Welcome to the Wolfgar site by author James Richard Larson Reviews A fast-paced thrilling Viking adventure story. I loved it!, January 7, 2007 Reviewer: Linda Linguvic   New York City - See all my reviews         The world of the Vikings and the conflicting onslaught of Christianity set the stage for this epic adventure novel, the second in a series of three. There are many characters, several themes and a fast-paced exciting story that I kept picturing as an episodic mini-series on one of the cable channels. From the very first page, I was captured by the story and found myself thinking about it at odd moments as I went about my day. It did much more than teach me about the history of the Vikings; it actually made me feel that I was right there, experiencing the sea voyages, the plundering and the exploration. The book is set in the tenth century and begins with a shipwreck off the coast of North America. The Native American people have never seen a seaworthy ship or people with light hair and skin. Eventually, the 11 Vikings, although not really accepted, are included into their community. Wolfgar, the leader of the group and a holy man, is immediately thrown into conflict with some of the Indians, especially in the area of religion, but the Vikings manage to co-exist and become part of the community for several years until events cause Wolfgar to run for his life. But this is only one of the small subplots of the novel. There are other dramatic stories going on, all intersecting, and each one fascinating. There is Wolfgar's son who wants to find his father but is thwarted in his quest because he is sold into slavery. There is a Christian king who makes converts through the use of the sword. There is the Native American woman who loves Wolfgar as well as the wife Wolfgar left behind who is now married to another man. There is the cruel world of slavery and the business of slave trading. There is great wealth and poverty and treachery and love. All this takes place in the Viking world, so well described that I felt I was right there, all the time. Nothing is subtle in this big and bold book. We know right away who the bad guys and the good guys are. There is constant action on every page. I just couldn't stop reading. At the very beginning of the book I was a little hesitant about the translations of the language of the American Indians. They seemed to speak in more complex sentences than I have usually seen. However, I soon realized that my prior experience with reading translations of their languages usually made them all speak in a over-simplified kind of pidgin English which made them seem rather unsophisticated and simple. This book allows for more intricacy in their use of language with the result that they did not seem like caricatures, but were fully fleshed out people. I liked that. This is truly a book about the clash of cultures, a theme that is as fresh today than it ever was. And, most of all it is an epic story, one that grabbed my interest in the first page and left me thirsting for more. Transcontinental and firstclass Vikings-novel , December 23, 2006 Reviewer: timediver® (Offenbach am Main, Germany) - See all my reviews "If it takes a thousand years, or even ten thousand, Odin will regain his place of Glory." (Ragnar Wolfgarsson) Erik Thorvaldsson, called "the Red" returns after threes years of banishing to Iceland, in order to enlist settlers for his colony. In the year 985 he startet to sail with a fleet of 25. But only 14 ships should arrive at Greenland. On board of the lost ships were 350 men, women and children.... From the historical facts around the missing persons and other nameless men from Iceland, which already put their feet on "America", years before Leif Erikson, James Richard Larson develops a fantastic, quite conclusive story about his protagonist "Wulfgar". After the nordic seer and Priest has stranded with his ship "Raven", he and its people find friendly admission within the tribe of the Leni Lenape. But the "Swanukken" (algokin: Seawater people) are not equally welcomed to each of the "Skraelings" (oldnordic: "Weak men").... ....after years of waiting Wolfgars wife Katrine finally marries Bjarni Herjulfsson, which (after the Greenland Saga) is considered as a discoverer of "America", but who didn't set his feet on the continent and was therefore called "the Cautious". Ragnar Wulfgarsson is convinced of the fact, that his father is still alive and goes on board the "Sleipnir", Leif Erikssons longship.... ....as it's third story the novel offers some of the delivered narrations around the Norwegian king Olaf Tryggvason ("Crowleg"), who in Larsons version grows up after his escape with his mother Astrid at the court of the Russian ruler Vladimir I. (Swjatoslawitsch) and finally returns after numerous adventures in Pommern, Southengland and Ireland to land of his royal ancestors. Gradually the author leads the different stories, which stretches from North America to Russia, together, alt last in a fulminant final in the middle of the 990-decade. Beside already known persons from "The Eye Of Odin", with the more exciting sequal the reader makes the acquaintance with further strong characters. Very impressing is the intercultural meeting between Vikings and Indians, particularly the spiritual and ritual exchange between "Wolfgar" an his shaman-colleague "Silent Owl". The discriptions of the (in later times called) Delawares with their "Walum Olum" and their enemies, the "Susquehannocks", who called them "Barkeaters" are arousing associations to the novels of James Fenimor Cooper. Also this time Larson's second epos neither misses the typical black humor of it's genre or the question about religious tolerance. A central topic are the political considerations and methods that came along with bringing Christianity to the last heaths of Northern Europe, which often only offered the choice between "baptism or sword". With "Wulfgar" Larson delivers again a fantastic Vikingsaga and historical novel, that in it's epic style of narration and it's historical content, stands in one line with such novels of James A. Michener or Gary Jennings. The new "high priest of the Asen" from Wisconsin proves, that also his second book belongs to the first class of the Vikingsnovels. Evaluated with 5 Amazonstars, in addition it also let's expect the already announced sequal "Vikings of The East" with impatience.     