Below is a double interview with authors Alyn Rockwood and Kelly Nichols. These two authors have teamed up to write the YA historical fiction book, Beyond the Dragonhead. Find out how two writers put their heads together to craft one cohesive story.
About the authors and book
Author name/pen name: Alyn Rockwood and Kelly Nichols
Author links
Book Title: Beyond the Dragonhead
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Beyond the Dragonhead book summary
Tragedy strikes while Thyra and her father are away from their village hunting in the forest. They race home to find their village devastated: homes burning, men slain, women and children taken. Knowing a vengeful King’s ruthless warriors are certain to return for them, they gather the scattered survivors. Together they leave their beloved homeland and embark on a daunting journey in search of refuge, healing, and hope.
Book excerpts
Chapter 1: Thyra’s father had trained her to use the bow, but she had never shot a man before, and never in the heat of battle. Now she had no choice; Bjorn’s and her father’s lives depended on her.
Chapter 7: Thyra sat for a while, gazing in the direction that the dolphins had gone. She wondered who else was out on the sea. Who would they visit next that would be too afraid to let them stay?
Chapter 13: He placed the large ring in her hand. The prince took her by both hands and helped her aboard the boat. “I sincerely hope our paths will cross again.”
Chapter 15: On the other side of the portage the Magyar shouldered their bows and drew their long swords. They assembled their horses to form three lines of attack. “They mean to finish us this time,” Skayn shouted to his men, “but we will show them Norse iron. Ready your axes!”
Chapter 16: No child should ever have to watch their father be killed. The memory will always haunt me. If there had been anything I could do to stop them…” Freya’s voice dissipated.
Chapter 21: There’s a Varang down the dock behind some crates…” said Old Harald. “He’s a berserker. Stay alert, and whatever happens, don’t let him on board the boat.
Review excerpts
Beyond raiders and traders, this novel paints a compelling portrait of the lives of early Vikings, and the heart of a young woman torn between loyalty and love. With healing powers and a deep knowledge of the natural medicines, Thyra is faced with the hardest choices of her life. So much more than a coming of age story, this book gives a vivid account of the life of Vikings.I am eagerly awaiting more from these authors — the characters are so strong you will not want to turn the last page. -Denitta Ward, bestselling author.
The book addresses themes of parent/child relationships, friendship, and loyalty, and even includes a moving display of sacrifice of self for the good of the group. -Malve von Hassell, PhD
This book brought the era, its peoples, lands, cultures, etc. to life. -M.M.
…the history revealed is of places rarely visited in fiction, Viking influence on a whole new shore -Sheila Deeth, Vine Voice
The plot, character ideas, and location description were incredible – Eleven-year-old reader
The story is well threaded from beginning to end with a very interesting storyline that brings out the personalities of each of the primary characters while advancing an exciting story. I would love to see a sequel! – J. White
One of the parts of the story that I would like to learn more and made me wonder is more about their language, old norse and how they wrote. I loved and found it really interesting…and I hope to learn more of it. -Thirteen-year-old reader
The ending was not what I expected (yay!) and now I’m hooked for the next in the series. -Nederland Library
Talking Shop
What do you want readers to take away from your books?
Alyn: I love it when readers say they feel like they were living in the period, and they see both the frailty and nobility of the characters, something that we all share regardless of the time or culture.
Kelly: I feel a small victory when readers learn something new about history, or life, or themselves in the course of enjoying the story so much that they don’t even realize they’re learning.
What’s the best review/compliment that you’ve received about your book?
Kelly: When readers ask for the sequel
What famous books can you compare to your own?
Alyn: Treasure Island, The Last of the Mohicans
Kelly: Crispin and the Cross of Lead, Mad Wolf’s Daughter, Parvana’s Journey, Alphabet of Dreams
What is a fun or strange source of inspiration that ended up in your book?
Alyn: Swimming with dolphins in Dubai.
How long did it take to write your book from the day you got the idea to write it to the day you published it?
Kelly: I used to think that four years was an embarrassingly long time, until I talked to some other authors that spent over a decade, or even most of their lives. Then there are authors who knock out an entire draft in a few weeks. That’s hard for me to imagine.
How long have you considered yourself a writer? Did you have any formal training, or is it something you learned as you went?
Kelly: I’ll let you know when I reach that point.
If you don’t make a living exclusively writing, what is your day job? How, in any way, does it relate to your life as a writer?
Alyn: I am a prof emeritus in mathematics. My career depended on publishing tech stuff. Being able to explain complex concepts clearly was a necessary skill. Math also honed my imagination and creativity (I know this will surprise some).
Kelly: I have worked as a private math and science tutor for 25 plus years. Alyn stole my answer. Being able to help students understand complex concepts is an absolute necessity for my line of work.
Who is on your Mt. Rushmore of great writers?
Alyn: Jane Austen, J.R.R. Tolkien, Isaiah, Tolstoy, Homer, Dickens, Phillip Dicke, HG Wells, Chaucer, Goethe, Lessing, Wordsworth, George Elliot … Hmmm I need something bigger than Mt Rushmore.
Kelly: Avi, Debra Ellis, Susan Fletcher, Rhys Bowen, the Bronte sisters
What were your expectations for writing and publishing your first book? Have they changed since then?
