Mary Hotvedt, Author of "Unn's Saga"By Frost McGahey
On Friday, November 6, at 3:00 p.m., at the Silver City Library, Mary Hotvedt held a reading of her just published novel Unn’s Saga.
Unn’s Saga explores what happens when a 9th century ghost inhabits the body of a fussy young woman. The woman’s therapist, Dr. Ina Pelletier, finds her staid life upended by the appearance of this “Viking” in her patient, the troubled but whiny R. (R was born Roxanna, but is now trying to find a new name. There were already too many Ravens in town.) Is R. having a psychotic breakdown or is this Unn person real?
Unn Ketilsdottir is the 9th century spirit who was a strong-willed Viking woman that crossed oceans and founded dynasties. Although Norwegian, she was one of the founders of Iceland.
Dr. Mary Hotvedt is a trained therapist, and has dealt with many clients over the years. While in a bookstore in Reykjavik, Iceland, she picked up a book on the Laxdala Saga and read about Unn. This Viking was a take-charge woman, and Hotvedt thought a few of her clients could use a little Unn in them. That started Hotvedt on a 20-year writer’s journey.
Pamela Warren Williams of HeartLink introduced Hotvedt at the reading. Williams is the publisher of the book, and said it was one of her favorites. Hotvedt read a series of vignettes from her novel to give her audience an idea of the plot and the characters.
Hotvedt is Norwegian and speaks a little of the language. However, her brother Paul Hotvedt is fluent in it. One attendee called on him to speak the language, and he did so by introducing his sister in Norwegian. It is a surprisingly melodic language.
The Norwegian theme was enhanced by Norwegian cookies and brown cheese.
Local authors Ann Lane Hedlund and JJ Amaworo Wilson were in the audience. Both of them had written endorsements for Hotvedt’s novel, and praised it. Many others also said they loved the book.
The event ended with Hotvedt signing copies of her book. It can be bought at Amazon.Amazon.com: Unn's Saga: A Work of Historical Fiction: 9781949652505: Hotvedt, M. E.: Books
