Asa Maria Bradley | The Magic of Debut Day

I’m thrilled to celebrate the release of my very first book here on Fresh Fiction. Being a debut author is exciting and scary at the same time. On one hand, it feels like I’ve been waiting for this day since forever. On the other, sending my baby…ehr, my book out in the real world is nerve-wracking. Luckily, I have a huge support network in my friends and family. They are as ready to celebrate the VIKING WARRIOR RISING release as I am and their loud cheers drown out most of my anxiety.

My local independent bookstore, Auntie’s Books, is hosting a reading and signing for me tomorrow and I’m so humbled and moved by how many people have told me they’re coming. Even my mom is flying over from Sweden to be there, which only seems fitting since she’s a huge part of why I became a writer. My mom is a voracious reader and thanks to her filling our house with books, I grew up to be one too. And with me living here in the States while mom and the rest of my family are back home in Sweden, we don’t get to see each other nearly as often as I’d like. Her being there tomorrow makes the day so much sweeter.

Growing up in Sweden, I was surrounded by historical artifacts and archaeology and it was the time period of the Vikings that fascinated me the most and of course what inspired VIKING WARRIOR RISING. Although, originally it wasn’t Vikings that planted the seed of the story. The idea of Leif and Naya came one night when a bunch of girlfriends and I were joking around about who the most popular Swedish literary hero and heroine currently were. We decided on Lisbeth Sallander from THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO series and Eric Northman from the Sookie Stackhouse books (and the True Blood TV show). On my drive home that night, I wondered what would happen if Lis and Eric ever met. That thought eventually grew into VIKING WARRIOR RISING. Although the heroine Naya and hero Leif are very strong-willed and it wasn’t long until their unbending personalities took over the writing and they revealed themselves on the page as unique and different from the characters who had first inspired their creation.

It’s been a joy writing VIKING WARRIOR RISING, as well as the second book in the Viking Warriors series, which I turned in to my editor a little while ago. I’m currently hard at work on the third book. I hope you will enjoy the series and fall as much in love with Leif and his warriors as I did. The Vikings and Valkyries ruled by Leif have been sent back from Valhalla by Odin and Freya in order to keep humanity safe from Loki and his creatures who want to instigate Ragnaroek—the final battle and the end of the worlds for both humans and gods. These Norse warriors are courageous, strong, and definitely deserve true love. However they’re also stubborn and independent to a fault, so sometimes it takes them a while to recognize that true love, even when it’s staring them straight in the eye.

In VIKING WARRIOR RISING, it’s king Leif himself who meets his match in Naya—a genetically modified super soldier and cyber hacker extraordinaire. As kickass as she is, she too needs some convincing before she realizes there’s more than just hot sizzling chemistry between her and Leif. I hope you enjoy watching the sparks fly between these strong-willed and stubborn lovers as they realize that in order to save themselves—and the world—they have to learn to trust in each other and open themselves to love.

Giveaway

Do you love Viking history and mythology? Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of VIKING WARRIOR RISING.

About Asa Maria Bradley

Asa Maria Bradley grew up in Sweden surrounded by archaeology and history steeped in Norse mythology, which inspired the immortal Vikings and Valkyries in her paranormal romances. She also writes romantic suspense and currently resides on a lake deep in the pine forests of the Pacific Northwest with a British husband and a rescue dog of indeterminate breed. Sourcebooks bought her 2014 Golden Heart nominated manuscript in a three-book deal. VIKING WARRIOR RISING, book 1 of the Viking Warriors series, is a November 3, 2015 release.

Asa graduated from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers MFA program at Eastern Washington University with an MFA in creative writing and also holds a Master of Science in Medical Physics from University of Colorado.

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About VIKING WARRIOR RISING

Immortal Vikings are among us

Leif Skarsganger and his elite band of immortal warriors have been charged to protect humanity from the evil Norse god Loki.

Under attack from Loki's minions, Leif is shocked to encounter a dark-haired beauty who fights like a warrior herself. Wounded and feverish, the Viking kisses her, inadvertently triggering an ancient Norse bond. But when Naya Brisbane breaks away and disappears before the bond is completed, Leif's warrior spirit goes berserk. If Leif doesn't find her fast, he's going to lose himself to permanent battle fury.

But Naya doesn't want to be found...and he'll do anything to find her. Because they're both running out of time.