# Ashley Hagood

> FANTASY AUTHOR


## Posts

- [Freya's Day Update:  18 Oct 2024](https://ashleyhagood.com/2024/10/18/freyas-day-update-18-oct-2024/): Happy Freyda’s Day! It’s been a busy week in writing land. I finally found my footing with By Fate’s Frozen Firelight, writing consistently every day and finishing about one chapter per day. Writing first thing in the morning—even for just 45 minutes to an hour—makes all the difference for me! I am able to writeContinue reading 
- [Daughters of Valhalla Annotated Chapters (1-3)](https://ashleyhagood.com/2024/09/20/daughters-of-valhalla-annotated-chapters-1-3/): Enjoy the explosive opening chapters of Daughters of Valhalla in a whole new way. These annotated chapters are filled with author insights, special images, Viking history, and Norse lore. If you’ve ever wanted to know who was the most popular Norse god, what’s the deal with Odin’s ravens, or whether Brynja and Erik are trulyContinue reading 
- [Mythic Hearts Cover Reveal: By Fate's Frozen Firelight](https://ashleyhagood.com/2024/09/20/mythic-hearts-cover-reveal-by-fates-frozen-firelight/): I am so excited to share the final cover design for By Fate’s Frozen Firelight, book one of my upcoming YA romantic fantasy trilogy Mythic Hearts Saga! The whole trilogy is coming to Kickstarter in early 2025—but, of course, our found family in the Ravens Keep will get to read it first. I can’t waitContinue reading 
- [Mythic Hearts: Anime Character Cards](https://ashleyhagood.com/2024/09/08/mythic-hearts-anime-character-cards/): Someone once told me “Mythic Hearts” sounds like the name of an anime. So naturally, I had to imagine my characters in an anime style! It took some careful prompting in Midjourney and some edits afterward, but here is what I came up with for Freyda, our healer heroine, and Leif, our roguish hunter. IContinue reading 
- [A New Serial & Keeping Promises](https://ashleyhagood.com/2024/06/02/skald-chronicles-june-2-2024/): Weekly update for June 2, 2024. A short story, a new serial, keeping promises, and creative energy.
- [Character Interview: Andor from Daughters of Valhalla](https://ashleyhagood.com/2024/03/23/character-interview-andor-from-daughters-of-valhalla/): Dive into the depths of Andor's heart and mind in this intimate interview. Discover the truth behind his quiet strength and the complexities of his relationship with Svanhild.
- [Character Interview: Thorbjorn from Daughters of Valhalla](https://ashleyhagood.com/2024/03/16/character-interview-thorbjorn-from-daughters-of-valhalla/): What part does luck play in Thorbjorn's life? How does he truly feel about Svanhild? Find out in this exclusive character interview.
- [Character Interview: Erik from Daughters of Valhalla](https://ashleyhagood.com/2024/03/11/character-interview-erik-from-daughters-of-valhalla/): Learn why Erik gave up the farm and took up the axe—and how he really feels about Brynja—in this exclusive interview.
