What a pity it is for me that your project continuing the Bridei Chronicles wasn’t well-received in the U.S.! I do so hope that I’ll get the opportunity to enjoy the continuance of Bridei’s reign via your storytelling prowess someday. Who do I have to accost here in the U.S. to get their heads on straight?! :)

I’ve found myself almost consuming your stories, I’ve had such an insatiable desire to read everything you’ve written! Thank you for the journeys and lessons learned through your characters’ trials, triumphs, failures and redemptive experiences. Each book has held me spellbound, mesmerizing me with the learning of other cultures and customs — historical, fairytale, and in-between — while occasionally breaking my heart then mending it as the stories unfold. Most of the time I think, “Wow, were these written just for me?” because your books have been perfect for my learning and enjoyment, with no exceptions.

I was raised to try to always be teachable, and now, quite fittingly placed into my life, “There is learning in everything,” has become a staple in how I respond to each day’s experiences! The phrase goes through my mind and pops out of my mouth without a second thought sometimes.

Before I have the chance to grab a tangent and run with it, I’ll curb my enthusiasm and not babble on! I’ll end here with, “Thank you!”

Thank you,

Kristina Dahl

Tuatha de Danann means ‘People of the goddess Danu.”

I have read every one of your books and have been longing for your next one. So, here it is.

You are on my list of favourite writers. I would certainly enjoy receiving a copy of Heart’s Blood.

ULALxxxRifka

By the way, what exactly is the Tuatha De Danaan? I’ve read that it’s a clan of fairy people, but when I look it up, there’s no information of value.

Kristina, the project I didn’t manage to sell in the US was a continuation of the Bridei Chronicles, a series that was always intended to run to more than the existing three books. I had hoped to follow Bridei through to a key point in his (actual) reign. I haven’t entirely given up on this, but it is currently on hold. It seems my adult readership in the US wasn’t as engaged by those more historical, less magical stories (or by my Norse books, Wolfskin and Foxmask) as it was and is by the more romantic, Celtic-flavoured novels told in first person. A shame, because I’m sure The Well of Shades contains my best romance! And I do love writing those more substantial novels.

Adrian, that’s a perceptive comment – I appreciate what you said about the ‘values of infirmity’.

How does a writer weigh up artistic freedom vs the need to make a living? I reckon there is scope for a major discussion on that topic here at some point. The question is fraught with all kinds of dilemmas.

Thanks,

Kristina Dahl

As a writer myself, and an avid reader to boot since I first learned how to read, I’ve found that the world of editing and publishing has always been rather lacking in the areas I have always felt were more significant. As you said, being able to write what you want because you love to do it instead of for the sake of profit, that to me is something that should never be challenged. Even now I’m hoping to someday revolutionize that chain of boundaries and see that more books are written out of love than out of monetary necessity.