Kelly: Many people warned me that it would be hard, lots of work, and emotionally exhausting. I guess it’s the same warning that comes with raising kids. In both cases, you don’t really get it until you’re in far too deep to change your mind.
Do you have a writing ritual, odd habits, or superstitions?
Alyn: I research, I think about my characters and their environment, I talk to Kelly about the times, the people and then one day I start seeing scenes like a movie so I start scribbling them down.
Kelly: Until this novel, most of my writing experience has been non-fiction. At first I had a difficult time making up dialogue and events and writing them down as though they really happened. I had this nagging feeling that I was lying. Now I try to imagine the scenes unfolding with real people who are like our characters and think “what would they say/do?”
How well do you handle criticism, either while writing, editing, or reviews? Do you ever use that criticism to change your story?
Alyn: People ask us how we can co-author (without killing each other). I believe it is because we both feel free to criticize and work out the differences. Occasionally we come to an impasse where neither of us will move on our position. Then, we rewrite and it is inevitably better than the positions either of us held so dearly.
What is the most fun part about writing? The most difficult?
Kelly: Alyn is like a father to me, and I enjoy the time working with him immensely. We laugh; we cry; we inspire one another.
Did you consult with any professionals or people who lived through a particular event to help you craft your story?
Two of my students have parents who grew up in Sweden. I occasionally asked them questions about Viking history, geography, and culture as it is commonly taught in school there.
“What If” Scenarios
If you could have one person that you admire, living or dead, read your book, who would it be?
Alyn: My mother. Yeah, it’s a cliche, but so very true.
Kelly: My grandmother. As an English teacher and school principal during an era when few women held such roles, she was an inspiration to me.
A wealthy reader buys 100 copies of your book and tells you to hand them out to anyone you wish. Who do you give them to?
Kelly: Impoverished youth who like to read.
Your favorite character that you’ve written comes to life for one day. What do you do together for 24 hours?
Kelly: I would want to share a meal with Freya and walk through lands familiar to her. I find her fascinating. She is broken and humble, yet loyal and cunning. She would have insights into people and places that others would miss.
You’re given $10,000 to spend on marketing for your book. How do you spend it?
Kelly: 1) Pay an influencer, like that famous actor from the Viking series to endorse it.
2) Pay a videographer to make clever professional videos of this endorsement.
3) Post them all over social media. (Is $10k enough?)
Your book becomes a best seller. What do you do next?
Alyn: Research the next book on location! It’s going to be set in an exciting new place.
You have the means to hire a full time assistant to help you with your writing. What tasks do you give them to do?
Kelly: Marketing
Just for Fun
Your trademark feature.
Alyn: A comfortable pair of jeans, and now and then, a suit to shock everyone.
Kelly: Sneakers. I can’t stand most women’s shoes. They remind me of foot binding in ancient China.
What legacy do you want to leave behind?
Alyn: A flower in every garden I visit.
One year of your life you’d like to relive or do over.
Alyn: The year I die.
Kelly: The year in college when I wrote a paper on which my (many times published) professor wrote at the top “With a little work, you could publish this” and I stupidly ignored him.
One bucket list item you’ve completed and one that’s still on your list.
Kelly: Completed: Bungy catapult trampoline ride.
Still: Touring Machu Picchu
A movie or a piece of music that changed your life.
Alyn: Wagner’s Tannhaeuser
Favorite time of/part of your day.
Kelly: When I’m near a large body of water, it’s the late afternoon to early evening when I can feel the warmth and see reflection off the water.
The topic you can’t shut up about and the topic you wish everyone would shut up about.
Kelly:
1) My five kids. The oldest is biding his time as a high school English teacher until the pandemic is resolved and he can return to Nepal with the Peace Corps. The next is a contractor who is also building his brand as a mixologist. He teaches others how to make drinks with natural ingredients while sharing lore and history about them. My third is in college figuring out her path., studying criminal justice. She loves to dance and choreographs for shows. The next enjoys hiking and being outdoors. He eagerly reads and studies topics in his field of biomedical engineering and plans to attend grad school. My youngest is in high school and is extremely social. She has a gift for comforting anyone having a bad day.
2) Politics
Celebrity you’d want to be friends with.
Alyn: Roger Penrose
Favorite Halloween costume ever.
Alyn: My daughter used her mom’s Arabic dancing costume and creative makeup to fashion herself into an Egyptian princess vampire.
Kelly: Roller Derby Jammer, because I got to skate around.
A talent you have and a talent you wish you had.
Alyn: Good at math. I wish I could sing!
Kelly: I thought I was good at math, until I met Alyn. I can dance on skates (the quad/derby kind). I’d like to be able to play the cello
When time travel is achieved, do you go forward or backward?
Alyn: Sideward, out of our dimensions so I can see the entire tapestry of time.
Kelly: (rolling my eyes)
Pin it!
Viking stories hold a favorite place in my heart ever since reading the third and fourth books in the Ranger’s Apprentice series, and exploring the interesting works various authors inspired by Norse mythology and practices.
Beyond the Dragonhead sounds like a book lush with imagery and bound together with love, pain, and loyalty. Thanks for sharing!
Why? The plot, no the characters, maybe the history, no I mean the thrill of adventure – yes that’s it!