- [What Was Viking Yule Really Like?](https://ashleyhagood.com/2023/12/07/what-was-viking-yule-really-like/): Jól took place over three nights, starting with the midwinter solstice around December 21st. Unfortunately, the eddas we would normally turn to for information don’t contain many details about the celebrations. So what do we know? There was lots of feasting and drinking. What else would you expect from the Vikings? In a saga about KingContinue reading 
- [Finding Inspiration as a Writer](https://ashleyhagood.com/2023/06/29/finding-inspiration-as-a-writer/): As a historical fantasy author, I find inspiration in so many places. Whether it’s TV shows, other books, or my favorite games, I ingest as many stories and inhabit as many worlds as I can to inspire my own stories and worlds. The most common inspiration for me is television. I often find myself thinking,Continue reading 
- [Whispers of a Sorceress Now Available](https://ashleyhagood.com/2023/05/31/whispers-of-a-sorceress-now-available/): As of Friday, Whispers of a Sorceress, the second book in the the Daughters of Valhalla series, is officially out! You can purchase the ebook at your favorite digital retailer today. New to the Series? If you’re new to the Daughters of Valhalla series, why not give the first book a try with the firstContinue reading 
- [New Motherhood as a Writer](https://ashleyhagood.com/2023/03/31/new-motherhood-as-a-writer/): On Valentine’s Day this year, my son was born. He’s my first child, so motherhood has been a new experience for me. Taking care of a newborn requires a lot of energy — and that means personal projects take a sideline for awhile. That includes writing a book! I’m writing this post at 4:50 AM.Continue reading 
- [The Origins of the "Daughters of Valhalla" Series](https://ashleyhagood.com/2023/02/21/the-origins-of-the-daughters-of-valhalla-series/): Today, I thought it would be fun to share how the Daughters of Valhalla series began. It feels like such a whirlwind to me — from thinking up the idea to writing to publishing the first book, Song of the Shieldmaiden! Are you ready for a quick storytime? I was actually working on an entirelyContinue reading 
- [Viking Völvas: Who Were These Magical Women?](https://ashleyhagood.com/2023/01/24/viking-volvas-who-were-these-magical-women/): As I write Whispers of a Sorceress, the second book in my Daughters of Valhalla series, I’ve been learning a lot about Viking* völvas. In the books, the character Haldis has been trained as a völva, or Viking seer. Born blind in one eye, which is all-white, and with a reddish-purple rash running down oneContinue reading 
- [The Kickstarter is Live!](https://ashleyhagood.com/2022/11/15/the-kickstarter-is-live/): It’s official – my very first Kickstarter is live! This is the place to pre-order Whispers of a Sorceress and the first physical editions of both books in the Daughters of Valhalla series so far. Plus, there’s some Viking swag included in the tiers! A few fun things to note about the campaign: Free Sticker!Continue reading 
- [Physical Editions Coming to Kickstarter!](https://ashleyhagood.com/2022/11/12/physical-editions-coming-to-kickstarter/): Today I have exciting news for you all — I will be releasing the very first physical editions of my books through Kickstarter! If you’re not familiar with Kickstarter, it’s a platform where you can essentially pre-order things from creators. Campaigns are broken into tiers, so you choose which tier has the items you wantContinue reading 
- [Book 2 Cover Reveal!](https://ashleyhagood.com/2022/11/03/book-2-cover-reveal/): It’s time for some Daughters of Valhalla news, and today I actually have not one but TWO cover reveals for you! The first is a physical edition cover for Song of the Shieldmaiden, the first book in the Daughters of Valhalla series. Don’t get me wrong – I still love the original ebook cover, butContinue reading 
- [How Did Vikings Give Birth?](https://ashleyhagood.com/2022/06/22/how-did-vikings-give-birth/): Some of you may know that I recently wrote a short story called “Daughter of Ravens,” which is all about the birth of my character Haldis. If you’re interested, you can read it today via my newsletter! As research for the story, I looked up everything I could find about how Vikings gave birth. NotContinue reading 
- [Release Day for Song of the Shieldmaiden!](https://ashleyhagood.com/2022/06/10/release-day-for-song-of-the-shieldmaiden/): Release day is finally here! I am thrilled to announce my first book, Song of the Shieldmaiden, is now published. ? You can pick up a digital copy at your favorite retailer and start reading today. And if you already pre-ordered the book, it should be on your device or available for download now. ForContinue reading 
