Arrival

For the next few days, I'm returning to the first book of my epic fantasy trilogy, 'Windows on Our World, Part 1: Hope'. I'm going to discuss some aspects of each chapter of the book - without giving away too much about the plot.

The first chapter is called 'Arrival' and describes how Squire arrived in Thorland, summoned there by the Wizard Tobin, much as Thomas Covenant was summoned to The Land in Stephen Donaldson's 'Lord Foul's Bane'. However, that is where the similarity ends. Although, I'd like to be compared with Stephen Donaldson and achieve the success he has, his book and mine are very different.

Squire finds himself in a forest blanketed in snow and is pursued by wolves before falling off a cliff and being rescued by a giant eagle. He is taken to the home of the tall woman, Helge, who nurses him back to health. The chapter ends with Squire and Helge leaving her cottage and setting off on the quest to find the teeth that belong to the golden skull.

Of course there is much more in the first chapter. You can read the whole chapter by visiting http://www.lesbillgates.com/hope.html

Is this the best site for writers?

Following on from my last entry, I'd like to say a bit more about Cheryl Wright's Writer2Writer http://www.writer2writer.com

I only came across this site recently and signed up for the BI-MONTHLY ezine a couple of weeks ago. When you sign up you get all sorts of free articles and software.
What I didn't know when I wrote my last blog post was how excellent the ezine is as well. This just arrived in my in box with an apology that it was late owing to illness. So this was the first one I had received.

I think I can say honestly this is the best writing newsletter that I have seen. This one had two excellent articles: 'Making an Effective Book Trailer' by Judy Bagshaw and Skyla Dawn Cameron and '4 Ways to Get Freelance Writing Jobs Part 1: Online Jobs' by Beth Morrow. It also has two free e-books to download, written by Jimmy D Brown. I haven't read them yet, but expect to get some useful tips from them.

Looking at the site again this morning, I've discovered that there are five free courses on offer: Writing for Profit: Break into Magazines, Outside the Square Fiction Workshop, Ebook Marketing Secrets Course, Short Story Writing Workshop and 5 Part Copywriting Course.

What more could you ask for free?

I thoroughly recommend this site and ezine to all writers.

Go Aussie, go!

Today I'd like to say something about some of the excellent writer-related websites and e-zines I've come across.

From North America:
Writer Gazette, http://www.writergazette.com ,maintained by Krista Barrett has been voted 'Best Site' in Writer's Digest magazine for 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 & 2007
Absolute Write, http://www.absolutewrite.com/, maintained by MacAllister Stone is full of useful information and links.
Writesparks, http://writesparks.com/, maintained by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ always has lots of helpful ideas.
Filbert Publishing, http://filbertpublishing.com and the e-zine Writing Etc, maintained by Beth Erickson has helpful ideas for freelance writers.
Moira Allen's Writing World, http://www.writing-world.com/, has a wealth of information about all aspects of writing.

There are many others. However, as a Brit living in New Zealand, what has struck me as surprising is the number of excellent sites and newsletters that come from 'across the ditch' in Australia.
These include:
Rob Parnell's The Easy Way to Write, http://easywaytowrite.com , full of helpful ideas and lots of free stuff, as well as a range of valuable courses.
Ruth Barringham's Writeaholics, http://www.writeaholics.net/ with lots of links, freebies and a publishing service.
Marg McAlister's Writing4Success, http://www.writing4success.com , which probably has the best weekly articles available anywhere (that I know of).
Angela Booth maintains an e-zine for freelancers 'Freelance Writing Success Tips and Skills' as well as several websites, including http://writinghacker.com/ Helpful advice for freelancers, and lots of courses also.
Cheryl Wright's http://www.writer2writer.com She has lots of helpful ideas and free gifts.

Considering the population of Australia, isn't it amazing that it has so many talented writers and freelancers?

An exciting new website

For the last couple of weeks, I've been discussing my novel 'Windows on Our World, Part 1: Hope'. http://www.lesbillgates.com/hope.html

Today, I'm going to tell you about my exciting new website:

Are you a POD or self-published novelist who is struggling to sell your novel?
Have you tried:
• promoting your book on your own website?
• ads?
• banners?
• link exchange?
• viral marketing?
• posting reviews of your book?
• press releases?
• other methods?
• all of these, but with little or no success?

Is your book for sale on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and other online bookstores?

Have you showcased your book on websites like http://www.bookhitch.com, http://www.nothingbinding.com or http://ebookscafe.writergazette.com ?

YET YOU ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO SELL YOUR BOOK.

This website is designed to help people like you.

