The fourth post in the series by author Paul Andruss…

Loki guides Hodur

In Norse Mythology Baldur was The Shining One. He was possibly a sun god as his twin brother Hodur is both dark and blind. Baldur was the favourite son of Odin’s wife, Frig.

Yes, you heard it right!

Frig! Frig; Frig; Frig; Frig; Frig! Great isn’t it! And it ain’t even swearing!

Actually it’s not.

Linguists think there is no relationship between the name of the Norse goddess and the Middle English word ‘to rub’, except for the fact that this F-word and the other F-word, along with the C-word, all come from good old fashioned Anglo-Saxon. A language that gave rise to the family group that includes English, German, Swedish and Dutch. And includes Hel – she was Loki’s daughter.

Knowing her beloved son was fated to be mortally wounded Frig (and there it is again) made every living thing swear not to harm him. However she overlooked the mistletoe because it was small, soft and insignificant.

As Baldur was now invulnerable, the other gods took great delight at throwing all sorts of sharp objects at him and watching them bounce off. Cunning old Loki knowing Frig had overlooked the mistletoe fashioned a dart from it, which he hardened with his breath. As Hodur was blind and could not throw things at his glorious brother, he was feeling a little left out. Obligingly Loki gave him the dart and guided his hand.

Loki was eventually punished by for Baldur’s murder by being chained for eternity under a monstrous serpent whose fangs dripped burning venom into his face. Loki’s faithful wife took it on herself to hold a bowl over her husband to catch the venom. But every so often, when she has to empty the bowl, the venom drips into Loki’s eyes causing such agony his tormented writhing makes the whole world shake – and that my friends is how earthquakes are made.

Loki by Mårten Eskil Winge (1890)

About Paul Andruss:

Sue asked for a brief biography. I genuinely don’t know what to say.

If I were a musician I would be Kate Bush or the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson; but without the mental issues or dependency on prescription drugs. For Brian not Kate! I can talk about anything except myself, so let’s talk about my work.

I’ve written 4 novels, Finn Mac Cool, and the (Harry-Potteresque) Jack Hughes Trilogy. ‘Finn Mac Cool’ and ‘Thomas the Rhymer’ are available for free download. Hint! Hint!

As with many writers, I began with no formal skills; was working long hours and could not spare family cash to pay for professional help like courses or editors. Unlike sensible people, I did not write short stories to build up my writing skills but went straight for an epic (Finn is 180,000 words). Big mistake!

Finn took 4 years to write and another 2 to realise how badly it was written. So I started learning proof-reading and editing, and started taking more notice of how other authors construct their work.

‘Thomas the Rhymer’ came about after watching a Harry Potter film. I thought I can do that! Just goes to show how wrong you can be. Damn these big ideas!

After ‘Thomas the Rhymer’, the sequels ‘Daughters of Albion’ & ‘Thirteenth Treasure’ were a lot of fun to write. I knew the characters and where I want to take them.

‘Thomas the Rhymer’ took 18 months from concept to first draft; another year to get it to agents, and 18 months with agents. It was well received by some but not taken any further.

I later learned rejection can have more to do with an agent’s belief that publishers won’t take the risk, rather than a comment on quality. Publishing is in crisis. A bit of research shows it always has been. After discovering this, I decided to go down the indie route. These days, authors have ever-expanding learning curves. Writing is just the tip of the iceberg.

Before leaving rejection letters, about which everyone can contribute! I used to take comfort from this story while crying myself to sleep.

As the author of ‘Vernon God Little’ walked away from the stage with the 2003 Booker Prize every major Literary Agency asked. ‘Why didn’t you send it to us?’

To each and every one, he replied… ‘I did!’

They had all ignored it. Yet ‘Vernon God Little’ also won the Bollinger Wodehouse Everyman Prize for Comic Fiction, the Man Booker Prize for Fiction, and the 1st Novel Award in the Whitbread Awards.

Download a free copy of Paul’s book, Thomas the Rhymer HERE

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