- [My Color-Coding System for Book Edits](https://ashleyhagood.com/2022/05/20/my-color-coding-system-for-book-edits/): The past few weeks, I have been heads-down on edits for my novel Song of the Shieldmaiden. It comes out in just a few short weeks! At first, I’ll admit the process of editing an entire novel was a little overwhelming. But now I have a simple color-coding system to track my progress as IContinue reading 
- [Song of the Shieldmaiden: Book Trailer! ?](https://ashleyhagood.com/2022/05/09/song-of-the-shieldmaiden-book-trailer-%f0%9f%8e%89/): A couple of weeks ago, I created a short book trailer for Song of the Shieldmaiden. It was a great way to spend an afternoon. Is the trailer a little cheesy? Yes. But that’s the way of book trailers, and I had so much fun putting it together. So if you’re not sure what SongContinue reading 
- [Writing Update: April 2022](https://ashleyhagood.com/2022/04/25/writing-update-april-2022/): Happy spring, everyone! With April coming to a close, I thought I’d share an update on my writing… Book Edits April was a quiet month for me, writing-wise — or at least it was supposed to be. I planned to take a break from my book so I could come back to the final editsContinue reading 
- [What Did the Vikings Eat?](https://ashleyhagood.com/2022/04/11/what-did-the-vikings-eat/): As a foodie, I am always interested in learning what people ate in other time periods. Living in the Bay Area of California today, I am spoiled with choice — partly because so many immigrants have brought their cuisines here with them. On any given day, I have my pick of imported fruit, seasonal vegetables,Continue reading 
- [Pre-Order Song of the Shieldmaiden Today!](https://ashleyhagood.com/2022/04/10/pre-order-song-of-the-shieldmaiden-today/): I am excited to announce that my novel Song of the Shieldmaiden is now available for pre-order! It will be out on June 10, 2022. You can find it digitally for pre-order today at the following retailers for just $2.99. Pre-Order at Your Favorite Retailer I will also be publishing the book on Google Play. IfContinue reading 
- [Why I Write Historical Fiction](https://ashleyhagood.com/2022/03/07/why-i-write-historical-fiction/): I wrote my first novel in 7th grade. That book would not win any awards today, but my 12-year-old self was obsessed. I loved writing it. I would hide away in my family’s bonus room, typing for hours at a time. In the end, I had a manuscript of over 200 pages. It was anContinue reading 
- [An Artist Date](https://ashleyhagood.com/2022/01/26/artist-date-1/): Today I enjoyed my first Artist Date of the year. I’ve been reading Julia Cameron’s iconic book The Artist’s Way, and this week took the plunge to start my daily Morning Pages and weekly Artist Dates. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, and you’re interested in connecting with your inner artist, I highlyContinue reading 
- ["Good" Writing Days](https://ashleyhagood.com/2022/01/24/good-writing-days/): Today I had what I would consider a “good” writing day. It’s a day when the words come easily, and I am able to spill a scene onto the page. That said, I didn’t do a ton of inventive writing today; it was mostly rewriting an old scene, adding a little to it, and editingContinue reading 
- [Welcome to My Writing Diaries](https://ashleyhagood.com/2022/01/21/welcome-to-my-writing-diaries/): As I get my website up and running, I’ve decided to start a blog to track my progress toward my writing goal. It’s currently January 2022 — a new year and a fresh start! This year, my goal is to complete my historical fiction novel and publish it by the fall. This week, I watchedContinue reading 

## Pages

- [Of Milk and Blood](https://ashleyhagood.com/books/of-milk-and-blood/): “I was trained to restore what is broken. No one warned me that would include myself.” Larega Mirvaeth Restorativa of the Sanctum Matarae Lárega was born into the noble House Miraveth—but not without scandal. When her parents were accused of disloyalty to the Empire, they gave her to the Sanctum Matarae to protect their nameContinue reading 
- [Library](https://ashleyhagood.com/ravens-keep/library-2/)
- [Welcome Story](https://ashleyhagood.com/welcome-story/)
- [Skald's Study](https://ashleyhagood.com/ravens-keep/skalds-study/)
