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Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt STOP 26: What is Viking-Inspired Fantasy?

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Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt Stop #26

Welcome to the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to start at Stop #1, and collect the clues through all the stops, in order, so you can enter to win one of our top 5 grand prizes!

· The hunt BEGINS on 3/14 at noon MST with Stop #1 at LisaTawnBergren.com.

· Hunt through our loop using Chrome or Firefox as your browser (not Explorer).

· There is NO RUSH to complete the hunt—you have all weekend (until Sunday, 3/17 at midnight MST)! So take your time, reading the unique posts along the way; our hope is that you discover new authors/new books and learn new things about them.

· Submit your entry for the grand prizes by collecting the CLUE on each author’s scavenger hunt post and submitting your answer in the Rafflecopter form at the final stop, back on Lisa’s site. Many authors are offering additional prizes along the way!

First, welcome to my site! I’m Morgan L. Busse and I write award-winning Christian Fantasy and Steampunk. I grew up on stories from Tolkien, Lewis, and many others, so writing these same stories came naturally. Speaking of, I have a new Viking-inspired fantasy coming out, and thought I would share what does Viking-inspired mean?

When I first shared that I was writing a story of this sort, I received a lot of questions:

  • Is it based on history?
  • Will there be longboats and raids?
  • How ‘Viking’ is it?

So I thought it would be a good idea to discuss what is Viking-inspired? For me, it means that when I started building the world for Winter’s Maiden, I was “inspired” by the Nordic culture: their homes, clothes, food, way of life. And used that to build Nordica, the fantasy country in my book.

Not every Viking fantasy does this. Some are based on historical events, some are based on Viking mythology. Winter’s Maiden takes place in a world I already created in my first fantasy series (Follower of the Word). There is the feeling of a Viking culture, but not exact facts.

Here is what is Viking-Inspired in Winter’s Maiden:

  • The clothing (wool-strap dresses, leather, embroidery, boots)
  • Architecture (wood and stone buildings,
  • Philosophy (honor and glory, death, religion, fight styles)

In the end, the world of Winter’s Maiden is inspired by the Viking way of life, but it is its own story, with its own world and own history. A coming age story about a young woman who is searching for who she is and why she exists. A story of hope and God’s love and pursuit of us.

Warrior. Survivor. Daughter of the North.

From the moment she is born, Brighid fights to survive in the wastelands of Nordica as a clanless one. But when a new power arrives offering a trial to join the Nordic warriors, Brighid enters, hoping to rise above her station. Soon she becomes one of their fiercest fighters and joins the war against the south.

Kaeden carries the blood of the ancient Eldaran race in his veins but turns away from his heritage after the death of his parents. Years later, he is called back to his homeland and invited to be a healer for the southern forces. With the help of an old mentor, the power inside of him starts to awaken. However, his life is turned upside down when a mighty warrior of the Nordic forces is captured.

As Kaeden interacts with the enemy, he discovers there is a darkness behind the Nordic Wars, one that is manipulating the people of the north. But who will believe him? And is there a power strong enough to break the hold of this hidden adversary? Or will the world burn in the flames of war?

Here’s the Stop #26 Basics:

If you’re interested, you can order Winter’s Maiden on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD or at your local bookstore! ORDER HERE.

Clue to Write Down: That’s

Link to Stop #27, the Next Stop on the Loop: Melanie Dickerson’s site!

INTERESTED in WINNING a signed paperback copy of Winter’s Maiden when it releases in August? Then leave a comment below on why this story interests you to be entered!

*US only. Must be 18 years old or older. Winner will be drawn randomly at the end of the Scavenger Hunt.

My Books, Writing

Cover Reveal for Winter’s Maiden

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Friends!! I’m excited to share the cover for the first book in my new upcoming series! Winter’s Maiden, The Nordic Wars Book 1.

I think this is my best book yet! Viking-Inspired, epic battles, hidden powers. And deep characters.

Here it is! 

Warrior. Survivor. Daughter of the North.

From the moment she is born, Brighid fights to survive in the wastelands of Nordica as a clanless one. But when a new power arrives offering a trial to join the Nordic warriors, Brighid enters, hoping to rise above her station. Soon she becomes one of their fiercest fighters and joins the war against the south.

