Oddrun-Helen Berntsen
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Oddrun-Helen
Berntsen is the author of the Longtail troll world and stories. She has given
the
Longtail trolls their personalities and magic powers, and made them into unique,
individual characters. Oddrun has also written several stories about Trollhufsa
village, including “The Fairy stone”, published in this magazine.
In her normal life, Oddrun runs a health-food shop as well as studying natural medicine. Oddrun likes football and dancing, and has a passionate interest in astrology. She enjoys spending plenty of time with family and friends.
As you can see from the picture, Oddrun has long, attractive, light colored hair, just like a nymph* that you might meet, deep in the Norwegian woods. Who knows, maybe she has magical powers too! (We don’t know whether she has a tail or not).
In May 2003, Oddrun was interviewed by the climbing-troll Anders, who wanted to find out more about her relationship with trolls.
Anders: How would you describe a “troll” to someone who knows nothing about them?
Oddrun: A troll is an ancient, mythical Norwegian creature with a big personality. With their bristly hair, coarse features and unusual faces, trolls have a highly original appearance. There are at least as many types of troll as there are of people, and like people, trolls have their own unique temperaments. Some are dangerous and nasty, while others are kind and funny. The trolls are the masters of some of our Norwegian woods and mountains.
Anders: What is your relationship with trolls?
Oddrun: It is a close relationship. I got to hear about trolls when I was tiny, and because of my somewhat painfully lively imagination, I believe that I see trolls when I’m out in the woods and the countryside.
Anders:
Are you sure that
it’s just your belief?
Oddrun: No, not certain. I believe that we have small natural beings around us who don’t often show themselves, but lead a hidden existence.
Anders: How did you find out about trolls?
Oddrun: Through fairytales. I have always loved reading. I remember too that my great-grandfather told me stories about dwarves and trolls. Where he lived there was a powerful echo, and he told me the echo that you hear when you shout, high up in the mountains, is made by these creatures. This made me scared of echoes, which I still am today.
Anders: Do you believe that trolls exist?
Oddrun: Yes, why not? I’ve always been extremely interested in Norwegian folk history, and you don’t need to go too far back in our history to find a time when people believed in fairies and the underworld. It would be sad if people weren’t allowed to believe that there are strange creatures and trolls out there in the wilds of nature.
Anders: Have you ever met a troll?
Oddrun: I haven’t met any, but I quite like the idea of meeting a sweet little troll.
Anders:
Do you think there are trolls among people?
Oddrun: I’ve been called a troll myself on a couple of occasions, but that’s about all I want to say about that.
Anders: Which troll-artists have influenced your experience of trolls?
Oddrun: I have to say the fairytales of Asbjørnsen and Moe. Theodor Kittelsen is a Norwegian troll-artist who has given me an idea of what trolls can look like.
Anders: You’ve been a writer before. Tell us a bit about it.
Oddrun: I’ve worked as a journalist on two local papers, as well as in radio. I’ve also written several novels, but these haven’t been published yet. It’s funny writing about trolls and fantasy, and my dream is to become an author, perhaps like a female version of Tolkien.
Anders: What would you say makes a good troll story?
Oddrun: It should contain humour and have a moral or make a point at the end, which maybe can be related to issues in real life. It’s also nice if the story is warm hearted.
Anders:
How do people react when you tell them that you work with trolls?
Oddrun: “It must agree with you,” is what many of them say. People think it’s funny, because it’s something everyone can relate to and which they connect with adventure and fantasy. Both children and adults need a little fantasy world, in which we can lose ourselves now and again.
Anders: What would you say distinguishes the Longtail trolls from other trolls?
Oddrun: The Longtail trolls have big, warm hearts and lots of personality. They’re less frightening than other trolls and rather more sweet, innocent, and funny. They aren’t malicious and gloomy, but lively and cheery, and so they bring laughter, pleasure and humour.
Anders: Have you got a favourite troll?
Oddrun: Yes, Sondre. He is so full of dirty tricks, and he is unable to follow the norms and regulations, which one really should do. This makes him lots of fun, and the kind of troll that dares to do things other trolls wouldn’t.
Anders: People say that trolls bring happiness, and that troll magic can cause wishes to be fulfilled. What is your troll-wish?
Oddrun: For everyone to experience a little magic, and for everyone to have their own magic wish fulfilled.
* Norwegian wood nymphs are extremely beautiful, human-like trolls with long, light coloured hair, found deep in the Norwegian woods. The only visible difference from humans is that a nymph has a tail, which she tries to hide the best she can. With her beauty and mystical powers she lures Norwegian men into the woods and casts a spell on them. It is said that once men have met nymphs they are never themselves again, and some of the men end up staying in the woods for the rest of their lives.