- [Ravens Keep](https://ashleyhagood.com/ravens-keep/): Adventure Awaits START EXPLORING Bonus Content LOREHALL Visit the Lorehall to explore monthly bonus content, including annotated chapters, character interviews, art, and more. Author Blog SKALD’S STUDY Peek inside the Skald’s Study for a behind-the-scenes look at how our author’s stories come to life. Access granted to Runewardens and Mythweavers. Stories, Books, & More LIBRARYContinue reading 
- [Membership](https://ashleyhagood.com/membership/): HAIL, FELLOW ADVENTURER! Welcome to the Ravens Keep, a virtual fortress where Norse fantasy comes to life! Here, you’ll dive into captivating books, unlock exclusive bonus content, and enjoy magical rewards that draw you deeper into our worlds. If you love character-driven fantasy with strong female protagonists, Viking-inspired realms, fresh twists on Norse myths, andContinue reading 
- [Lorehall](https://ashleyhagood.com/ravens-keep/lorehall-2/): BROWSE BONUS CONTENT
- [Password Reset](https://ashleyhagood.com/password-reset/): [pms-recover-password]
- [Account](https://ashleyhagood.com/account/): [pms-account]
- [Login](https://ashleyhagood.com/login/): [pms-login]
- [Register](https://ashleyhagood.com/register/): WELCOME TO THE RAVENS KEEP Choose your tier below to join our found family in the Ravens Keep today. Your spot by the hearth is waiting! [pms-register]
- [Result: Erik](https://ashleyhagood.com/valhalla-quiz/you-are-erik/)
- [Result: Andor](https://ashleyhagood.com/valhalla-quiz/you-are-andor/)
- [Result: Thorbjorn](https://ashleyhagood.com/valhalla-quiz/you-are-thorbjorn/)
- [Result: Brynja](https://ashleyhagood.com/valhalla-quiz/you-are-brynja/)
- [Result: Haldis](https://ashleyhagood.com/valhalla-quiz/you-are-haldis/)
- [Result: Svanhild](https://ashleyhagood.com/valhalla-quiz/you-are-svanhild/)
- [Daughters of Valhalla Character Quiz](https://ashleyhagood.com/valhalla-quiz/)
- [Mythic Hearts Saga](https://ashleyhagood.com/books/mythic-hearts-saga/): LISTEN TO THE PLAYLIST
- [Daughters of Valhalla](https://ashleyhagood.com/books/daughters-of-valhalla/): Book 1 SONG OF THE SHIELDMAIDEN Three Viking sisters fight to reclaim their home after a brutal warlord seizes their village—and one of them must marry the enemy’s son to protect them all. Book 2 WHISPERS OF A SORCERESS As Svanhild seeks allies in the north, Haldis unlocks forbidden magic, and Brynja navigates an unexpectedContinue reading 
- [Ravens' Nest Welcome](https://ashleyhagood.com/longhouse/welcome/): DOWNLOAD YOUR RAVEN WALLPAPERS What is the significance of ravens in our Ravens’ Nest? Ravens are symbols of intellect and prophecy in Norse mythology. The god Odin had a pair of ravens: Huginn (whose name means “Thought”) and Muninn (“Memory”). Scouring the realms for knowledge, they embody Odin’s insatiable thirst for wisdom. In my books,Continue reading 
- [Kitchen](https://ashleyhagood.com/longhouse/kitchen/): EXPLORING VIKING CUISINE We may be captivated by tales of raiders and shieldmaidens—but have you ever wondered what foods fueled their epic adventures? Find out in this brief introduction to Viking cooking. Kåre Creative culinary wizard Meet Kåre, the culinary wizard of our longhouse kitchen. With a keen eye for flavors and a passion forContinue reading 
- [Feast Hall](https://ashleyhagood.com/longhouse/): August Bonus Content MYTHIC HEARTS “ANIME” CHARACTER CARDS Someone once told me “Mythic Hearts” sounds like the name of an anime. So naturally, I had to imagine my characters in an anime style! It took some careful prompting in Midjourney and some edits afterward, but here is what I came up with for Freyda, ourContinue reading 
- [Bonus Content](https://ashleyhagood.com/longhouse/bonus-content/): BONUS CONTENT Dive deeper into the world of our Viking tales with exclusive content designed just for you. Here, you’ll find annotated chapters that reveal the secrets of our stories, character interviews that bring your favorite heroes to life, and bonus scenes that explore untold adventures. Enjoy exploring these treasures and uncovering the secrets ofContinue reading 
- [Skald's Study](https://ashleyhagood.com/longhouse/skalds-study/): Author Updates SKALD’S SCROLL MYTHIC HEARTS PLAYLIST Since I’m currently deep into writing my Mythic Hearts Saga series, I made a playlist to inspire my creativity. Immerse yourself in the mythical world of this YA fantasy adventure, with everything from Viking chants to Gilmore Girls favorites, Nordic pop to Taylor Swift. ? MEET THE SKALD’SContinue reading 
- [RAVENS' NEST](https://ashleyhagood.com/ravens-nest/): Join the Ravens' Nest and immerse yourself in a world of Viking fantasy.