Kaeden carries the blood of the ancient Eldaran race in his veins but turns away from his heritage after the death of his parents. Years later, he is called back to his homeland and invited to be a healer for the southern forces. With the help of an old mentor, the power inside of him starts to awaken. However, his life is turned upside down when a mighty warrior of the Nordic forces is captured.

As Kaeden interacts with the enemy, he discovers there is a darkness behind the Nordic Wars, one that is manipulating the people of the north. But who will believe him? And is there a power strong enough to break the hold of this hidden adversary? Or will the world burn in the flames of war?

I seriously can’t wait for all of you to join Brighid and Kaeden on their journey. If you’re reading experience is anything like my writing experience you’ll cry, hold your breath, and want to join in the fight. I love writing about well rounded characters and turning tropes on their head (clanless woman warrior, male healer who is built like a fighter, yes please!).

Preorder
My Books, Writing

Happy Release Day!

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Today is the day! Secrets in the Mist is now available! Yeah!!! Do you have your copy yet? Staying up until 2am to read?

What’s lurking in the Mist is the least of their worries…

In a world where humanity lives in the sky to escape a deadly mist below, Cass’s only goal is survival. That is, until she finds a job on the airship Daedalus as a diver. Now she explores ruined cities, looking for treasure and people’s lost heirlooms until a young man hires her to find the impossible: a way to eradicate the Mist.

Theodore Winchester is a member of one of the Five Families that rule the skies. Following in his father’s footsteps, he searches for the source of the Mist and hopes to stop the purges used to control overpopulation. But what he finds are horrifying secrets and lethal ambition. If he continues his quest, it could mean his own death.

The Mist is rising and soon the world will be enveloped in its deadly embrace, turning what’s left of humanity into the undead.

~Buy Now~

Writing

The Power of Pretending and Writing

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Let’s pretend. Those were my favorite words when I was a kid. I said them almost everyday.

“Let’s pretend we are unicorns living in the forest.” “Let’s pretend we are building a canoe to ride down the river to the ocean.” “Let’s pretend we live in the sky.”

After I would say those magical words, my siblings and I would embark on a day filled with imagination, storytelling, and character playing.

I never realized how I still pretend today. Instead of asking my brother and sisters if they want to pretend, I ask my readers:

—”Let’s pretend we have to live on the mountaintops because there is a mist that fills the valleys and turns you into zombies.” (the premise for Secrets in the Mist)

—”Let’s pretend we can visit dreams.” or “Let’s pretend we can control water.” (both premises for the Ravenwood Saga)

—”Let’s pretend that when I touch you, I can see every thought and memory you have.” (the premise for Daughter of Light).

See where I am going? I never gave up pretending. Instead, I turned it into stories. I hold out my hand to my readers and I say, “Let’s pretend today.”

Don’t forget to pretend for there is joy in creating. And the world needs our pretend. It gives people a reprieve from life, and hope and fortitude when they return. I’ll leave you with these words from J.R.R. Tolkien:

“Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don’t we consider it his duty to escape?. . . If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we’re partisans of liberty, then it’s our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!”

My Books, Writing

Cover Reveal for Secrets in the Mist

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I’m so excited to share with you the cover for Secrets in the Mist, the first book my new steampunk series. And, without further ado, here it is!!!


What’s lurking in the Mist is the least of their worries…

In a world where humanity lives in the sky to escape a deadly mist below, Cass’s only goal is survival. That is, until she finds a job on the airship Daedalus as a diver. Now she explores ruined cities, looking for treasure and people’s lost heirlooms until a young man hires her to find the impossible: a way to eradicate the Mist.

Theodore Winchester is a member of one of the Five Families that rule the skies. Following in his father’s footsteps, he searches for the source of the deadly Mist and hopes to stop the purges used to control overpopulation. But what he finds are horrifying secrets and lethal ambition. If he continues his quest, it could mean his own death.

The Mist is rising and soon the world will be enveloped in its deadly embrace, turning what’s left of humanity into the undead.

***

Isn’t it beautiful! It captures everything I wanted in this cover: the steampunk genre, a sense of adventure, and the world where this story takes place 🙂 Here are more facts about Secrets in the Mist:

—This will be my first Limited-Edition Hardcover. Yep! Notice Limited Edition. Which means if you want this lovely book in hardcover, order as soon as possible!

