1. It started with either a nasty headache or a cold, I forget which. Not a promising start, but when one is in pain, it is very easy to be inspired to write about someone else who is in pain; so I tottered upstairs to my computer (which really helped my headache...) and wrote a section about a man who had been attacked by a wolf during a hunt.2. Which then led to some inspiration arising from this magnificent bit of artwork, done for a book that I have never heard of before.
3. Then there was some inspiration from Lawhead's Song of Albion trilogy.
4. Add to that some of the features of the Middle Eastern cultures, including the Arabian horses...5.
Then the rampant illiteracy of the Middle Ages...6. Then the historical struggle between humans over the color of skin, specifically the antipathy toward Gypsies...
7.
Andrew Peterson's song 'Nothing to Say.'8.
The movie Amazing Grace, about abolitionist William Wilberforce, inspired me with some themes...
9. Ceylon tea.
10. Then the friendship of David and Jonathan, which only occurred to me after I had several things in the story that tied into the Biblical account. This is probably the strongest inspiration, as it helped me flesh out the story a good deal.
For number 4, you mentioned middle eastern Cultures, can you share with me what you learned?
ReplyDeleteWell, I didn't go very in depth studying them; I just took some of the things I already knew and pulled them into the world I created. I used the custom of having the women veil their faces; the way the Arabs' lives were focused around the raising of horses; and the very central and familial lifestyle. Because of the way I made up the world of Tera, I was able to weave together bits and pieces of several ancient cultures of history to use.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I love Amazing Grace. Beautiful movie.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it lovely? I read the book by Eric Metaxas, too, and found that the movie isn't entirely accurate and some of the events are switched around chronologically (which is to be expected), but it's still a great movie. Thanks for commenting! I had so much fun remembering these inspirations.
ReplyDelete^.^! at 7-10, especially the tea one. I really enjoyed seeing this; it's always superb knowing where ideas come from, and now I can see you in the story even more clearly than before, which is awesome.
ReplyDeleteWuv you!