- [Newsletter](https://ashleyhagood.com/newsletter/)
- [Payment Failed](https://ashleyhagood.com/payment-failed/): We’re sorry, but your transaction failed to process. Please try again or contact site support.
- [Payment Confirmation](https://ashleyhagood.com/payment-confirmation/)
- [My account](https://ashleyhagood.com/my-account/)
- [Home](https://ashleyhagood.com/): Author of Viking fantasy
- [Daughters of Valhalla](https://ashleyhagood.com/daughters-of-valhalla/): Character Portraits Select any character from the Daughters of Valhalla series below to learn more about them. Haldis Abandoned as an infant. Trained as a seer. The second-born daughter of Tove and Helga, Haldis was born blind in one eye with a red rash running down one side of her face. She was nearly abandonedContinue reading 
- [Song of the Shieldmaiden](https://ashleyhagood.com/books/song-of-the-shieldmaiden-excerpt/): An excerpt from Song of the Shieldmaiden Chapter 1: Svanhild Chapter 2: Haldis Chapter 3: Brynja 1: Svanhild Svanhild swung the sword, hitting the practice pell right above its straw thigh. She cursed. It was not where she wanted the blow to land. Sweat plastered her dark blonde hair to her forehead. As the nightContinue reading 
- [Books](https://ashleyhagood.com/books/)
- [Blog](https://ashleyhagood.com/blog/)
- [Writing Portfolio](https://ashleyhagood.com/writing-portfolio/): Browse Ashley Hagood's writing portfolio, including video game manuals, reviews, and entertainment content.
- [About](https://ashleyhagood.com/about/): MEET THE AUTHOR Ashley Hagood crafts mythic fantasy brimming with action, magic, and heart. She especially loves writing complex, compassionate female characters whose convictions are as strong as their swords. A history major turned web designer, she swapped a career in video games for the adventure of being a full-time author. Off the page, AshleyContinue reading 

## Products

- [Song of the Shieldmaiden (signed paperback)](https://ashleyhagood.com/product/song-of-the-shieldmaiden-paperback/): Which is the more dangerous weapon: the sword or the heart?        When a cruel usurper steals their father’s throne, three Viking sisters set upon a quest to save their village. Svanhild, the eldest, dreams of being a shieldmaiden. But there is only one way to save her family from the enemy’s axe: promise herself to his son.      
- [Whispers of a Sorceress (signed paperback)](https://ashleyhagood.com/product/whispers-of-a-sorceress-paperback/): Abandoned as an infant. Cursed with strange markings. Plagued by visions she doesn’t understand.  Dive into Haldis’s story in Whispers of a Sorceress, Book 2 in the Daughters of Valhalla series.
- [Bookmarks (Daughters of Valhalla set of 2)](https://ashleyhagood.com/product/bookmarks-set-of-2/): Enjoy the beauty of the books and their covers with these matching bookmarks. You'll get one Song of the Shieldmaiden and one Whispers of a Sorceress bookmark in this pair.
- [Whispers of a Sorceress (ebook)](https://ashleyhagood.com/product/whispers-of-a-sorceress-ebook/): Abandoned as an infant. Cursed with strange markings. Plagued by visions she doesn’t understand.        Dive into Haldis's story in Whispers of a Sorceress, Book 2 in the Daughters of Valhalla series.      
- [Song of the Shieldmaiden (ebook)](https://ashleyhagood.com/product/song-of-the-shieldmaiden-ebook/): Which is the more dangerous weapon: the sword or the heart?        When a cruel usurper steals their father’s throne, three Viking sisters set upon a quest to save their village. Svanhild, the eldest, dreams of being a shieldmaiden. But there is only one way to save her family from the enemy’s axe: promise herself to his son.      


[comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)