Gordon
met me in Malta, where I was based with the Royal Navy. We both were involved
in martial arts training, though Gordon was considerably more advanced than me!
Me martial arts training in Malta, 1975
When he mentioned his mythical Floreskand, its characters, coinage, history,
geology, religion and myths, I became intrigued. So, in 1974 we decided to work on a series of
novels set in this colourfully imagined land, and we settled on the pen-name Morton Faulkner. Not long afterwards, Gordon was
re-posted back to UK.
These
were the pre-computer days. I typed out the story on a portable Remington, with
a carbon copy. We communicated by post. I’d write the story and Gordon would
supply hand-written (and sometimes typed) background information. Out of this
grew a 106,000-word fantasy novel, Wings
of the Overlord, which had a few near-misses with a handful of publishers over the years...
Finally,
in 2014 we found a publisher willing to take on the series, The Chronicles of
Floreskand. Sadly, although we supplied the second installment on time, there
were delays and problems in getting it published, so we amicably severed our
ties. At this point, both by now getting a little long in the tooth, we
determined to go it alone and self-publish. The first volume was revised and
published as Floreskand: Wings and we
promptly followed it with Floreskand:King, both in 2017. This year, we
completed the third book, Floreskand:Madurava and published it in May (in Floreskand, a madurava is a compass
though it possesses arcane qualities too). We are now working on the fourth
installment, Floreskand: Prophecy.
There
are a number of recurring characters in the series. There’s Ulran, the mystical
innman, Ranell his son, the despot King Saurosen, the Underpeople, also known
as the Ratava, the wormlike schwarm, good and bad wizards and mages, ordinary
soldiers, workers, tradesmen, generals, Aurelan Crossis, a soldier on a quest
of vengeance, queens and powerful women, including Lorar, the kidnapped
girlfriend of Ranell, destined for subjugation and humiliation at the hands of
her tormentor, Epal Danorr… And of course there are maps – plenty of maps – and
comprehensive glossaries.
Wings - Three disparate adventurers set out from Lornwater on a
quest, Ulran, Courdour Alomar and Cobrora Fhord. Plagued by assassins, forces
of nature and magic, they cross the plains of Floreskand, combat Baronculer
hordes, scale snow-clad Sonalume Mountains and penetrate the dark heart of
Arisa. Here they uncover truth, evil and find pain and death.
King
- Lornwater city was ripe for rebellion against King Saurosen. Subterfuge,
betrayal, conspiracy, greed, revenge and thirst for power motivate rich and
poor alike. Muddying the fight are the Sardan mystics. At stake is the Black
Sword, the powerful symbol that entitles the holder to take the throne of
Lornwater.
Madurava - Lornwater's Madurava House signifies a change in the
alignment of the sacred compass – pointing to the dunsaron. Also heading in
that direction are the Ratava, the schwarm, Lord Tanellor, the daughter of
Arqitor, Charja Nev, First-commander Nimentan Pellas, and almaturge Rait Falo,
all destined for conflict... And we meet again Ulran, Ranell, Lorar, Epal
Danorr and Watchman Dep.
The
blurb for Prophecy reads:
As
the events in Madurava unfold,
Lornwater’s Madurava House undergoes a significant alteration in the alignment
of its spirit statues, signifying the
prophet is coming! Though it is not clear from which direction…
If there is any truth in the prophecy,
then many of the city kingdoms of Floreskand will be shaken to their core.
Barely recovered from his ordeal in King, Aurelan Crossis sets out on a
journey of vengeance against the deposed king Saurosen, which takes him into
the midst of pilgrims heading for the Sacred Hills, where he will be sorely
tested.
Bindar, a survivor of the strife in Wings, now trains mountain troops in
Arion. In the Vale of Belet he comes into contact with the Haram Sect as well
as a powerful fugitive from his past.
The ordeal for Lorar worsens as she is taken by her
tormentor Danorr to Arisa…
The emperor of Tarakanda is faced with heightened
political and religious tensions that threaten to destabilise the empire.
And Lornwater is still recovering from
the civil strife, where factions of Remainers continue to threaten the life of
the rightful king. Watchman Welde Dep finds his investigations bring him closer
to Queen Tantian, risking the jealousy and enmity of the king.
The saga of Floreskand continues…
***
We hope to complete Prophecy this year (2018) and even move
on to its successor, tentatively entitled Tarakanda.
Maybe writers who
have hit proverbial brick walls with their works will be consoled by our
experience. Many traits are required of a writer – and among them are perseverance
and self-belief. Never give up!
***
More about Gordon:
He
is a member of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding and a Fellow of the
Royal Asiatic Society. In 1990 he had the first of what was to eventually
become annual trips to China. These trips take students to study at the Beijing
University of Physical Education (BUPE) and visit various research
establishments, hospitals, temples, markets, bars, etc. He is the Principal
Instructor of the Chanquanshu School of Daoist Arts which he founded in 1983;
it now has in excess of 300 registered students. At a ceremony held at BUPE he
became Ru Shi Dizi (an outstanding and close disciple) of Professor Zhang
Guangde, the creator of Daoyin Yangsheng Gong which is a part of the Chinese
National Fitness Program. And at a Ba Shi ceremony in a temple on Mount Wudang,
Central China, he was initiated as a 15th generation Wudang Boxing
disciple of Daoist Master You Xuande. He is the author of Managing Stress with Qigong. Gordon and his wife, Maria have two
children and six grandchildren and live in the Scottish Highlands.
