Michelle Styles: Using raw emotion and GIVEAWAY

At the moment, watching the news about the dreadful humanitarian crisis in Iraq, I keep wondering about what I would do if I faced something like that. Being given a few hours to collect belongings and then travel over difficult country trying to find a safe haven.

Unfortunately situations like this are not unique to our time. It has happened time and again. Around 1000, Christainty was v much in the join or die mode with the Vikings. People who chose to cling to old religions were often cast out if the ruler decided to go for a new one. The Eddas were written in part as a response to this forced Christianisation.  Thankfully today, it would be abhorrent for most main stream religions to behave in this manner and for the most part (outside the Middle East), religious wars are a thing of the past.

 Such times  brings out the best in people and the worst. It is one of the reasons why I like writing historicals — emotions are timeless. People have always lived and loved. They have loyalities and strongly held beliefs. They have always had to confront such evil and loss. In many ways, in by-gone eras it was worse because of the lack of communication and the loss of immediacy.  There again ,perhaps that was not altogether a bad thing.

I find the raw emotion very hard to watch and the way I deal with it a bit is to write. It is one of the lovely parts about being an author when I confront something that is horrible, I can use it to create something, rather than sitting and letting my imagination run wild. For example, the first part of TAKEN BY THE VIKING was written just after my youngest son was nearly snatched off the street of Reykjavik by a drunk. I was so angry that I could really understand how my heorine could kill someone.

I sincerely hope the situation improves for the people whose lives have been turned upside down. I don't know what the answer is. Toleration for others' beliefs might be too much to hope for...but in the longer I have to.

Giveaway

SAVED BY THE VIKING WARRIOR is published on 19 August in print in North America and I September as an ebook. It is available in the UK as an ebook from 1 September and print from 5 September.

"THERE IS NO ONE. I TRAVEL ALONE. I LIVE ALONE. ALWAYS."
Battle-scarred Thrand the Destroyer has only one thing on his mind: settling old scores. But with the beautiful Lady of Lingfold as his prisoner, the unyielding warrior starts to dream of a loving wife and a home to call  his own.
Cwen is also seeking justice, but she knows the fragile alliance she’s built with Thrand will only last as long as they share a common enemy. Unless they can find a way to leave revenge to the gods to forge a new life together

I am giving away one signed copy to Tote Bag readers. To enter please email me (contest@michellestyles.co.uk) with Tote Bags contest in the subject line with the answer to the following question: Where does SAVED BY THE VIKING WARRIOR take place? (hint  read the excerpt)

I will do the draw on 19 August 2014 and will ship all over the world.

Void where prohibited.