In 2013 I became friends with a lovely woman who lived in Iceland, which is not only a beautiful place with Northern Lights and a rich history but it’s also has a very literate population who love to read. The island has several presses and a high number of authors. These people love books and learning. You can’t beat that!
We met on FaceBook when she posted a piece about a delightful holiday tradition in Iceland called the Book Flood. The charming custom is a readers dream. Every Christmas fiction and non-fiction volumes are the treasured presents to be unwrapped on Christmas Eve. As soon as the holiday paper is removed the books are poured over. Far into the night Icelander’s eat chocolate, curled up in their favorite chair and read.
Over the years, Hrönn Steingrimsdóttir and I shared ideas and got to know each other. This year my editor requested a new Christmas story to be put into a multiple author anthology called “Christmas Treasures”. I have some characters I’ve used before in a couple of short stories and I decided to take them on a third adventure to Iceland.
I started my research and the deeper I dug the more fascinating the island’s holiday became. Once I had a rough idea I reached out to Hrönn. I told her what I was doing and wanted to know how Icelanders felt about their 13 Yule Lads, (Troll brothers with distinct personalities that leave small gifts in the shoes of good children) and their terrible Ogre parents (primarily Grýla and the wicked Yule Cat).
More research and several questions later, as “Magic Yule” developed in my mind, I decided to write Hrönn into the story as a strong secondary character. I told Hrönn she was part of the story. She laughed and asked if her character was Grýla, the evil mother ogre. Hehehehe. No, Hrönn, you are Mari’s (main character) foster sister who she loves and is delighted to spend the holiday with.
I was excited. I didn’t know if I’d captured Hrönn’s personality accurately but thought she would enjoy the exciting tale with the Yule Lads and their ogre mother, Grýla, and would get a kick out of seeing her character’s role in the tale.
It was in my mind to send a book, if possible, before or in time for the Book Flood… a special gift for my dear friend.
I turned in “A Magic Yule” manuscript to my publisher at the end on June. Editing for a book, let alone for an anthology, takes time. I reached out to Hrönn in early October to get her mailing address. On November 6th the e-book anthology was published and I still hadn’t made contact. Thinking perhaps she was on an extended holiday, I convinced myself she’d get back to me when she returned home. Two days after the anthology was published I posted a general inquiry to anyone who knew Hrönn. I just got an answer. My beautiful friend, Hrönn Steingrimsdóttir, passed away in July after an accident.
I’m beyond sad. The ache is deep. I never met her in person but I dreamed of doing so. She was my friend. I treasured her. My little fiction short story will be dedicated to my dear friend and sister in my heart: Hrönn. Rest in peace, lovely lady.
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Hrönn Steingrimsdóttir was a genuine, classy woman. I’d like more people to know her; for her legacy of kindness and charm to reach out beyond Iceland and rest gently on every reader of this story. Her life blessed many. It’s my dream her goodness will reach out through the story and touch more.
If you wish to meet Hrönn in my short story, you can find it on Amazon as an ebook in the “Christmas Treasures” anthology: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Z42ZWNF/ or since Icelanders only read paper type books, it is the third story in my trilogy “Beyond Time”: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1695400283/. She was an amazing woman.
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