Interview with Thor

Marvels Thor-The Dark World is coming to theaters on November 8th. Are you excited? This comic book hero is losely based on the god of thunder from Norse Mythology. Yes he is a real charmer in the movie; a handsome romantic hero that can fly. In my book Secrets of the Ash Tree I paint a different picture of this god.  

Today we are ending my blog tour with a bolt of lightning and the roar of thunder over at E.J. Wesley's as he takes a more personal peak with an interview from the real Thor.

I will be announcing winners of my Giveaway soon and
if you have missed the other stops on my tour it's not to late! Thank you to everyone that has joined me on this blog tour. I hope you have had as much fun as I have!

Intro to the Norse Gods
Screening at Meilori's
Norse Gods Blogfest
Interview with Odin  
Interview with Freya
Interview with Loki

 

Secrets of the Ash Tree

By Siv Maria Ottem

 

~~~In the realm of the gods and fairy tales the mystery of life is an endless path with many secrets to be discovered. Some secrets are like dreams, just waiting in darkness hoping to get into the light. 

 

 ‘Secrets of the Ash Tree’ is the story about Liv, a young woman who discovers her true nature through the unraveling of hidden secrets. Her adventures begin when she digs up a chest that was buried by her father under the old ash tree in her garden. What she finds inside the chest changes her life forever.  

Liv discovers one secret after another and is thrown into a world full of dangerous and strange creatures, mighty Norse warriors and perils beyond her belief. What started out as a fairy tale in her father’s journal was to become her legacy, a guide line to survival, and a map to the world she was about to enter. Each day, each mystery, each encounter will ultimately reveal her true destiny and behind the edge of a sword awaits a young god who is willing to share that destiny with her.

Available in Hardcover, softcover, kindle:

Amazon  

Amazon kindle 

Barnes & Noble

Don't forget to add it to

Goodreads 

Which one of the interviews did you enjoy the most? Did you sign up for my Giveaway? Did you enjoy my blogtour? 

Last chance!

Just a reminder everyone that the last stop on my Secrets of the Ash Tree-Norse Gods blog tour is Monday 14th of October. Take a trip over to E.J. Wesley tomorrow for a personal interview with Thor.

A reminder that my giveaway is ending soon, so make sure to enter for a chance at winning some great prizes!

If you have missed the other stops on my tour it's not to late!

Intro to the Norse Gods
Screening at Meilori's
Norse Gods Blogfest
Interview with Odin
Interview with Freya
Interview with Loki

Which one of the interviews did you enjoy the most? Have a great Sunday and I hope to see you back here again on Monday!

Interview with LOKI

Wikimedia commons-Loki's flight to Jotunheimen

Loki can be found lurking around at Susan Roebucks blog today. Head over to her blog and see what that trickster has to say.

Susan was my critique partner and often muse for my book 'Secrets of the Ash Tree.' She kept pushing me on and inspiring me at times when I was ready to give up. Susan was a big help with my writing and continues to be a valued friend!

Here is a small excerpt about Loki from my book Secrets of the Ash Tree:

Loki had come so close to getting the necklace and had it not been for the interference of that brat Forseti he would be free from the ridiculous confines of this decay. It was getting harder for him to shape shift. Each time he tried the effects tore more skin and hair from his body. Loki shivered in disgust at his reflection in the mountain stream as he tried to refasten half his nose with sticky sap from a tree. Swearing at the air around him he went back to work and by nightfall he had finished building his hut.

            “How clever I am,” he said to himself as he fastened the final door. He now had a hut with a door in each corner for a hasty escape in any direction. He decided that if the gods should come in search of him he would rush down to the stream and change himself into a salmon.  That should buy me the time I need, he thought as he looked across the room at the stolen urn of Espen Ash. Pleased with himself, he said to the urn, “I am sure that Liv would trade her necklace for her father’s ashes.”  Loki made a fire in the hearth and quickly fell asleep. 

            In Loki’s dark mind covered in sleep, a giant hook ripped into his side and pulled him out of black water. He screamed as a huge troll with long black hair grabbed him and pulled him off the hook. With one stroke of her knife she gutted him and cut off his head. Loki snapped awake from his dream. He could still hear the troll laugh as she threw his head into the water and yelled, “I am coming for you!”

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Secrets of the Ash Tree" Available in Hardcover, softcover, kindle:

