Three Things I Learned While Writing Her Heart's Surrender
History is one of my
passions. I love “going” back in time to discover what our ancestors were like
and how they functioned, which shows how much we've changed as a society. Here
are a couple of things I learned while writing this book.
1) I had to bend the rules a little to make the story work.
When the Vikings invaded the UK, they settled around the Orkney Islands, in Ireland, England, and Scotland. Among a lot of other places too, but the part of Scotland where I wanted my Vikings doesn't appear to have actually had many, if any. So I pushed them farther north with the Saxons and set up a kingship for them. One of the bad guys in the story, Ingvar the White Raven, became king of the area and snuffed out his Saxon neighbors. I fandangled the names of the native people a bit, giving them a little Old English and Scottish flair.
2) I had no idea the Viking reach was so far out into the world.
You think Vikings, you think Sweden, Denmark, you know, cold places. You can easily figure in the UK, although I had no idea Normandy referred to 'northmen' which is, of course, the Vikings. While doing research, I was astounded to learn than the Vikings had a huge influence on Russia, which I mention the hero, Hella, has visited, and even Byzantine. The Vikings set their longships to sail from Greece to Turkey and even into Africa. Amazing!
3) By the 11th century, they'd discovered North America.
This doesn't factor into Her Heart's Surrender, but I found it incredibly amazing. There are all kinds of hoaxes suggesting Europeans made it to the New World much sooner than we can historically prove, but the Vikings actually made it to North America and would have colonized but for the aggressive Native Americans they encountered. That's saying something, because we're all well-aware of how mighty the Vikings were, but it was unlikely they were willing to send great armies to foreign shores just to colonize there. Too impractical, although their discovery of the Canadian coastline was.
BLURB:
Excerpt:
1) I had to bend the rules a little to make the story work.
When the Vikings invaded the UK, they settled around the Orkney Islands, in Ireland, England, and Scotland. Among a lot of other places too, but the part of Scotland where I wanted my Vikings doesn't appear to have actually had many, if any. So I pushed them farther north with the Saxons and set up a kingship for them. One of the bad guys in the story, Ingvar the White Raven, became king of the area and snuffed out his Saxon neighbors. I fandangled the names of the native people a bit, giving them a little Old English and Scottish flair.
2) I had no idea the Viking reach was so far out into the world.
You think Vikings, you think Sweden, Denmark, you know, cold places. You can easily figure in the UK, although I had no idea Normandy referred to 'northmen' which is, of course, the Vikings. While doing research, I was astounded to learn than the Vikings had a huge influence on Russia, which I mention the hero, Hella, has visited, and even Byzantine. The Vikings set their longships to sail from Greece to Turkey and even into Africa. Amazing!
3) By the 11th century, they'd discovered North America.
This doesn't factor into Her Heart's Surrender, but I found it incredibly amazing. There are all kinds of hoaxes suggesting Europeans made it to the New World much sooner than we can historically prove, but the Vikings actually made it to North America and would have colonized but for the aggressive Native Americans they encountered. That's saying something, because we're all well-aware of how mighty the Vikings were, but it was unlikely they were willing to send great armies to foreign shores just to colonize there. Too impractical, although their discovery of the Canadian coastline was.
BLURB:
Taken from her village as a child, Ealasaid has
lived under the iron rule of a Viking king for far too long. The only good to
come out of her life is her son. As long as the king lives, their freedom and
hope for the future seems dismal. Despite her contempt for the king and his
bloodline, she's drawn to Hella Ingvasson, the man who kidnapped her, and the
plight he faces when the king dies.
His father's final demand is that Hella must wed
if he's to claim the throne. What better revenge than to marry the thrall his
father hated most? Despite her fears Hella will become like his father,
Ealasaid agrees to marry for her son’s sake, but she quickly learns her
husband’s battle scarred body provides more pleasure than nightmares.
Word comes that her brothers also survived the
raid and have assembled an army. They march toward a Norse settlement with the
intention of revenge. Unless she can reach her brothers and convince them not
to slaughter the man and people she's come to love, Hella may become another
bloody stain on history's tapestry.
Excerpt:
“You
seem troubled, Hella.” His name rolled from her lips smooth as wind through the
oaks. “Shall I send for Erik or Bjorn? Company might soothe your nerves.”
Erik
would have to be informed of Ingvar's plan should Hella fail to marry, but he
didn't want to share it yet. “They'll suggest we drink ourselves blind and let
the problem wait for tomorrow. There are not enough tomorrows to prevent my
trouble.”
Her lips
puckered, a clear sign she wanted to ask, but there were limits to her
curiosity.
There
wasn't any harm in telling her. Everyone would learn his plight soon enough.
“It's about my father's last wish.”
“Ingvar
speaks from beyond the death veil.” She quirked an eyebrow. “What does the old
king require you to do? Will you unite Northumbria to conquer Byzantium or
Spain?”
“No,
it's much more difficult.” He tore the end off the bread and ripped it into
little bits. “I must take a wife or lose Solstad.”
Ealasaid
stared, then burst into laughter.
“I'm
pleased my troubles amuse you.” He smashed his hand on top of the crumbs.
“Explain how my misfortune is a cause for laughter.”
She
wiped tears from her eyes. “You've fought battles others would run from. You
grew up in the White Raven's shadow. You take what you want and leave nothing
behind. I find it difficult to see how marriage is a horror you cannot face.”
“Indeed,
my sorrows are reason for mirth.” He shoveled scalding soup into his mouth and
swallowed. She wouldn't have dared talk to his father this way, but Ealasaid
had never held her tongue around him. “Be gone. Instruct another thrall to
bring the rest of my courses.”
“You
must have dozens of conquests. Surely one would make a suitable wife for the
new king of Solstad.” She twirled a pale strand of hair around her finger.
“Inga the butcher's daughter? She's fair of face and quick to laugh. Or Giera.
The daughter of some jarl or the other north of here.”
“You're
not helping. Go on, leave.”
“As you
wish, m'lord.” She curtsied then turned for the door. “May the gods resolve
your inheritance issues and favor you with a mighty queen and a hundred strong
Viking babies born with clubs in their hands.”
About the author, Allison Merritt:
A love of reading inspired Allison Merritt to
pursue her dream of becoming an author who writes historical, paranormal and
fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town in
the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. When she's not writing or
reading, she hikes in national parks and conservation areas.
Allison graduated from College of the Ozarks in
Point Lookout, Missouri with a B.A. in mass communications that's gathering
dust after it was determined that she's better at writing fluff than hard news.
Social links:
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