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.
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.
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
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.
