Siri Pettersen's Blog, page 13
August 27, 2020
Welcome to Náklav!
I just put the finishing touches on the map for THE IRON WOLF, and here’s a sneak peek. I love doing the maps, they suck me right in, I’m like: Welcome to Náklav, here’s your map, don’t lose it, it’s expensive. Stay away from blood pearls and fanatics from Undst. You can buy everything your heart desires, but don’t touch anything, it’s all expensive. The best bloodreaders have red lanterns, also expensive. The best booze is rye liquor, but... You get the point, it’s expensive. Maybe try the seaweed spirits, it’s tastes like vomit, but it’s cheap. So what do you think, would you like to visit?
August 21, 2020
Revealing more from the new book at Gyldendal press launch
Yesterday, I got to reveal some secrets about THE IRON WOLF at the press launch for Gyldendal’s fall line-up. The event was streamed from here, but it’s all in Norwegian, and that’s hardly fair, so here’s the juice for you, my non-Norwegian readers:
Welcome to Náklav, the world’s most unlikely capital. An island in the north, freezing cold, pitch black, practically uninhabitable. However, Náklav has a stone circle, a simple and instant means of travel, making it a vibrant metropolis. If you picked up Venice in the 16th century and dropped it somewhere between Tromsø and Svalbard, you’d get Náklav.
The best part about Náklav is that anything is available for money. The worst part: anything is available for money. According to rumors, even eternal life, which has created a culture ripe with problems. Like a powerful guild of fortune tellers, claiming to know how long people have left to live. Like the hunt for blood pearls, an illegal and dangerous drug, causing the wolf plague to spread.
Here we find Juva, a wolf huntress who drinks a little too much, and suffers from panic attacks. She is forced to confront the childhood memory she fought to forget: That time she saw the devil.
The Iron Wolf is a nordic fantasy mystery. I have done what I love most: Playing discreetly with norse mythology below the surface. But it’s also a flirt with victorian times. The book is about fate, and our need to control it. It’s about what makes us free and what enslaves us. It’s about blood, addiction and desire. There will be teeth, claws and fur in abundance, and if I was forced to describe it in one sentence, I’d say: Little Red Riding Hood on steroids. But don’t tell anyone I said that.
I loved writing it, and I hope it shows!
June 24, 2020
THE IRON WOLF - NEW BOOK THIS FALL!
Juva hates blood readers. Praised for their Sight, they are nothing but swindlers, preying on people’s fears, for power and profit. Born by blood reader kin herself, she knows only too well, and she has vowed never to become one of them.
But when her family is threatened by vardari, the eerie lasting ones, who never age, Juva is desperately entangled in a hunt for the blood readers’ legacy: a dark secret that once changed the world, and may do so again.
In order to survive, she has to confront the childhood memory she fought to forget: That time she saw the devil.
The Iron Wolf is a spellbinding fantasy mystery on a norse foundation, about blood, desire and addiction. It’s the first book in the trilogy Vardari, an independent series set in the universe of the award-winning fantasy phenomenon, The Raven Rings.
A little girl is forced to forget that she saw the devil.
An immortal has to commit murder to hide an old sin.
A wolf-sick betrays his lover, to obtain eternal live.
A mysterious clockwork starts ticking, after six hundred years.
A grim secret, guarded for generations, has gone missing.
June 20, 2020
Over a quarter million sold!
The Raven Rings has sold over a quarter million copies, worldwide. My amazing agents at Grand Agency swear it’s true, it’s approaching 300K, and I’m like... Haha, seriously? I am so deeply grateful to all of you, for buying and sharing my books. Thank you. Really. I can’t even... This is the best news I could possibly get, before launching the new book, and I’m so excited now, I promise to reveal the cover next week! Thank you!
June 4, 2020
The Raven Rings 2 & 3 are finalists for the Geffen Award
The Raven Rings 2 & 3 are finalists for the Geffen Award in Israel, for 'Best translated fantasy', together with... *checks notes* Terry Pratchett, Naomi Novik, Brandon Sanderson, J.R.R Tolkien, and George R.R. Martin. Wait, hang on... *checks notes again* No, that’s... That’s actually right
May 8, 2020
New book on the way!
I just wrote the last words, of the last chapter, of a new book. It’s a sensational feeling, like shedding your bones. Instantly, you become light and mellow, melting off the chair. A true, natural high.
There is still a lot of work to be done. The last part needs a second rewrite, and I have a long list of things to improve, but I wanted you all to know, that it’s happening.
When? Well, these days, writing is like hammering your keyboard in the middle of an inferno. (Insert «this is fine» meme) But we are scheduled for a Norwegian release this fall, in October. That's the goal. If it changes, you’ll be the first to know. But right now, I just needed to tell someone that I FINISHED THE BOOK!
And that would never have happened, if it wasn’t for your relentless nagging, and unwavering, pressure-inducing support. It means everything to me. I love you, guys
In case you missed it: Of course it’s fantasy, of course it’s a trilogy, set in the same universe as The Raven Rings, but independent. Loyal readers will recognise the connection, even if it is a new world and new characters. Title and cover to come!
Have a fantastic weekend!
April 12, 2020
Easter in Ymslanda
Traditions are important, especially when the world seems broken, so here it is, for comfort and laughs: Our annual saga of Easter in Ymslanda
March 29, 2020
Things to do in quarantine: Build a book shrine
Since we’re all indoors, we might as well... I dunno, take fandom too far? Karina Eliassen from Norway might seem perfectly normal, until you discover her Raven Rings shrine. This temple of utter madness comes complete with all the books, framed maps, the collector’s box, feathers, Hirka’s necklace, the notebook, and a teapot (obviously).