I wrote my second novel, WOLFGAR, in 2004. I decided to go the traditional route with my second (and third) books, for reasons that are explained in the interview below, HOW I GOT A LITERARY AGENT. WOLFGAR takes up the thread and continues the story of THE EYE OF ODIN. This epic tale extends from the coast of North America and the Viking interaction with the Lenni Lenape and Susquehannock peoples, to Viking exploits in England, Ireland, Norway, Saxony and Russia. A note about literary agents: Following this note is my take on acquiring my first literary agent. I was pretty naive at the time and didn't know what I have subsequently learned. School of hard knocks, y'know? Little did I know at the time that there are legitimate agents, and then there are the rest of them. (and their numbers are legion!) To date I have 2 ex-agents. At the present time I'm working on finding agent number 3. How I got a literary agent An interview with author James R. Larson James R. Larson recently acquired an agent using firstwriter.com's database of literary agencies. We asked him about his writing, and how he found success. fw: Congratulations on securing an agent to represent your book, James. Tell us a little about the book you've placed. JRL: The title of the novel is Wolfgar. It is a work of fiction, loosely based on the Heimskringla sagas, (the sagas of the Norwegian kings). Wolfgar takes place in the tenth century during the time of the Viking expansion in northern Europe and North America. fw: Where did you get your inspiration from? JRL: My inspiration came from various sources. Actually my first inspiration was from a High School English teacher. Miss Novak told me that someday I would  be a writer. Although that was nearly forty years ago, I have never forgotten her words. Also, being of Scandinavian descent, I have always been interested in stories about the Viking times. My first novel, The Eye of Odin, is an historical fiction about the life and times of Erik the Red. fw: How did you go about writing it, and how long did it take? JRL: It took me approximately nine months to write Wolfgar. The first draft manuscript topped out at about 240,000 words. Editing took roughly seven months. The final word edit numbered about 215,000 words, so my ten percent reduction target was pretty close to the mark. I tried to write a minimum of 2000 words per day. Each day I entered the information on an excel spreadsheet to keep track of dates, word count, and goals. I thought it important to see the daily progress as a spur to keep on track. Some days I could not wait to get home from my day job so I could continue writing the story. Other days I had to force myself to sit down at the laptop. I think it is very important to have a place to write that is free of interruption. I try to write every day. When I miss a day the open spot on the spreadsheet is a glaring reminder that I did not write that day. A blank spot makes me feel as though I cheated myself. I believe a writer has to be regimented and produce every single day. I have found there is no other way. I did it with my first novel as well as my second and third. All I can say is that it works for me. fw: You mention having written other novels. What were the others about, and did you try to get them published? JRL: Wolfgar is my second full-length novel. My first, The Eye of Odin, was vanity published. I chalk up my experience with vanity publishing as a tough lesson and a somewhat bitter reality check. The real world is a much different place. The main issue, I believe, is vanity publishings complete lack of credibility. After my tunnel vision cleared, I learned what everyone else seemed to know already, that vanity publishers will publish anything submitted to them, and are not considered real publishers. Sure, one can purchase packages that include editorial reviewing, copy editing, how to help guides in marketing and promotions, and innumerable other services. The key word is purchase. All vanity services come at a price. The prices vary somewhat, and they are expensive. So what is my advice to someone considering a vanity publisher? Forget it. Instead, grow some very thick skin, get ready for an avalanche of rejection letters, and find an agent. fw: You describe vanity publishing's lack of credibility. Did you find that a lack of credible publishing history made it harder to secure a literary agent? JRL: I believe that being previously published is a huge point in an authors favour. In regard to novels I think it means, probably in the majority of cases, that at one time an agent did agree to represent the authors work. But is it necessary to have been published in order to secure an agent? No, it is not. In my own experience I was able to sign a contract with an agent despite the fact that I had never truly been published. The catch-22 says that in order to secure an agent, one must have been published, and in order to find a publisher one must have an agent. It is very difficult. fw: How did you go about trying to get your book published? Did you start trying to find a literary agent straight away? JRL: The first thing I did was read. I joined a writers book club and found a wealth of books pertinent to the subject. When I felt that my book was ready for submission, I realised that finding an agent to represent my work was the only option. fw: And how did you go about trying to find an agent? JRL: I bought the latest issue of Writers Market and read the details of every agency listed. I began listing potential agency contacts. I found books on formatting and submitting that describe exactly what agents and publishers want to see, and learned that there are very specific rules. The internet provided a wealth of information. I began sending query letters. If I had questions I would usually call the agency for information. While researching on the internet I came across firstwriter.com. It proved to be tailor-made tool for what I was trying to accomplish. fw: What was it about firstwriter.com that made it so effective for you? JRL: I liked the way the site was laid out. The navigation bar allows searchers to pigeonhole exactly what they are looking for. Clicking on Literary Agents and Advanced Search takes you to sub menus designed to further narrow down the search by type, area, market, and style. When the various items describing an authors work are selected, a list of agents catering to the chosen particulars is provided. Comprehensive information about individual agencies is given, including addresses, phone numbers, and exactly what the agency expects. The