Natalie Guttormsson

Here’s the thing Reader, I LOVE a research rabbit hole. When I’m learning about something new, my mind runs down every possible path to find out what might be related or connected to the idea I started with. For example, as I mentioned last time, I started researching fairy rings after watching an episode of Bluey (the Australian kid's cartoon). My first question was: do fairy rings make you dance? (As the episode of Bluey suggested). The answer was Yes! Entering a fairy ring will cause you...

Hi Reader, I’m so excited to tell you that my new novella, The Fall of the Queen of Elphame, is now available! If you’re feeling worn out or oversaturated by the holiday season, this is your well-deserved escape. The Fall of the Queen of Elphame is not your typical Thomas the Rhymer story. This story features: >>A new spin on a classic folktale >>A new take on elves & fairyland >>Medieval Scotland setting >>Magic, prophecies & parallel worlds >>Action & Romance One reader said: "I was...

Hey Reader, Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, what are your usual practices? This week, I’ve heard a variety of far-reaching traditions, from visiting seasonal haunted houses to real haunted houses to egging neighbours houses to costume parties and trick-or-treating with kids. When I was a kid, we’d layer our snowsuits under our costumes and trick-or-treat through the neighbourhood until our toes were numb. We’d have pillowcases full of treats from chips to candy to chocolate. I stopped...

Hi Reader, Over the weekend, we celebrated Thanksgiving here in Canada. It’s a time to gather with family and friends and feel gratitude for all the wonderful things in life and the world. The positivity of the weekend spills over past the weekend, much like the leftovers and pumpkin pie! One of the things I’m grateful for is you! Connecting with readers like you is an amazing honour. To show my gratitude, I’ve created something special for you Reader. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the...

Reader, have you ever stopped in your tracks to listen to a bird call? Maybe it sounded beautiful, or maybe it was a surprising sound, like a baby's cry or like the sound of laser beams. The bird world is full of fascinating sounds, some of which may have influenced folklore, from screeches like a banshee to imitations of other creatures. Sean Ronanye is an Irish ornithologist on a mission to record all the native birds in Ireland, and he only has 3 more to go! Sean was the guest on The...

This week, Reader, I have a story to tell you about a much-loved author of mine whose craft for story-telling and character development I aspire to match. But if you're in a hurry and just want the free book links, here they are: Summer Stories: Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Viking Fantasy Giveaway Paranormal Mystery & Suspense Summer Book Fair: Celtic Connection Reader, have you ever encountered an author whose body of work is so well crafted that you know any book you pick up will be...

You know, Reader, the more time I spend researching 13th-century Scotland and Thomas the Rhymer, the more I fall in love with his legend and the Scottish Border region. With such a history and breathtaking landscapes, it’s no wonder the area is full of legend, lore, and myth. The Rhymer's Stone marks the site where Thomas met the Queen of Elfphame The story of Thomas the Rhymer is heavily inspired by the landscape itself, which is evident in some of the literary themes, including the...

Reader, what was your favourite fairy tale as a child? Mine was, hands down, Beauty and the Beast—and yes, the Disney animated version. I did read the more traditional version of the tale, but what I loved most about the movie was Belle’s love of books (and the music!). I consider myself lucky to have had several folk and fairy tale collections sitting on the bookshelf of my childhood bedroom, from the slighlty depressing Hans Christian Andersen stories to an old volume of Grimm’s fairy tales...

Something amazing happened this week Reader, I took a week’s vacation from work. A full week off. I’m not gonna lie, the first four days were hard because I love my work—I write content for businesses (website copy, blog articles, on-brand materials, business proposals, e-books, you name it!) But by day five, after removing all social apps from my phone and turning off Slack notifications, I finally relaxed into true “time off.” I was so determined to take a true break that I even stopped...

Hi, Reader, when was the last time someone asked you about your name? Our names are funny things. They give us an identity, of sorts, but the significance can vary wildly. For some of us, our names—in particular our surnames—tell us what our ancestors did as a profession hundreds of years ago (think Thatcher, Dyer, Fletcher, etc.) For others, our names are attached to us but have little historical connection as they were created to fit a culture we are (or our ancestors were)...