Freya
I’m not actually a dragon, though I think some people think I am.
Freya.
Apparently I can be very fierce. My alter ego, Dracomagan, the heroine in Dragonscale Leggings, is a Dragon Slayer, and she is pretty nifty at slaying such monsters with her trusty giant potato peeler.
If I was a dragon, I’d be a beautiful, sleek, blue-scaled good dragon, with an iron-clad agreement with Dracomagan in which she’d agree NOT to try and kill me!
Freya.
No, I don’t think I’d really want to be a hamster. Why? Because there are too many predators to look out for; cats, dogs, birds, hungry humans… I like to be in control and to be independent – I’d hate to be always on the lookout for someone who might eat me!
Freya
Vintrig was the founder of Vintrig’s Kingdom. (Funny, that!) About 966 years ago he travelled with his people from South Haven all the way to the northern mountains and built his Castle on Mount Hvitr. He was a tall, strong man who could endure the harsh climate.
He left a bloodline which, nearly a millenia later, results in the birth of the Princess, Isu Magan. That’s really the background for my novel, Vintrig’s Kingdom.
Freya
My writing is usually categorised as Fantasy. I actually prefer the term Speculative as it embraces not just Fantasy, but Science Fiction and Parallel Universes etc. Plus, being a Speculative Fiction Writer sounds really cool!
Yup! Rebellion is easy. Just think and act the opposite to the way you’re supposed to think and act. Only, if you’re living under a dictatorship, it will probably get you killed! You have to think outside the box, or your cage, and get out there into the freedom of choice. But if you’re a hamster, you still need to look out for predators!
Freya
I was born a writer. I learnt to read and write when I was 2 years old and it’s just developed from there. I’ve always written – poetry and stories. Now I am a serious writer – I write novels and publish short story and poetry collections! I love words and the sound of my own voice.
Freya
Always write from the heart. Never, ever let anyone tell what makes a story work or not. Write what you want to read. Don’t write to a formula – your readers will get bored. Don’t write what is popular – it will quickly become unpopular. Don’t write to please anyone, only yourself.
Freya
I don’t think Vintrig actually did any cooking.
He left that to his servants and womenfolk.
(We’re talking about a medieval world here!) But I do know that his favourite dish was snowrabbit casserole with dumplings. (He refused to eat any other kind of rodent though. Apparently rats, mice etc just didn’t have enough meat for him!)
Freya
To be honest, I never really think of it as world building. When I get an idea, I explore it in my head for a while and make lots of notes. As the plot grows and the story outline takes shape I discover more information about the world, or at least the bit of the world I’m writing about. It’s a very organic process for me and I find it very easy!
Freya
Hopefully more published books! But I am in the process of moving house and starting up a new business, so publishing is on hold for a few months! I’ll let you know when the next book is due out though. I’m hoping it’ll be the sequel to Vintrig’s Kingdom!
Book Cover – 
Photograph –
Book Blurb
When Isu Magan, heir to Vintrig’s Throne, finds the journal of a vanished Scriber, her perceptions of history and the truth are challenged. A growing distrust of her loyal and powerful Counsellor, initiates rebellious and frightening thoughts within her heart. Adding to this disruption of her ordered life, Isu finds herself attracted to the itinerant musician, Sama Conn. As the endless winter thaws, and a brief summer returns to the Castle, Isu longs to learn to dance, but fears her feelings towards Sama. Knowing she cannot love a mortal, the princess flounders in her increasing infatuation that could lose her the throne, and possibly her life.
Told from five viewpoints; Isu Magan, her maid, her steward, an elderly mute and an anonymous Scriber, Vintrig’s Kindom is a tale of romance, intrigue and dark history.
All the characters are challenged and empowered by the arrival of Sama Conn and his travelling musicians. But Jya, the Counsellor, appears set against them and the change they bring to Vintrig’s Castle. The balance of power is threatened, and each character has to decide which party they will ally themselves with. Against this backdrop of scheming and fear, rises the question, again and again; what is the importance of Throne Peak?
This tale is set within the mountainous, winter-bound walls of Vintrig’s Kingdom. Instead of the usual “quest”, the journey each character treads is a journey of the soul, into the innermost recesses of their fear to question the validity of the history they know.
Vintrig’s Kingdom is currently reduced to just 99c / 99p at most online stores ($1.23 at Amazon.com), until 26th March 2017.
Social Media links
https://www.facebook.com/FreyaPickardAuthor
https://twitter.com/FreyasClippings
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/freya-pickard-1b775b106
https://www.patreon.com/FreyaPickard
http://spillwords.com/author/freyapickard/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQEB3_wlAGM0_FY9w5NTrmQ
Reblogged this on Dragonscale Clippings and commented:
a huge thank you to Shey for an utterly mad interview at her blog! please check it out and leave a comment!
