Fierce - a short story
plus an update on the Raven's Call, free books and a the fascinating tale of Aud, the Deep-Minded
Dear Readers,
I’m thrilled to share that preorders for The Raven’s Call are going well. Thank you so much to everyone who’s already secured their copy! To celebrate, I’ve released Fierce, a short story set in the same world, a perfect teaser and reader magnet to tide you over until launch day. Below is a wonderful early review of The Raven’s Call from Goodreads that captures the heart of the story beautifully. If you haven’t yet preordered, now’s the time to join the adventure and be among the first to step into this world of courage, destiny, and dark legends.
Still wanting to get your pre-order copy of The Raven’s Call? You can find it Here.
You can get your free copy of Fierce, the short story, here or, if you would like to support my writing, it is also available for a small cost on Amazon here.
Reviews!
I want to share this great review on Goodreads for The Raven’s Call!
Goodreads allows readers to post their reviews before the publish date but for Amazon, reviews must wait until the 18th of March. Please post your reviews on Amazon then and help activate the algorithm!
I’ve done more writing than reading this month with lots of polishing on The Raven’s Call plus finishing off an exciting, soon-to-be-released novelette that is an excerpt of the book with extra details and added scenes. I’ve called it Fierce.
In February I read The Welsh Warrior’s Inheritance by Arianwen Nunn which is a detailed, thick book of Wales in the year 1109, featuring Owen ap Cadwgan. A good read but I think I would have enjoyed it better if I wasn’t so busy.
Welsh warrior and firebrand, Owain ap Cadwgan abducts Princess Nest and her children from the castle she shares with her husband, Gerald of Windsor. Henry, Norman king of England, furious since Nest is also his lover and mother of his son, begins a manhunt to find Owain and Nest. While Owain's actions make him a figurehead for resistance to the Norman presence in Wales, not all Welsh nobles want to see him triumph: many have their own ambitions. In Gwynedd, Gruffydd ap Cynan and his wife Angharad, risk everything to hide Owain and Nest despite the vindictive efforts of Gronwy ap Owain, Angharad's brother, who would like to see Gruffydd and Owain dead. Owain's actions start a spark that leads to hostilities which could end in Gruffydd's downfall at the hands of the Normans or his Welsh enemies. Can Gruffydd and his family survive the greatest army ever led against Wales?
My current read - a fantasy novel about Temur.
Temur, grandson of the Great Khan, is walking from a battlefield where he was left for dead. All around lie the fallen armies of his cousin and his brother who made war to rule the Khaganate. Temur is now the legitimate heir by blood to his grandfather's throne, but he is not the strongest. Going into exile is the only way to survive his ruthless cousin.
Once-Princess Samarkar is climbing the thousand steps of the Citadel of the Wizards of Tsarepheth. She was heir to the Rasan Empire until her father got a son on a new wife. Then she was sent to be the wife of a Prince in Song, but that marriage ended in battle and blood. Now she has renounced her worldly power to seek the magical power of the wizards.
These two will come together to stand against the hidden cult that has so carefully brought all the empires of the Celadon Highway to strife and civil war through guile and deceit and sorcerous power.
Here are some promotions featuring new and upcoming books. I hope you find an exciting book among them.
Well, that’s it for today. It’s Thursday here and I am going to town with Joseph again. We have hit our beautiful, shining autumn weather. The sky is a vast and bright blue. I can hear a kookaburra laughing away in the distance (distance is good - sometimes they are so loud outside that we shut the doors and windows so we can hear ourselves speak!). Autumn is the best time of the year in Queensland. My Mindil is lying luxuriously beside me. She won’t be happy that I’m leaving her to go into town!
Best Wishes,
Emma
Below is a fascinating story of a powerful 9th century woman who saved her family and was an early founder of Iceland and I have a couple of books to share.
Aud the Deep Minded - Viking Matriarch and famous Icelandic settler
In the annals of Viking history, few women stand out as prominently as Aud the Deep Minded, a formidable 9th-century matriarch who played a pivotal role in the settlement of Iceland. Aud's life story is one of resilience, leadership, and strategic acumen, qualities that helped shape the early Icelandic society.
Aud Ketillsdottir came from a distinguished military lineage. She was the second daughter of Ketill Flatnose, a Norwegian hersir (military commander).
Aud married Olaf the White, son of King Ingjald, a viking sea-king, the greatest war-king ‘west over the sea’. He called himself the king of Dublin, thus aligning herself with one of Norway's powerful families. Some rumours suggest that Olaf was a half brother of Ivar the Boneless and on his grandmother’s side is Ragnar Hairy Breeches (Ragnar Lodbrok).
Aud and Olaf had a son, Thorstein the Red. Olaf was killed in battle in Ireland and later, Thorstein was killed through treachery, fighting in Scotland. Aud had a Viking ship built secretly in the forest. When it was finished she took her remaining family and much wealth and sailed away. Aud became legendary as it was an extraordinary accomplishment to escape such an environment of violence and hostility with lives intact, great wealth retained and an impressive number, of fierce, famed warriors in her retinue.
Aud journeyed to Orkney, where she arranged the marriage alliance of her granddaughter, Groa, into an important family, then sailed to the Faroes where she married off another grandaughter, Olof, before continuing her voyage to Iceland. Also with her was her grandson, Olaf Feilan (little wolf) Thorsteinsson.
Further sealing Aud’s incredible achievements for a woman of her time, she commanded a crew of more than 20 men including slaves that had been taken in former raids. Upon reaching Iceland, Aud claimed vast tracts of land. Part of this, she granted to the men of her crew. She made the unusual decision to make her slaves freedmen, granting them land to farm, which allowed them to establish a new life and make a living.
Unlike most early Icelandic settlers, Aud was a baptized Christian and is often credited with introducing Christianity to Iceland. She erected crosses on a prominent hill within her lands, where she would pray. Aud was a respected ruler and mediator among her community.
Some say that the motivation behind Aud’s voyage to Iceland remains a subject of speculation, however it seems that, since all of her male relatives (kings and war lords) died, that she went to live closer to her brothers in Iceland. Her amazing leadership took the remnants of her family, including her grandchildren, to a new land. Once there, she was a noblewoman of great influence who gave lands to her followers and judged and mediated among them until she passed her land possessions and significant wealth to her grandson. She was a woman, a king’s widow who led a remarkable and influential life - hence her name, the Deep Minded. Due to her wisdom and decisiveness, not only did her family survive but they thrived in the country of Iceland and she is famed as an early settler and matriarch in Icelandic history.