Princess & Fairy Tale Collection • NEW

The Princess & Fairy Tale Collection is four fantasy titles in one!  $2.99 at Amazon.Clash of Wills
Princess Samantha’s magical compass will help her locate her long-lost brother, but only if she manages to escape the watchful eyes of her royal parents. When an unwelcome suitor comes to call, Samantha seizes her chance. She beguiles the prince into taking her north, intending to abandon him at her earliest opportunity. Unfortunately, his captivating good looks and charming manner present an unforeseen complication–especially when she is forced to accept help from the very man she has deceived.

To maintain his bachelorhood, handsome Prince Wills is not above deception. Although reluctantly entangled in Samantha’s scheme, he vows to protect her…until a lie threatens to destroy their alliance. Can his powerful attraction to the princess overcome his mistrust? And can they survive a dangerous quest to the wild and magical Uncharted Region?

Magical Misperception
Young Prince Lee can’t talk to girls at all until he meets Jona Haever. His aunt, Queen Gaia, invites Jona to the castle for the summer to help Lee learn social graces. Although Her Majesty makes it clear Jona is no better than a servant, Jona and Lee become best friends. When the summer comes to a close, the two continue to correspond through a pair of magical boxes conjured by the Wizard Farland. Nine years later, Jona and Lee are closer than ever, but any romantic feelings between them are forbidden by law. Are the differences between a prince and a commoner too large to overcome, or are they just a matter of magical misperception?

Whimsical Tendencies
Although she has no memories before the quake that destroyed the kingdom of Augury, Cypher McCall holds a steadfast hatred of the repressive Cauldian regime now ruling the country. Because her magical gifts are deemed subversive, she does her best to avoid detection. Unfortunately for Cypher, however, she’s too beautiful to ignore. After a Cauldian contingent arrives in her hometown, a chance encounter leaves her repulsed by the arrogant Prince Ewan and attracted to his distant cousin, Lord Joss.

When she learns Prince Ewan plans to tear down the ruins of nearby Castle Augur, Cypher vows to stop him. Although handsome Lord Joss tries to protect her from his vindictive cousin, Cypher can’t bring herself to trust the enemy. At the same time, nightmares and dreams nudge her toward reclaiming childhood memories. She stumbles on a silver key that she hopes will unlock her past, but first she must confront a long repressed horror at the Castle Augur ruins.

Will the knowledge of Cypher’s true identity tear her apart or will it empower her to restore everything she ever loved?

Dani & the Immortals
When Dani was a teen, she had it all; a starring role in her own television series, a wonderful family, and her health. A few years later, everything has changed for the worse–and her time is running short. All she wants to do before she dies is to fall in love, but when she’s kidnapped and taken to Asgard of Norse mythology, she becomes enmeshed in a quarrel between immortals. Prince Rein lends a hand in her quest to return home, and she begins to think the handsome elf has captured her heart. After a magical artifact goes missing, however, he may be forced to marry another woman to avert a diplomatic catastrophe. To find the artifact and save the prince, Dani must undertake a dangerous quest involving ogres, dark fairies, and underworld criminals. Ultimately, however, she’ll have to defy Odin himself.

* This collection also includes the bonus flash fiction story, Finding the Spirit of Christmas.

Idunn’s Secret of Youth

How did the Norse gods stay looking so fresh and dewy? A visit to the goddess Idunn was much better than Botox to the immortals. The lovely goddess was associated with fertility and eternal youth. What was her secret? An apple from Idunn’s orchard kept the gray at bay for the Norse pantheon known as the Æsir.

In the Prose Edda, a full-blown midlife crisis develops when Loki lures Idunn from Asgard at the behest of a giant named Pjazi. Pjazi then spirits Idunn off to his crib in the land of the giants, Jötunheimr.

The gods freak out as wrinkles and age spots began to appear on their formerly pristine bodies. A little sleuthing leads them to the usual suspect, Loki. Under threats of death and dismemberment, Loki agrees to rescue Idunn from Pjazi. Upon her return to Asgard, disaster is averted and the immortals are revitalized. The story ends well for everyone except for Pjazi, who is burned to a giant apple crisp when he tries to reclaim Idunn.

Eternal youth has allure, but chasing after it bit Pjazi in the ash.

