Norse forebears called, and fate beckoned: author Katie Aiken Ritter has delved into Nordic history, Icelandic sagas, and archeological publications to verify the substance of this story.
She has experienced (far too briefly!) sailing on the Draken Harald Harfagre, a real Viking longship,, and has traveled to Iceland to research historic sites.
Awards for her works include an AWC Novel Award and a Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society Novel finalist designation.
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I’m probably a lot like you in many ways.
I care about fair…a lot.
I’m terrified of some things, and fearless of others.
I’ll dance alone–but I prefer everybody out there having fun.
I’ll totally miss obvious connections, but see cool random ones.
I’m guilty of that.
And that.
And dang it, all that.
Like every parent, I wish so much I could do a lot of things over…but I’m insanely proud of my talented, wonderful sons.
On any given day/moment, I feel smart, worthless, significant, strong, weak, grateful, aging/fat, bad-ass, beautiful, ugly, and slow; sometimes in rapid succession.
I keep trying. That’s one of the most important things I’ve ever learned: JUST.KEEP.TRYING.
A few other beliefs guide my day-to-day:
1. Most people are doing the best they can. Sometimes their best isn’t very good, but it may be the best they can do right now. I mostly try to accept that. And to stop judging; it’s not our job.
2. Choose to be kind. If needed, one can also be tough, strong, fierce, or stubborn too: just add a wry sardonic, smile to those things. Keep it kind whenever possible, and if you fail, try again. IT MAKES YOU STRONG.
3. Humor helps with all but the worst of problems.
4. Practice makes a difference: it took me nine years to write and publish my first novel. Took three years to publish the next two. With good luck, my fourth novel will be published within one year.
(See JUST.KEEP.TRYING above.)
I tell you all this because my last tenet of life is this: be as transparent as possible. Everybody’s struggling. Everybody’s trying. Any success I’ve had can serve to help other people in turn. Whatever failure and frustration I’ve encountered, if I’m open about it, may encourage others people to feel not so challenged.
Life is hard. Let’s carpe the effen diem outta it.
Onward, friends.