Of Dragon Myths and Jörmungandr--The mighty Dragon of Midgard...

There's just something about dragons that I both love and respect. They are at once both majestic and terrifying creatures (Toothless aside)...And, I've included one that figures quite prominently in Court of the Hawk. This being the case, I thought what better way to kick off our Book Tour, then share the Norse legend concerning Jörmungandr. Have you heard of him?

Lokis Gezücht. Loki's brood; Hel, Fenrir and Jörmungandr circa 1905

At the very dawn of time, according to this fascinating myth, Loki fathered three children during his liaison with Angrboða the giantess. Hel, Fenrir and last but cerainly not least, Jörmungandr, also known as the Mighty Serpent of Midgard. Shortly after his birth, an enraged Odin imprisoned him in the oceans surrounding Midgard where he lay eternally hidden from the mortal world. They say the dragon grew large enough to encircle the earth and grasp his tail with his teeth.

Mistletoe and Christmas kisses....

Mistletoe

Sitting under the mistletoe

(Pale-green, fairy mistletoe),

One last candle burning low,

All the sleepy dancers gone,

Just one candle burning on,

Shadows lurking everywhere:

Some one came, and kissed me there.

Tired I was; my head would go

Nodding under the mistletoe

(Pale-green, fairy mistletoe),

No footsteps came, no voice, but only,

Just as I sat there, sleepy, lonely,

Stooped in the still and shadowy air

Lips unseen—and kissed me there.

(Walter de la Mare 1913)

Lovely tradition that...kissing underneath the mistletoe.

But did you know it originated with a Norse myth?  One telling of this myth states that the Goddess Frigg, queen of Asgard and wife of Odin bore a son named Baldr, known as ‘The Beautiful.’ Baldr reigned over vegetation, sunshine, and summer. Because Odin sensed an unknown danger that threatened the life of his son, Frigg visited all living things on earth and made them each promise to refrain from harming her son. For if something happened to Baldr, all life on earth would end.

“Spirit of the Rebellion” takes a page from my personal family history...

          As many of you know, I am a family history buff and genealogy enthusiast. Digging into my family roots borders on obsession. I love it when I find bits and pieces about my ancestors that bring them to life—a notation, here or a story there, that make them more than a name with just places, and dates attached. And so it was with William Confer, my great, great, granduncle. The man first piqued my interest, then tugged at my heart, and, after a fashion, finally found his way into to my novel, “Spirit of the Rebellion.”