In Dani & the Immortals, a drink from the long-lost Cup of Immortality has the same effect as a bite of Idunn’s apple. If you had the Cup, would you keep it to yourself or sell it to the highest bidder? And if you knew you had all the time in the world, would you still be able to live life to the fullest?

As for me, I think immortality might be a little overrated. As time marches on, however, I certainly don’t mind a teaspoon of applesauce now and again.

~ Suzanne
When the Cup of Immortality is stolen in Asgard, anger and suspicion is leveled at Dani Avery. Ordered from Asgard by Odin and –even worse– discovering Prince Rein has been betrothed to Leanna of the Faeries, Dani sets out to find the Cup and save Rein from an unwanted marriage.

Dani, Rein, and Emrys begin their desperate search for the real thief and the missing Cup. Unfortunately, the sultry and self-centered Leanna insists on tagging along, and causes them to run afoul of a ruthless crime boss who will stop at nothing to gain their silence…including kidnapping.

As the clock ticks away, Dani has to make a choice between continuing the search for the Cup or finding her missing friends. Will Dani unwittingly sacrifice Rein’s life in her attempt to save their relationship? Or will she deliberately sacrifice their relationship in order to save his life?

EXCERPT:
Dani and the Restive Forest Ljósálfar had left their mounts in a clearing a little way down the mountain. They’d fanned out as they crept toward the entrance to the cave. Dragon wriggled and strained to be free, but Dani held him back by his collar.

“Shh,” she whispered. “Not yet.”

“I can lead the charge,” Katt offered.

Dani shook her head. “It would be better to draw them out, Katt. We don’t know how many bad guys are in there.”

She whispered instructions to Dragon and set him down on the ground. The dog trotted around the boulder, barking and wagging his tail. As he drew closer to the cave, the ogres laughed and pointed.

“Look! It’s a doggy!”

Dragon stood up on his hind legs and danced around. The ogres clapped and giggled. Then the Pomeranian rolled from side to side on the ground. The ogres roared with appreciation. Dragon sat up and extended a dainty paw, as if to shake hands.

When the ogres bent closer, Dragon lit them up like a blowtorch. The ogres panicked. They abandoned their posts and tore down the mountain as if their hair was on fire—which it was. Afterward, the dog sat at the entrance of the tunnel and barked.

“Dragon, hush!” Dani whispered. “Come back here!”

After a long pause, Dragon whined, turned tail and ran. Ogres and dark elves poured out of the hole in the side of the mountain, armed to the teeth.

Newt aimed his bow. “That drew them out.”

Dani & the Immortals is available at Amazon!

 

 

Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – 1960s Horror Movie?

A story appears in the Ynglinga saga by Snorri Sturluson, worthy of a 1960s horror flick.

Way back when the Æsir  and Vanir were at war, the time finally came for a truce.  Both sides exchanged hostages.  The Vanir sent Njörðr the Rich, his son Freyr, and the very wise Kvasir to Asgard.  As for the Æsir , they sent the photogenic Hœnir.  Hœnir took as his secret advisor the jötunn, Mimir.

With Mimir’s assistance, Hœnir looked and played the part of a chieftain well.  When Mimir was absent, however, Hœnir had nothing intelligent to add to the conversation. Nobody likes to be made a fool, and the Vanir were no exception.  They quickly surmised Hœnir to be Mimir’s sock puppet.  After they lopped off Mimir’s head, they sent it back to Asgard in a fit of pique.

Odin preserved Mimir’s head, magically reanimated it, and was thereby able to learn Mimir’s many secrets. When asked for his feelings on his grim demise, Mimir replied, “I don’t know, I just roll with it.”

~ S.G. Rogers

Happy Wodensday!

When Dani was a teen, she had it all; a starring role in her own television series, a wonderful family, and her health. A few years later, everything has changed for the worse—and her time is running short. All she wants to do before she dies is to fall in love, but when she’s kidnapped and taken to Asgard of Norse mythology, she becomes enmeshed in a quarrel between immortals. Prince Rein lends a hand in her quest to return home, and she begins to think the handsome elf has captured her heart. After a magical artifact goes missing, however, he may be forced to marry another woman to avert a diplomatic catastrophe. To find the artifact and save the prince, Dani must undertake a dangerous quest involving ogres, dark fairies, and underworld criminals. Ultimately, however, she’ll have to defy Odin himself.