I will pop right over now my darling and thank you. Glad you enjoyed. xxxx
🙂
Fascinating and enjoyable read. All my life I’ve had a trusty club hammer, now I discover Freya has a trusty potato peeler. Needless to say, I must have one. Best of good fortune, Freya, the brigade of hamsters and, of course, Ms S.
Mike, lovely to see you. Freya is a trouper I got to say. I think I had trusty thigns too but I lost them moving here x
club hammers are pretty good too for banging enemies over the head! thank you for reading, Mike! xxx
Very true, yet that trusty potato peeler still has significant appeal, Freya. A covert attack upon enemies comes to mind.
Yeah club hammers are good. But you know I can see you with that potato peeler Freya. And how!!!
Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
Thank you so much Hugs for that , xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
thank you so much for the re-blog! much love!
Being part Celtic myself, I adore dragons and love the sound of Vintrig’s Kingdom. Good luck with it, Freya. Fab post, Shey – lovely to see a few new dudes around. Hope Bobby B is making them feel right at home.
Oh that’s Hamster Bond. Yes. He’s out here today, having been up to lots of secret things, because Incy is going to be doing a little post for us on secret agents and I am going to follow that with a post on how the Flemings lived in Dundee and Newport-On-Tay (which is where I have set the modern bits of The Writer and the Rake being quite well acquainted with them.) So I thought I’d wheel him back on. Glad you enjoyed the post my darling and thank you for coming by as always. xxxxxxx
Oooh, lots of goodies to look forward to. Hope Incy survived the mauling!
Hee hee. She is sending over a blog. I have it but the dudes will soon chew that up xxx
thank you, Kate!
My random thought is this. We’re do hamster go to buy guitars and motor cars? I think Freya’s saying, “always write from the heart” works for lyrics and music as well.
I think Freya’s saying is lovely and true. It is one I hold to and uphold. Anything less is a waste to me. Oh them dudes are magic dudes, they go on foraging trips and just come back with these things. Lovely to see you and xxx for the tweet.
good point re where do the hamsters go to buy things! I agree, lyrics and words from the heart mean more…
Absolutely Freya. I think the industry is in a mess right now because that is being forgotten.
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Calling all of those out there who have survived an interview with The Dudes – AKA Hamstahs….we are an elite group whose writing and life skills are the richer for the initiation. This is an interview that you have to go over and watch unfold. Shehanne has thrown them to a DRAGON… oh boy I had to cover my eyes.. Freya Pickard author of Vintrig’s Kingdom, hugged, puffed and spat fire.. but wouldn’t you know it those Dudes pulled it out of the bag.. again.. Who will join our ranks to battle the Hamstahs.. line up and take your punishment and get in touch with the master controller Shehanne Moore…
LOL!! My heroine Lady Fury has her own blog. I just haven’t had time with moving house or rather the state of the house… to get posting there for a while. But I will pick it back up. She used to give I kept calm at Lady Fury’s bookclub badges, cos she had this group of awful pirates that she lugged out to interview people. But maybe I should give badges here too? THANK YOU so much Sally for reblogging. Kiss kiss kiss to you. You’re an ace. xxxx
Pleasure Shehanne.. if you have got it flaunt it.. xxxxxx♥
Lol…. If only xxxxxxxx
thank you so much for the re-blog! glad you enjoyed the interview as much as I did!
Hard not to crack up and enjoy this entertaining interview. 😀 😀 😀
Aw. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Glad yah got a laugh. Thank you my darling x
You are more than welcome. Most entertaining. 😀 ❤
Then the dudes’ work is done xxxxxxxxx
LOL! thank you for reading and taking the time to comment!
Hilariousssssss interview. So nice to learn about Freya and her writing. I so agree, often I hear of authors trying to write books about what is hot in the market. As a nonfiction writer, I can only write my truths, whether current or not, there is always someone who can identify with my stories. They are who I am, and so I continue to write what’s in my own heart.
BTW, way to take on the dudes Freya! Lol, I just love them, even when they’re sarcastic to me. 🙂 ❤ xoxo
Dearest Debby, you know we love you too. In fact we was glad yah never asked that rat, Silv to your blog.
Love,
the dudes
Oh, that makes me so happy guys! I’m glad you are all so understanding. You are good little dudes. Sending you all big hugs xoxoxo 🙂
Well see Ah done did them there tell yah Ah had your back.
