K.V. Johansen has Master’s degrees in English and Medieval Studies. You can read or listen to excerpts of her books and see her lists of recommended children’s fantasy literature at 
The Storyteller and Other Tales by K.V. Johansen
The Storyteller and Other Tales is a book of stories, and I mean that as the highest compliment. I felt like I was transported from the 21st century to some Thane’s hall with a roaring fire and a smoke hole instead of a chimney, while K.V. Johansen wove tales that took me to different and wonderful traditions.
Johansen is a fantasy scholar, and this shows up clearly in this book. The four tales that she presents use widely differing fantasy settings.
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Thanks for the kind words, Ira! Much appreciated!
Fine review