It has been a gift to work with John Trudeau on publishing his first novel, a historical fiction set in the 900s in Iceland and beyond. Studying at the College of William and Mary (Virginia) and the University of St. Andrews (Scotland), John has been writing and perfecting Muireall’s Iceland: A Viking Saga since his family’s vacation abroad a few years ago.
The novel tells a story with vivid attention to detail that puts readers right in the heart of the Viking Age. John’s use of native languages and names brings this historic and foreign world right to your imagination – complete with voyages and gruesome battles. Inspired by his family’s trip to Iceland in February of 2020 – and his enjoyment of historical fiction and books by Bernard Cornwell – John hand wrote the entire beginning of the novel while overseas. He completed the book as his last project before graduating high school. His grasp of the history in the 900s is impressive, even for a history major!
This summer, collaborating with Watermark owner Dawn Dinnan on proofreading, editing, and publication design has brought the tortuous clashes of Vikings and Norsemen to life here in our Munson Meeting Way studio.
John is excited about being a published author. His ideal reader is anyone interested in history – especially that of Viking times. The story is swashbuckling, yet plausible, he said, adding that the dynamic female protagonist is underrepresented in the genre. The saga keeps true to its historical roots, but John also created characters his readers could relate to in the modern age. So, while the book takes place in a reality starkly different from our own, centering around Vikings, or what John calls “robbers with a cooler aesthetic,” readers of today will comprehend the characters and what drives them.
John grew up in Connecticut, but his roots in Chatham are strong. He has come here every summer to a home established in the late 1950s by his great grandmother. This summer, when he wasn’t here at Watermark preparing his novel for publication, he was volunteering at the Atwood Museum with the Historical Society, serving as a game day intern for the Chatham Anglers, or spending time with his family.
Combining his experiences with his passions, John Trudeau has crafted an intriguing novel that we cannot wait to see in print! He’s off to college in Scotland, but when his first book is available, we’ll be the first to share the news.
Blog post by Afton Fay, Watermark intern
Leave a Reply