Sandy Brehl's Blog, page 5

You’re Invited… An Author Fair on Saturday

Our surprisingly mild weather makes it hard to imagine, but the holidays are just around the corner. It’s the season for craft fairs, bake sales, school bazaars, and non-stop advertising. 

If none of the above fills you with holiday cheer, consider joining me and dozens of other area authors for a more personal alternative. On Saturday, November 21, from 10:00-2:00 I’ll be at Germantown Community Library for a local AUTHORS’ SHOWCASE. There will be something for everyone, from the youngest through adults. It’s an opportunity to discover new books, interact with those who write them, engage young readers with writers and books, and even purchase signed books for some special people on your shopping lists. 

The youngest will enjoy meeting “BOOK BUNNY”, hearing read-aloud stories, and doing some writing of their own. The weather forecast says the temperatures will be dropping this weekend so coffee and hot chocolate will be a welcome treat.

I’m looking forward to meeting and talking books with young readers. I’m also hoping to meet  people with an interest in the Second World War, Norway, Norwegian Elkhounds, and in wartime resistance to oppression and occupation. At events like these I’ve heard incredible stories, some of which made their way into the upcoming two-book sequel for Odin’s Promise. 

Consider yourselves invited to join us there this Saturday!

Spooky Midwest Mysteries: and a GIVEAWAY!

Crisp, crunching leaves the color of a crackling campfire, the smell of s’mores blending with burning wood, pumpkin-dotted fields and corn mazes…autumn in the midwest.

Perfect conditions for Halloween, and ghost stories!

In the “spirit” of the season, pun intended, I’d like to shine a local light on a set of books that are ideally suited as read-aloud or read-alone selections. These are entirely intense, action-packed, and suspenseful enough for any taste. They’re page-turning and potent, but sweetened with humor and salted with distinct personalities. The squabbling Tucker sisters and their friends lead readers smack into the paths of ghosts and pseudo-ghosts. Friction and fright prevail, but tongue-in-cheek commentary by one or the other about the foolishness of their choices allows readers to climb aboard for a wild ride without feeling like fools.

Shadow Island, by Raymond Bial. Crispin Books, 2013

Amanda Tucker and younger sister Sally make their debut in SHADOW ISLAND: A TALE OF LAKE SUPERIOR. Author Raymond Bial has a long list of credits including children’s books and photography. In this offering a seemingly typical midwest family make their way to a nearly abandoned outpost/resort area on Lake Superior, where they promptly hear warnings and ghost stories about the island, vaguely visible just across the waters from their inlet– Shadow Island. 

The only predictable thing about this book is that you know, without a doubt, Amanda and her friend Roxanne will end up on the island. Younger siblings being what they are and doing what they do, Sally manages to join them on the adventure.

THE DRESS-UP MIRROR, by Raymond Bial. Crispin Books, 2015.

The story that unfolds will leave listeners/readers on the edge of their seats, hanging on every word. The best thing about this and the subsequent book, The DRESS-UP MIRROR, is that the chilling characters and episodes encountered along the way manage to pack a powerful punch of tension without exploiting gimmicks or gory special effects. It’s the stories that offer shakes and shivers, not detailed descriptions of macabre or heinous acts. 

In the sequel the Tucker family is back home in Maysville, Illinois, residing in their recently purchased historic old home.The first paragraph of the book indicates that anguished noises, nighttime whispers, and danger are lurking within the walls of that old house. In SHADOW ISLAND the ancient building took on the proportions of a character, so I was patient in the early pages of this book while the house itself was described in detail. If used as a seasonal read-aloud with kids impatient for a tingling spine, it might work well to summarize those early pages for listeners and launch into the story fully (could you have guessed?) on page thirteen. 

As you might expect with ghostly tales, time travel is involved, not to mention some threateningly dangerous characters and others who require help to right the wrongs of the past. In each story the Tucker’s placid, pudgy, predictable old beagle, Tulip, rouses herself from slumber and/or snacking to surprise them all by playing pivotal roles in the ultimate resolutions. 

I recommend both books to anyone interested in ghost stories, action/adventure, or simply a fast-paced, kid-friendly thriller. In fact, I’m offering the pair as a giveaway for anyone who thinks they know just the right audience for stories like these. Included in the offer is THE FRESH GRAVE and OTHER GHOSTLY STORIES, Bial’s earlier book set in an obscure/fictional little town in Indiana, featuring teen Hank and his own particularly entertaining crew of friends. 

To enter, just add a comment below no later than Wednesday, October 14 at midnight. Tell me your plans for the book, or share a ghost story/title of your own. Individual entries will be listed on slips of paper and the first one touched by my own pooch wins. I’ll contact the winner by email and send the books out in time to enjoy during this glorious autumn season.

