Hannah Ross wrote her first story at the age of six and
hasn’t stopped since. Wishing to have a steady profession, she trained as a
clinical nutritionist, but the writing bug was too strong and Hannah continued
to write fiction in the form of short stories, novels, poetry and plays, as
well as many non-fiction essays and articles.
Hannah enjoys a quiet life in the country with her husband, three children, two cats and a flock of chickens.
Interview
- Tell us a little about yourself?
I’m Hannah Ross, a writer of primarily high
and epic fantasy. I also write science fiction/dystopia and historical fiction.
Until now I’ve been an indie author, but I’ve signed a publishing deal for my
upcoming novel, Wild Children, with Mason Marshall Press.
I’m a homeschooling mother to three young
children. My husband and I enjoy a rural life very much in the boonies, where
we have a large garden and a flock of backyard hens. Digging in the earth and
collecting fresh eggs is incredibly de-stressing and healthful to the soul.
By training, I am a clinical nutritionist and
provide one-on-one as well as group counseling.
- What made you want to become a writer?
I started writing stories almost as soon as I
could hold a pencil. My endeavors weren’t treated very seriously by my family,
who insisted that I “quit scribbling and do something useful,” but I never
listened. The allure of creating worlds of my own was impossible to resist.
[Jamie’s note: Good for you. Writing is incredibly useful, and a true writer
cannot not write.]
- Tell us something about how you write?
i.e. are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you have any weird or necessary
writing habits or rituals?
I find outlines incredibly helpful to get me
organized and stream my writing in the direction the plot needs to go. Having
said that, if I’m stuck when doing an outline, I may try some improvising and
see where it gets me.
I like contemplative, meditative music that
helps me concentrate as I write. One of my favorite styles is the Sami (Lapland
native) yoiks. They create a haunting, enchanting atmosphere. If you want to
try them, search for Ulla Pirttijarvi on YouTube.
- Could you tell us a bit about your most
recent book?
My recently
published book, The Greenlanders: A Tale of Sea and Steel, is a
Viking-era novel focusing on the life, adventures and discoveries of Leif
Erikson. It is loosely based on Saga of Erik the Red and Saga of the
Greenlanders, but given that these are only basic outlines, so to speak, rather
than precise records, I had a lot of room for my imagination to run wild while
writing. Therefore, the book consists of events that had probably happened,
events that might have happened, and events that most likely had never happened.
- Of all the characters you have created,
which is your favorite and why?
This is a tough choice, but in The Greenlanders, my favorite character is probably Freydis Eriksdottir, Leif’s sister
and a very feisty lady according to the ancient Icelandic sagas. A friend who
had been one of the beta-readers for the book commented that, while Leif
Erikson is supposed to be the main character, during long plot stretches he is
actually more of a backdrop to Freydis’s story. And this is true: Freydis has a
knack for elbowing her way in and doing just what she wants. She is proud,
arrogant, ambitious, but at her basic core her intentions are good.
- Tell us a little about your plans for the
future. Do you have any other books
in the works?
I am currently working with Mason Marshall
Press on my new sci-fi dystopian series, the first book of which, Wild Children, is due to be released soon. The book is set in a post-global-war
world where the government seizes control of reproductive freedom, supposedly
for the greater good, and severely penalizes families for having illegal
children. The plot was inspired by the Chinese population control policy. I sat
down one day and asked myself, “Could this happen in the Western world, and
under what circumstances”?
Where can we find you online?
The Greenlanders
The year is circa 1000 A.D., and the battle between the old Gods and the new is at its height in Norway when the explorer Leif Erikson receives unexpected summons to court. Leif thinks this might be an advantageous opportunity to promote the status of his father's colony in Greenland, but between the intrigues of his sister Freydis, the greedy schemes of the king, and his fatal attraction to the beautiful Princess Thorgunna, it becomes uncertain whether he will make it through alive.
Spanning three generations of seafarers, colonists and adventurers, The Greenlanders brings the ancient Icelandic sagas to life and illuminates them from an unexpected angle.
Excerpt
Thorvard strained against the ropes that bound him to the
mast. His fury could not find release even in a shout, for his mouth was
gagged. All he could do was stare helplessly at how his few loyal men were
bound as well and dragged aside, while the rest scurried like rats to do
Freydis’s bidding. Weak treacherous cowards. They will regret this.
He made sure to remember each one – how they moved, spoke,
looked. He would deal with them as soon as opportunity presented itself, and he
would not be forgiving.
Freydis came over with a confident step, her head held up
high. She knows no shame, this one. I should never have trusted her. I
should never have married her.
“I’m sorry, Thorvard,” she said, but her expression was
quite the reverse from an apology – it exuded arrogance, defiance and triumph.
“Once we do what must be done, I’ll release you. You’ll see that I was right. Raise
the sail, men. We take course southwest.”
Nobody asked where they were headed. Thorvard knew it as
well. Vinland.
It was sheer madness. It would be the death of them all.
The Skraelings would finish them off with a flick of a finger, given how few
capable men were on the ship. But with me out of the way, who is left
to beat some reason into Freydis?
Thorvard remained bound to the mast like a misbehaved dog
for many hours. Bitterness, pain and fury left no room for hunger, but his
throat was parched and his tiredness soon began to kick in. His legs trembled
as he leaned against the mast for support. The ropes were too tight to allow
him room to sit, and he wondered how much longer he would be able to hold on
before he slumped unconscious with exhaustion.
“Nod your head if you promise to be quiet, and I’ll take
this gag out of your mouth and give you a glug of beer,” Erlend, a weasel-like
balding thin man, said with a nasty leer. Thorvard never trusted the bastard,
and glared at him with a murderous expression, not moving his head an inch.
“Suit yourself,” Erlend shrugged and moved away. Freydis didn’t return to look
at her vanquished husband again. She was up front, giving directions to the
men.
She wants to go back to Vinland to avenge Helgi, Tur and
Gudrid, but she is deluded. We are too few. Will Valhalla admit those who seek
death in so foolish a way?
A futile effort to find a more comfortable position offered
Thorvard an unexpected sliver of hope. There was a splinter on the other side
of the mast, just where his bound hands were pressed. The ropes snagged on it.
Thorvard attempted to rub the ropes against it, straining them at the same
time. He had nothing to lose. His movements were small enough to go unnoticed.
A half-hour of such strained, painful chafing rewarded him with a slight
loosening of the rope. Thorvard kept working away, every muscle in his body
quivering with weakness and pain and tension. A stubborn strength came from
somewhere and didn’t let go. He kept straining. A gale rocked the ship,
splashing him in the face with salty water, but though it drenched him and
stung his eyes, Thorvard didn’t care. Odin, Father, let me get out of
these bounds before it’s too late.
If you like what you've read, comment below. Also, the book can be purchased at the link.
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