey Shore there’s been some interest in turning it into a reality TV show.
~ S.G. Rogers
Dani Avery is an ordinary girl wishing for adventure. She never expected to be kidnapped by mythological creatures and taken to a place she thought only existed within the pages of a book. Abandoned in Asgard, Dani must find her way home. Along the way, she meets the handsome Prince Rein. Sadly, the elf is not-so-charming and has issues of his own, leaving Dani disappointed and vulnerable. With nowhere left to turn Dani looks for help among the powerful Immortals, but gets caught in a trap that may leave her stranded and alone in Asgard forever
Amazon Reviews:
“THE DRUID was amazing! I found it to be a well-written story of danger, romance, mythology, martial arts and adventure that pulled me in right away!” – Jan
The Druid is available in all formats from Musa Publishing and Smashwords, and from Amazon for the Kindle. ($2.99)
Will you consider adding The Druid to your Goodreads to-read list?
May 2, 2012
Fairytale Winners!
Thank you to everyone who participated in my Fairytale Blog Hop Giveaway! With the help of the Random.org fairy godmother, I’ve selected the winners and sent off emails. Congratulations to Bonnie, Megan, Katharina, Heather & Jess!
Monkeys have been nibbling at my hair lately! I’ve been up to my eyeballs in edits for two new releases coming out in June. Look for the sequel to The Druid next month (Musa Publishing), as well as a new novelette, Cypher (MuseItUp Publishing). I don’t have a release date yet on my full length novel, Tournament of Chance, but I’m very excited about all three projects. Stay tuned! 
~S.G. Rogers
May 1, 2012
Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – Valhalla
Although there’s no sorting hat in Norse mythology, dead folks ARE separated into categories. Those that die an inglorious death go to Helheim. Among fallen warriors, the Valkyries lead half to Valhalla. The rest go to Fólkvangr to hang out with the goddess Freyja.
Valhalla is Odin’s realm. Located in Asgard, the “hall of the slain” is quite a swanky destination. Vast enough to house legions of heroes, the roof is covered with golden shields. Food is abundant, but the menu seems to be somewhat limited. The goat Heidrún produces an unlimited supply of mead and a boar named Sæhrímnir is slaughtered for its meat. Like a nightmare version of the movie Groundhog Day, poor Sæhrímnir is brought back to life each morning to be killed and eaten for dinner.
The residents of Valhalla, known as the einherjar, don’t lack for recreation either. After donning war gear, these intrepid souls go out into the courtyard and practice fighting every day. They are expected to pitch in to fight for Odin when the ultim
ate battle, Ragnarök rolls around.
Valkyries pull double duty as waitpersons in Valhalla. Rumor has it that the working conditions in Valhalla are good, but the tips are terrible. ~ S.G. Rogers
Dani Avery is an ordinary girl wishing for adventure. She never expected to be kidnapped by mythological creatures and taken to a place she thought only existed within the pages of a book. Abandoned in Asgard, Dani must find her way home. Along the way, she meets the handsome Prince Rein. Sadly, the elf is not-so-charming and has issues of his own, leaving Dani disappointed and vulnerable. With nowhere left to turn Dani looks for help among the powerful Immortals, but gets caught in a trap that may leave her stranded and alone in Asgard forever.
Norse mythology served painfully wry, with a twist.
Amazon (Kindle), Musa Publishing (all formats). Coming soon to BN.com. ($2.99)
April 27, 2012
Taming of the Shrew (Not)
Clash of Wills (The Wild Rose Press)
In the wild and untamed Uncharted Region, the greatest danger is falling in love.
Princess Samantha’s magical compass will help her locate her long-lost brother, but only if she manages to escape her royal parents for a few weeks. When an unwelcome suitor comes to call, Samantha seizes her chance. She beguiles the prince into taking her north, intending to abandon him at her earliest opportunity. Unfortunately, his captivating good looks and charming manner present an unforeseen complication—especially when she is forced to accept help from the very man she has deceived.
To maintain his bachelorhood, handsome Prince Wills is not above 
deception. Although reluctantly entangled in Samantha’s scheme, he vows to protect her…until a lie threatens to destroy their alliance. Can his powerful attraction to Samantha overcome his mistrust? And can they survive a dangerous quest to the wild and magical Uncharted Region?
Excerpt:
Samantha hastened in the same direction Wills had gone, but her heart began to pound when she realized she was lost. Someone pointed her down the alleyway that led to the general store, but Wills had already left. Panic quickened her pace as she retraced her steps.
Halfway through the alley, two men blocked her exit. They’d followed her from the tavern. A sense of dread gripped her so tightly she found it hard to breathe.