Here’s hoping I’ll hear from many of you, and that you’ll pass along this recommendation.

 

 

Sequel Update: Good News- DOUBLED!

In my previous writing update (HERE), I summarized the research and writing that has consumed me for the past year.

Considering the decades I invested trying to find my way into the characters and story of ODIN’S PROMISE, a year doesn’t seem like such a long time, does it? Here’s how it breaks down: I spent a huge chunk of the summer of 2014 on  research about the remaining years of occupation, then dedicated less than a year to writing and revising a sequel.

I am delighted- no

thrilled,
ecstatic,
 elated
-to share this news:

My writing produced not a sequel but TWO BOOKS, turning Odin’s Promise into a trilogy, with the second book published in 2016 and the final book within a year after that!

I was trying to write a sequel, I really was. But the more I wrote the more I realized that Mari had too much to say for one book. After all, by the time the German occupation of Norway ended she would have grown from barely twelve to more than sixteen years old. The only way I could find to share her stories, to explore the changes she faced inside herself and in her occupied country, was to write a TWO-PART sequel.

So, I scrapped the sequel I was working on and started over.

I had no guarantee it would be published, but I was committed to writing Mari’s story as fully as I imagined she might tell it. 

And, happy news, my editor at Crickhollow/Crispin Books, Philip Martin, wants to publish both books!

Book Two picks up Mari’s story just a few months after her brother Bjorn leaves to join the mountain fighters and continues through to Christmas (Jul) of 1942. During that time she  is twelve and thirteen years old. The release date will be some time in the first half of 2016.

Book Three continues Mari’s story of surviving and resisting the occupation from age fourteen through sixteen. it will release within a year of Book Two.

Stay tuned for details as they become available. My deepest thanks go out to readers who asked for more, who wished me luck, who believed in me. This would never have happened without your caring and confidence.

 

 

 

 

Join Me at the 2015 Scandinavian Festival!

September 23, 2015

I’m delighted to report that I’ll return to the annual Scandinavian Festival in New Berlin, Wisconsin, on Saturday, October 3.

Last year I met so many incredibly interesting and fun people, sampled fabulous (and authentic) foods, and enjoyed outstanding entertainment.

Why wouldn’t I want to return?

 

If you’ve visited any Scandinavian country this will take you back for a few hours. If you’ve never been, but longed for a trip, travel just around the corner and indulge in a mini-visit. I guarantee it will whet your appetite further and make those “some day” travel plans more likely to develop.

I wrote about the visit last year, including how thrilled I was to hear so many personal and family-based stories about the occupation years in Norway. (Here). I’m counting on more of the same this year and look forward to friendly visits throughout the day. Fragments of those anecdotes have been woven throughout the sequel I worked on this year.

I’ll have plenty of copies of ODIN’S PROMISE for interested readers and holiday gift buyers. Since last year at this time, my debut historical novel won a GOLD MEDAL for children’s fiction, so the covers of the books will sport some shiny new bling! 

And, if all goes well, I just might have some exciting news to share that day.

 

Research and Reflection: Personal Resistance

“When faced with a challenge, look for a way, not a way out.” David Weatherford

I’ve been on a year-long journey that has all but consumed my writing life (and other aspects of life that I’ve neglected along the way, including this blog/news). It involved careful review of prior research and  in-depth reading of additional works related to the years of German occupation of Norway.

Why? Consumer demand. And a personal challenge.

Before ODIN’S PROMISE I spent decades searching for the best way to share a very particular story of the resistance that I heard while visiting Norway. Eventually I found my storyteller, Mari, in journal entries of young people who survived those long years. Mari embraced and told my story, and  she became very real to me in the process. She dug through the scrap heap of my failed attempts and the storeroom of research that filled my mind and created her own story.

To my deepest joy, Mari came alive for readers, too. I was perfectly content to let her live on in ODIN’S PROMISE and write about other characters and discover their stories. I never intended to (or learned how to) write a sequel or a series. But the most frequently asked question (FAQ) from anyone who has read the book is, “When is the sequel coming out.” 

Hmmm. Who could ignore that? I couldn’t, even though at first I tried.

Fast forward a full year after those questions began. Months of additional research and reflection began last summer, my editor offered helpful insights, and kind folks shared intriguing anecdotes from those who lived in Norway during the occupation.

But factor in my resistance. The writing challenges overwhelmed me.

Challenge: Telling four years of history in the voice of a girl who begins at twelve years old and is sixteen-plus by the time the war ends.

Challenge: Exploring increasingly intense and threatening situations in ways that are accessible, appropriate, and engaging for younger readers but ring true for  adults who know and care about those war years.

