Hello, everyone! Today we have another mythical and amazing author, MGHicks_reloaded, the author of Hidden and Entangled.

About the Author: Melody Grace Hicks (MGHicks_reloaded) writes spicy sci-fi fantasy and thriller romance with a twist of pop culture on a bed of mashed mythology. By day, she's an award-winning internationally published scientist and professor. But at night, she publishes tales of soulmates, secret identities, unknown origins, betrayal, conspiracies, and the intersection of technology, science, and magic.

About 'Hidden': After a steamy encounter with Loki unlocks her genetics, an unsuspecting scientist discovers not only are Gods real, she is one. 

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When Shannon boards her flight to London, she's stunned her seatmate is a famous singer/songwriter and actor. Their rawly sensual union forges an unbreakable connection while uncovering his hidden identity and triggering her dormant genes. With her sense of identity shattered, Shannon fears the destruction of everything she's worked to build in her life. Trusting her heart to another isn't on the agenda after her painful past. But more than her feelings are at stake. Mastering new goddess powers presents its own set of challenges when annoyance generates a wall of fire or fear spawns a tornado. Adjusting to her new reality requires time she may not have.

The God of Chaos, Stories, and Songs never expected to be blessed with a soulmate, especially after the death of his pregnant immortal wife. Finding Shannon, then losing her within hours of her goddess transformation is devastating. And it's his fault. As a new immortal of unknown background, she has no idea of the range of her abilities, how to protect herself, or even what dangers await her in the immortal world. Asgard's Dark Prince has never feared his enemies.

Until now. 

Now, he has everything to lose. 

About 'Origin': When Loki's consort and soulmate marries his rival to save their son from a curse, a prophecy leads to consequences even the God of Chaos couldn't predict.

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The Unseelie Goddess of War's revenge against Asgard's Dark Prince puts him in a no-win scenario with a choice between losing his soulmate or his son. Bad enough that damn Atlantean prince saved Shannon when Loki couldn't, but now Elatha is saving Loki's son by stealing his mate. Neither outcome will leave Shannon and Loki's relationship unchanged.

While some of Shannon's Unseelie relatives have no issue with killing her son, others aren't so blase about the curse. Yet it's the prophecy at Shannon's birth that brought Elatha and Shannon together in this arranged marriage. When betrayal strikes, it may be the key to saving not just her son, but Loki's soul as well. The prophecy hints at a chance to right a mistake that has haunted him, but it will require more soul-searching than Loki is comfortable with. 

Wait until he finds out he'll have to get along with his rival Elatha to achieve their goals. 

ORIGIN is the third and final book of the Triquetra Prophecy series in the Gods Among Us Universe. Inspired by an amalgamation of world mythologies including Norse, Celtic, Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Asian, the story takes place primarily on other realms with only the occasional glimpse of our current modern world. If you enjoy the tropes of chosen one, fated quest, redemption, soulmates, love triangles, why choose, and dangerous secrets, then check out this explosive conclusion to the trilogy.

About 'Entangled': To save the Valkyrie who broke his heart, the Fae Sea God makes a deal with the Demon Prince of the Aerial Kingdoms, but Pazuzu has a history of stealing the women Manannan loves.

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 When Mist visits her parents' home in California, she assumes the worst she'll deal with is their narcissist tendencies and shallow lifestyle. They've never seen eye-to-eye on her decision to become a Valkyrie. Still, it gives her somewhere to lick her wounds after Manannan's betrayal pierced her heart. But the oceanside home isn't the haven she'd hoped when recent enemies decide on payback. They didn't count on her catching the eye of Pazuzu, the Dragon Demon Prince of the Aerial Kingdoms, when they stranded her on Muspelheim.

Manannan Mac Lir is conflicted. The cold shoulder from Mist has him seeking answers. When the Valkyrie he can't forget turns up missing, more than his heart is in danger. How much is he willing to risk when she has already burned him once? Is it worth dealing with that smooth-talking dragon that stole his wife's love, then failed to protect her a few thousand years ago?

