Recently, I had the absolute pleasure to speak with Rebecca Hill, of Valhalla Conversations Podcast and Becky Bookwyrm Blog, about RAN’S DAUGHTERS. It was an absolute blast to speak with her, and the questions were so much fun to answer! Thanks again for having me!
WATCH HERE:
*As a little bonus, please keep an eye out for another interview with a major podcaster, coming soon!*
May the wind fill your sails,
Kaitlin
UPDATE:
NORAH KOSKOVICH IS THE WINNER OF MY GIVEAWAY!!! CONGRATULATIONS, NORAH!!!
To celebrate the release of RAN’S DAUGHTERS, I’m hosting a limited-time giveaway for all of you!
As both a writer and a lover of fiber arts, I wanted to create something that honors Viking history in both word and craft. That’s why this giveaway includes not just a signed copy of my book, but a handmade piece that honors the past.
One lucky winner will receive:
Whether you’re a history buff, a fiber arts enthusiast, or simply love immersive storytelling, this giveaway is for you!
Enter using the form and instructions below. Winner will be chosen and notified on June 5.
Thank you for your support and good luck!
May the wind fill your sails,
Kaitlin ❤️
Hi friends, it’s been a while since I wrote a blog post, so I thought maybe it was time to stop procrastinating.
A lot has happened since Rán’s Daughters released in March. Some things were good, like our family’s lovely visit to Tuscany in April to see my in-laws beautiful new house near the historic city of Lucca.
Other events were not so good. We lost my husband’s beloved grandmother very suddenly at the beg of April, and the grief has been deep. We were very fortunate to attend the funeral in the Netherlands, alongside all of the extended family. It was a bittersweet time, and I’m so grateful we could visit. Oma was a brilliant and precious light and she was like my own grandmother. I will carry her memory always.
In the midst of grief, there were bright spots, like my book lauch. Held on April 1 at my international community club, and attended by friends from my writers’ group and my regular book club, it was a night to celebrate and welcome Gyda and her Daughters to the world. I got to debut my Viking Dress!
It’s May now with June just around the corner. We have had a sunny spring with gorgeous cool weather, and now summer creeps in. This past Sunday, my Writers’ Group met at the “Iroquois” restaurant in the Seefeld area of Zurich to eat, catch up, and celebrate my launch of RD together. I had such a wonderful time with them and it reminds me that as authors and creatives, we need eachother now more than ever. With the dumpster fire of the US and….*gestures at everything*, well, we can’t isolate without the danger of all of us just falling apart. I’m so grateful for the community I’ve managed to build here.
This week, I also had the immense pleasure of meeting up with a new writing friend – Catarina Lilliehöök, whose debut novel THE SPIRIT DRAGON’S KEEPER -Book 1 of The Polar Saga, just released this month! Look at that awesome cover!! I can’t wait to dig into this book. Find a copy on Amazon.
In other news, I’ve taken up running again after a very long hiatus – almost 11 years! It’s been good to get back out there on the trails. My body is older, my aches and pains last longer, and my chronic illness makes it so that I have to slow down and listen more and push less. It’s been so healthy and an exercise in wonder. From where I was two years ago, with a fresh diagnosis and the fear I would never be pain-free again, to today with hardly any flares and a belief in my body again, my gratitude is expansive.
I also finished up my first Open University course, which will count towards my Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and History. It’s been great to be back in school, after having left uni when I was 22 to move to Europe. It’s been a dream of mine for a long time to return to studies.
Next up for me is enjoying the summer. I’m prioritizing my friendships and my health, which feels very necessary with the fear and anger around the world currently.
All the best, stay safe and well, and may the wind fill your sails
Kaitlin
While #Norsevember rages on, I’m back today with a Q&A from Raphael Bonato, co-owner and Jarl of the Valhalla Bar in Basel, Switzerland. I had the great pleasure of visiting a the bar few weeks ago – Review can be found here.
With Valhalla’s unique concept and striking execution, I had to know more about the man himself.
Raphael Bonato is the closest thing to a modern-day Viking. Known to his friends and patrons as a true son of Odin, he runs the bar with style and a great deal of fierce passion. Raphael was very gracious and answered every question I had, so without further ado, let’s dig in!
So, please tell me about yourself. Who are you, and what made you decide to open a bar that is Viking themed?
My name is Raphael Bonato and I live in Basel.
Before Valhalla I was a manager in a Rock/Metal Bar. Working in this bar brought me up with the idea to mix a place for people who are into Viking, Metal, Rock, and Medieval music. It just felt that there’s no other place like this. I started the project together with friends to realise it. Valhalla is open now for a bit more than one year.
It just felt that there’s no other place like this. I started the project together with friends to realise it.
Were you interested in Vikings and history before?
Yes. I am really interested in Norse mythology and also of the way the Vikings lived.
Tell me about the bar itself. What is the best thing about running Valhalla? Is there a lot of enthusiasm from patrons about the theme?
The best thing in my opinion is that we are a big family and everyone is accepted. We have a lot of people who are into the medieval scene, and there are also a lot of regulars who are here every week. They support us a lot.
The best thing in my opinion is that we are a big family and everyone is accepted.