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Ash-Tree-Maria-Ottem/dp/1490708790/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379498108&sr=1-2

Amazon kindle- http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Ash-Tree-ebook/dp/B00E5Y79PQ

Barnes and Noble- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secrets-of-the-ash-tree-siv-maria-ottem/1116186245?ean=9781490708799

Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18259193-secrets-of-the-ash-tree?ac=1

Come back on Monday for the final stop on my blog tour as E.J. Wesley takes on Thor. Enjoy the rest of your week-end!

Freya's Friday

Happy Freyaday everyone! Friday is named for this Norse Goddess of love and today she is being interviewed over at Melissa Maygrove's, pop on over and see what this mighty Norse Goddess has to say.

Have you been enjoying this blog tour so far? Only two more stops left. Tomorrow Susan Roebuck takes on that trickster Loki and on Monday E.J. Wesley faces off with Thor! Hope everyone has a great week-end.

OH MY GOD we have winners!

Today Odin is visiting the Crazy Life of a Writing Mom. Find out what he has to say as he answers some rather unusual questions from bestselling author E.C. Stilsen.

Here is a glimpse of Odin from my book, 'Secrets of the Ash Tree'

Odin and Thor laughed over Loki’s demise and Liv could hear them boasting to each other as they rehearsed the speech they would give to the other gods at the well of Urd. Liv guessed they were only keeping a slow pace so that she and Forseti would not get lost on the way to the rainbow bridge. 

    Liv had wanted to talk more to Kvasir who was made from the spit of all gods and the wisest of all beings, but he had left their company to attend a feast in the home of the black dwarves Fjalar and Galar.  Liv watched Odin busy in conversation with his two ravens Muninn and Huginn. It was the duty of these two ravens to inform Odin of everything that was happening in the world. She watched as they quickly took flight again and as they soared away she couldn’t help but wonder what secrets they flew off with.

    Odin reminded Liv of an old pirate with a black patch over one of his eyes and long scraggily hair that flew around his weathered face. He turned out to be less fearful than she had imagined. When he looked at her with his remaining large dark eye, she didn’t know whether to embrace him or fall at his feet. His power swept across the air and forced even the moon and sun to bow down before him. Odin knew things that no one else did and she hoped that one of those things was how to free her mother from Hel’s prison.

    Shimmering in the distance, a path of brilliant colors stretched across a misty sky, sparks of fire danced with little effort all around it, proving that fire and water could occupy the same space.

    “Bifrost…the rainbow bridge, I had forgotten how beautiful it is,” said Forseti as he stopped next to Liv and enjoyed the sight. “The Aesir gods made Bifrost out of three colors with magic so strong that they gave birth to new colors that multiplied until the rainbow bridge was finally formed. It is the only way into the realm of the gods… it is my way home.”



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Don't forget to check out my giveaway and come back tomorrow as Melissa Maygrove takes a closer look at the love goddess and queen of the Valkyrie, Freya.

The winner of a signed copy of Secrets of the Ash Tree go to yesterdays Party Bloggers  Mary Aalgaard and Roland Yeomans! Both did  wonderful flash fiction stories to honor their favorite gods,  and I saw their support all over the place. Congratulations to them both!

If you missed the preview of my book trailer yesterday, here it is:

Norse Gods Birthday Blogfest

My favorite Goddess is Freya

In celebration of my new book ‘Secrets of the Ash Tree’ the Norse Gods have gathered with Captain Ninja- Alex Cavanaugh at the well of Urd. Together they have decided to throw a big book release party today on my birthday, October 9th! 

I can't wait to see what you have posted about YOUR favorite Norse God or Goddess. Make sure to hop around and see what other Gods are in focus today and make a special trip to Roland Yeomans Writting in the Crosshairs and wish him a Happy Birthday as well!  Because it is my birthday as well as the celebration of my book release there has to be presents! 

Anyone who buys my book during this blogfest can email me and I will send them an autographed print of this Freya illustration made by my daughter Maria Bech. This illustration is not available anywhere else and is not included in the book. My book is available at most online retailers including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

