Christoffer Petersen

Authentic Arctic Thrillers

Christoffer Petersen

Greenland Noir – podcast

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Something a little different today. I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed for a podcast with the hosts of Book Lover’s Companion.

It was great fun and Edith and Teacup were generous hosts. We covered a lot of ground – most of it covered in snow – as we talked a lot about Greenland and the inspiration for my stories, and the Greenland Missing Persons series in particular.

And I tease a lot more information from my background, and more personal Greenland experiences, of course.

I also talk about being an indie author, and air my thoughts on what it takes to make a career outside of traditional publishing.

I hope you’ll join us for Episode 45 – Greenland Noir: Talking Murder and Fishy Business with Christoffer Petersen.

 

Yule at Aurora Station – 3rd Advent, Part 3

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And we’re live with Yule at Aurora Station, Part 3!

Things are heating up for Luui in the far north, as the stakes get higher and the magic bigger, badder (if that’s a word), and beyond her control.

Yule at Aurora Station is a fantastic blend of Greenlandic myth, climate change, greed, and friendship. I’ve gone all in with beasts and spirits and I’m good with that. I’m just not entirely sure how Luui is going to get out of this one.

Will she save Christmas?

Honestly, with everything that’s going on, Christmas is the least of her worries!

If you’re joining me on this journey each Advent Sunday, or waiting to grab the entire story once it is done (something Jane prefers), I just want to say thanks. I’ve added bonus material in the form of another desktop wallpaper.

Oh, and slight spoiler alert, someone from Luui’s past turns up in this one.

Sole possession of the remote control

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I did a radio interview a few years ago and when talking about some of the more action-packed and violent books I’ve written – The Ice Star, for example – I talked with the presenter about dealing with that, and I said that after writing a violent book I kind of drift into a period in which I watch musicals, such as La La Land and The Greatest Showman.

While I don’t believe writing a violent book leads to violent acts – if anything, the opposite is true for me (see above) – I do like to balance my consumption of different media. So, earlier this week – as soon as Jane left – I indulged in Die Hard.

Tonight I’m tilting the scale to the other end with While You Were Sleeping.

This brings back memories of dollar movies in Indiana, USA, when I was doing an Challenge Education internship at Indiana University. I encouraged a friend to see While You Were Sleeping twice in as many days. The early morning donut scene is a favourite!

So, while violent media doesn’t make me violent (thank goodness), when I watch soppy romantic movies I tend to go all in.

Of course, if Jane had to choose between the two, she would go for Die Hard in a heartbeat.

Hmm.

Don’t read too much into that, folks.

Chris

Yule at Aurora Station – 2nd Advent, Part 2

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It’s ready! The second installment of Yule at Aurora Station is live on Payhip!

Before I tease a little about the story, let me just add that I am selling the stories on Payhip first to try out a range of possibilities I don’t have when selling on other platforms.

For example, you can get 25% off your purchase if you share the sale on social media.

Also, and even more exciting from my point of view, I can add bonus (digital) material to the sale. So, with Yule at Aurora Station, for example, I am adding a JPEG download of the artwork (6000×3000) suitable for desktop wallpaper.

I can’t do this on other platforms. So while I realise that for some readers who often buy my books on other platforms (thank you!) it might be a bit irritating to buy from a new platform, I’m hoping that the discounts and the bonus material will make up for that.

I will be releasing the bundled Yule at Aurora Station in one volume, about 100+ pages, later in December for $2.99. But if you want to read along each advent, and grab the bonus material, then I hope you might be tempted with Payhip.

But. back to the story!

Luui, as you might have guessed, is in trouble.

No spoilers, but if you grabbed the free copy of Part 1 (now with additional bonus material which you can grab, even if you already downloaded it) you’ll know Luui is protecting the last known female polar bear in the Arctic, together with the help of her tiny friends Kalaagi and his sister, Naaluk, and the big, friendly helper spirit Âmo.

Yes, it’s that kind of story!

But hey, it’s a Christmas story.

That’s my excuse, and I’m sticking with it!

Anyway, polar bears, a container cabin, resupply via parachute, and a nefarious big corporation hunting for the bear … or Luui … I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

Well, and here’s the kicker, you’ll have to read it to find out. 🙂 But like any Christmas story, it will be resolved by Christmas Eve!

I’ll leave you with the promise of the next installment “dropping” on the third Advent Sunday this Christmas: December 12. You can always check the Yule at Aurora Station page on this website for updates.

Merry Christmas! (Kind of early, but hey…)

Chris

Christmas on the Moor – a poem

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Christmas on the Moor

© Christoffer Petersen, 2021

I paint a shepherd this tar whistling night
trudging lonely moor, through the kissing gate
a long stone wall – frosted wool tufts in the cracks
faithful dog out front sniffs the cold path home

the hearth is warming, and the fire is lit
soot-black kettle on the boil with a plate
of stew and clay apple dumplings tonight
before the evening smoke wisps from spent coals

frost-stiff cuffs and ice in the sweater weave
much stamping of snow on the wire hemp mat
jacket hung, she settles at the table
the chair creaks – waiting for Christmas morning.

Die Hard – the Christmas movie!

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Jane’s visiting her sister. I have sole possession of the remote control. The sound bar is cranked up, and yes, it’s time for the Christmas movie to beat all Christmas movies.

Die Hard!

I was fifteen when it came out in 1988. It was rated 18 and I remember practising my line for the ticket office if they questioned my age. I trembled up the steps of the entrance to the cinema, and when she asked, I told the woman behind the counter that I was born in 1963.

Yeah, I’m not great with numbers.

Miraculously, she let me in, and Die Hard will forever remain the first movie I snuck in to see illegally. I’m not sure it was illegal, per se, but I was very impressed by the movie and it remains a firm favourite to this day.

I realised just how impressed I had been when I watched Die Hard last Christmas. During my teaching career kids always asked me why I wore my watch backwards, i.e. with the face facing in to my body. I said I had always done it.

Then I saw Die Hard last year and realised when I turned my watch backwards.

Of course, there’s something about action heroes and their watches in violent movies – John Wick wears his watch the same way.

And with that, it’s time to pop some Christmas popcorn!

Chris

And… coming soon! Part 2 of Yule at Aurora Station! Grab Part 1 for FREE here!