Father’s Day has always been a bit of a wild ride for me, kind of like experiencing a fantastical quest without a map. When I was nine, my dad passed away, and from then on, Father’s Day was a somber spot on the calendar. It felt less like a celebration and more like a painful reminder of what we’d lost.
Then life surprised me. I fell in love, we had children—not just one, but three wonderful (and mischievous) sons. Father’s Day blossomed into something joyful. It turned into a day to celebrate a man who made a huge, loving imprint on his children’s world, a true role model in a way I hadn’t gotten to experience myself.
This dramatic twist in my own story seemed to sneak its way into my writing. When I was crafting Frigg's Journey to Anasgar, I wrestled with a tough character: Frigg’s father, Dvalin. His role in the story challenged me. How do you portray a loving dad in a dwarf society that expects him to be the tough, unquestionable leader of the household? Easier said than written.
My answer? Give him a big heart beneath all that gravel and a few charming flaws to keep him human, er, I mean dwarfish. I agonized over his character, tried and discarded many versions, and crossed more than a few imaginary bridges alongside him, until I finally fell in love with the Dvalin I’d created. He’s tough but kind, flawed but fair—a protective dwarf dad who would move mountains for his little girl.
Writing him reminded me just how messy and wonderful character-building, and parenthood, can be. Much like a first draft, we are all works in progress. We start with an idea of who we want to be, and we revise ourselves, piece by piece, until we become something rich, flawed, and entirely our own.
I hope readers find Dvalin as endearing as I do. After all, a loving father, whether in real life or in a fantastical realm, is a powerful force.
We are celebrating Father’s Day today in the U.S. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there striving to be the best version of themselves for their children.