—Secrets in the Mist releases AUGUST 2021, just in time for that vacation or beach read this summer 🙂

—This is the first book in the SKYWORLD series. It’s a dualogy, which means you only have to wait for one more book to find out the ending 🙂

—This book will look amazing on your bookshelf. Seriously. Because it’s beautiful!

~ORDER NOW~

My Books, Writing

New Book Contract!

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I’m excited to announce that I’ve officially signed with Enclave Publishing for my new series, Skyworld. The first book, Secrets in the Mist, comes out August 2021. Yeah, I know that’s a long time to wait, but I can guarantee it will be worth it! In the meantime, here is what it’s about:

In a world covered in a deadly mist that forces humanity to live in the sky, Cass escapes the purges and survives by her wits until she stumbles onto the airship Daedalus and finds a job as a diver. As a diver, she explores the ruined cities within the mist, searching for treasure and family heirlooms for the rich. But everything changes when a young man hires her to find the very thing that will turn their world upside down: a way to eradicate the mist.

Theodore Winchester is a member of one of the five powerful families that rule the sky over the mist. Following in his father’s footsteps, he searches for the source of the deadly mist that turns people in the undead and hopes to stop the purges used to control over-population. But what he finds are secrets and ambition, and with each question comes horrifying answers. If he continues his search, not only will he encounter opposition, but perhaps even his own death.

But the mist is rising and if a remedy isn’t found soon, the entire world will be enveloped in its deadly embrace, turning all of humankind into monsters.

Just to give you a little background into writing this story, I started taking down notes for Skyworld back in 2015, spent over 10 hours watching videos and reading blogs about hang gliding (and almost went to an airfield to try it out myself!) so I could write the gliding scenes, and have become an expert on 19th century medicine (well, not really, but it feels like it :)). And by getting into my characters and flight, I actually started overcoming my fear of flying (talk about the power of story!).

So there you have it, a new steampunk series coming your way in 2021!

And speaking of steampunk…

Morgan audio BOTH

My other steampunk series, The Soul Chronicles, is now available in audiobook form and narrated by Jaimee Draper. I’ve been listening to these books during a couple long car rides over the last few weeks and let me just say Jaimee has nailed this story with her wonderful narration. Her voice fits Kat perfectly! So if you’ve been wanting to check out the steampunk genre or haven’t had a chance to read this series, consider picking up these audiobooks today 🙂

Buy Now

Personal, Writing

Behind the Quote: Cry of the Raven

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Wife. Warrior. Lady of Two Worlds.

Lady Selene Ravenwood has come into her full power as a dreamwalker just as the war with the Dominia Empire begins. Working with the other Great Houses, Selene and Damien use their gifts to secure the borders and save those devastated by the war. But conflict, betrayal, and hatred begin to spread between the Great Houses, destroying their unity as the empire burns a path across their lands. At the same time, Damien Maris starts to lose his ability to raise the waters, leaving the lands vulnerable to the empire’s attacks.

The only one who can unite the houses and restore her husband’s power is Selene Ravenwood. But it will require that she open her heart to those who have hurt her and let go of her past, despite the one who hunts her and will do anything to stop her power.

Will Selene survive? Or is she destined to fall like the dreamwalkers before her?

I love the tagline above: Wife. Warrior. This series is a story about a married couple and how together they are stronger than they are alone.

Damien Quote

This is one of my favorite quotes from Cry of the Raven. A quick recap of the series, after choosing to spare Damien’s life, Selene is on the run for her own life. In order to save her and bring her into his kingdom, Damien offers her marriage. It is one of convenience (or more, salvation), but as the story progresses, both Damien and Selene learn what love is and how to love each other.

I always wanted to write a story with a marriage between the main characters. But I never thought that my own marriage would come into play in the books, or that some of the key scenes would reflect my own life. For an example, let me share with you the story behind the quote above.

I’m a pastor’s wife. Our journey and the various ministries God has taken us through have not been easy. Part of that journey has been multiple moves. At this point I’ve lived in eight different states and for the last ten years we’ve moved into a different house every year (sometimes due to moving to a new city, sometimes because our landlord decided to sell the house we were renting). We also have four kids, two dogs, and a cat, so continually uprooting has always been hard (not to mention packing, cleaning, moving, unpacking, finding a new grocery store, finding new doctors, and making new friends). But I’ve known this is the path God has laid out for my husband and our family, so I’ve always rolled up my sleeves and followed.

