Many years ago, on a weekend trip to southeastern Oklahoma, I encountered the Heavener Runestone.  I wandered around the park and stared at the stone in awe. There is more than one school of thought about the origin of the Heavener Runestone – but the one I love the best is the idea that Vikings explored America before Columbus.

Polynesians traveled thousands of miles in outrigger boats to what is now Hawaii.  Eskimos made the trek down the Bering Strait into what is now Canada.  Why could Vikings not have journeyed down the east coast of American and into the Gulf Coast, then up the rivers and landed in Oklahoma?

Gloria Farley, in her book In Plain Sight: Old World Records in Ancient America, sites many places in what we now call America where there are relics proving Europeans were in what is now the United States before Columbus.  There were many cultures already set up and making history before the Columbus voyage and the invasion that took place later, but she talks about runestones across the United States and where they came from (http://gloriafarley.com/).

I was inspired by the beauty of the forests in that region of my state and the lore that accompanied the runestone – and Glome’s Valley http://tinyurl.com/zzwpbzh was born. There is a rich heritage of lore in that part of the world.  Many people believe that the carving on the stone is ancient Futhark and it says “Glome’s Valley” like someone named Glome was marking his territory.  I like to believe that.

Return to Glome’s Valley http://tinyurl.com/ybvpqva9 takes place fourteen years later when Ethan comes back to the place he loved as a child and finds little has changed in the valley.  Well, there is at least one creature who he didn’t meet last time.  Trondelag, is a dragon who occupies in the pond next to the cottage where Glome and the fairies live. She lives on dragon flies and hickory nuts. She was there last time he visited, but he never met her.  This time, he’ll find he needs her help if he is to survive.

My new book Return to Glome’s Valley will debut next weekend at the Heavener Runestone Viking Fest in the forests where it is set.  Come by my tent and pick up a copy.  There will be Vikings and vendors from all over the country selling their wares.  Food trucks will feed you in the family friendly atmosphere as you listen to music and see reenactors for all things Viking. October 14 & 15, 2017 at the Heavener Runestone Park (10 miles south of Poteau, OK). Come visit and bring the kids.  You, too, will be inspired.

Return to Glome’s Valley is also available in ebook form on Amazon and Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=Return+to+Glome%27s+Valley.