But the true lunacy-underlining item here, is the seven year old WRAPPING PAPER from the very first advance copies of Odin’s child... If the police ever raid her house, I swear they’ll find a basement plastered with every message I ever sent her. (Kidding, I love her to bits) So there you are, something to do in quarantine: Start a friggin religion from any book of your choosing :D
March 5, 2020
BUBBLE is sold to Russia!
Hopefully with love, and not just with cursing, pent-up anger, and teenage angst, but you know... she'll come around. The Publisher will be Albus Corvus / Белая ворона (brilliant name, obviously) and I'm very happy and proud. Thank you to my fabulous agents at Grand Agency.
December 30, 2019
A year to remember!
Say hi to Knut Reinoss from Arctis Verlag, my brilliant German publisher, proudly presenting Der Spiegel bestseller list.
Be warned: This newsletter was recently sent to all my publishers, so naturally, it’s bragging as f*ck, because they need to see that all their hard work is paying off. They did an amazing job, but so did all of my readers. Thank you! Truly! I can’t begin to say how much your unending support means to me. So here they are, some of the best things you helped me with in 2019:
Germany: A Spiegel bestseller and 30 000 sold!
The Raven Rings made it to Der Spiegel bestseller list, highlighting the tremendous success Arctis Verlag are having with this series. Media Control ranked me the the 9th best selling Norwegian author in Germany, (Although, crime authors had a separate list :D) Odin’s Child was nominated for the Deutcher Phantastik Preis for best international novel, and so far, they have rounded 30 000 copies sold, so bring on the emojis!
The Raven Rings is going to the US!
«When will The Raven Rings be out in English?» This has been my number one question, forever. Every. Single. Day. Well, now it’s happening! The Raven Rings is going to America, and I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am! In light of the German success, I am particularly pleased that the publisher is Arctis US, sister company of NorthSouth books. They are planning the launch in spring 2021, with distribution to Canada and Australia. A serious life goal coming true.
Fabulous days at the Frankfurt Book Fair!
With Norway being Guest of Honour, a year of planning culminated in one insane week. I was there for five solid days, and my events ranged from interviews at the Norwegian main stage, to school library visits, and I loved all of it! Except one night with fever and blood-chilling nightmares about recovering lost body parts. (I’ll save the details for future books) Earlier in the year, I had a blast at the Leipzig Book Fair, known for the crazy cosplay scene, and I actually got to go with Rime! True story, Norla arranged a Raven Rings cosplay contest, and the winner - Pharamony cosplay - got to accompany me! Rime broke some hearts, I can promise you.
A royal tale of teaching and being starstruck
The Norwegian Crown Princess, Mette-Marit, is an avid book lover, and I had the honour of taking part in her events this summer, holding a writing class at Skaugum estate, with Jo Nesbø and Arne Svingen. I got to rant about fantasy to 60 very attentive high school graduates, and to the Crown Princess herself. Not your every day experience.
The second part of this royal event was visiting Furuset Library, where I was interviewed with Kjetil Jansrud, famous for throwing himself downhill on skis at insane speeds. But what you don’t know, is that he also loves fantasy!
Launches, prizes, sales
The latest: The Raven Rings was just launched in Russia (SO cool!) Bubble was released in Denmark, and has been sold to Germany and the Faeroe Islands. Odin’s Child was nominated for the Deutcher Phantastik Preis, and the Geffen Award in Israel. Bubble was nominated to the Latvian Children and Youth Jury Award. I am honoured and grateful. Thank you everyone who made this happen
New website is up!
But you are here, so you know that! The site launched just before Frankfurt in October, and so far, I have almost 600 monthly visitors, from many countries. Top five is Norway, US, Sweden, Germany and Russia.
As seen on TV…
In August, I shot the Book Expedition TV show with Norwegian National Broadcasting. A full episode to rant about The Raven Rings, fantasy, Northern Norway, writing, and how impossible I was as a child. The show is available online, although regional restrictions may apply.
The Collector’s Box
This spectacular thing was launched last fall. An exclusive, delicious, limited edition gift box, individually numbered and signed. All the content was suggested by the fans, and their response has been astonishing! It was all in Norwegian, but I still had orders from 12 countries! («I don’t care if it’s in Norwegian, I will learn!») The box contained everything a nerd could possibly want from The Raven Rings universe: A massive collector’s book with silver edging, Hirka’s herbal guide with notes and illustrations, an umoni dictionary (the language of the blind ones), a scrapbook diary with character sketches, history, process etc, maps in A3-format, Hirka’s wolf’s tooth necklace, bookmarks, collectible cards, and a signed and numbered certificate. Honestly, it’s the most beautiful thing I have ever made and ever seen.
Oh! I got married!
After 28 years, me and the love of my life, Kim, decided it was time to get serious. So we got married this fall, in a quiet and dignified manner, as you can see :D The photo was done with 1800 type wet plates, by Julie Loen, and the photoshoot was a hillarious! I feel I should point out that we are actually pretty normal, mainstream people, I just really liked the idea of my mother-in-law having to put a victorian fetish photo on her wall…
The new seriesRight now, I am immersed in the first book, only coming up for air, and this newsletter. The Norwegian launch is scheduled for autumn 2020, and I am very proud that many publishers around the world are waiting, ready to throw themselves over the translation. The new series is a trilogy, set in the same universe as The Raven Rings, but independent. The world and the characters are different, but dedicated readers will understand the connection. This will be a fantasy mystery with norse roots, about blood, desire and addiction.
And on that note, I say thank you again, and I wish you all a spectacular new year!
Love from Siri