Until two years ago.

We had just bought a house (first one after losing our other house ten years ago), and I was so excited to settle down. I hung up pictures (I don’t know when’s the last time I did that), I planted flowers, and I started making long-term plans. After all, we just bought a house, we weren’t really going to move again, right?

Then while walking our dogs one day, my husband shared that it looked like we might be moving again.

I was in shock. For three days I couldn’t even think. Mind you, I had just finished unpacking and was in the current joy of feeling like we were finally going to stay in one place and raise our family.

Shock turned to anger, then grief, then denial. Every hurt I had ever experienced in ministry came bubbling to the surface, every fear, every tear I had ever cried. And I was tired. So tired. During those following days, the very thought of packing again, and now having to sell a house to boot, made me feel physically ill. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do it again. During those darker moments, I thought about just staying put and letting my husband move on without me. I was done. I couldn’t do it anymore. But I also knew that such thoughts would limit me. The more I prayed and thought about it, the more I knew God was moving us again.

Finally, after a day of sobbing, with everything inside of me spilling out, I apologized to my husband. I told him I couldn’t seem to stop all the hurt and fear from coming out. Instead of reprimanding me or just telling me it was okay, this is what he told me:

I’m a rock, and you can crash against me as much as you need to. I won’t move, I won’t leave you. I’ll be here for you because I love you.

I needed to hear that. Badly. I needed to know that no matter what, with all the crying and words coming out of me, they were not going to drive my husband away. I was hurricane, and instead of sending him running for cover, he stood and held me, and understood the storm would pass. He knew that at this moment I needed a rock that wouldn’t move, no matter what I said.

Slowly, as the weeks went by, and as I prayed on my knees every day, God prepared me for our next journey. I got up and I prepared to move our family again. I stayed back and sold our house. And I’m so glad that I didn’t give in to myself and stay behind because I love where we are at now. But I couldn’t have done it if my husband hadn’t told me those words. He was an example of God to me. He understood my pain and fear, and held steadfast to our love, giving me the space to work through what I was feeling.

In Cry of the Raven, Selene has her own crisis where she isn’t sure if she can keep on going. And it causes her to fight with Damien. But then he shares those same words with her, that he won’t leave her. Words that she needs to hear. And later on in the book, when he can’t keep on going, she is able to be his strength. Because that’s what marriage is about. Being there for each other. Helping each other. Being strong when the other is weak, and vice versa. That together you can face so much more than you could alone.

This is what I wanted to share through my story: a picture of marriage. I just never thought I’d quote my husband in my book 🙂

To find out more about The Ravenwood Saga or purchase the books, click here.

Personal, Writing

A Crisis in Writing

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Why do IEvery time I receive a one-star review, it presents me with a momentary conflict of why do I write? The latest one star commented on how the reader picked up the book because it was steampunk, enjoyed Tainted, even with the bits about God and religion, then it all went down hill with Awakened. There was too much God and preaching going on to the point where this reader couldn’t finish the book and decided to give it a 1 star.

After reading the review, I started asking myself who am I writing for? Should I have toned down Awakened, even though the very premise was about Kat realizing in the end she couldn’t heal herself, and even science couldn’t heal the condition of her soul? Should I have just kept God out and had science heal her?

Should I become a secular writer and just write really good books? I would gain more readership (and probably higher royalties).

But every time I face this conflict, I can’t shake the fact that not only do I feel called to write Christian fiction (not just be a Christian and write stories, but write God and everything about Him into my books), I want to write these kinds of stories. I love writing books about grace, about finding hope, about miracles when all seems lost. This is what burns inside my heart, what gets me excited to sit down and write every day.

I am thankful for these reviews because they make me pause and reevaluate why I’m doing what I’m doing. And every time I come back to who I am personally as a writer and remind me I’m not going to please everyone. For me, I need to write about the passions of my heart and soul. This brings me more satisfaction that a large readership, 1k 5-star reviews, and large royalty checks.

This is who I am. So these are the books I will continue to write. The stories of my heart.