“Well, looky here, we’ve got ourselves a little mouse,” one sneered.
His companion laughed. “More like a piece of cheese, I reckon.”
Samantha turned to find her retreat cut off by the other two. She dropped her pack to the ground but before she could reach for her sling, the scarred bandit rushed forward and held a knife to her throat.
“Your tall friend is just around the corner,” he murmured into her ear. “Call him.”
“No.”
“Do it, or I’ll ventilate your windpipe.”
Samantha flinched as she felt the blade slicing into her skin. She knew if she called Wills, the men would kill him. She chose to die instead.
“Would that your hands burn with the strength of your evil,” she spat.
CLASH OF WILLS, a romantic fantasy novella, now available from Amazon (current price $0.99), BN.com and The Wild Rose Press ($1.25 MSRP).
To add to your to-read list on Goodreads, go HERE.
To return to Sweet Saturday Samples, go HERE.
Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – Shieldmaidens
Why should men have all the fun? Warrior women, or shieldmaidens, are mentioned in various Norse sagas and in Scandinavian folklore. These women lived their lives in the pursuit of honor and heroism, much like their male counterparts. The Valkyries (choosers of the slain) may be based on shieldmaidens.
One of the more prominent shieldmaidens, Brynhildr (aka Brunhild/Brünnhilde/Brynhild) appears in the famous Wagner opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen. It is Brynhildr’s final aria in the lengthy Götterdämmerung (five hours long!) that inspired the phrase “It ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings.”
The word ‘fat’ is, of course, a reference to the stereotypical female opera singer, and not to shieldmaidens. Warrior women were seen as desirable babes to be wooed and won. Even so, in Nibelungenlied, shieldmaiden Brünhild ties up her new husband, Gunther, and suspends him from the ceiling on their wedding night. To each her own; what happens in Iceland, stays in Iceland, I suppose. *winks* ~ S.G. Rogers
An adventurous woman meets a romantic hero from the pages of a book, bigger than life
and twice as Elvish.
Dani Avery is an ordinary girl wishing for adventure. She never expected to be kidnapped by mythological creatures and taken to a place she thought only existed within the pages of a book. Abandoned in Asgard, Dani must find her way home. Along the way, she meets the handsome Prince Rein. Sadly, the elf is not-so-charming and has issues of his own, leaving Dani disappointed and vulnerable. With nowhere left to turn Dani looks for help among the powerful Immortals, but gets caught in a trap that may leave her stranded and alone in Asgard forever.
The Druid is available from Musa Publishing (all formats) and Amazon. ($2.99) Look for Book Two in June! And if you’d like to add The Druid to your to-read list on Goodreads, go HERE.
April 25, 2012
Fairy Tale Give+away H@p
Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop
Featuring YA books with a fairy tale theme!
Welcome to my blog! My name is S.G. Rogers and I write all things fantasy. For this hop, I’m giving away a copy of my ebook fantasy fairytale, The Magical Misperception of Meridian. It’s EASY to enter, but first I’m going to share a brief author interview, conducted by none other than the famous Wizard Farland himself. Enjoy! ~ S.G. Rogers
Wizard Farland: Oh, hello. (Fumbles with glasses and consults a roll of parchment with questions written on it). Yes, here we are. Um…S.G. Rogers, why do you like fairy tales?
S.G. Rogers: Magical things happen in fairy tales. In Cinderella, for example, a magic wand transforms a poor young girl into a lady, by virtue of the right shoes and dress. Wouldn’t we all like to have a fairy godmother once in a while?
In addition, certain qualities have value in fairy tales that are often overlooked in other types of stories. Intelligence and sharp wits frequently help to overcome adversity, as well as tenacity and sweetness of temper. It’s so rewarding to see good people overcome the odds and win in the end.
Wizard Farland: Just so, young lady. Now you’ve referred to The Magical Misperception of Meridian as a ‘fresh fairytale.’ What do you mean by that?
S.G. Rogers: Although I poured for hours over fairy tales growing up, sometimes the passive nature of the heroines bothered me. I wanted to write a character who rails against stereotypical ideas of female behavior, and who fights for her beliefs despite what her friends might think. Jona may grow up to be a lovely woman, but Lee falls in love early on with her inner beauty. That particular aspect gives this story a fresh, modern feeling.
Oh, and in The Magical Misperception of Meridian, the fairy godmother wears pants.
Wizard Farland: Hehehe. Indeed, I do. And contrary to rumors, I put them on one leg at a time.
In The Magical Misperception of Meridian, a beautiful commoner and a stammering prince form a magical friendship that can survive almost anything—except the queen’s disapproval.