Dani & the Immortals is available for the Kindle HERE

Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – Dwarves, the Go-To Guys

If a dwarf in Norse mythology could play any character in modern movies, he would play Q from the James Bond films.  Q was responsible for providing Bond with a myriad of marvelous spy technology and wondrous inventions.  (Mood music HERE). Similarly, when the gods of the Norse Pantheon wanted some fantastic object custom-made, they knew whom to call.

One of the coolest dwarf-made toys is a ship made by the Sons of Ivaldi for Freyr.  Skidbladnir was known as the best of ships and nifty-keen because of its ability to be folded up like a napkin and stored in a pocket.  When unfolded, however, it was large enough to hold all the gods complete with their weapons of war.  Its sails always found a good wind and therefore Skidbladnir could be navigated anywhere.

Q would have been jealous.

~ S.G. Rogers

When Dani was a teen, she had it all; a starring role in her own television series, a wonderful family, and her health. A few years later, everything has changed for the worse—and her time is running short. All she wants to do before she dies is to fall in love, but when she’s kidnapped and taken to Asgard of Norse mythology, she becomes enmeshed in a quarrel between immortals. Prince Rein lends a hand in her quest to return home, and she begins to think the handsome elf has captured her heart. After a magical artifact goes missing, however, he may be forced to marry another woman to avert a diplomatic catastrophe. To find the artifact and save the prince, Dani must undertake a dangerous quest involving ogres, dark fairies, and underworld criminals. Ultimately, however, she’ll have to defy Odin himself.

Dani & the Immortals is available for the Kindle HERE

Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – Heimdallr, The Father of Mankind

Are humans fated to fall within one of three different classes? According to the Eddic poem, Rígsþula, the answer is ‘yes.’

The Norse god Heimdallr, using the name Rigr, traveled amongst the folks and found food, lodging, and comfort along the road.

The first stop was with an ancient graybeard farmer and his wife.  The shelter was rude and the food was poor, but apparently the hospitality was pretty good. Heimdallr slept in the couples’ bed and nine months later, Granny gave birth to the progenitor of the servant class, a boy named Þræll.

Heimdallr’s next conquest was at the nice home of a mature craftsman and his wife.  Dinner was edible, and the hospitality was again top-drawer.  Nine months after Heimdallr had departed, the wife delivered a bouncing baby boy named Karl.  When Karl grew up, he was to give rise to the class of craftsmen, independent farmers and herdsmen.

At the end of the journey, Heimdallr stayed at the large, fancy home of Faðir and Móðir. There he enjoyed a sumptuous meal and in return he gave Móðir a son named Jarl.  Jarl begat the warrior/royalty class.  Later on, Heimdallr acknowledged Jarl as his son.

The common thread in this story seems to be the quality of the food.  There is an old English adage — the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Heimdallr’s oats were sewn long ago, but what if the world were given a do-over? What if the graybeard couple had taken Heimdallr out for a bacon cheeseburger, chili fries, and a shake? Conversely, would it have made a difference if Faðir and Móðir had offered up a plate of spa food? I’m thinking things could have turned out a whole different way.

~ S.G. Rogers

When Dani was a teen, she had it all; a starring role in her own television series, a wonderful family, and her health. A few years later, everything has changed for the worse—and her time is running short. All she wants to do before she dies is to fall in love, but when she’s kidnapped and taken to Asgard of Norse mythology, she becomes enmeshed in a quarrel between immortals. Prince Rein lends a hand in her quest to return home, and she begins to think the handsome elf has captured her heart. After a magical artifact goes missing, however, he may be forced to marry another woman to avert a diplomatic catastrophe. To find the artifact and save the prince, Dani must undertake a dangerous quest involving ogres, dark fairies, and underworld criminals. Ultimately, however, she’ll have to defy Odin himself.

Dani & the Immortals is available for the Kindle HERE.

Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – The Creation of Mankind

“I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree.”

–  Joyce Kilmer

Perhaps Kilmer was on to something.

After Odin and his two brothers killed the giant, Ymir, they used his body and blood to create the world. Afterward, they came to Midgard (Earth) and went for a nice relaxing walk on the beach.

