#WriterWednesday Author Interview with Bjorn Leesson

I’d like to welcome Bjorn Leesson to the blog for #WriterWednesday.

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: I guess that depends on the mood. I like to just research various interesting things, wander around in the woods for no real reason, or just engage in hypothetical discussions with my wife. I’m an exciting guy.

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: I’m not a big fan of shopping. I really don’t like shopping; too many people around me, there apparently are rules when you shop, and it always ends with spending more money than it was worth.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Reminding yourself that no one will ever be as invested in your story as you are as the author. Sure, you will have fans, even some diehard fans, but no one will ever love it more than you.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Being reminded by others that no one will ever be as invested in your story as you are as the author.

Something you wish you could do: At this age, REMEMBER. . . anything. Anything at all. When I was young, I used to believe all my elders were exaggerating about forgetting stuff, but here I am, and it’s too late to listen now.

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: It doesn’t matter. I can just say I don’t remember how, and odds are, I’m not lying about it.

Things you will run to the store for at midnight: Under the right conditions, PIZZA. Despite my aversion to shopping, I would for pizza, even at midnight. And now that I live twenty minutes in any direction from a town, driving there is the necessity, midnight or any other time. The only real drawback to living the county – no more pizza delivery.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Tofu, cauliflower, sushi, dill anything, or sour cream. These things are all evil, meant to disfigure and enslave humanity, and I will have no part of it. Even my bad memory will not let me forget how bad these things are.

Favorite places you’ve been: Away from home: Wales, England, Scotland, and Cornwall. Wonderful places! The scenery, the history, it’s all just awesome!

Places you never want to go to again: There is a really old BP gas station on the way to Florida from South Carolina along I95 (for the safety of everyone, I will not be more specific than that). You will know when you enter the bathroom at this horrid, evil place. You will feel the heaviness in the air of the alternate universe that exists in there, somewhere impossible in the normal universe.

People you’d like to invite to dinner (living): Jeremy Clarkson and Robert Duvall. We’d have pizza. I’d drive to the store at midnight to go get it for us.

People you’d cancel dinner on: Probably just about any politician. I’d cancel my own attendance, but I would leave them with tofu, cauliflower, sushi, dill anything, and sour cream with directions to the above-mentioned bathroom at the BP on I95.

Favorite things to do: Read about new interesting things, observe nature or settings around me, or just discuss the mysteries of the universe with an interested friend. The simple things are most likely going to be my favorite.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: I would have to place “running through fire” and “eating bugs” pretty high on that list, but that answer seems a little like cheating. So, alternatively, I would have to say I, like virtually everyone, am not a big fan of filing income taxes. I could go on for days about what it does for my blood pressure, but just suffice it to say, thankfully, the lovely Mrs. Leesson files for us.

Best thing you’ve ever done: I haven’t done it yet. It’s coming, and I don’t know when, but it’s coming. It’s going to be awesome, and I will likely write it into one of my books.

Biggest mistake: Stopping at that BP bathroom on I95. I don’t think an exorcist can fix that place, and that’s why I am sending the politicians there.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: I guess it is kind of a tie between mustering up the courage to try and publish my first book and driving stock cars at the local racetrack many many years ago. Both took some courage, and the risk was mental trauma from one, and physical trauma from the other. But both are ridiculously expensive.

Something you chickened out from doing: Skydiving with an adrenaline-junkie friend on mine. I am not particularly scared of heights like some people are, but jumping out of an airplane that is not in immediate danger of crashing with only basically a bed sheet popping out of a backpack to slow the fall is just kind of stupid if you ask me.

The most exciting thing about your writing life: Getting a new review. It doesn’t even have to be a five-star glowing praise of a review (although those are always very nice), just an honest review from a real person who actually read the book.

The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: Nothing. Everything happens for a reason, even if we don’t like it. It’s how we learn, and there will likely be a chance to do it again rather than over, and that is the time to do it differently than the first.

About Bjorn:

Bjorn Leesson has always been fascinated with many topics to include history, the supernatural, and writing. These interests combined led to the Outside the Thalsparr series, with the first book in the series, "Runes of the Dokkrsdottir." Bjorn was not formally trained as a writer and has worked in the industrial manufacturing field his entire life.