Back Cover: Railing against convention in the kingdom of Meridian, Jona thinks a girl should be able to wear trousers, fight like a boy when necessary, and marry whomever she pleases. She happens upon the queen’s nephew, Lee, who stammers and cannot speak 
to girls at all…that is, until he meets Jona.
When the queen hires Jona to help her nephew acquire proper social graces, Jona experiences a blissful summer of pure enchantment. Jona and Lee learn to dance, perfect the art of polite conversation, and discover which fork to use at the dinner table. Although they become best friends, Queen Gaia considers Jona a mere servant. At summer’s end, Jona’s job in Meridian is done.
Lee and Jona keep in contact through a set of magical mailboxes given to Lee by the Wizard Farland. When the friends are finally reunited after ten years, their budding romance is torn asunder by an edict from the queen. Against impossible odds, Jona and Lee will fight for an uncertain future. But unspoken secrets and mysteries long in the making have yet to be revealed.
Will true love be denied…or can the differences between commoners and royalty be shown to be just a matter of magical misperception?
To win a copy of this novella, choose ONE of the following ways to enter and leave a comment, below:
Follow my blog; OR
Like my author page on FB; OR
Add The Magical Misperception of Meridian to your to-read list on Goodreads; OR
Follow me on Twitter.
If you’ve entered my blog hops in the past and have already done all the above, feel free to add one of my other books to your to-read list on Goodreads, and you’ll be entered to win. Just don’t forget to leave a comment! Oh, and here’s the best part…I’ll be picking FIVE winners this time, so your odds of winning just went up! I’ll contact the winners on May 2nd. Good luck!
To return to the linky list, go HERE.
April 23, 2012
Fun Facts About Nordic Mythology - Going To Hel
In Norse mythology, if you don’t die a heroic death, you’re going to Hel.
Helheim is the ninth of the Nine Worlds, and unlike the corresponding Christian underworld “Hell,” there are no pitchforks and flames. In fact, it’s next door to Niflheim, the world of ice and mist. Hel, Loki’s daughter, presides over the realm, having been appointed by Odin. The real estate of Hel is quite posh, with a great many mansions having high walls and oversized gates. Hel receives the dead and tends to their needs, but there is no indication she does so cheerfully. Hel lives in a hall named Eljudnir, which is frosty outside. Garm, a bloodstained dog, guards the gates of Hel.
There is no indication whether the road to Hel is paved with good intentions. :-)
~ S.G. Rogers
Dani Avery is an ordinary girl wishing for adventure. She never expected to be kidnapped by mythological creatures and taken to a place she thought only existed within the pages of a book. Abandoned in Asgard, Dani must find her way home. Along the way, she meets the handsome Prince Rein. Sadly, the elf is not-so-charming and has issues of his own, leaving Dani disappointed and vulnerable. With nowhere left to turn Dani looks for help among the powerful Immortals, but gets caught in a trap that may leave her stranded and alone in Asgard forever.
The Druid - An Asgard Adventure Book One fantasy novella available from Musa Publishing (all formats) and Amazon. ($2.99) Look for Book Two in June!
Savannah’s Secret Underground Tunnel Conspiracy Revealed
There is an urban legend in Savannah which is rooted in fact. There are tunnels underneath the city, constructed a long time ago, for which no definitive explanation exists. Some were supposedly used to kidnap hapless men from taverns, to be pressed into service as deckhands by passing pirates. Others may have been used as underground morgues during a Yellow Fever outbreak in the late 1800s. Perhaps the tunnels were used as drainage systems, or for shelter during hurricanes. Although one or two tunnel entrances are still accessible, most of the network has long since crumbled, been walled off, or been built over. Nevertheless, speculation continues…until now.
I managed to score an interview with the receptionist at the Asgard Embassy, downtown Savannah. Rodentia (last name withheld) is a bureaucRat, the administrative class of beings from Asgard. She agreed to answer a few questions about the tunnels and how they relate to a deeper conspiracy of silence.
Rodentia, can you tell us a little about where you work?
(Giggles) There are several Asgard Embassies around Midgard—I mean Earth—but they’re all secret. I work at the embassy built underneath a bookstore in downtown Savannah, Georgia. The embassy helps expatriates and tourists with any problems they might encounter in Midgard. We’re a major stop on the Rainbow Bridge subway system.
What is the Rainbow Bridge subway system?
The subway leads to Asgard, of course. Heimdallr, or Mr. H as he likes to be called, is the Station Master. The Rainbow Bridge is the passage between the Nine Worlds. It used to be a lot more primitive, but Mr. H modernized it considerably over the years.