InstantAlert feature arranged to provide information to a subscribers email address keeps one up to date with any additions or changes to the agent databases. I found my agent via an InstantAlert email. fw: When you'd found your list of potential agents, how did you go about approaching them? JRL: My list numbered 113 agencies to query. firstwriter.com provided most of the contact information I needed. I separated the list by which agencies accepted email queries and which agencies did not. I learned that response to email queries was limited or ignored, so I concentrated on agencies requiring a hard copy query and an SASE. Also, I targeted agencies accepting a chapter or two in addition to the initial query. I bought various books on the subject. I could not believe the number of self-help books available on writing and finding an agent. For the most part, they helped quite a bit. I wrote my query based on tips from the various books I read. Each query was somewhat different, catered to the particular agent, but they pretty much contained the same information. The book Formatting and Submitting your Manuscript by Cynthia Laufenberg proved to be a big help. fw: It's interesting that you targeted agencies who don't accept email queries, and personalised each approach. Often writers do exactly the opposite and start off by sending identical emails to all the agencies who have email addresses listed (regardless of whether they accept email queries or not!). JRL: Yes, I sent out queries, synopses, and sample chapters tailored to agency submission guidelines. Some wanted a query letter only; others agreed to accept the first chapter, the first fifty pages, or perhaps three chapters. They are rather explicit about what they want to see. fw: That's right. But making inappropriate submissions is still the biggest mistake writers make, often meaning years of fruitless searching for an agent. By carefully conforming to submission guidelines, how long did it take you to find an agent? I began looking for an agent in the fall of 2003, after I finished my first book. However it was in November of 2004 that I began to search for an agent in earnest. Once I made a serious effort, it took about 4 months. At that point, I had approached 28 agencies. I found an agent in February of 2005. fw: That's really quick! It really demonstrates the benefits of good research, personalised approaches, and conforming to submission guidelines. Nonetheless, 27 rejection letters is enough to wear anyone down. How did you deal with this? JRL: In the beginning when the SASEs arrived in the mail, I opened them with confidence and high hopes. As time went on, I opened them with dread. A few were courteous and polite, even helpful. Most were very impersonal. Many send form letter rejections. When you have devoted time, energy, and creativity to a project, it is a humbling experience, and a bleak reality, to have your work rejected out of hand. One agent said that she liked my writing, and not to despair, and remember that each no brings you that much closer to a yes. I took that advice to heart. fw: Securing an agent is a dream for a lot of writers. How do things change once you've got one on board? JRL: Having an agent is great. Writers can expect encouragement, support, and help from one who is savvy to the business. Although I believe promoting the work is a major responsibility of the writer, it is nice to be able to concentrate more on the writing end. Having someone in your corner is a big help. fw: What next? Do you have any more books in the pipeline? Where are you taking your writing now? JRL: Last week I completed the first draft of my third novel. Now the editing process begins. It will be months before the book is presentable to the agent, so I have my work cut out for me. In the meantime I have started my fourth novel. I have plans for a fifth and a sixth book. My goal is to write one novel each year. I have a regular full time job so I have to juggle time when I can. But I will continue my writing; It is just something I love to do. fw: Thank you for taking the time to talk to us, James. I'm sure your experience and tips will prove useful to other writers. Good luck with your new novel and all you other endeavours. Delaware Tribe of Indians   The name DELAWARE was given to the people who lived along the Delaware River, and the river in turn was named after Lord de la Warr, the governor of the Jamestown colony. The name Delaware later came to be applied to almost all Lenape people. In our language, which belongs to the Algonquian language family, we call ourselves LENAPE (len-NAH-pay) which means something like "The People." Our ancestors were among the first Indians to come in contact with the Europeans (Dutch, English, & Swedish) in the early 1600s. The Delaware were called the "Grandfather" tribe because we were respected by other tribes as peacemakers since we often served to settle disputes among rival tribes. We were also known for our fierceness and tenacity as warriors when we had to fight, however, we preferred to choose a path of peace with the Europeans and other tribes. Susquehannock Tribe of Indians     Almost completely forgotten today, the Susquehannock were one of the most formidable tribes of mid-Atlantic region at the time of European contact and dominated the large region between the Potomac River in northern Virginia to southern New York. Little is known about them, since they lived some distance inland from the coast, and Europeans did not often visit their villages before they had been destroyed by epidemic and wars with the Iroquois in 1675. The Susquehannock have been called noble and heroic. They have also been described as aggressive, warlike, imperialistic, and bitter enemies of the Iroquois. They may also have warred with the Mahican from the central Hudson Valley. When he first met the Susquehannock in 1608, Captain John Smith was especially impressed with their size, deep voices, and the variety of their weapons. Their height must have been exceptional, because the Swedes also commented on it thirty years later. The constant warfare between Iroquian-speaking tribes gave the Susquehannock a military advantage over their more peaceful Algonquin neighbors to the east and south. Using canoes for transport, Susquehannock war parties routinely attacked the Delaware tribes along the Delaware River and travelled down the Susquehanna where they terrorized the Nanticoke, Conoy, and Powhatan living on Chesapeake Bay.