Viking Story

It's time for the very first interview in Viking Story history! Get to know Spencer St. Clair from St. Clair Publications, the publishing house behind my Viking novel. In our interview you'll find out what went behind bringing my book to print and how Spencer St. Clair successfully navigated the uniquely challenging ideas that I brought to the table. Don’t forget to rate, review, and help spread t...

Meet your sexy (?) new host and also the main character from my novel, Bloodsword Saga: Fear The North What makes Bloodsword likeable and, perhaps even more importantly, very unlikeable at the same time? All of these answers and more as I struggle to make it through the entire episode! Don’t forget to rate, review, and help spread the word! You can reach me via e-mail at: vikingstoryfaq@outlook.co...

What makes my novel unique/different/special? Why are there so many Unique Selling Points (USPs) in my book? All of these answers and more! Don’t forget to rate, review, and help spread the word! You can reach me via e-mail at: vikingstoryfaq@outlook.com My novel is currently available on Amazon and you can find it by searching my name: Alan Laycock-Fuchs Head on over to St. Clair Publications by...

What is "Academic Historical Fiction" anyway? Why did I create a whole new book genre and what inspired me to do so? Listen to find out as I go off on a tangent about Tim Horton and Dustin Byfuglien! Don’t forget to rate, review, and help spread the word! You can reach me via e-mail at: vikingstoryfaq@outlook.com Want to start your own podcast with the simplest editing and hosting tools and also s...

My book, powered by you, my faithful listeners, has finally been published! Find my book on Amazon by searching for my name, "Alan Laycock-Fuchs." Weirdly, this podcast will also come up when you search my name (I had forgotten that you could listen via Amazon!) In this episode I'll also introduce you to the publishing house behind my book, called St. Clair Publications, and if you listen all the...

As we wrap-up Season 4 all eyes turn towards Season 5 as I focus on the publication of my Viking novel. I want to personally thank all of my listeners once again for their valued support. This is a completely DIY podcast and so to achieve the success that it has has been truly amazing. Thank you! Don’t forget to rate, review, and help spread the word! You can reach me via e-mail at: vikingstoryfaq...

A deep dive (?) into my own history and also a look at some of the behind-the-scenes goings-on with regards to this podcast. What was the original name of this podcast? What is the story behind the cover art? And who is SaturDave? All of these answers and more. Don’t forget to rate, review, and help spread the word! You can reach me via e-mail at: vikingstoryfaq@outlook.com Want to check out my br...

The best Viking-themed tv show (in my opinion) is revealed and it may not be one you are familiar with. What makes this series better than Vikings and Vikings Valhalla and who was Uhtred of Bebbanburg? All of these answers and more. Don’t forget to rate, review, and help spread the word! You can reach me via e-mail at: vikingstoryfaq@outlook.com Want to start your own podcast with the simplest edi...

My second choice for best Viking-themed tv show is revealed, but how close was it to actually being my number one? What makes this Norwegian fantasy drama so good and who are the Norwegian "Brat Pack"? All of these answers and more. Don’t forget to rate, review, and help spread the word! You can reach me via e-mail at: vikingstoryfaq@outlook.com Want to start your own podcast with the simplest edi...

The #3 ranked Vikings-themed tv show is reviewed and I share some of my own personal stories that relate to the series. A few questions are also discussed, such as: Did the Vikings really use sun stones and sun compasses? Did surviving on your own in the wilderness make you a legendary Viking? And is Game of Thrones more historically accurate than the Vikings tv show? All of these answers and more...

It's the start of another new season and I start by thanking my loyal listeners and welcoming all of the new ones. So... a few updates in regards to my publication journey... a deal has been signed and the journey is fast coming to its conclusion! Learn about a few of the details so far in going to print and also receive a preview of the season ahead. Want to start your own podcast with the simple...

Season 3 has come nearly as fast as it has gone. Almost as if it was riding Slepnir. In the final episode of the season I give a quick overview of my publishing journey to date, plus I talk a little about my private life and various trials and trublations I have edured. However, on the plus side, there will be a Season 4 so stay subscribed to recieve those episodes the second they drop (sometime i...