Which authors are suitable for the new website?
It is for all* novelists, published with an ISBN. Though constructed with the POD or self-published novelist in mind, other novelists published by traditional publishers are also welcome to join.
* This excludes novels with erotic content.

Which authors are not suitable for the new website?
It is not suitable for novelists whose work has not yet been published. It is not a website where you can get your work critiqued, assessed, edited or proofread. If you are at these earlier stages, there are plenty of websites dedicated to helping you.

What about non-fiction?
At the moment, I am only considering non-fiction that tells a true story. Other types of non-fiction will not be accepted.

Short stories?
No short stories at this time, only novels of 50 000 words or more.

How does it work?
New members are asked to submit a sample chapter from their book to get chapter reviews from other members. At the same time, they will be asked to read and review the chapters of five other members in the queue ahead of them. Thus, each new member will give five chapter reviews and subsequently receive five chapter reviews.Authors will be given two weeks to complete his/her reviews. Any author who signs up but fails to complete the reviews on time (and without good reason) will be refused membership. If there is a good reason – illness, bereavement etc – the administrator must be informed; in which case, your allocated chapters will be passed to another member and you will subsequently be allocated new ones.

All authors accepted as members will have a profile on the website - see example. Membership of the site is free and visitors to the site will be able to view all parts.Your profile will include the following:

Details about your book and where to purchase it.
An image of your book cover.
A link to your sample chapter.
Your chapter reviews.
A book description or synopsis.
An author bio.
Links to book reviews.

See an example profile at
http://www.shareyournovel.com/profileauthorID0001.html

For more information, visit http://www.shareyournovel.com or join the Forum at http://www.shareyournovel.com/forum
Join, Share Your Novel, and make friends

An explanation of the dream?

The belief that Squire is living in a dream is reinforced by the mythical creatures that he meets throughout the quest - creatures that are drawn from the mythology of different cultures. Apart from the main characters, the Luchorpans, that are a variant of the Irish Leprechauns, he also meets the Minotaur Homar, from Greek mythology, Phynnodderee from the Isle of Man and the Ballybogs from Ireland (to name a few). In the second book 'Faith', he meets other creatures from Irish and Greek mythology, as well as one from the Himalayas. A logical explanation would be that Grant Cowie (Squire's alta ego from our world) has knowledge of various mythologies, and Squire dreams about them so that they become part of the 'reality' of his life in the Land.

However, the logical explanation is not always the right one. You will need to read to the end of the third book 'Love' before the whole plot is revealed.

Windows to a dream, or reality?

What are the 'Windows on Our World' in the trilogy of the same name by Les Bill Gates?

A recurring theme of the story is that Squire (the hero) periodically returns to his own world as his alter ego Grant Cowie - these 'visions' of his own world are triggered whenever our hero uses the Shield Of Squire. He looks into the back of the shield and sees an image or 'Window' onto his own world. However, as soon as he sees this image, Squire loses consciousness and, when he awakens, he cannot remember what happened back in his own world. All he can remember is that the experience was not a pleasant one.

Underlying this experience is Squire's confusion about what is reality and what is a dream. Here is a paragraph from the first page of the first book:

'Is this the dream, and the other reality? As he lay motionless, he heard a whisper in his mind, “Squire, it’s me, Quexitoxeri. Soon the time will come for the fulfilment of the prophecy. The skull shall be made whole once more, and you will rule again in the Land.” Is this the reality, and the other the dream?'

Squire's thoughts show that he is not sure which is the dream and which is the reality.
As the plot develops, he learns that he bears a resemblance to The Squire, a great historic leader in Thorland, and he has been summoned to the Land to facilitate the fulfilment of a prophecy. How the fulfilment of that prophecy ends would be giving too much away.

Read the first chapter at http://www.lesbillgates.com/hope.html

Kobalos, and other words associated with Goblins

Just as the Orcs are the evil creatures characters in JRR Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’, so the Kobalos are the evil creatures in ‘Windows on Our World’, the fantasy trilogy of Les Bill Gates.

The Kobalos are the evil creatures who have long supported the wicked wizards of the east and now make up the majority of Gordeve’s army. They are similar in height to the Luchorpans but much stockier in build. Their disproportionately large feet are unshod. They wear brown, studded leather jerkins and brown leather breeches that reach just below the knees, and a thin layer of grey hair covers most parts of their bodies. Each of them also carries a short, wide sword made from bronze.

What does Kobalos mean?

The English word Goblin is derived from the Greek ‘Kobalos’, which means ‘rogue’.

Alternative names for Kobalos, or their sub-races are: Kobolds, Brags, Trows (from Scotland), Spriggans (from England), Wichtlein (from Germany) and Phooka (from Ireland) – made famous in Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ as Puck.

