United States of Asgard: A New Norse World (with Tessa Gratton)

*First recorded and premiered on YouTube in May 2024.

In Episode Six of Valhalla Conversations I am joined by my special guest (and another favourite author), ‪@tessagratton‬ to discuss her trilogy The United States of Asgard (The Lost Sun, The Strange Maid and The Apple Throne).

The blurb of one book says the following "Norse-influenced alternate world of the United States of Asgard, where cell phones, rock bands, and evangelical preachers coexist with dragon slaying, rune casting, and sword training in schools. Where the president runs the country alongside a council of Valkyries, gods walk the red carpet with Hollywood starlets, and the U.S. military has a special battalion dedicated to eradicating Rocky Mountain trolls."

This just gives a flavour of the rich and deep alternative world that Tessa has created from rewriting history and bringing the Gods down to earth, literally. I ask her questions about how her ideas came about, how she researched norse mythology, share my theories and understanding (and appreciation) for her interpretation of the role of Valkyries and even ask her which path of life she would follow if she could exist in her own fictional world. She also reveals some exciting news regarding future development of this series and openly shares the tough time she had publishing them originally.

Please visit her website www.tessagratton.com to follow future developments and news of her other amazing books.

You can find my reviews of all three books and the anthology of short stories set in the same universe, following other characters, on my book blog: www.beckybookwyrm.blogspot.com