 Bjorn was born in the Lowcountry of South Carolina a long, long time ago.  He has worked in manufacturing all my working life to feed himself but has nourished his mind with the study of many topics; history of all eras, the paranormal, astronomy, writing of different types, photography, archeology, genealogy, vexillology, some other -ologies, even stock car racing for a couple of years, and on and on.  Bjorn finds just about everything fascinating in some way and has been accused of being too easily entertained.  A blend of a few of his interests led to the creation of the Thalsparr Universe.  The first six installments of the series are out now with more installments and spin-offs coming soon.  Bjorn currently lives in the Midlands of South Carolina with his wife of 25 years on their hobby farm.

Let’s Be Social:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/bjorn.leesson/

website:  https://thalsparr1891.wixsite.com/home

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Bjorn Leesson

I’d like to welcome Bjorn Leesson back to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

Things you never want to run out of: Wonder at everything in the world. I always find something about everything that is interesting to me, and I would hate to stop finding things of interest. I’m pretty sure it won’t happen. Ha.

Things you wish you’d never bought: I can’t think of a single thing. I learn from the mistakes I make, to include bad purchases, and those “learning through pain” moments are also what makes each of us – us.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Just a functioning brain and an idea. And the functioning brain is maybe a little less reliable than it once was.

Things that hamper your writing: The self-imposed idea that “this isn’t any good” before I have given the story or character a chance to develop. I am getting better about this, but every once in a while, I have to resist the urge to purge what I have written en masse. I walk away from it for a while, and nearly always discover the spark needed for me to be happy with it.

A few of your favorite things: The forest, open desolate country roads, and the babbling of water features (water fountains, rocky streams, etc).

Things you need to throw out: Eventually, I need to shed all the material things that aren’t necessary. But, that is hard for us humans to do. One day, though.

Favorite music or song: I like a little bit of everything, but my favorites are ragtime, big band, classical, historical themed songs (such as Johnny Horton), and comedic (such as Ray Stevens and Spike Jones.)

Music that drives you crazy: Most rap. Sorry, it just isn’t music to me. It is only loud, unimaginative storytelling that rarely seems to have a positive message. Just one guy’s opinion.

The last thing you ordered online: Author copies of Runes of Revenge, the next release of the Outside the Thalsparr series. February 25, 2025, and I am very excited about it.

The last thing you regret buying: A hamburger from a local fast food chain that I already know is not very good, but I did it anyway – and paid the digestive price for it later. Ha.

Things you’d walk a mile for: The perfect field or forest to sit in and just enjoy the serenity, wildlife, and natural noises to be heard. It’s my idea of heaven on earth.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: People who want to dominate a room, force their opinions on others, and can not just agree to disagree and let it go at that. I don’t want to think for others, and I surely don’t want them to think for me. I don’t speak of healthy debate – I love healthy debate – but there is a point where an impasse is encountered. Some people just won’t stop until they have tried to beat someone else into the dirt.

Things you always put in your books: A wide emotional range for each character. It is my goal to make the reader laugh, gasp, cry, and wonder. Essentially, I want it to feel like “life,” even if it is a fiction fantasy story.

Things you never put in your books: The “f” word. It is just a word, yes, and it is very popular these days. But just like pointless sex scenes, the “f” word is just gratuitous, overused, and unnecessary in my opinion. Its use would not stop me from reading a book, but I don’t put it into my own writing. (Having said that, the word is alluded to a few times in my books, but not used in its entirety.)

Favorite places you’ve been: I label my answer here as “best” in the sense that I have only been once, and it isn’t likely I will be able to go back anytime soon – Great Britain. I went on vacation there many years ago to visit friends with more friends, and I enjoyed pretty much every second. Fabulous place.

Places you never want to go to again: Anywhere that contains a large number of drunk people in a confined space. Some of them are entertaining, while others are more trouble than it’s worth. Ha.

People you’d like to invite to dinner: Alive – Jeremy Clarkson, George RR Martin, and William Shatner. Dead – Einstein, J RR Tolkien, and my father.

People you’d cancel dinner on: Pretty much any of the internet, radio, or television rabble-rousers who just employ shock and awe for ratings with no regard to any ethical responsibility to society.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: I drove a street stock car at the local race track for a season. It was very fun, but became a little too expensive for someone just out of high school.