Greatest challenge: Finding a story. I had no underlying story that would allow Mari to live through those times with purpose. 

Challenges like these are why it is so difficult to answer readers’ other frequently asked question: “How long did it take you to write it?”

The good news, as they say, is that I welcome challenges. I tried multiple “writing devices” to span the time period, shift Mari’s voice as she aged, and generate storylines that revealed her growth along the path of history. Encouragement and concerns from critique partners, as always, motivated me to revise. A later, better version went to my editor, whose encouragement and concerns launched yet another round of revisions.

All those months of writing and revising aren’t “bad news”, since that’s the very process that leads to ultimate good news, like having a publication date to announce. (And I don’t.) It also means that my recently completed manuscript is a HUGE improvement over earlier efforts, if I do say so myself. And I am a better writer than I was a year ago.

So, do I think it is ready to publish now? No, but it is much closer. And the challenges that arise to get it into the hands of readers are now ones I welcome. However long it takes, Mari has shared this journey with me and together we’ll see it through to the end. 

 

 

 

Mt. Horeb Art Fair: Join Me at Open House Imports!

On Saturday July 18 Mt. Horeb, WI (On the Trollway!) hosts its 44th annual SUMMER ART FAIR. You can find directions and  more details here.

The basics include:

Saturday, 9am-5pm and Sunday, 10am-4pm.

Annual art fair on Mount Horeb’s historic main street. The Trollway showcases fine artists & crafters from around the Midwest. Experience Norwegian culture, friendly atmosphere, food, silent art action, music and downtown amenities.

I’m honored to be a guest author at OPEN HOUSE IMPORTS, one of those downtown amenities you won’t want to miss. I’ll be there from 10:30-2:00, which gives me a bit of time to check out the fair! 

High on my list of stops is the annual KAFFE STUE (Coffee/luncheon) sponsored by SONS OF NORWAY. Lefse, rommegrot, sand-bakkle, smorbrod, sotsuppe and more!

I can’t think of any better way to spend a Saturday in July! If you do, stop by to say hello!

 

 

 

Surprises, Encouragement, Progress, and Plans

I’m lifting my head up from working on revisions to the sequel to share some updates. 

I’ve just learned that Odin’s Promise has been recorded for the Milwaukee Public Library’s TALKING BOOK and BRAILLE LIBRARY. I’m excited to think this story will now be available in audio format, and I appreciate those who volunteer their time and talents to make the service available for this and other books.

I learned of this because the recorder sent me a lovely email. I’m such a fan of reading aloud, whether for those with visual impairments or any other readers, that her generous comments were especially heartwarming:

“As a reader for ABLE (Audio and Braille Literacy Enhancement), I have just finished recording Odin’s Promise for the Milwaukee Public Library. It’s a great book with fine characterizations and a story line that would give its target audience much to think about. The style is eminently readable–the dialogue absolutely realistic, and Mari comes to life as a genuine, brave, and loving child.

I hope Odin’s Promise gets a wide readership; it surely deserves one.”

Barbara N.

Then a package arrived in the mail. A Wisconsin writer came across a Norwegian cookbook at a rummage sale and thought I might enjoy having it. After checking in with me she sent it on and now I am the happy owner of AUTHENTIC NORWEGIAN COOKING, by Astrid Karlsen Scott, 1975. 

As charming additions to these delightful recipes Scott has included two sections on Norway’s culture, including holiday practices and table setting traditions.

A particular surprise was the recipe for Julekake, not to be confused with Kransa Kake, which I wrote about here.

This recipe makes a  Christmas bread, and I’ll post the recipe for it later this fall. it makes my mouth water to read it, so I’m holding it over my head as an incentive to meet writing deadlines before trying it out. I’ve already found some tidbits here that may find their way into the lives of Mari and her family.

Another timely arrival is also research-related. I made extensive use of a book by Norwegian scholar Kathleen Stokker  when writing Odin’s Promise (FOLKLORE FIGHTS THE NIAZIS). By a relay route of kindnesses, I learned of another book of Stokker’s that exactly suits my needs for the sequel, REMEDIES AND RITUALS: Folk Medicine in Norway and the New Land. It is proving to be invaluable in seeding elements of traditional practices into the story of the life Mari faces as the war years drag on and hardships increased. 

So, with exciting resources at my finger tips, stories flowing, and the promise of a delicious sweetbread to keep me hitting the keys, I’ll duck back under the radar with a huge TUSEN TAKK to the generous individuals who made all this possible, and to the universe itself for these gifts. 

 

 

The First Year: Odin’s Promise Anniversary (and a giveaway)

Since the release of ODIN’S PROMISE just one year ago, the question I’m asked most often is: Why did I write THIS book? Why Norway? Why the occupation years?

The short answer is, I visited Norway.