I have used some of these words for place names in East Thorland – the part controlled by the wicked wizard Gordeve.

If you read ‘Windows on Our World’ by Les Bill Gates, you will not learn a lot about Kobalos and their place in mythology, but you will learn a lot about Les Bill’s interpretation of Kobalos as you get drawn in by the fascinating characters created by the author. If you would like to purchase ‘Windows on Our World, Part 1: Hope’, or learn more, visit Les Bill’s website at http://www.lesbillgates.com/hope.html

Cluricauns

Another variant of Leprechauns are Cluricauns. Cluricauns are close cousins of Leprechauns and look very similar, but have pink-tipped noses. They don’t wear aprons, but instead wear long blue stockings up to their calves, have gold laces on their caps and have silver buckles on their shoes. They are impeccably well-groomed and well-dressed.

Cluricauns never have any money and have no desire to work, but steal what they want. They like to enter rich men's homes, raiding their pantries and wine cellars, and draining their casks dry. To amuse themselves, they harness sheep and goats, shepherds' dogs or even pigs and revel drunkenly, racing them over the fields and over bogs after dark and throughout the night.

In the second book of ‘Windows on Our World’, we are introduced to the Cluricauns who live in part of Luchor in a small town called Cluritown. In contrast to the Cluricauns of legend, these Cluricauns like skithing (a variation of skiing) and are pulled along by the animal on a pair of planks that resemble skis. The main Cluricaun character is Millikane, a drunk, who kidnaps one of the company.

Luchorpans

Luchorpans, a variation on the Leprechauns of Irish Mythology

Just as the Hobbits are central characters in JRR Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’, so are the Luchorpans central characters in my fantasy trilogy ‘Windows on Our World’.
So, what is a Luchorpan?
Luchorpan is just another word for Leprechaun.
However, the origins of the word Leprechaun are in dispute. Some scholars of Irish mythology believe the word is derived from the Gaelic ‘Luacharma'n’, which means ‘little body’ or ‘pygmy’. Others believe the word derives from ‘Leath bhrogan’ which means ‘maker of one shoe’ – Leprechauns always make one shoe at a time, never a pair.
Either explanation may be feasible, since Leprechauns are said to be only two to three feet tall and have the reputation of being cobblers.
I am in favour of the first explanation since other derivatives of Leprechaun are Luchorpan, Lubrican, Lubberkin and Lurikeen.
There may also be some connection with Lugh (whose name means ‘shining one’), the sun god of the ancient Celts, patron of arts and crafts and leader of the Tuatha dé Danaan (‘People of the goddess Danu’), a god of war, mastery, magic and good harvest and said by legend to be a master of many skills.
Whatever the origins, there is no doubting the importance of Leprechauns in Irish folklore.
Described variously as ‘fairies’, ‘sprites’ or ‘little elves’, Leprechauns are said to resemble little old men. However they are not dwarves since their various dimensions bear the same proportions to each other as those of humans. They are mischievous people who love to drink beer or poteen, smoke pipes, dance, and play music.
Leprechauns are hard-working people. Many of them are cobblers and renowned for the quality of the shoes they make. They are called ‘fairy cobblers’, for they make shoes for elves. Usually solitary, anti-social people, when not working, they often hide alone behind bushes or under trees smoking their pipes.
Leprechauns traditionally dress in garish old-fashioned clothes – trousers with braces, a checked shirt, an apron, a cocked hat and buckled shoes. Green is their favourite colour.
Their other main trade is banking, and Leprechauns have a reputation for thriftiness. One legend says that Leprechauns are self-appointed guardians of an ancient treasure of gold left in Ireland by the marauding Danes in the ninth century and that they hide their gold in buried pots. This is one reason why they avoid humans whom they regard as greedy creatures.
Leprechauns carry two leather pouches. One contains a magic silver coin that always returns to the pouch once it is paid out. The other contains a gold coin used to bribe his way out of trouble. This coin, it is alleged, will turn into a rock or a leaf once it is given away.
If you capture a Leprechaun, he should grant you three wishes. However, you shouldn't let him out of your grasp or your sight for a second. He'll try to distract you or use any trick he can think of to get away. If your eyes leave the Leprechaun for even one second he will vanish in the blink of an eye.
The Luchorpans of ‘Windows on Our World’ are based on Leprechauns, but there are some differences. For one thing, there are female Luchorpans such as Vylin Shoemaker, one of the main characters, and Kaitlyn Fortkeeper, commander of the Guards of Luchor. There isn't, however, any mention of female Leprechauns in traditional Irish legend.
The Luchorpans of ‘Windows on Our World’ live in a mythical country called Luchor (to the west of the Air Mountains), with a small enclave also living in the town of Rivermeet in West Thorland (to the east of the Air Mountains).
The other main Luchorpan characters are Perkin Goldmaster, Alvin Shoemaker, Sawkin Goldmaster and High Lord Trevin. Perkin is a banker who possesses the Seeround Glass – a magic glass that can see around corners. He and Vylin are engaged. Alvin, Vylin’s sister, features throughout Book 1, ‘Hope’, but is replaced early in the second book ‘Faith’ by Sawkin, a distant relative of Perkin.
If you read my trilogy ‘Windows on Our World’, you will not learn a lot about Leprechauns and their place in Irish mythology, but you will learn a lot about Luchorpans as you get drawn in by the fascinating characters I have created. If you would like to purchase ‘Windows on Our World, Part 1: Hope’, or learn more, visit my website at http://www.lesbillgates.com/hope.html

