Leif

(Note he has red hair in the books!)

“You would of course perceive the additional significance of the tree from Saxon lore, the tree representing Wotan.  Just because we are Vikings and follow Christ... or the other Norse gods, does not mean that we won’t look for a little helping hand from other deities.”

Background

Leif is rather different to the other characters, being almost as un-Viking as Gorran, of course Viking society is stereotyped by the big, burly chaps with a very large axe and a grudge against the world, but then who were the brains behind all this brawn?

The Norse were gifted with the ability to be highly adaptable and pragmatic, and it is this element of their psyche which Leif represents. He is a learned man, with a different upbringing to his younger brother Thorvald. Thorvald spent his youth raiding in the best Viking tradition, Leif spent time with other Jarls and Chieftains, and even some kings as part of his training as heir to Erik.

It was in these foreign courts that Leif picked up most of his knowledge and character, and developed his interest in books and reading. Unfortunately for Erik Leif has shown far more interest in the theories of leadership rather than their execution, which has disrupted Erik's plans for his heir. Since the discovery of Vinland however, the adventurer in the blood of Erik’s progeny has awoken, and the book is as much about the maturing of a famous leader as it is about the discovery of a new world.

Thorvald

“These ships are built to take the wrath of storms, have we Vikings not built a legend on them? See how the planks beneath us flex like the muscles of Thor? They are built of the same stuff, as hard and enduring as he is.” 

Background

Thorvald has gone through a number of renditions during the process of creating him as a character. He is the middle son of Erik, a year younger than Leif. While Leif might not be all that typical a Viking, being happier with his nose buried in books while trying to learn Latin, Thorvald is most at home at the prow of a Viking long-ship heading into the jaws of danger. Early on, while writing him, he was rather unlikable due to being horrifically arrogant, but with subsequent re-writes that arrogance has mellowed into a ready confidence in his own abilities. This was one of the challenges of creating Thorvald, that although he is the younger brother of Leif, he often comes across as older. Hopefully, I have managed to reflect this in the story. Leif starts off quite innocent and naive but events in the book cause him to grow up and accept his role as Erik’s heir.

Thorvald has treated the discovery of Vinland as a great opportunity, not for wealth and prosperity like most of the others, but rather for the potential for glory. Part of the reason for the Viking success was their nose for adventure and Thorvald comes to epitomise this. He is forever on the lookout for opportunities to explore the world and leave his stamp on destiny.

Snippet from Vinland : Thorvald

I have been ill for the last few days so took some time off writing to recover. As such I have not been able to prepare anything for the blog (and will likely not do one for tomorrow either). However, this does give me an excellent chance to let you read just what it is that I am working on. Please note that this piece is still in the rough, it has not been checked for spelling / grammar.

A quick overview as this is not from the very beginning. This piece comes right after Erik announces the discovery of new lands to the people of Greenland. Thorvald, on whom this centers is the middle son of Erik the Red, he was not at the feast, but rather in one of the back rooms of the Great Hall. Kai is a legendary warrior who joined Leif's band. Berend is a berserker who recently joined Erik's band. Adalwolf, you should know by now!

Bjarni was the original man who discovered Vinland, he sold the knowledge to Leif and was branded a coward (nithling) for not having explored himself. In Viking culture, being called a coward was as good as being a leper, you were completely exiled so Thorvald's actions here are rather unusual in that end.

So without further ado, I present to you an except from Vinland;

What's in a name?

Ok, so for me, one of the most interesting parts of writing a story is the names of the characters, and the amount of power they can have in defining them. If a character is badly named, then that can negatively impact an entire story; likewise, a good name can make a mediocre story better. The same process also occurs in reality.  There are certain kinds of people that we associate with certain names. When you meet someone for the first time, reflect on their name and your first impressions of them. Does the name help in defining them? In most cases, I’ll bet it does. Get good enough at it, and you can probably begin to guess names before you are even introduced.

I do not know how other authors do it but, for me, the names have to reflect the characters themselves in some way. One web page that I always have open is for naming babies.  Yes, I get bombarded with adverts about pregnancy because of this, but it is a vital resource to really get the right name for the right person. If the character I have in mind has a certain personality or trait, I need to find a name with the right type of meaning.

Adalwolf

“I should leave that where it is” intoned a voice from the darkness. This man, waxed black hair glittering from the light from the fireplace, stepped into view, sword held casually. The thug removed his hand from the knife handle, instantly sober to the threat, and stepped back with his hands raised.

Background

Adalwolf was one of the first fictional characters to inhabit the world of Erik and Leif that I created. He has a long history of raiding with Leif’s brother, Thorvald, and the two men have a very strong bond with one another, for to fight alongside someone creates the kind of camaraderie that only warriors will ever know. 

Although Adalwolf is originally from Norway, he found himself without employment during the political upheavals which gripped the country. When Thorvald began to recruit his first crew to raid the coast of England, Adalwolf was one of the first eager men to join the raiders. Adalwolf is several years older and was at first something of a mentor to the younger man. In time, Thorvald’s abilities developed, and with experience he evolved to become a great raid leader. Adalwolf was quite happy to remain in his best friend’s shadow. He is himself one of those people who have exceptional ability but have no wish to be in a position of power. The two men train together often, and Adalwolf has become almost an adopted member of Erik’s family, treating Thorvald’s brothers and sister as though they were his own.