Great day to you!
Let me start by saying i've read almost your entire collection of books. Having always been interested by Saxons and Vikings, your Saxon Chronicles have been some of my most favorite novels of all time.
I have always enjoyed writing. I started out as an artist when I was a young boy, but that interest and skill eventually transferred over to writing. And after a long hiatus from writing or anything hobby-wise, i've decided I actually want to write a book. I don't care if I get published, but I truly want to write a novel-length book as a personal goal for myself.
I decided, as i'm sure you've guessed, to write about the viking age.
So far, i've only ever written short story features in the fantasy and science fiction categories. But my reading selection has almost always been historical fiction and alternative history. So I come to you, because you're my inspiration for historical fiction.
I have some questions if you wouldn't be too troubled to answer them.
1. If a Viking (Danish, or otherwise) Jarl were childless, would it be plausible for that lord to give his holdings and possessions to an oath-sworn, household warrior who he thought of as a son?
I can't find any answer to this in any of the texts i've read so far. I'm assuming this was never or very rarely a problem in those times.
2. I was thinking of including a Finnish warrior in a crew. Do you know of any mentions of them as vikings? I haven't found any mentions of them at all in any sources i've found for research material. It's mostly because I want to include a little more diversity than just Danes, Saxons, Swedes and Norwegians (Kind of like how you introduced characters like Finan, who weren't of the Saxon or Danish persuasion. It helped for me as a reader to know that there was more than just those two at war). What would be your recommendation in this case, if a Finn wasn't a possibility? I just want to add more diversity to the story.
3. I'm in the research stage. I know the basic framework of the beginning of the story. This means the beginning scenes, even the beginning chapter are known to me. I have it written out like a scene in a play. All that's needed are names decided, plus a few minor things that I need to research to figure out.
My third question is about research. Finding materials for the norse in history aren't hard to find. But I cannot find through local libraries or book stores, books dedicated to Saxon England. I know Osprey publishes some pretty decent books on the Saxons. However, they don't cover the culture, place names, or anything else outside of the military aspect of those noble peoples. And even then, and i'd have to check Osprey's website, they don't actually cover the viking age either.
The closest i've come to find in my searches amongst local libraries was the Atlas of Anglo-Saxon England. And that's a reference material, so I can only read through it in the library.
I am a huge fan, and would greatly appreciate any help you can give me as a fellow writer.
Looking forward to reading the Pagan Lord once it gets here!
- Tom