As Hansen’s debut novel, the book won the Inaugural Australian Self-Publishing Group’s Unpublished Manuscript Competition earlier this year. Critics have been quick to praise his efforts, describing the author’s “thorough understanding of ancient Hellenism” delivering a “noteworthy, artfully written” book.
In Macedon – Child of a God Hansen retells the mythic exploits of the leader of the ancient Macedonians.
Born of the great god Zeus
and Princess Thyea on the slopes of Mount Olympus, Macedon must strive to lead his people through the myriad of ever shifting loyalties and treachery that was ancient Hellas during the time leading up to the Trojan War.
Befriended by creatures of myth and legend, and hunted by a mad goddess and mortal kings, Macedon must come to terms with powers that he does not yet understand, before his people and the world he knows, are destroyed forever.
Described as ‘action-packed’, Macedon – Child of a God was inspired a visit by the author to Greece in 2004.
“Greek mythology has been a hobby of mine since high school,” Hansen told Neos Kosmos.”
I like the original translated texts – Hesiod, Homer, Polydoros and others, but my real interest grew in the Macedon story when my family and I did a trip to northern Greece.
“I’m very much a student of going back to original fragments and documents,” says Hansen.
“We went to the tombs of the Macedonian kings – the ancient royal necropolis of Aegae – modern Vergina. I wanted to go deeper so started researching those stories. I was caught by the fact that it was a part of Greek mythology that had almost been forgotten.”
Macedon – Child of a God is the first of four books Hansen is writing on the Macedon fable. The second Macedon – Rage of a Dark Queen entwining the story of the goddess Hera into the epic narrative, will be published later this year.
Macedon – Child of a God is available from all good bookshops or online through Amazon and Inspiring Publishers (www.inspiringbookshop.com).