More presents? I will be giving away a signed copy of my book to who-ever actively parties the most on this day. So spread the word, use my banner, visit as many blogs as you can, and write a great post! Special points if you visit my UTUBE Video below and like it, my NEW WEB PAGE ,or like my Facebook Author page 

My favorite Goddess is Freya and here is a sneak peak inside her world with an excerpt from my book 'Secrets of the Ash Tree'.

   Once inside Freya’s palace, Liv was almost afraid to walk on the glossy floors that reflected her image as if she were walking on mirrored glass. Freya’s hall looked like a Valentine’s Day card, each room within reminded Liv that her grandmother was the goddess of love. Everywhere, huge bouquets of flowers filled the air with the aroma of springtime, and lush red drapery edged with gold hung from the white marble walls. Blushing pillars supported painted ceilings with illustrations of lovers facing all seasons of landscape and life.  Cushions of silk and velvet were scattered on the floors in no particular fashion, and Liv almost tripped over one on her way into a small Garden of Eden that was covered in light steam.  A tiny waterfall ran down the far side of the room into a small pool of crystal blue water that was topped with rose petals. Green Ivy and lush grape vines clung to the walls and ceiling, then crept across the floor towards miniature trees that bore all sorts of fruit.

    Freya handed Liv a large fluffy towel that smelled of lavender and said, “Enjoy your bath; I will be back with something clean for you to wear.”

    Liv dropped her clothes and sank into the warm water. She had almost forgotten how relaxing it was to soak in a bath. The warm water caressed her skin and soothed her body. Slowly she slid under the water and disappeared from all worries and concerns of the past few days.

     Liv rested her head on a soft towel and almost fell asleep when she was startled by a splash of water that hit her face. She opened her eyes to the sight of an apple bobbing between her breasts.

    An amused Forseti stood beside her bath eating his own apple. In between crunches he said, “You look like a mermaid and if you stay in there much longer I bet you will turn into one.”

    Liv tried to cover her nakedness but decided it wasn’t worth it. God knows how long he had been standing there…the nerve of this guy, she thought to herself. She splashed some water at him and said, “Don’t you know how to knock?”

    Forseti laughed as he jumped and avoided the splash. He took another bite from his apple and before turning on his heals he said, “Nope, I have never had the need to knock before and I don’t see why I should have to start now.”
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Hope you enjoyed this little teaser. Tomorrow Odin and I visit E.C. Stilsen at the Crazy Life of a Writing Mom. So, who is your favorite among the Norse Gods?

Why Gods and Fairytales?

The festivities are well under way. Today is the big reveal of my book trailer, which my son so graciously made for me as a birthday gift.  He has never done anything like this before so I was amazed at how well it turned out.What better place to have such a party than at the club Meilori's, so head on over to Writing in the Crosshairs and see what Roland Yeomans has planned. One more thing, you might want to bring along a little sugar. Trust me.

So you might be wondering what inspired me to write about Gods and Fairytales. Growing up I often felt disconnected from the world I lived in, and like the character in my book I discovered a secret about my family that made me realize why I was different. Secrets of the Ash Tree is the first book in a series about Gods and Fairytales. The stories are about myths and how they can relate to real life. There is a lot of symbolism in Norse mythology that I find fascinating and I have tried to incorporate that in my story. 

You can get a sneak peak Here.

Tomorrow is mine and Rolands birthday so don't forget to SIGN UP HERE for the Norse Gods birthday blogfest! Which one of the Norse Gods is your favorite? See you over at Meilori's!

Norse Gods on Tour and Giveaway!

 

The Norse Gods go on tour this week to celebrate the release of my new book, Secrets of the Ash Tree.To start off my blog tour is the amazing and talented Michael Di Gesu who I was fortunate enough to have illustrate my book cover. I couldn't be more proud or happy to call him my cyber brother, he truely is the best brother one could ever ask for. Please stop by his blog In Time and see what the Norse gods have to say today.

Each day this week I will be giving away prizes which include an autographed copy of Secrets of the Ash Tree including a print of the Freya illustration, a 15 dollar gift certificate from Amazon, assorted norwegian chocolates and trolls. Come back tomorrow for a peak at my inspiration for writing the Secrets of the Ash Tree and a trip to the most unusual club called Meilori's.

See the raffle giveaway below.

Did you forget something?