The last day of the week (or at least the last day that concerns Norse Gods) is the association of Frigg to Friday. This episode also takes a look at the scholarly debate as to whether or not Frigg and Freyja were at one time one and the same. But in order to look at them in the same light they are first seperated into two and reviewed individually in their own rights. So who was Frigg, besides th...

In this episode we take a closer look at arguably one of the most famous Norse Gods of all time, even rivaling his father's (Oðin's) fame; today the focus is on the God associated with the day of the week we know as Thursday - Þor! Was Þor actually more popular than Oðin during the Viking age? What did he represent and how was he viewed in comparison to the other Norse Gods? What has modern cultur...

Known as the "All Father," Oðin is perhaps the most important God of the Viking people. Or was he? In this special episode I take a closer look at one of the most famous Gods of the Norse pantheon. But where did it all begin for Oðin? How does it all end? What did he represent and what is he associated with? And what does a modern-day shirt and skirt have to do with Norse migration patterns and th...

Focusing on the Norse God associated with the day of the week known as Tuesday, I take a look at Týr and his place in the pantheon of Norse Gods. Was Týr at one point a more important God than Oðin? How did the Vikings invoke Týr? Were human sacrifices ever made in his honour? All of these answers and more. Don’t forget to rate, review, and help spread the word! You can reach me via e-mail at: vik...

In this first episode of Season 3 I do what it says on the tin and present an overview of "Creation in Norse Cosmology." How was the Norse universe created? Where do the Viking people and their Gods come from? Who were the Æsir and Vanir, and are their stories echos of real events from the past? All of these answers and more. Don’t forget to rate, review, and help spread the word! You can reach me...

In this BONUS episode I introduce you to my latest side-project, another podcast called TFC Story, which is going to be a part of my overall "Story" franchise. I also take a look at the new Netflix series called "Vikings Valhalla," which features many of the same historical characters that are also featured in my novel, as well as many of the same locations, all set in the same time period as my n...

Breaking News? In this, the final episode of Season 2, we look at some "breaking news" as it relates to the Vínland voyages and the site at L'Anse aux Meadows. The future of this very podcast is also discussed with a look ahead to what's next. Thank you all so much for listening and following along with me on this journey! Don’t forget to leave a review and help spread the word! Stay subscribed to...

This is a fun episode in which I take you through a read-through of the introduction to my novel (tongue-twisters and all)! I explain the references made in my introduction and give some crucial background detail into those elements of the Viking world. There's even time for some Old Norse pronounciation and vocabulary! Don't forget to rate, review, and help spread the word. You can reach me via e...

This is the third and final episode of the "Viking Mysteries" series, in which we take a closer look at Ötzi The Iceman. Who was Ötzi and how old is he, actually? Where did he grow up? How did he live and how did he die? What were the strange circumstances surrounding his death? What was life like during Ötzi's time? What have we learned about Ötzi from modern science? All of these questions will...

In the second episode of the "Viking Mysteries" series we explore the dark history of Surtshellir in Iceland. What is Surtshellir? What was its purpose and why did the Vikings continually visit the site? How is Surtshellir connected to Ragnarök? The answers to all of these questions and more! Don't forget to rate, review, and help spread the word! You can reach me via e-mail at: vikingstoryfaq@out...

In the first of the "Viking Mysteries" series we look at the mystery surrounding the Vínland Map. Is the Vínland Map an authentic 15th Century map made by the Vikings or a modern day forgery? What is the background to the Vínland Map and why was it created? What is its history/story? Who made it? How did they make it? What do modern scholars think of the map today? And how did it ultimately end up...

The Viking horns are heralding in a new season, just in time for the holidays! In Season 2 we'll be diving into the world of rejections in the entertainment industry (yay!) but it's not all doom and gloom because Season 2 has a lot in store and this first episode gives a run-down of what to expect, what to look forward to, and an update on the current status of my Viking novel. Don't forget to rat...

This final episode explores a few more of the overall themes from the Vikings which were not focused on in episode one. Namely: what kind of law did the Vikings adhere to? How were laws administered? What language did the Vikings speak and what did the Vikings call their own language? What writing system did the Vikings use and how did it work? What did the Vikings do in their free time? All of th...