In this exclusive interview, we meet Brigid of Esbjerg, a formidable figure whose choices ripple across kingdoms. From stormy crossings to fractured loyalties, Brigid reflects on survival, sacrifice, and the price of ambition in The Briton and the Dane: Legacy.
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Interviewer: Brigid, thank you for joining us. Can you share a glimpse of your life in Esbjerg before the tides of war pulled you into England’s conflict?
Brigid: Esbjerg was cold, but familiar. I knew
the rhythms of the sea, the weight of silence, the politics whispered behind
closed doors. Before the war, I lived in the shadow of princes, men who saw me
as a moment, not a legacy. That changed when I realized I had something worth
fighting for.
Interviewer: You’ve crossed paths with powerful men,
some noble, some dangerous. How did those relationships shape your journey?
Brigid: Power is seductive. It blinds you to
consequence. I’ve loved, I’ve lost, and I’ve learned that proximity to a crown
doesn’t guarantee safety. What shaped me wasn’t the men, it was surviving them.
Interviewer: You joined a secret faction during the
events of The Briton and the Dane: Birthright. What compelled you
to take that risk?
Brigid: Desperation. Hope. A mother’s
instinct. I believed I could change the course of history, not for glory, but
for protection. I didn’t realize how deep the treachery ran until it was too
late.
Interviewer: Your sea crossing was treacherous.
What do you remember most about that journey?
Brigid:
The storm felt like a reckoning. The waves tore at our vessel, and for a
moment, I thought we’d vanish into the deep. But survival has a way of
sharpening resolve. I didn’t land unscathed, but I landed changed.
Interviewer: You’ve walked a fine line between
Saxon and Danish loyalties. How did you navigate that tension?
Brigid: Carefully. I learned to speak in
half-truths, to listen more than I spoke. The Saxons saw me as a threat, the
Danes as a traitor. I had to become something else, someone who could move
between worlds without belonging to either.
Interviewer: You spent time in sanctuary. How did
that experience affect your outlook?
Brigid: It was quiet. Too quiet. But in that
silence, I found clarity. I began to question everything, my choices, my
allegiances, my faith. Sometimes it takes confinement to see the path forward.
Interviewer: You’ve been accused of duplicity, yet
you’ve also risked your life to protect others. How do you reconcile those
truths?
Brigid: I don’t. I carry them both. I’ve made
mistakes, grave ones, but I’ve also acted out of love, out of fear, and out of
necessity. Redemption isn’t clean. It’s messy, painful, and often
misunderstood.
Interviewer: What do you believe is the greatest
misconception about women in wartime?
Brigid: That we’re pawns. We’re not. We’re
players, strategists, survivors. We bleed, we fight, we endure. And sometimes,
we change the outcome without ever lifting a sword.
Interviewer: Brigid, thank you for your candor.
Before we close, is there anything you’d like our readers to understand about
your legacy?
Brigid: My story isn’t about scandal or
seduction. It’s about survival. About a woman who refused to be erased. And
when the final reckoning comes, I’ll be remembered not for who I loved, but for
what I dared.
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Mary Ann Bernal is a distinguished alumna of Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY, where she earned her degree in Business Administration. Her literary journey began with the 2009 publication of her debut novel in The Briton and the Dane series, marking the start of a richly diverse body of work that spans historical fiction, contemporary short stories, science fiction/fantasy, and fast-paced adventure novellas.
Her recent publications include Crusader’s Path, a poignant redemption tale set during the First Crusade; Forgiving Nero, a compelling exploration of familial bonds in Ancient Rome; and the award-winning AnaRose adventure series, chronicling the daring escapades of a museum curator-turned-relic hunter. Mary Ann’s work has been honored by the Independent Press Award, the NYC Big Book Award, Chanticleer International Book Awards, the B.R.A.G. Medallion, and the Reader Views Reviewer’s Choice Awards. Her short fiction anthologies have likewise earned distinction, most notably from the American Legacy Book Awards. She was also recognized with the Editor’s Choice Award for Literary Excellence by Reader’s House magazine.
A dedicated supporter of the United States military since Operation Desert Storm, Mary Ann has actively engaged in letter-writing campaigns and related initiatives. Her advocacy has been featured on KMTV’s The Morning Blend and in the Omaha World-Herald. As a celebrated author, she has appeared on numerous reader blogs and book promotion platforms. Mary Ann currently resides in Elkhorn, Nebraska, where she continues to craft stories that inspire and endure.
Connect with Mary Ann:
Website: http://www.maryannbernal.com/
Whispering Legends Press: https://www.whisperinglegendspress.com/
Blog: https://maryannbernal.blogspot.com/
Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Ann-Bernal/e/B003D2DPZ4
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