Do you get curious people who come in from the street to ask what it’s about? What about the locals? Do they think this place is interesting?
Because we are a bit away from the city centre, not really. Mostly people know the place or hear about it from friends. We don’t get a lot of tourists, mostly because of the situation with Corona the last year.
When are the busiest times for you?
The busiest time is the winter.
I see that you have a lot of quiz nights. I would have loved to come to the Lord of the Rings quiz! I’m really good at that kind of trivia. Do you have many of these events during the year? Are they very popular?
Yes, we do this every month. The last one was about Harry Potter. There were so many people that a few teams needed to sit outside!
What other sort of events do you host? Do you have many artists or creative people who are involved with the bar?
We have medieval nights often. Everyone can come in their Viking/ Medieval dress. Soon we will also have live concerts, comedy nights, burlesque shows, Dungeon & Dragons, Metalnight, etc. There is a lot in planning now. Before it was not easy to host an event because of the Corona Rules.
What is your favourite part of running Valhalla?
The medieval nights are always really cool to see all the people in their Viking clothes walking around with axes and horns. Also the comic strip night which mixed Comedy and Burlesque together. That is a relly big highlight from this year. The next one is on December 17th.
How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect you and the bar? What was the most challenging thing, and what was the easiest thing? Did anything good come out of it?
Nothing good came out of the pandemic. It was and still is challenging. We couldn’t organize normal events. It was hard to bring the people in with all the rules. Even now with the certification requirement, it is challenging to host people without the certificate.
What are your big ambitions? Do you see the bar expanding?
We want to bring up Valhalla Basel to become the one place to be in the city. The idea is to open other bars with the same concept throughout Switzerland.
We want to bring up Valhalla Basel to become the one place to be in the city. The idea is to open other bars with the same concept throughout Switzerland.
Finally, if you could serve a drink to any of the Norse gods or famous Viking heroes, who would you choose?
My favourite god is Baldur, because he is one of the most peaceful gods in the whole Nordic Mythology.
From our world, it would be the Berserker of Stamford Bridge who fought alone against the whole English army with just an axe in his hand. He gave the Viking army under Harald Hardrada enough time to reform and build a shieldwall against the English.
Valhalla Bar Basel can be found on Instagram and Facebook. Events are posted weekly.
*all photos of Raphael taken with permission from his personal social media
After six months of hard work and research, the audio adaptation of my Norse-inspired folktale The Seeing Trees has landed!
“In the forests of Scandinavia a family is besieged by a malicious raven which watches and follows them everywhere they go. How will they escape from this curse and at what cost? The Seeing Trees is a dark nordic mystery with elements of violence, peril, horror, language and elements that some listeners may find disturbing.”
Fascinated by Viking mythology and history, I wanted to bring a darker angle to this story. Here is a short interview I did with the podcast, covering the influences and inspiration. You can also hear a fantastic monologue by Charis McRoberts (Follow her here!) My interview starts at 10:30 min.
From the Press Release:
“The Alternative Stories And Fake Realities Podcast has produced an audio drama based on a dark, psychological short story by American writer Kaitlin Felix, “The Seeing Trees”. Working with a team of actors all recording their lines separately from their homes, we’ve pieced together a production that is compelling and immersive and made entirely under lockdown.”
Watch the trailer here:
We had a range of brilliant actors for our cast. Here are a few, and a full list with links to their social media profiles:
Charlie Richards as Trygve
Lewie Watson as Harleif
Tiffany Clare as Mother
Amy Forrest as Freja
Chris Gregory as Magnus and Townsman
Annika Kordes as Townswoman 1
Karen Cooper as Townswoman 2
Kelli Winkler is the presenter
The Old Norse incantation is performed by Charlie Richards, Tiffany Clare, myself and Chris Gregory, who is the excellent director and podcast runner. He also created the original music and soundscapes.
Below, I have included the Old Norse text of the “Sigrdrifa prayer,” which is located in the Sigrdrífumál section of the Poetic Edda. The translation is by Dr. Jackson Crawford. We used the Reconstructed Medieval Pronunciation, taken from his youtube video here.
Old Norse:
Heil dagr
Heilar dags sýnir
Heil nót ok nipt
Oreiðum augum
Lítið okkr þinig
ok gefið sitjöndum sigr
Heilir æsir,
heilar ásynjur,
heil sjá in fjölnýta fold,
mál ok mannvit
gefið okkr mærum tveim
ok læknishendr, meðan lifum
Modern English:
Hail the day!
Hail the sons of day!
Hail to night and her sister!
Look on the two of us here
with friendly eyes,
and give us victory.
Hail the gods!
Hail the goddesses!
Hail the hospitable earth!
Give the two of us
eloquent speech, and wisdom-
and healing hands, while we live.
Alternative Stories and Fake Realities Podcast is totally free to listen, and you can find them on any podcast provider. You can also follow on various social media platforms. Click the image below to find them. Happy Listening!
I am incredibly grateful to Chris Gregory and to the entire cast for making the Seeing Trees a truly remarkable experience! I’m blown away by this production, and all the hard work that went into it. I am looking forward to working with Alternative Stories and Fake Realities podcast again!