Syttende Mai with a sexy Norse god.

Today, I'm excited to have NA author ST Bende on the blog. She's brought along the main character from her debut novel ELSKER, Kristia Tostenson, and they'll be talking about how Kristia spent the Norwegian holiday, Syttende Mai.

Allow me to introduce, ST Bende and Kristia Tostenson!

ST: Hi Margo -- thanks for letting me visit your blog!  I’m so excited -- this weekend is Syttende Mai, Norway’s Constitution Day.  And since my debut novel, ELSKER, is all over the Scandinavian mythology, I brought ELSKER’s Kristia to tell us how she celebrated Syttende Mai with her beau, Ull -- the Norse God of Winter.  Hey, Kristia.

Kristia: Hi, ST.

ST: How’s it going?

Kristia: I can’t complain.

ST: I’ll bet you can’t.  *raises an eyebrow* How’s our favorite Norse god?

Kristia: Ull’s great.  He’s sleeping off a bit of a sugar coma today.

ST: Naturally.  Tell everyone why Ull’s in a sugar coma.

Kristia: Well, yesterday was Syttende Mai - it’s a big Norwegian holiday that celebrates the day they signed their constitution.

ST: Sort of like Fourth of July?  If y’all don’t know, Kristia’s from Oregon.

Kristia: Yes.  Sort of.  But Syttende Mai isn’t celebrated with hot dogs and sparklers like we celebrate the Fourth. 

ST: How did you celebrate?

Kristia: Ull took me to a garden party at the Norwegian Seaman’s Church by our college, in Cardiff.

ST: Ah, the famous Cardiff University, in Wales.

Kristia: You’ve heart of it? *smiles*

ST: Once or twice.  So what did you do at the church?

Kristia: They put on a little program about the history of Norway.  Then we all sang Ja Vi Elsker, the national anthem, and we marched around the church waving flags.

ST: Like a parade?

Kristia: *laughs* Like a parade.  Only there were no spectators, everyone was in the parade.

ST: So the whole congregation marched around the church waving flags. Did Ull wave one?

Kristia: Zealously.

ST: I’d have loved to see that.

Kristia: It was pretty funny.  He’s not a small guy -- I believe he’s, how did we put it, a 6’5” Nordic Adonis?

ST: Those were your words, not mine.

Kristia: Ha ha, ST.

ST: And what did you and the Nordic Adonis do after the parade?

Kristia: There was a luncheon in the garden.  Amazing food, and of course waffles for dessert.

ST: *nodding* It’s not Syttende Mai without Norsk waffles.

Kristia: Exactly.  But then we all went back to Ull’s place --

ST: Kristia, this is a family-friendly interview.

Kristia: Please.  It’s not like that, you perv.  I meant Ull and Inga and Gunnar and I went back to their flat to hang out.

ST: Inga and Gunnar are Ull’s roommates.  

Kristia: And his best friends.  They’re gods too, and they followed him here from Asgard.

ST: So what did you do back at their flat?

Kristia: Well, Inga had these amazing little cupcakes she’d baked the night before, so we had cupcakes and played Rumikub and then I went home.

ST: Rumikub?

Kristia: It’s this matching game like dominos--

ST: I know what Rumikub is.  But seriously?  That’s what you did when you went back to Ull’s flat?

Kristia: Yeah.

ST: Jeez, this is a family friendly interview.

Kristia: Very funny.

ST: Did Ull at least kiss you goodnight?

Kristia: *blushes* What do you think?

ST: That’s a yes.

Kristia: I’m not talking about this.

ST: Fine. *grins* We’ll just write about it later.

Kristia: There’s no privacy with you.

ST: Nope.  Well, tell Ull I’m sorry he isn’t feeling so great.

Kristia: Deal.  I’m headed over there right now to take care of him.

ST: Of course you are. *waggles eyebrows* Have fun, missy.

Kristia: *waggles eyebrows back* Oh, I will.

THE ELSKER SAGA is available from Entranced Publishing. 

TUR, the prequel, can be downloaded for free HERE.

ELSKER, Book 1, is available from Entranced, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Find ST Bende on Twitter (@stbende), Goodreads, or her website. 

Visit the ELSKER page on the Entranced Publishing website (http://www.entrancedpublishing.com/imprints/blush/elsker/), Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CGL33S2) and Barnes & Noble (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/elsker-st-bende/1115161284) .

Book Title: Elsker

Author Name: ST Bende

Series Title (if applicable): The Elsker Saga

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Length of Book in pages or word count: 61,000 words  

Publisher: Entranced Publishing, Blush

Blurb: Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr. Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting. He’s an honest-to-goodness Norse God — an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms.

 Her orderly life just got very messy.

Book trailer link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MaJIgkk-CI

Author Bio:

Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, ST Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of the musical Cats.  Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired The Elsker Saga.  She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day pastries will be considered a health food.

You can follow ST Bende on Twitter @stbende, or send an e-mail to stbende(at)gmail(dot)com.  

Author social media links

Blog: http://stbende.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/stbende

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stbende or @stbende

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/stbende/

Excerpt:  

ELSKER - Book 1, THE ELSKER SAGA

At eight o’clock, a firm knock interrupted my reading.  I picked my way through the flower shop that our living room had become and opened the door.

“Oh good, you kept my peace offerings.”  Ull treated me to a rakish grin.

“Just a few of them,” I muttered.  “Come on in.”

“Oh, no.  You must come with me.”

“Why?”  I challenged.  Ull sighed.

“Are you going to fight me at every turn?”

“Probably.” 

“Please come.”  He looked so adorable standing on my stoop, his scarf casually thrown across the grey sweater under his coat.  I gave in quicker than I meant to. 

“Fine.”  I grabbed my coat from the closet by the door and shoved my keys and wallet into the pocket.  “Where are we off to?”  I closed the door behind me and followed Ull into the brisk night, waiting for his promised explanation. 

But he didn’t say anything.  Instead, he put his hand on the small of my back and guided me away from campus.  I shivered and noticed that Ull wore his jacket open, at ease in the chill.  As we rounded the corner, Ull dropped his hand to clasp mine.  It was so warm, so strong, and for a moment I forgot to be mad at him.  We walked in silence as he led me down the main road.  After two right turns, I found myself standing in a quiet garden.  

Ull had brought me to a church.