Author Interview: Festive Reads, Heathenry & Pilgrimage

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This December I’m chatting to authors about their favourite festive reads and what they love most about the time of year. Today I talk to Thea Prothero about those things, and about her love of pilgrimage as a spiritual activity for people of all religions.

Q:  What’s your favourite part of the festive season?

I have to admit that the best part of the festive season is not being at work! I also get the opportunity to do some cooking, which can be very difficult when working full time. I usually make mince pies, Xmas cake and have a scandi inspired Xmas dinner, including pork ribs, jonssons temptation and seasonal veg. 

Q: What book have you most loved as a seasonal read?

I’m a ghost story fan, so love to listen, read and watch M R James at this time of year, the British Library have brought out some excellent seasonal collections.

I also write a ghost story for Christmas every year, which I send to my family as a gift-  these are usually inspired by MRJ, this years is based loosely around A View from a Hill and I was influenced by my recent visit to Pompeii.

Q: Which of your own books would you most recommend either to give someone else as a present or for a gift for oneself?

It would have to be A Guide to Pilgrimage. I believe this is perfect for the pilgrimage-curious family member because it isn’t based around any doctrine from mainstream religion.

Q: Of the books you’ve written, which is your favourite?

I don’t know if I can choose, although I believe that my pilgrimage writing and practice has changed and grown since I wrote A Guide to Pilgrimage. I like to think of myself as a pilgrimage advocate. I feel strongly that pilgrimage is a devotional practice well suited for today’s society and is totally adaptable to any religious or spiritual belief. 

Heathenry for the Solitary Practitioner was the hardest to write, I was very emotional at points especially when interviewing the Heathen women I spoke to. I feel passionately that women in Heathenry need a voice. 

Q: What are both of those books about?

Pilgrimage as an accessible and adaptable transformational spiritual practice.  Everyone and anyone can do it! 

Heathenry for the Solitary Practitioner is aimed at those who follow the  old Norse and Germanic pantheon and cosmology , but for whatever reason practice alone. It’s also a great introduction for anyone who is heathen-curious.

Q: Tell me a bit more about yourself and any other things you’ve written.

I live in the south of the UK and am a solitary heathen who occasionally meets up with others.  I’m currently studying a masters in Viking Studies at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

As mentioned, I also write ghost and folk-horror short stories, and have had two published in The Silent Companion, the journal of A Ghostly Company, plus one last year in Moon Books Yule issue of Moonscape.

Q: Relating to your writing, what plans do you have for the future?

I want to write further books related to Norse Heathenry, especially the goddess Hel. I would like to have more short stories published. – watch this space!

Heathenry for the Solitary Practitioner and A Guide to Pilgrimage published by Moon Books, part of Collective Ink.

You can also view A Guide to Pilgrimage on Amazon

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