The trio found a couple of lovely trees and worked together to make people out of them.  The gods made sure they had souls, intelligence, good looks and clothes.  They called the man Askr and the woman Embla.  These two humans became the progenitors of the human race.

So if you’ve only ever felt truly at home when walking in a forest, you now know why.  You might have stumbled into a family reunion.

~ S.G. Rogers

When Dani was a teen, she had it all; a starring role in her own television series, a wonderful family, and her health. A few years later, everything has changed for the worse—and her time is running short. All she wants to do before she dies is to fall in love, but when she’s kidnapped and taken to Asgard of Norse mythology, she becomes enmeshed in a quarrel between immortals. Prince Rein lends a hand in her quest to return home, and she begins to think the handsome elf has captured her heart. After a magical artifact goes missing, however, he may be forced to marry another woman to avert a diplomatic catastrophe. To find the artifact and save the prince, Dani must undertake a dangerous quest involving ogres, dark fairies, and underworld criminals. Ultimately, however, she’ll have to defy Odin himself.

Dani & the Immortals is available for the Kindle HERE.

Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – The Brisingamen Caper

The theft of Freyja’s famous necklace, Brísingamen, was quite a coup.  How the deed was accomplished presented a mystery, but the goddess of love was determined to track the cat burglar down.  The case would require the highest level of expertise as well as discretion.  Since the necklace was stolen while Freyja slept, certain tongues might wag.

Enter Detective Heimdallr.

Although the guardian of the Rainbow Bridge had a day job, he could not resist coming to the aid of a lady in distress (particularly one as beautiful as Freyja).

Heimdallr possessed all the necessary skills for a crack detective, such as extraordinary hearing and eyesight.  His vision was so keen, in fact, that he could see into the future.

Heimdallr’s investigation turned up clues that pointed to The Pink Panther of the Norse Pantheon…Loki himself.

It’s one thing to catch a thief, and another to recover the booty.  Loki had cleverly disguised himself as a seal, so Heimdallr transformed himself into a seal too.  The battle between Loki and Heimdallr was short and pitched, but the brightest of the gods prevailed.

See authentic historical recreation HERE

Freyja was happy and relieved when Heimdallr returned Brísingamen.  No mention was made of any reward, although perhaps the whole episode was kissed by a seal, er, sealed with a kiss.

~ S.G. Rogers

When Dani was a teen, she had it all; a starring role in her own television series, a wonderful family, and her health. A few years later, everything has changed for the worse—and her time is running short. All she wants to do before she dies is to fall in love, but when she’s kidnapped and taken to Asgard of Norse mythology, she becomes enmeshed in a quarrel between immortals. Prince Rein lends a hand in her quest to return home, and she begins to think the handsome elf has captured her heart. After a magical artifact goes missing, however, he may be forced to marry another woman to avert a diplomatic catastrophe. To find the artifact and save the prince, Dani must undertake a dangerous quest involving ogres, dark fairies, and underworld criminals. Ultimately, however, she’ll have to defy Odin himself.

Dani & the Immortals is available for the Kindle HERE.

Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – Fenrir

Fenrir the wolf was born under a dark star.   The son of the infamous Loki and a giantess, Fenrir was the subject of ominous prophecies.  After kicking the subject around the table awhile, the Æsir came up with a brilliant plan to contain the threat.

The Æsir appealed to Fenrir’s vanity, and asked him to test his strength with some nifty shackles.  Breaking out of the first pair was too easy for the enormous wolf, so the gods made a second pair twice as strong.  Fenrir took that challenge too, and won.

Hmm, what to do?

The gods appealed to the smithy dwarves to forge something impossible to break.  They fashioned a ribbon-like shackle called Gleipnir, woven of impossible items (see recipe, below).  Fenrir, suspecting a trick, refused this challenge.  The gods pinky-swore to release Fenrir if he couldn’t break out.

Fenrir was unimpressed.

But he offered the Æsir a deal.  If one of the gods would put his or her hand in Fenrir’s jaws as an act of good faith, he’d take The Gleipnir Challenge.

The brave and heroic god Týr volunteered.

When Fenrir was unable to break free from Gleipnir, the gods rejoiced. All except for Týr, of course, who could no longer clap. 😦  Hats off to Týr, by the way, for taking one for the team.  He had the Right Stuff.

