Born in Southern Sweden, not far from where our story begins, E.P.W. Tell developed an early interest in history. His article “The Curmsun Disc: Harald Bluetooth’s Golden Bull?” then sparked a fascination for Norse Mythology, leading him into Viktor Rydberg’s extensive research on the subject. Thereafter, the Old Norse Saga began taking shape.
Recognising the need for a strong literary partner, Weman Tell initiated a collaboration with C. Beskow, who turned out to be the ideal co-author for the ambitious project. After five years of working together, Birds of Ásgarðr emerged as the first of four books in the Old Norse Saga series.
Outside this project, Weman Tell is a father of two, holding a Master’s in Economics and a Bachelor of Laws. As Chief Financial Officer at Svenska Bio (Swedish Cinema chain) he’s worked renowned manager Peter Fornstam, with whom he continues to maintain a close relation. He’s also fond of sports, serving as Strength & Conditioning coach for Swedish fencing and acting as General Secretary of the Swedish Multisport Federation.
His varied experiences, combined with a deep passion for history and Norse Mythology, has shaped the foundation of the Old Norse Saga, granting Birds of Ásgarðr a distinctive new voice in historical fantasy literature.
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Growing up in the company of books, C. Beskow spent a large chunk of her childhood roaming the forests in search of adventures, huddling up each night with a bedtime story. As she reached adulthood alongside an ever-growing collection of cluttered notebooks, she decided to turn her extensive imagination into a career worth pursuing.
Fascinated by the visual aspect of storytelling, Beskow was initially drawn to film and television, and hence began her writing journey on the island of Gotland, learning how to write for the screen. In 2016, she started her own company, working on everything from translations to ghostwrites.
When first approached by E.P.W. Tell, ancient mythology was but a fascinating childhood interest, but as the Old Norse Saga called for a deep dive into the subject, Beskow found herself falling in love with its wild world and intense characters. What more, the extensive research led to some rather intriguing ties to her own family history.
It’s no secret that the Beskow family tree goes far back, with ties to the renowned children’s book author Elsa Beskow and the once equally popular author Elisabeth Beskow (who wrote over fifty books under the pseudonym Runa). What’s less known, however, is that Elsa actually shared connections with Viktor Rydberg, whose interpretation of Norse Mythology serves as the base for this entire saga. Furthermore, there’s an old edition of Snorri Sturluson’s Kongesagaer handed down to C. Beskow through generations.