Surely history won't repeat itself. 

ENTANGLED is the first book of the Valkyries series in the Gods Among Us Universe, and although it picks up near the end of the Triquetra series, that series does not have to be read before diving in here. Inspired by an amalgamation of world mythologies including Norse, Celtic, Greek, and Mesopotamian, the story takes place primarily on the planet of Muspelheim, with the occasional glimpse of other worlds in this created universe. If you enjoy the tropes of love triangles, why choose, polyamory, bad boy, kick-ass heroine, betrayal, deal with the devil, forced proximity, fresh scent of pining hero, sleeping with the enemy, then try this first installment of The Valkyries. 

1. What made you start writing on Wattpad? What has been your favorite moment so far on the orange app?

I started writing on Wattpad after I'd written my first story and wanted to get feedback. I love the ability of readers to comment on specific lines, to capture a particular moment that evokes a response. My favourite moment so far was when a reader told me she stayed up twice a week, waiting for my next updates. It felt so wonderful to have my stories be so anticipated.

2. Which mythology and/or legends influenced your story? Why did you choose those?

In HIDDEN, the first book of my Gods Among Us universe and book one of the Triquetra Prophecy, I've incorporated Norse, Celtic, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Mesoamerican, Canadian West Coast First Nations, Australian Aboriginal, and Chinese Mythology. In the universe I've created, various races of immortals inhabit different planets/realms in a version of the Nine Realms from Norse mythology, combined with Celtic mythological realms like Tír na nÓg and the Chinese mythological realm, Kunlan.

Many of these immortal races interact on modern Earth where the existence of immortals or gods has been forgotten or relegated to myth. The occasional presence of these immortals has resulted in the formation and evolution of what mortals (humans) consider the pantheons of gods over human history, so the same immortal individual such as the light elf, or Seelie elf Manannan Mac Lir of Celtic legend has also been known as Poseiden in the past. In the same way, other supernatural creatures such as the Australian bunyip that may attack the unwary in watery environments may also be known as the Celtic kelpie in Scotland and Ireland.

The joke is made that Loki's children with Agraboda from Norse mythology aren't his children at all, and he suspects a fellow god or perhaps his brother of mischief in spreading rumours about him. Instead, one of the Shen dragon gods (Ao Run) of Chinese mythology is the Norse world serpent, and not nearly as large as portrayed in the stories, unless you count his ego. The horse, Sleipnir, of Norse legend, is a Nuckalavee or fae demon horse of Celtic mythology, and the wolf, Fenrir, of Norse legend, isn't a wolf at all, but a Cwn Cyrff hellhound of Celtic mythology. Both are dark Sidhe, Unseelie, and part of The Wild Hunt of the Aos Sí of Celtic mythology. Hela is the Goddess of Death in Norse mythology, or Hades (from Greek mythology) when he's presenting as male (as this is a gender fluid character) is half Aesir, half Jotun (from Norse mythology), one of the fire giants, and rules Helheim, the dimensional realm of souls, but isn't a child of Loki's.

There are nods to the origin of various of legends, such as where Hercules and Perseus come from, the presence of two wolf pups that turn into boys in what later became Rome, and the purpose of stone henges as gateways. In TAKEN, the sequel to HIDDEN, I use a version of the Norse Mead of Poetry myth, the Thor and Loki Visit Utgard myth, and combine the Celtic Fomorian mythology with Greek Atlantean mythology and the Orca People of First Nations Mythology to create a race of high technology immortals living in cities underwater.

One of the things I love about mythology is the way humans in different areas have either built on ideas they've heard from others in the past, or come up with similar ideas for the gods, goddesses, and creatures. It creates a synergy when melding those similar roles across different mythologies. It's the same idea as convergent evolution when disparate organisms that don't share a recent genetic history end up evolving similar traits or solutions to issues they face. The other thing I love about mythology is its imaginative diversity in creatures, realism in human extreme traits both good and bad, and embrace of the magical and fantastical. It's a never-ending source of inspiration. 