My Books, Writing

Ten Favorite Characters from Flight of the Raven

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Ten Favorite Characters fromI was asked a couple weeks ago to name ten favorite characters from my upcoming novel, Flight of the Raven (which comes out at the end of this month, yeah!), and I thought I would share that list with all of you here (because I know you’re as excited as I am to meet all of these people!). So here you go 🙂

Lady Selene Ravenwood (main character): I love her desire to not accept what fate/destiny/or her mother has planned for her, but to search for who she really is and what the dreamwalking gift can be used for. I also love her dual swords and long, raven-colored hair!

Lord Damien Maris: Ah, Damien! What can I say? He’s strong and gentle, powerful but understands the consequences of his power, and fiercely protects his people. He has the ability to control water and uses it to create walls out of rivers to keep out enemies. However, his power will wash away anyone who is not part of his people, on either side of the river.

Taegis (Damien’s guardian): He’s been watching over House Maris ever since Damien was young, and was there to help Damien when his family passed away. He’s a councilor, guardian, and friend.

Cohen: He’s young, he’s tall, and he has wild hair. And he looks nothing like a monk. But it is his curiosity about the world, and his heart for people has led him to be selected to be the next abbott. He hasn’t quite adjusted to his height and is always banging his long legs on tables and chairs.

Karl (personal guard to House Maris): Dark and brooding, with a painful past and is not sure about Lord Damien marrying someone from House Ravenwood. Eventually, he becomes Lady Selene’s personal guard.

Sten (personal guard to House Maris): jolly and stout, with many brothers and a love for life. He likes to whittle figures out of wood.

Lady Bryren Merek: leader of House Merek and the wyvern riders. Her house is known for their courage, and Lady Bryren is known for speaking her mind. Her wyvern is a large copper female named Shannu.

Lady Ragna Ravenwood: Selene’s mother. Cold, rigid, and focused on one thing: to tear every other great house down and build her own up. She is known for her beauty and strength.

Lady Amara Ravenwood (Selene’s sister): she’s always been jealous of her sister until she discovers the burden Selene has been carrying for years. Now she’s questioning everything she’s ever known. She fights with a single sword.

Breven (a pilgrim): sweet young man with a brilliant smile and a huge heart. No wonder Amara starts to fall for him. He’s from the city of knowledge, Shanalona, and hopes to work in the massive libraries there someday.

 

And there you go, a little peek into some new and returning characters in Flight of the Raven!

Haven’t read the first book, Mark of the Raven? Then check it out here.

Haven’t pre-ordered your copy of Flight of the Raven? Then head over here.

 

Writing

Finding the Fantastical in Everyday Life

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Finding the Fantastical in Everyday Life.pngAs a fantasy writer, I’m constantly asked where do I get my ideas. I think it first began when I was a kid growing up in the mountains of Montana. I didn’t see the world around me with ordinary eyes. Instead, I saw the world with my imagination. Everything around me was magical, from the creek that ran behind our house, to the forests I would hike with my family, to those snowy days when the snowdrifts would be as tall as I was. I was an explorer wherever I went, constantly making up stories about the world around me.

I’ve grown older, but I haven’t changed much. Instead of keeping the stories in my head, I now convey what I see into the stories I write. When most people see a sunset, I see a painting of God every evening. The stars are diamonds in the sky. A thunderstorm is God’s power on display.

Even little things like the weaving of a spiderweb and a bird building her nest amaze me. Or the scent of fall as the leaves crunch beneath my boots. Or the stillness of a winter’s night. The sweet scent of a baby, or the tender purrs from my cat.

When I write, I want to convey the wonder I have of the world around me, and of the God who made it. And that doesn’t just stop at the physical world. Sometimes I ask questions in my stories: Are we monsters? Can anyone be redeemed? What does God’s grace really look like? What if I could walk in dreams? Who are we? And what does it mean to follow God?

I place my characters in situations that could not exist in this world in order to explain the real questions we ask as human beings. And I use the beauty of the real world to convey a fantasy world full of wonder.

Where do I find the inspiration for my stories? It is the fantastical I see every day around me.

How about you? What ‘ordinary’ things do you see as amazing? How does it bring you closer to God, and if you are a writer, how does it influence your writing?