Something you chickened out from doing: Not as much as chickening out as much as just refusing to do it outright. Ha. My friend (who got me into stock car racing to begin with) wanted me to go sky-diving with him. That was a hard “no.”

About Bjorn:

Bjorn was born in the Lowcountry of South Carolina a long, long time ago.  He has worked in manufacturing all his working life to feed himself but has nourished his mind with the study of many topics; history of all eras, the paranormal, astronomy, writing of different types, photography, archeology, genealogy, vexillology, some other -ologies, even stock car racing for a couple of years, and on and on.  Bjorn finds just about everything fascinating in some way and has been accused of being too easily entertained.  A blend of a few of his interests led to the creation of the Thalsparr Universe.  The first installment of the series will be “Runes of the Dokkrsdottir,” with a release date to be determined.  He currently lives in the Midlands of South Carolina with his wife of 25 years on their hobby farm.

Let’s Be Social:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPGJWXLY?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1733701027&sr=8-1

Website: Thalsparr.com

#WriterWednesday with Bjorn Leesson

I’d like to welcome Bjorn Leesson to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Hardest thing about being a writer:  Realizing that the one the most invested in your story is you, and you will likely not find a person more interested in your work.

Easiest thing about being a writer:  Just the writing when the stars are in the right alignment, and everything is flowing smoothly.  It’s wonderful.

Favorite foods:  Pizza, fried chicken, and pizza.

Things that make you want to gag:  Dill flavoring. I just can’t make myself like dill.

Favorite beverage:  Regular old black coffee.

Something that gives you a sour face:  Ridiculously and unnecessarily strong coffee (like expresso), and nearly anything from Starbucks (sorry, just not a Starbucks fan – price or taste).

Something you’re really good at:  Developing characters in stories.  I love it.

Something you’re really bad at:  Stopping, and that’s likely why my “short story” has turned into a series with eight foreseeable installments, and maybe more.

Things you always put in your books:  Humor, and lots of it.  All stories, no matter how dark they might be, should have some chuckles in it too.

Things you never put in your books:  Gratuitous and pointless sex.  In my opinion, a story should be strong enough to stand on its own without throwing in a bunch of smutty scenes that don’t add anything to the story.

Things to say to an author:  “My, you sure have a vivid imagination.”

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book:  “I would have written that differently.”  To which my reply is, “Then write your own.  What’s stopping you?”

Favorite books (or genre):  Adventure, supernatural mystery, and both fiction and nonfiction historical.

Books you wouldn’t buy:  I can’t think of a book I definitely wouldn’t buy.  I might suspect I wouldn’t enjoy some, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t try.

The nicest thing a reader said to you:  “I never enjoyed this type of story before, but I love yours.  You might have converted me.”

The craziest thing a reader said to you:  “You put too much detail in your stories.” 

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done:  I secretly built an English/Irish styled pub in the back of my garage over the course of a couple of months without my wife even knowing until I finished and showed it to her.  She was impressed, even though she will never admit it to anyone else.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it:  Raising goats to keep the grass cut.  As it turns out, I have the most finicky and spoiled goats in the world.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books:  My series being historical fiction fantasy, much of it is based on historical fact with my own added fiction to it.  For example, the Norse did settle England and were wiped out by the Saxons – helping to kick off the two hundred years of massive Viking raids on England.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not:  Not so much a scene of the story, but a friend of mine who has read some of the books (he is not a book reader, per se) told me he can definitely see a lot of me in the protagonist, Myrgjol the Dokkrsdottir.  I found it to be an honor for him to say so.

About Bjorn:

I am Bjorn Leesson.  I was born in the Lowcountry of South Carolina a long, long time ago.  I have worked in manufacturing all my working life to feed myself but has nourished my mind with the study of many topics; history of all eras, the paranormal, astronomy, writing of different types, photography, archeology, genealogy, vexillology, some other -ologies, even stock car racing for a couple of years, and on and on.  I find just about everything fascinating in some way and have been accused of being too easily entertained.  A blend of a few of these interests led to the creation of the Thalsparr Universe.  The first two installments of the series, “Runes of the Dokkrsdottir” and "Rune of Renewal” are out now with more coming.  I currently live in the Midlands of South Carolina with my wife of 25 years on our hobby farm.

Let’s Be Social:

website:  thalsparr.com

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bjorn-Leesson/author/B0C3TG5NBS?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1728149792&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true