~ S.G. Rogers

Do you want to give back to the heroes who serve in the U.S. Military?  Check out the work of Operation Gratitude.  This organization sends 100,000 care packages worldwide to U.S. Service Members, their children, and to recuperating Wounded Warriors.

Loki Quakes In His Cement Shoes

Alas, poor Baldur!  Pierced by a spear of mistletoe, Odin and Frigga’s son perished and went to Helheim.

In a last-ditch effort to save her son, Frigga sent an emissary to make a deal with Hel.  If everything and everyone mourned Baldur, Hel agreed to let him go.  Since Baldur was beloved, it was a sweet deal.  A hue and cry went up on Baldur’s behalf, and it seemed as if Baldur was a free áss.

But…Loki couldn’t leave well enough alone.  He transformed himself into a giantess who wouldn’t join in the mourning and the deal was off. 

When the gods learned about Loki’s latest mischief, there was no place in the nine worlds of Norse mythology for him to hide. The gods seized Loki and gave him cement shoes, Norse style. They lashed him to a bed of rocks and suspended a snake possessing acid-like venom over his head. Loki’s wife, Sigyn, stuck a bowl under the drip to spare her husband.  Unfortunately, the bowl had to be emptied every so often, which left Loki exposed.  Whenever the acid dripped on Loki, the result was an earthquake.

Otherwise known as a Teutonic shift.

~ S.G. Rogers

When Dani was a teen, she had it all; a starring role in her own television series, a wonderful family, and her health. A few years later, everything has changed for the worse—and her time is running short. All she wants to do before she dies is to fall in love, but when she’s kidnapped and taken to Asgard of Norse mythology, she becomes enmeshed in a quarrel between immortals. Prince Rein lends a hand in her quest to return home, and she begins to think the handsome elf has captured her heart. After a magical artifact goes missing, however, he may be forced to marry another woman to avert a diplomatic catastrophe. To find the artifact and save the prince, Dani must undertake a dangerous quest involving ogres, dark fairies, and underworld criminals. Ultimately, however, she’ll have to defy Odin himself.

Dani & the Immortals is available for the Kindle HERE

Fun Facts About Norse Mythology – the Mead of Poetry

Once upon a time there was an inspirational beverage known as the Mead of Poetry.  This concoction conferred instant egghead status and poetic inspiration upon anyone who drank it.  The Mead of Poetry was not brewed in a meadery, however.  Its origins were far more…colorful.

It all started with the Æsir-Vanir War.  You see, the ‘A’ Team of Norse gods included Odin, Frigg, Thor, Baldr and Tyr, otherwise known as the Æsir.  The Vanir were a group of gods associated with wisdom, fertility and prophecy: Freyr, Freyja, Njordr, and possibly Heimdallr and Ullr.

A war broke out amongst the two groups, which eventually led the exchange of prisoners and therafter a truce.  The Vanir were ultimately brought into the Æsir fold.

To seal the deal, all the gods spat into a pot.  From this mixture of oral delight they created a wicked-smart god named Kvasir.  The fellow was font of wisdom and knowledge, a champion at Jeopardy! and very popular at parties.

Kvasir was the Johnny Appleseed of knowledge, and traveled around educating folks.  He had the misfortune to visit a pair of homicidal dwarves, Fjalar and Galar.  They killed Kvasir and used his blood to make Poetic Mead.   Yum…truly the nectar of the gods.

(Ancient Norse drinking song, Author Unknown)

~ S.G. Rogers

P.S. Rumor has it that Everclear is a descendant of the Mead of Poetry.  Ask anyone who’s hoisted a few and they will tell you how smart they are.

When Dani was a teen, she had it all; a starring role in her own television series, a wonderful family, and her health. A few years later, everything has changed for the worse—and her time is running short. All she wants to do before she dies is to fall in love, but when she’s kidnapped and taken to Asgard of Norse mythology, she becomes enmeshed in a quarrel between immortals. Prince Rein lends a hand in her quest to return home, and she begins to think the handsome elf has captured her heart. After a magical artifact goes missing, however, he may be forced to marry another woman to avert a diplomatic catastrophe. To find the artifact and save the prince, Dani must undertake a dangerous quest involving ogres, dark fairies, and underworld criminals. Ultimately, however, she’ll have to defy Odin himself.

Dani & the Immortals is available for the Kindle HERE