3. Tell us about the main character of one of your stories. What inspired their creation?

Loki is a 5,000-year-old Asgardian god. The son of Revna, a Vanir Goddess of Fertility, Music, and Dance, and Farbauti, a half-fire, half-frost gender fluid Jotun with chaos magic, Loki is the God of Chaos, Song, and Stories. From his mother, he gained the ability to manipulate seidhr energies to conjure, use minor telepathy, create illusions and recharge god energies through sex, song, and stories. From his father, he gained the ability to manipulate chaos energies to shapeshift (including gender fluidity), use minor teleportation, create fire or ice and be impervious to fire, including dragon fire, and cold. He wields the sword, Laevateinn. Inscribed with Helheim gate runes and bonded to his essence, it answers his call regardless of distance and is one of the few weapons capable of piercing even dragon scale.

Loki has fought in two wars between Asgard and the Sidhe (Elves), with the first, Freya's War, occurring after the death of Baldur (son of Freya) and with Freya still angry that Odin set her aside when he found his soulmate, Frigga. The second war was to kick the Sidhe, the Unseelie or dark elves in particular, from Earth to stop them from using humans as sacrifices to create energy for their Winter Realm on Tír na nÓg (Alfheim). During this war, Loki lost his pregnant wife, Sigyn, and earned his lethal reputation as the Black Prince for his black seidhr and chaos energies that killed so many elves. Even his clothing choices on Asgard reflect this reputation as he predominately wears black, with the occasional jewel or metal tone. He despises the Unseelie for the way they tortured and killed his wife and her death continues to haunt him.

Loki spends many years on Earth (Midgard) when he isn't needed in defense of Asgard or royal duties as a prince. Throughout human history, Loki has partnered with other immortals, particularly his older adoptive brother, Thor, to create various pantheons and gone by the names of Set, Bastet, Eris, Hermes, Hephaistos, Laverna, Raven, Coyote, Tezcatlipoca, and Kokopelli. When not in human form, he prefers to shapeshift into cats (large and small), wolves, coyotes, ravens, dolphins, and sharks.

Raised as a baby by Revna's twin sister, Frigga and her soulmate Odin, Loki knew his birth parents. Instead, Loki discovered his adopted status in his teens just after Revna's death. Acting out, he accidentally caused his adoptive older brother's death, Baldur (also known as Osiris), during a childish prank that resulted in an allergic reaction to mistletoe. This forever earned him the enmity of Isis, Baldur's soulmate and Vanir Goddess of Healing and Women. 

In HIDDEN, readers meet Loki in the modern world hiding under the mortal identity of Tod, a singer/songwriter of hit band, Raven's Chaos, from Manchester UK, and famous actor in a series of urban fantasy action movies where he plays the assassin, Sicarius (note: updated mortal career from draft of HIDDEN currently on Wattpad). Whereas his mortal identity is just over six feet with bright auburn hair, a dimple in his chin, and icy blue eyes, his godly appearance is seven feet tall, built like a quarterback with the same brilliant green eyes, pale skin and midnight hair as Frigga and Revna. Believing himself unworthy of his own soulmate because of Baldur's death and worn out by the numerous mortal families he's had and lost to time, he's not looking for love. Instead, his current mortal persona is that of a flirtatious wicked bad boy that goes through women quickly but leaves them asking for more, given his fertility god heritage and copious experience.

The inspiration for Loki's character came first by reading trickster legends and seeing the parallels between them. By looking over time at how a single individual might be multiple trickster gods, I mapped out the traits this person would have, then brainstormed ideas from mythology as to what could create a compelling backstory, giving him ghosts and lies to overcome that would inform his overall journey for redemption across the Triquetra Prophecy books. 