There, I was both surprised and impressed by the stories I heard from people who actually lived through those times, including their efforts to resist propaganda and control by the Nazis.

Ytre Arna today

 

I knew I would write some of the stories I heard while there. After countless attempts at a variety of genres I settled on a novel, one that could connect with young readers. I knew I couldn’t write with the authority of having lived through the occupation myself, nor could I simply parrot the experiences of others.Historical fiction it would be.

For several years the pre-internet resources I tracked down surprised and impressed me, but also frustrated me. I read out-of-print books, academic articles, and wrote letters filled with questions. In time, thanks to the internet, more and more materials became available, some even contradicting earlier research. Unfortunately, nothing I found gave me a sense of what it would be like to be a young person during those years, to essentially lose your childhood to the occupation.

Then I discovered the scholarly work of Kathleen Stoker, Ph.D. In it I finally found a path into my story. FOLKLORE FIGHTS THE NAZIS: HUMOR IN OCCUPIED NORWAY 1940-1945 (University of Wisconsin Press, 1995) included archival images, newspaper excerpts, and documented anecdotes that captured the lively and determined spirits of the friends I met in Ytre Arna who first inspired me to write about this chapter of Norwegian history.

 

Stokker’s work included journal entries written by some who survived those long occupation years. Several examples were from adults, but others were written by young people. They risked terrifying consequences to record and conceal their wartime thoughts and emotions. Their language and perspectives allowed me to shift from the “looking back” point of view in every other resource to an immediately present point of view. Those journal entries allowed me to view my research and stories as current and unfolding, with conclusions not yet determined.

When Odin’s Promise released a year ago I celebrated with a “Birthday Party” at Norway House in Milwaukee. It was a heartwarming evening, one I’ll never forget. At that time only a few who attended had read the book, so their support was as much for me as for the characters or the story.

My editor is sponsoring  a GIVEAWAY to celebrate the one-year-anniversary of the release. If you haven’t read it yet, or would like to win a copy to give as a gift, click here to enter by MAY 17! 

Since then I’ve visited with people who were drawn to the book for a wide variety of reasons: Norwegian or Scandinavian heritage, interest in World War II, love of dogs (especially Norwegian Elkhounds), working with young readers and writers, and professional organizations. Those who have read the book inevitably ask: When is the sequel coming out?

In addition, at every gathering one or more people have pulled me aside to recommend a book title, to relate a personal or second-generation story of the occupation, or to offer contact information for a friend or relative with stories to share.

 

I never imagined or intended a sequel, even though my research yielded far more historic details than I could include in ODIN’S PROMISE. To continue the story of Mari and her family would involve additional extensive research, not to mention the challenge of imagining four years of life for all the characters and community involved.

 

The overwhelming concern expressed for Mari’s eventual outcome, especially by young readers, compelled me to do that research, to make those contacts, to follow-up on personal stories, and to imagine life in Ytre Arna during the seemingly endless occupation.

My work on a sequel is advancing well and I’m optimistic that Mari’s story will be told. Woven throughout it are slivers of the various stories and historic details I’ve been privileged to learn. I hope, too, that the courage of those who persisted and resisted and retained their national and cultural identities will resonate through the lives of Mari’s fictional family and community.

If and when a sequel is published, I’ll have an easy answer to the question:

Why did you write THIS book? Why a sequel?

Because readers cared about Mari. They cared enough to ask for more.

Just in time for this post, I was notified that ODIN’S PROMISE won the 2014 GOLD MEDAL for Children’s Fiction from MIPA, Midwest Independent Publishers Association. Could there have been a better way to wrap up the first year as a debut novelist?

Gold: What a Happy Surprise!

What could be better than reaching the first anniversary of ODIN’S PROMISE with a year of happy gatherings, wonderful conversations, and lovely reviews under my belt? 

Try adding in a giveaway sponsored by my editor on Goodreads. It was an unexpected and happy surprise. If you missed it you have until MAY 17 to still sign on for a chance to win one of three copies. Click HERE.

Pretty swell, I’d say. Then THIS happened:

Midwest Independent Publishers Association announced
that this year’s
GOLD MEDAL WINNER for Children’s Fiction is …
ODIN’S PROMISE!

Now THAT’s what I call an anniversary treat!

Thank you, Midwest independent Publishers, and my editor Philip Martin, and all the readers who opened their hearts to Odin and Mari and their story. TUSEN TAKK.

A Celebration Giveaway on Goodreads!

 

I’m excited to share the news that my editor, Philip Martin, has sponsored a book giveaway on GOODREADS to celebrate the first anniversary of the release of ODIN’S PROMISE. It’s live now and ends on Sunday, May 17, 2015, so click the link (here) and test your luck!