Historical Romance
Date Published: April 2, 2015
Obsession. Treachery. Revenge. Redemption. Certain themes resonate across the centuries.
Selia is a girl on the verge of womanhood, frustrated by the confines of her gender and resentful of the freedom her brother boasts of. Intelligent and resourceful in a time when neither is valued in a female, she longs for an escape from her sheltered existence. Fascinated by the tales of Viking raids told by her maidservant, her hunger for independence is fed through the stories of heathen ferocity she hears at the woman’s knee.
A decision to sneak to the city’s harbor to view the Viking longships leads to an encounter with Alrik Ragnarson, a charismatic Viking warlord whose outward beauty masks a dark and tortured mind. With the knowledge that her father is about to announce her betrothal to a man she doesn’t love, Selia marries Alrik and within a day is on the longship bound for Norway and a new life.
While Selia’s relationship with her new husband grows, her friendship with his brother Ulfrik grows as well. And as Alrik’s character flaws come to light and tension mounts between the two brothers, Selia begins to have misgivings about her hasty marriage . . . especially when a secret from the past is revealed, one that threatens to destroy them all.
Interview
What is the hardest part of writing your books?
The hardest part of writing my books has always
been finding the time to write. I have a full time job and a busy family, so I
had to get creative to carve out writing time. I’ve learned the best time for
me is early in the morning while everyone else is still asleep! I set my alarm
two hours before I need to get up for work to get some serious writing time in.
What songs are most played on your Ipod?
That depends! My taste in music, like my taste in
books, is eclectic. I have a huge playlist with thousands of songs, so
sometimes I just let it play and see what pops up. It’s always interesting to
go from Nine Inch Nails to Loreena McKennitt to Kiss to Eminem to Kenny Chesney
to Pat Benatar! I don’t listen to music when I’m actually writing, though, as I
find it a distraction. But when I’m writing a difficult scene and the emotions
aren’t flowing the way I need them to, I’ll stop and listen to a couple of
songs on my ipod that embody the mood I’m going for. That really helps get the
creative juices flowing!
Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
I don’t have critique partners but I do have a
couple of trusted author friends who read the finished work after my final edits
are complete.
What book are you reading now?
I just finished the second book in Susan Ward’s
Half Shell Series, The Girl of Tokens and Tears. It was amazing! I love the way
she writes.
How did you start your writing career?
I’ve written books in my head for years but never
had the time to sit down to put the words on paper. In 2010, I was recovering
from a significant surgery. After I accidently ripped some stitches out from
running the vacuum cleaner, I received a stern warning from my surgeon: rest
means rest. So I used those remaining weeks to write what would become the
first draft of Odin’s Shadow.
There are three books in the Sons of Odin Series:
Odin’s Shadow, A Flame Put Out, and Oath Breaker. A Flame Put Out will be
released this summer and Oath Breaker before the end of the year.
Erin S. Riley has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a graduate degree in clinical counseling. She is also a board certified lactation consultant and has had extensive training in maternal-child health. Since Erin was a child, she has been fascinated with human nature and what motivates behavior. She enjoys writing stories that reflect real life: Erin's books feature complicated, imperfect characters who love deeply, make reckless decisions, and try again until they get it right.
A lifelong lover of books, Erin taught herself to read at the age of four and hasn’t been without a book since. She is an equal-opportunity reader of fiction and non-fiction, and her shelves are filled with books on psychology, archaeology, anthropology, and general history. The social history of women and their place in society across the ages is a favorite reading topic of Erin’s.
Erin is drawn to any creative pursuit, from making hand-stitched quilts to producing mini-movies for family and friends from home videos. But writing has always been her passion. When Erin isn't writing, she enjoys spending time with her two wonderful children, reading anything she can get her hands on, watching football, and renovating her house with her husband of 17 years who just happens to look like a Viking!
Twitter:@erinsriley1
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