The story of Arminius, in my opinion, is similar to the movie Braveheart, only with a better plot and more satisfying ending. I took great pleasure in incorporating aspects of the Siegfried myth in the retelling of the historical battle of the Teutoburg Wald.
John Eklund – 9 September 2021
The Back Flap
Just over two thousand years ago a great hero liberated his people from the clutches of the Roman Empire, defeating the Romans in the most decisive battle in world history and forever changing the course of Western Civilization. Although his Latin name, Arminius, was recorded by prominent Roman historians, there was surprisingly no mention of him in the later discovered sagas of his own Norse people. Yet, the Norse and Germanic legends from Iceland to Austria all tell of a mythical dragon slayer named Siegfried, who was noble and brave, and who shared many similarities with the true to life warrior Arminius. Is it possible that the greatest hero in Norse literature was purely mythological, and that the one true historical hero, who saved his people and generations of their descendants from slavery, was completely forgotten? The only logical conclusion is that the dragon slayer Siegfried is the mythical transformation of the historical Arminius. Without a doubt, his victory over the Romans in the Teutoburg forest in the year AD 9 was a feat worthy of legendary status. This is his story─ the saga of Siegfried, Liberator of Germania.
About the book
What is the book about?
Siegfried, the Liberator of Germania tells the saga of an ancient Norse warrior who brilliantly freed his people from slavery by defeating three seemingly invincible Roman legions in an epic battle that took place in a rocky forested valley known as the Teutoburg Wald, in the year 9 A.D. The Norse warrior’s Latin name was Arminius, and this is how he is recorded in the history books today. However, it is likely that his Nordic name was Siegfried, and that he is the same character portrayed in the mythic Norse sagas made famous in Richard Wagner’s opera The Ring of the Nibelung. The book is rich in Norse myth and Germanic legend, as well as in actual historical events.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing it in the late spring of 2019.
How long did it take you to write it?
I finished in just about three months.
Where did you get the idea from?
I’ve always been a European history buff and a fan of Norse mythology, but it wasn’t until I was planning a family trip to Germany that I stumbled across the theory that the mythical dragon slayer Siegfried was in fact the fictionalization of the true to life Norse hero Arminius (also known as Hermann the German). The story of Arminius, in my opinion, is similar to the movie Braveheart, only with a better plot and more satisfying ending. I took great pleasure in incorporating aspects of the Siegfried myth in the retelling of the historical battle of the Teutoburg Wald. Everything fit together seamlessly, and that is why I was able to finish is a relatively short time.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Really, there were not. Although not all historians believe that Siegfried derived from Arminius, after doing my research, there were so many similarities between the two that it was easy to write.
What came easily?
The research was easy. I was already quite familiar with both the mythical Siegfried and the historical Arminius before I took to writing, and I already had in my possession all of the books I required for my research.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
As noted above, the characters were based on real world people and events.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I’m an avid reader of history and Norse mythology, but there are not any particular authors who have inspired me.
Do you have a target reader?
Absolutely. Siegfried is perfect for tweens and teens, and anyone interested in Norse mythology.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I just start writing the ideas that pop in my head, and then go back to fill in the details later. Doing research to find the “details” that best fit my intended narrative is the most fun part of the writing process for me.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I do outline, but my outlines are not detailed. I typically can finish an outline in about 10-15 minutes.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
A little of both, but mostly after I’ve finished.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I used iUniverse to do the editing, and I was pleased with the job they did.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
No, I do not listen to music. I like to write when I’m by myself and everything is quiet and peaceful.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
No. I had used iUniverse years before when I published my first book, and I was happy with the experience, so I went right to them.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
It was based on my experience with my first book, The Third Testament. I had spent a few years trying to get it published by more “traditional” means, before I went with self-publishing.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
It was professionally done by artists associated with iUniverse. All of the artwork in the book was based on detailed descriptions of what I wanted, and the artists brought it to life.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I have a marketing package through iUniverse. Plus, I am reaching out to Norse myth buffs and middle school librarians on my own.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Take your time to research the different options.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Brookfield, IL, a suburb of Chicago. The Brookfield zoo was right behind my house, and every once in a while an animal would escape in our neighborhood. It was literally wild.
Where do you live now?
Long Grove, IL, known for its historic covered bridge and small_town charm.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I’ve written three books, and am working on a fourth. My first book was The Third Testament, a novel that looks at the history of the last 2000 years through a biblical lens, rather than the purely secular history we learn in school. My second book was Siegfried, and my third was the Last of the Vikings, a historical fiction book about the most notorious Vikings, and about the latter day “Vikings,” the Swedish warrior kings Gustavus Adolphus and Charles XII.
What are you working on now?
I’m just finishing up a book called Prussian Knight, about the Teutonic Knights and their ancestors. It is another historical fiction book, written for those with pride in their Prussian heritage.
End of Interview:
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