Browsed by
Tag: Norse

Spring 2023 Update + Rán’s Daughters News

Spring 2023 Update + Rán’s Daughters News

Well, friends, it’s been a long while since my last update. It’s good to be back! I have a few things to share. First, a personal update, and then a writing/book update. Stick around or scroll to the end if you’re after news of my upcoming novel Rán’s Daughters!

First, the personal stuff –

In 2022, I took a big step back from my social media accounts. There were many reasons for this, but the biggest one is that my mental and physical health suffered a blow…and then another, and another. Suffice to say, the last 18 months have been pretty difficult for me and for my family.

To keep it brief, l have injuries that are ongoing and leave me with often-debilitating chronic pain in my neck and back. Alongside the challenges of adult ADHD, these injuries have further impacted my ability to work consistently. These are the major reasons why Rán’s Daughters has taken so long to finish. Fortunately, I have a great physiotherapist. I also recently invested in a standing desk, which has been really helpful for my pain.

My lovely husband helping to assemble my desk – he’s the best when it comes to anything Ikea!

It’s not all been grim! In February, we traveled to my family in America. This was the first time we’d been together since Pandemic times, and I was able to see my grandmother, who turned a respectable and venerated 90 years old! She’s precious to me, so every moment was a gift.

Last piece of general news –

Some of you who follow my sporadic twitter musings may remember I announced my family would move to Canterbury in the summer. Unfortunately, issues with UK visas have made it so that we need to remain in Zurich a while longer. While we are disappointed we can’t join our extended family in England this year, we are optimistic that we will get there when the time is right!

Now, on to the good stuff –

Rán’s Daughters is officially in editing!

I completed my draft in November after a lengthy writing process and enjoyed a well-earned break. I am now hard at work fixing it up and making it shine! When it’s ready, I’ll turn it over for copy edits, proofing, and the rest. I’ll have more news to share soon, such as cover art and release date! Sign up to my newsletter here to stay updated!

I also recently did a Q&A with author/editor/game creator extraordinaire – Joshua Gillingham! In our conversation, I talked about my writing process, my kickass heroine Gyda Fiskwif, and all of the wonderful research that went into bringing Rán’s Daughters to life. Alex from Spells and Spaceships hosted us, and as a bonus, I shared my Prologue!

Please go and have a read, it would mean the world to me.

For all you who love a mood board!

Finally, I want to say a huge thank you to all of you who are still with me on this journey. This book has been a labor of love for a very long time. In the midst of loss, injury, pain, and other heartaches, your support has meant everything. I write for all of you, and to give you a story that I hope will stay with you forever.

I also can’t express my gratitude enough to my publisher, Outland Entertainment, my editor Joshua, and to those of you who love the Althingi Universe. It is a privilege to be a part of it.

I want to give a special shoutout to Becky Hill, who just the other day posted a kind review of the story that started it all, Wave Runners, featured in Althingi: The Crescent and the Northern Star.

This was such a wonderful thing to see! Thank you so much!

Until next time, may the wind fill your sails and the sea bear you to kind shores.

Kaitlin

A last word, if I may – If you would like to support me as I pay off the cost of my standing desk, please check out my ko-fi, where I will be posting something exciting as a reward soon!

Althingi Anthology Project

Althingi Anthology Project

It’s finally announcement time!

I have been keeping this secret for MONTHS, but seeing some others spill the beans, I couldn’t contain my excitement any longer!

A few months ago, I was approached by the excellent co-editting team of Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad and Joshua Gillingham (a good friend of mine, and the author of The Gatewatch.) These two legends offered me the incredible privilege to contribute a rip-roaring, Tenth-Century Viking tale for the Althingi Anthology, now available from Outland Entertainment!

The Althingi was an annual gathering in medieval Iceland, whereby the Viking landowners and nobles used their influence to settle disputes, create laws, and hand out judgments.

The Anthology will tie in with the Althingi board game, a “quick set-up, fast-play game of strength and influence for 2-4 players based in Viking-Age Iceland. Each player takes on the role of a powerful Chieftain and tries to take control of the annual gathering known as the Althingi through bribery, coercion, and intimidation.”

The publisher is the venerable Outland Entertainment, known for many SFF genre projects with some incredible creators.

This particular project is truly epic in scope and concept. Currently there is a Kickstarter campaign for the game, with some amazing stretch goal upgrades available, so please check it out and share with your friends!

I’m so grateful to be counted among a host of talented and exceptional contributers for Althingi. I can’t wait to read their stories!

More details as the release gets closer, but for now, I am excited to share this news with you, and so pleased to be a part of such a wonderful and history-focused project.

Audio Drama – Out Now

Audio Drama – Out Now

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:

Tiffany Clare, Charlie Richards, Lewie Watson, Amy Forrest

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!