'Hope', Faith' and 'Love'

How did I decide on the subtitles for the three parts of the epic fantasy trilogy 'Windows on Our World'?
These were not decided upon until I had written several chapters of the first book. The idea came after I introduced the character Jippers. Jippers is the only character apart from the hero, Squire, who comes from our world. I wanted a character who was seeking something, much like Gollum is seeking his 'precious'. Jippers is continually looking for his 'Hope', which is a hope that he can find a way back to his own world. Read 'Windows on Our World, Part 1, Hope' to see whether or not Jippers achieves his hope. http://www.lesbillgates.com/hope.html
So, I settled on 'Hope' as the subtitle for the first book - and for a trilogy, what could be more obvious than to call the other two books 'Faith' and 'Love'?
It would be giving too much away at the moment to explain how 'Faith' plays a part in the second book.

Windows on Our World

What was the motivation behind my fantasy novel trilogy 'Windows on Our World'?
The inspiration for the trilogy came from other fantasy novels, in particular 'Lord of the Rings' by JRR Tolkien and 'The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever' by Stephen Donaldson.
From Tolkien, I have adopted the idea of a quest, but then so have others such as Terry Brooks and David Eddings, to name just two.
From Donaldson, I have adopted the idea of a man (in his case Covenant, in my case Squire) being summoned from his own world to another fantasy world.
But that's where the similarities end. I have tried not to emulate these great novelists, but have a story that is original and my own work.
A third idea for the plot came from a book I read as a child - I can't recall its title or author - where the heroes of the story follow a paper chain of clues to get the prize. In my case, the members of the company must follow a set of instructions to find the teeth that belong to the golden skull.
What about the title?
With the 'Thomas Covenant' part of the idea, I wanted a title that reflected the fact that Squire would have visions of his own world - hence 'Windows on Our World'. However, I also thought to make some profit from the association of 'Gates' and 'Windows'. If anything, this have probably proved counterproductive. Do a google on 'Windows' and you'll get 1.33 billion results! Do a search on 'Windows on Our World', you'll still get more than 9 million results. However, mine comes in at number 3.
What about the subtitles: 'Hope', Faith' and 'Love'? - I'll deal with this next time.
http://www.lesbillgates.com

What's in a name?

This is my first post. I'll say more about some things I've been doing in the days ahead.

I've been told that I must have a blog if I want to promote myself, my book, my services and my websites, so here goes...

I'm also posting to my own site at http://www.lesbillgates.com/blog.html and Live Journal at http://lesbillgates.livejournal.com

One reviewer of my site http://www.lesbillgates.com on Link Referral said 'Use of Bill Gates in the site is not appropriate'.

I replied by saying that since this is my own name, it is appropriate. I am Leslie William Gates. Leslie was given to me by my father - it was the name of his best friend who was killed in WW2. But who wants to be called 'Leslie'? I have always been known as 'Les'. My second name is William, named after my paternal grandfather and greatgrandfather. Like the more famous William Gates, I abbreviate 'William' to 'Bill'. So, that's my name.

Was it inappropriate for Matin Luther King to use the name of the founder of the Lutheran Church?
Is it inappropriate for the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mike Moore, to have the same name as the documentary filmaker of "Bowling for Columbine'?
Is it inappropriate for the writer of the movie 'Gremlins' to call himself Chris Columbus after the discoverer of America?
Is it inappropriate that the New Zealand batsman Bert Sutcliffe used almost the same name as the great English batsman Herbert Sutcliffe?
What about Peter Jackson. Did he take his name from a cigarette brand?

OF COURSE NOT!

Neither is it inappropriate for me to use the name Les Bill Gates. I do have six years and an Oxford degree in my favour on my more illustrious namesake, but he has a megabusiness and a few million dollars in his favour. Maybe he is even my distant cousin. I am proud to be associated with the founder of Microsoft.