The days are getting shorter, the nights longer, and with this darkness there comes this nagging voice inside my head that repeats itself-----"YOU are forgetting something..."

With all the blogfests, book releases, giveaways, and blog tours this month it is hard to keep track, isn't it? I don't know about you but I pretty much depend on a certain ninja to keep me informed about these things. Now when it comes to my personal life that's a different story, I know that I have forgotten something because someone is always reminding me of that.

"Did you forget to wash my favorite jeans?"-------"Did you forget to take out the trash?" -----"Did you forget about your dentist appointment?"--------"Did you forget to record that show?"

"YES, OK I FORGOT! I was busy writing, I forgot to make dinner too if that makes you feel any better!" 

Sound familiar? Sometimes a reminder helps so today I am reminding all my friends that next week is the official release of my new book Secrets of the Ash Tree. All week long I will be taking the Norse Gods with me on tour. First stop is this Monday at In Time with Michael Di Gesu.You can see the rest of the schedule on the side bar of my blog. Find out what Odin, Thor, Loki and Freya really think as you get the inside scoop each day. I hope to see you there!

 Secrets of the Ash Tree Available Now

Available at Amazon.com

In the realm of gods and fairy tales the mystery of life is an endless path with many secrets to be discovered. Some secrets are like dreams, just waiting in darkness hoping to get into the light.
 

Have you ever held a secret that you were dying to share, but couldn’t? Have you ever uncovered a secret that you wished had remained buried? What if secrets could change your life and everything that you believe in?

‘Secrets of the Ash Tree’ is the story about Liv, a young woman who discovers her true nature through the unraveling of hidden secrets. Her adventures begin when she digs up a chest that was buried by her father under the old ash tree in her garden. What she finds inside the chest changes her life forever.  Liv discovers one secret after another and is thrown into a world full of dangerous and strange creatures, mighty Norse warriors and perils beyond her belief. What started out as a fairy tale in her father’s journal was to become her legacy, a guide line to survival, and a map to the world she was about to enter. Each day, each mystery, each encounter will ultimately reveal her true destiny and behind the edge of a sword awaits a young god who is willing to share that destiny with her.

“I’ve been fascinated by Norse tales since I was a child and it was a delight to discover I can continue them as an adult. Reading ‘Secrets of the Ash Tree’ was like rediscovering old friends yet this tale is darker than the simple ones I used to read. For example, Thor is much deeper than the character I remember who threw a hammer and lightning bolts about. Odin and Freya are fully rounded figures, truly life-like yet inhabiting a world far more colorful than our own and full of raw power. The author does not hold back on the scheming, evil Loki or on the cruel Frost Giants. Expect to meet an array of malevolent as well as benevolent dwarfs and Nidhogg the dragon.

This is a story of the tenacity, sacrifice and courage of a young woman, and of good versus evil in which the gods struggle to maintain their grip on the world. I thoroughly recommend it to those who love Norse tales.”--- Susan Roebuck, author of Hewhay Hall and Perfect Score

Have a wonderful week-end everyone and stay safe!

PARTY WITH THE NORSE GODS

In celebration of my new book ‘Secrets of the Ash Tree’ the Norse Gods have gathered with Captain Ninja- Alex Cavanaugh at the well of Urd. Together they have decided to throw a big book release party on my birthday, October 9th! 

Sign up on the linky tool below and post about YOUR favorite Norse God on that date.  Because it is my birthday as well as the celebration of my book release there has to be presents! 

Anyone who buys my book from now and during this blogfest can email me and I will send them an autographed print of this Freya illustration made by my daughter Maria Bech. This illustration is not available anywhere else and is not included in the book. My book is available at most online retailers including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

More presents? I will be giving away a signed copy of my book to who-ever actively parties the most on this day. So spread the word, use my banner, visit as many blogs as you can, and write a great post! Special points if you visit my NEW WEB PAGE and like my Facebook Author page!

My blog tour for the release of ‘Secrets of the Ash Tree’ will be from October 7^th-14^th. 

I have a lot of great things planned for this tour and some amazing bloggers to visit, but for now they are a secret...More details later…Hope everyone has a fantastic week-end!