The Story Behind the Story with Bill Arnott of Vancouver, BC, Canada.

 

The Scribbler is happy to welcome Bill back to tell us the SBTS for his newest novel.

He’s been here before and if you missed his visit, please go here.

Bill is a friendly chap and does a lot to support his author friends. I’ve read his work and he’s a fine storyteller.

Read on my friends.

 

 

Bill Arnott is the bestselling author of the Gone Viking travel memoirs (Gone Viking: A Travel Saga, Gone Viking II: Beyond Boundaries, Gone Viking III: The Holy Grail) and A Season on Vancouver Island. He’s been awarded by the Whistler Book Awards, ABF International Book Awards, Firebird Book Awards, The Miramichi Reader’s Very Best Book Awards, and for his expeditions received a Fellowship at London’s Royal Geographical Society. When not trekking the globe with a small pack and journal, Bill can be found on Canada’s west coast, where he lives near mountains and sea on Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh land.

 

Bill sailing a historical pilot cutter in the North Atlantic

Title: Gone Viking III: The Holy Grail (publication date: Oct 3, 2023).

 

 

Synopsis: “Witty, well-read, and effortlessly entertaining, Arnott may be the perfect travel companion,” Thomas Lundy, Canadian Geographic Magazine.

Join bestselling author Bill Arnott on this epic adventure, trekking the ancient world to unearth Viking secrets and reveal history’s most elusive treasure, the Holy Grail. Granted a fellowship at London’s Royal Geographical Society for his previous Gone Viking expeditions, Arnott takes readers on a remarkable new excursion following legendary explorers: Scandinavians, Celts, and Arthurian knights, across Europe and into the Arctic. With insight and humour, let this award-winning traveller be a companion and guide on the ultimate quest, with firsthand discoveries in Viking Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Britain, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Poland, and Jerusalem.

 

Bill in Greenland by Erik the Red's farmstead

 

The Story behind the Story: Gone Viking III: The Holy Grail is the final book in the Gone Viking travelogue series. Following the success of the first book, my publishing team at RMBooks and I felt a trilogy made sense, and that “the story,” or in this case my travel expeditions, could be completed and effectively communicated in this manner. Each book is distinct, yet builds upon its predecessor. The inspiration for this came at a Viking Ship museum in Denmark, where I gazed at a stylized map on the wall, sweeping arrows in red showing where Scandinavian explorers had travelled. It looked like the entire planet! At that moment I believed I could go there – follow it all – and turn that into a remarkable odyssey. To my delight, now, many years later, I’ve completed that epic series of treks, which I share in real time with readers in each of the Gone Viking books.

 

Bill in Iceland at the Saga Museum

Website: Bill Arnott author page at RMBooks.

 

A question before you go, Bill:

 

Can you tell us about the perfect setting you have, or desire, for your writing? Music or quiet? Coffee or tequila?  Neat or notes everywhere?

 

Great question! I’ve had the most enjoyment (and productivity) in a couple of places. One being a rented apartment, not far from our home, with a wood-burning fireplace and an excellent bakery/café nearby. The weather was miserable, and I made a fire every day for four months. It was a proper cocoon, and I loved it. Another memorable setting was a month on a small island off British Columbia’s south coast. For that stay, the weather was brilliant. I pulled a table outside, had a view of the sea, and listened to ravens flap by through the day. In both locales I’d occasionally play white noise through earbuds (ocean waves), the sensory soundtrack affecting my writing in a visceral manner, which, I believe, comes through rather well in the work. I hope readers feel the same way and enjoy the new Gone Viking excursion as much as our previous adventures together.

 

Allan, thanks very much for having me back to the Scribbler, and congratulations to you as well on your wonderful books!

Cheers,

Bill.

 

It’s my pleasure Bill. Thanks for taking the time to be our guest this week. Wishing you continued success with your writing. 

 

 

Thanks to all you visitors and readers.