How I plot

People ask – where do your get story ideas? The answer is almost anywhere. Someone once mentioned that the Irish believe the original inhabitants of the Britain and Ireland were the Leprechaun and another old belief is that the Scots are directly descended from Noah.

What’s the story?

I can’t relate to the wee people except as an observer so the story has to be told by a tall chap – a descendent of Noah – Han. Han escapes from a mad king in Israel, or Judah. He’s a specialist in metal working but he also knows about ore and metallurgy so, when he escapes, the Prime Minister sends people after him to bring him and his family back. The PM wants to threaten Han’s family so that Han will reveal all his secrets – they’re considered magic.

Han makes his way across Europe where there are sabre toothed tigers, bears and maybe the odd mammoth. Han etc. are captured by people who do human sacrifice but are saved by a Druid who makes magic signs that Han understands.

Still pursued by the PM’s agent, Han builds a boat of saplings and skins with a woollen sail (a la Vikings) and set off for the tin isles but, unable to sail into the prevailing Westerly winds, slant across the North Sea and find themselves in Scotland.

That’s where they find the Leprechaun – in the land of the Neanderthals. The Leprechaun are also skilled in metals and control the Neanderthals but, when the Neanderthals revolt, Han and the Leprechaun are forced to flee to Ireland and further adventure.

Not much of a plan but that’s how it grows. There will be those who among the Leprechaun who are jealous of Han, of course.