4. What were some challenges you experienced while writing the story?

The biggest challenge in terms of the mythology side of writing this story was deciding which aspects to lean into and which to either only allude to, or disregard. I wanted my story to have recognizable components of mythology that people love, but also to have a unique spin on things. Since HIDDEN is the first of the Gods Among Us books, it needed to do some heavy lifting in terms of worldbuilding and setting the stage for subsequent books, without bogging down or getting info dumpy. This is a fine balance that I didn't always straddle well for some spots.

5. Do you have a song playlist for writing? Can you share one with us?

I don't, actually. I'm one of those people who like it quiet when I write, but I'd love it if a reader created a playlist for my stories.

6. What is your favorite myth or legend? Why?

Yikes, picking just one is like picking between my kids! One of my favourites is of the trickster Raven when he steals the light for mankind, creating the sun, moon, and stars, as told by Bill Reid. Raven gets tired of stumbling around in the dark during his pursuits of food and other pleasures and discovers an old man, the Sky Chief who holds all the light of the universe hidden in a box in his home. Unable to find a way inside the old man's home, he transforms himself into a hemlock needle to get swallowed by the old man's daughter. Inside her, he develops into a boy child and she gives birth to him. Thinking this is his grandson, Raven tricks the old man into giving him the light. Raven transforms back into himself, swallows the light and dives through the home's smoke hole to the world below. Eagle chases Raven, causing him to spill out some of the light to become the moon and stars, then finally, when he's tired, Raven spits out the last of the light to become the sun. The Sky Chief finally gets to see his daughter, who'd lived in darkness her entire existence.

Why I love this legend is multi-faceted. I'm of indigenous heritage and this speaks to that part of me, and I love trickster stories. This legend has so many fun aspects including mischief, shapeshifting, and a good twist where Raven's greedy and lecherous actions end up benefiting all despite his motivations. He's often an accidental hero in indigenous myths.

7. What is your favorite mythical creature? Why?

If we are going with creature, it has to be dragons. They seem to range from benevolent to highly destructive, project strength and enormous size, and are almost always magical in some way. From flying, to breathing fire, spitting acid or venom, to great wisdom or great greed, and often with the ability to camouflage or shapeshift. Even within dragons, there are so many kinds across mythology from more serpentine to larger, robust fire-breathing western-style dragons. In my stories, I incorporate Shen dragons (Chinese mythology), Norse dragons (Fafnir), Mesoamerican dragons (Quetzalcoatl), and Mushhushshu serpentine dragons and Ušumgallu lion-dragon hybrids (Mesopotamian mythology), amongst others.

8. If you could have the same powers as a creature and/or deity from mythology or legends, what would it be? Why?

It's a tough choice, but control of air would be my top power. With it, I could fly but also manipulate weather, stay warm when it was cold or cool down when it was hot... but okay, let's be real. Who wouldn't want to be able to fly?! Lots of creatures/deities from mythology are able to control air, but of the ones from my stories, I'd pick Pazuzu (from Mesopotamian mythology). He's a bit of a chaotic mythological deity, both protective and destructive, and we'd likely call him a morally grey character now, but he's also known as the Dark Angel of the Four Winds, Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms, and sometimes, King of the Lilu wind demons. I've used him as the basis for a main character in my Valkyries series that comes after the Triquetra Prophecy books in the Gods Among Us universe. Pazuzu is all kinds of fun to write as he's a right bastard at times.

9. What is your advice other writers who want to use mythology in their story?

Do a lot of reading. There are tons of great sources out there, but where possible go back to academic and old sources, not popular culture including video games, movies, comics, or D&D. This way, when you incorporate it into your story, you've put your own spin on it so it is original to you. If you start at Wikipedia, track down the sources used for the article and check those out. And don't be afraid to have fun with it!

That's it for the month, it was fun getting to know about Melody Grace Hicks (MGHicks_reloaded). You can check their stories featured in our reading list as well as their other works.

Until next time!