Love
Bobby Bub x
My darling, I totally agree re heart. By the time a book comes out the fad someone may be trying to follow is gone as yesterdays’ bonfire smoke. I believe it is why so many publishers area going to the wall. Also what they don’t seem to get is that what is hot, the overnight success, is often that simply cos money that would make your eyes spin, has been thrown at it. The heart is the only way to write. Freya’s reply is so true. Lovely to see you xxxxx
Thanks for chiming in my friend. So true, writing from the heart whether fact or fiction is the best path. ❤ We create and originality is always in hot pursuit. xoxoxo
Kisses to you too Debby. I may even get the dudes out blogging this yet. !!!
thank you! glad you enjoyed the interview as much as I did! xxx
You rocked it, especially with the dudes, lol. 🙂
She sure did x
We continue to enjoy your characters that make us feel our childhood as if it had never left. It is a delight to read you with those imaginary stories that fill the soul with joy.
Thank you, my friend. You have no idea how much your kind words make my day. Thank you. Thank you. xxxxx
Congratulations to Freya on what sounds like a truly engaging book. I wish you well with the move and new venture. And to the Hamster-dudes, I lost count of how many different animals were mentioned in this post. Wow!
Vell von of them ees hedgehog hamsterrr vampire dude.
Seriously lovely to see you my special Ann. The very best for the weekend xxxxx,
thank you so much Ann!
Super post, thank you so much for haring dear
Congratulations to Freya
Kisses
Happy weekend Anita. hope it is the best. Lovely to see you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you so much dear
kisses
A delightful and very entertaining interview, Freya and Shey and dudes! I especially like this part of your blurb, Freya: ‘. . . the journey each character treads is a journey of the soul . . .’ Also, I love dragons and the paranormal. Your book sounds intriguing, and I wish you all the best 🙂 ♥
Tina, how lovely to see you my darling lady. The dudes were needing reeled in but I think Freya dealt with them although she will get plastered to that dart board for not bringing a recipe. x
Uh-oh… I hope Freya is wearing a helmet! At least she’s in good company 🙂 Hugs to you and the dudes, sweet friend 💕
Dear Tina,
No-one needs a hard hat when they come to se us……..
We are such kind and loving dudes.
Love
the Dudes
Ah, I remembered my wine for this one! 🙂 Hoping the edits don’t split your head too much. Lovely to meet another fine author, and the dudes were admirably polite. 😉 xxxxx
I thought they were admirably dreadful. I do wish they would behave. I would start giving them marks out of then as I did one Christmas but I think they are beyond that now. I am waiting for edits back from Etopia and a pre order link from Soulmate. To quote Titus Oates, that may be some time. But here’s hoping that 4th time is lucky on this one x.
Great interview, ladies! You handled the hamsters’ questions very well.
Didn’t Freya do well? The dudes were just out of it with Silv failing to be at the helm banging the drum for world domination. Lovely to see you hone. Hope you are good xxxxxxxx
Reblogged this on Kate McClelland.
Ah…… ten million times do I love thee now Kate xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Kisses and hugs from the wee dudes . Hope you have had a nice weekend. x
Great pot from Shey and Freya! Vikings, Snowrabbit stew, Dragons & the Dudes!
Yahhooooo Shey and Freya are teaming up! And it’s quite the success, even if the hamstahs do try to sabotage it, lol!! Oh and Freya is not a dragon but instead a talented writer 🙂 Speculative fiction all the way xx
The dudes are awful. They get worse by the post. At least they never brought the dartboard out. I just don’t know we have heard the last of the dragon AND the recipe biz and all x Lovely to see you Christy xxxxx
Fantastic interview, so much fun. The book sounds really great.
Now you would bring the dudes a recipe Robbie!!! xxxxxxx
Congratulations, Freya! Cool interview, Shey ~ love those quirky hamsters! Can’t imagine what they do when they aren’t commenting through the interview! I could use a parallel universe right about now.
They plot world domination by hamsters and throw darts at my picture usually. Certainly Silv does. Hamtsah Dickens just eats. Lovely to see you La and thank you so much for commenting. Have a great week in or out the parallel universe xxxxxxxx
Have a very nice wednesday dear
kisses
And you my darling xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
So poor little helpless dogs are not safe from the rogue hamsters? The world needs to be warned of this super breed! Lol. Hilarious. You always have wonderfully interesting people to interview, Shehannemoore. Xx
Alas Hamster Dickens could not contain himself around Christoph Fischer’s dog. I say no more, except I was ashamed. The dudes just feel the world is full of interesting folks and they are only ever as silly as them. NOW knowing you love dogs I assure you, they ever look near yours, I KEEL them. Seriously lovely to see you knowing you have concerns about how your lovely dog is doing xxxx
I understand the dudes a little bit more xxx
They just eat first ask questions later xxxxxxxxxx
Well done to all. The Dudes are so good, they could interview a dragon, no doubt . xxxx
They would probably eat one too Inese. xxxxxxx
🙂