Can anyone use the Rainbow Bridge?
Oh, no, but there are rules and regulations I’m not at liberty to divulge. The immortals don’t mind if I talk about things in a general way because they rather enjoy the glamour it brings. But if I were to go too far, Mr. H would have me brought to Odin for a hearing. I wouldn’t want Odin to turn me into a cat or something (shudders).
Are you saying the stories that compose Norse mythology aren’t myths?
The immortals are as real as I am (giggles), but much of the rest has changed over time. Many of the old stories were exaggerated or flat-out wrong. Even Emrys Drew used a lot of the old myths in his novel The Asgard Adventure. He’s so good-looking, though, I’d forgive him anything (sigh).
Thanks, Rodentia!
Dani Avery is an ordinary girl wishing for adventure. She never expected to be kidnapped by mythological creatures and taken to a place she thought only existed within the pages of a book. Abandoned in Asgard, Dani must find her way home. Along the way, she meets the handsome Prince Rein. Sadly, the elf is not-so-charming and has issues of his own, leaving Dani disappointed and vulnerable. With nowhere left to turn Dani looks for help among the powerful Immortals, but gets caught in a trap that may leave her stranded and alone in Asgard forever.
The Druid – An Asgard Adventure Book One fantasy novella available from Musa Publishing (all formats) and Amazon. ($2.99) Look for Book Two in June!
April 22, 2012
Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – Going To Hel
In Norse mythology, if you don’t die a heroic death, you’re going to Hel.
Helheim is the ninth of the Nine Worlds, and unlike the corresponding Christian underworld
“Hell,” there are no pitchforks and flames. In fact, it’s next door to Niflheim, the world of ice and mist. Hel, Loki’s daughter, presides over the realm, having been appointed by Odin. The real estate of Hel is quite posh, with a great many mansions having high walls and oversized gates. Hel receives the dead and tends to their needs, but there is no indication she does so cheerfully. Hel lives in a hall named Eljudnir, which is frosty outside. Garm, a bloodstained dog, guards the gates of Hel.
There is no indication whether the road to Hel is paved with good intentions. 
~ S.G. Rogers
Dani Avery is an ordinary girl wishing for adventure. She never expected to be kidnapped by mythological creatures and taken to a place she thought only existed within the pages of a book. Abandoned in Asgard, Dani must find her way home. Along the way, she meets the handsome Prince Rein. Sadly, the elf is not-so-charming and has issues of his own, leaving Dani disappointed and vulnerable. With nowhere left to turn Dani looks for help among the powerful Immortals, but gets caught in a trap that may leave her stranded and alone in Asgard forever.
The Druid – An Asgard Adventure Book One fantasy novella available from Musa Publishing (all formats) and Amazon. ($2.99) Look for Book Two in June!
April 21, 2012
Fun Facts About Nordic Mythology - Light Elves
Not a whole lot was written about Álfheimr. Álfheimr was the realm of the Vanir god Freyr. Freyr (aka Frey) was virile, good-looking, and athletic. One is given to presume elves resembled Frey in many of these qualities. :-D
In my new release The Druid, one of the main characters is from Álfheimr. I leave you to guess which one. ~ S. G. Rogers
Excerpt:
The flying mare, Joss, trotted over and butted Rein in the back with her nose. She knocked the elf off balance, straight into Dani, and the two were forced to grab onto each other to avoid falling over. Dani’s skin tingled underneath Rein’s fingertips, while a pink flush crept across his cheekbones. When they held each other for just a few moments too long, Rein’s friends began to whistle and look skyward.
“Sorry about Joss,” Rein muttered. “She gets a little enthusiastic about new people.”
The mare whinnied.
“I’m glad to meet her, too,” Dani said, gazing into Rein’s eyes. “She’s gorgeous—exactly as I’d imagined her in the book.”
“She’s better in real life,” he said. “If you’re willing to overlook a few rough edges.”
****
Dani Avery is an ordinary girl wishing for adventure. She never expected to be kidnapped by mythological creatures and taken to a place she thought only existed within the pages of a book. Abandoned in Asgard, Dani must find her way home. Along the way, she meets the handsome Prince Rein. Sadly, the elf is not-so-charming and has issues of his own, leaving Dani disappointed and vulnerable. With nowhere left to turn Dani looks for help among the powerful Immortals, but gets caught in a trap that may leave her stranded and alone in Asgard forever.
Now available from Musa Publishing (all formats) and Amazon ($2.99). Coming soon to BN.com.
(To read this post on my blog, go to http://childofyden.wordpress.com/2012...)
