Authors - What was the inspiration behind your book? Readers want to know!

[Steve Vernon]

I saw the sneaker again today.

          Cast off, with its eyelets glinting blindly in the sunshine. A dirty pink tongue poked out. One frayed lace snaked from the left upper eyelet like a pointless question mark. A single frayed oak leaf, dead since last autumn, fluttered against the decaying cotton walls of the shoe.

          She’s still following me.

- excerpt from my short story "Lost Sole"

The inspiration behind my story "Lost Sole" (collected in ROADSIDE GHOSTS) was a small pink running shoe lying on a cold sidewalk while the rain cried down upon it. I looked at that lonely shoe and I wondered to myself just where had it come from? What had brought it to this sidewalk? Had it walked here? Had it been knocked off of the foot of some little girl in the street?

Where had this shoe come from?

So I sat down and wrote this story to satisfy my curiosity.

[Doug Moore]

It’s simple. The inspiration I mean.
   My dreams have always been quite vivid and have been since early childhood. In one of my earliest recurring dreams I was living in a survivor colony in Antarctica after a nuclear war. Don’t tell Disney but penguins were the chicken in our diet.  Usually my dreams were quite brutal with fragmented visions of being suffocated or gruesome murders of friends and family.
   Relax! Not by me. I was either the karate kid in my dreams or that paranoid little *ucker hiding in the corner or running down some darkened road where the street lamps die as I pass. I never saw my would-be killer but then again maybe that fear of the unknown was greater than anything my dreams could conjure up.
   As I grew older my dreams became more sporadic but one such dream became the basis for my novel ‘Playing God’. It was different and whole and as clear as a piece of Swarovski crystal. Never before had my dreams been so linear. From perched atop my pillow I could envision the beginning, the end and even some of the filler.
   This subject is precisely what I used to introduce myself as I am new to this site. Anyone interested in the more detailed tale of my book’s inception can read in full in the Book Bazaar by keying in ‘Into the Light/My Journey to publishing my first eBook.

[jojogould]

When I was a toddler I (apparently) dragged a blue teddy bear everywhere around with me.

At school, everyone was into 'Star Wars' but I was a 'Planet of the Apes' man. So, I guess that deep in my subsconscious the early seeds were sown for me to write books about a future Planet Earth run by bears.

[Ian Fraser]

The inspiration for my 'Flies for the Mayans' novella came after I started a grumpy blog from the perspective of God.

After the first blog, it dawned on me rapidly that I had the makings for an interesting story, seeing as most of the narrative was kind of 'writing itself.'

Instead of a regular blog about the problems of a God in Heaven trying to keep control of his territory (much like a variant of Tony Soprano), I decided to sit down and just write the story itself, first-person. Let the Creator's anger, fears, and angst come out, and along the way, have a lot of fun tearing into various religion's ideas of an Afterlife: make delicious satire, in other words.

That's how 'Flies for the Mayans' was born. Judging from the reviews its received, it definitely seems to hit home with readers.

[Miriam Minger]

Hmm, I think alot of writers have vivid dreams.  I know I do--in color, too! 

I hope everyone has a Happy New Year!  Thanks so much for your participation in this thread and for sharing the inspiration behind your books.  Always love to hear more, so join in the fun and thrill us, scare us, entertain us and/or simply enlighten us with the inspiration behind YOUR book. 

Miriam Minger

[CollinKelley]

I wanted to share some of my inspirations for my brand new mystery/suspense novel, Remain In Light (which is out now in eBook format and will be available in paperback mid-January). Remain In Light is the second book in The Venus Trilogy, preceded by Conquering Venus. I'm working on the outline for the third novel now. My goal with this trilogy was to write each book so that it could stand alone, yet connect a larger story and characters together.

The story that links the trilogy is this: In 1968, Irène Laureux's husband was murdered during the Paris riots and his body dumped near Notre-Dame cathedral. Thirty years later, she finally catches up with his killer. With the help of American writer Martin Paige, Irène will illuminate decades of secrets and lies only to discover that her husband's death is part of something far more sinister.

As a writer, I'm influenced by books, films and music that I love. The spirit of Lewis Carroll, Marcel Proust, Henry James, Virginia Woolf, Carl Jung and good old Agatha Christie are alive and well in my novels. There's gumshoe detectives, a hint of the paranormal, Jung's theory of synchronicity and wayward Americans who discover that  Paris has a dangerous underworld that most tourists never see.

If you're a music fan, you'll probably notice that chapters in both Remain In Light and Conquering Venus are named after some of my favorite songs. The music of Miles Davis, Kate Bush, Vanessa Daou, Massive Attack, Samuel Barber and Bjork was constantly playing while I was writing.

The trilogy has a purposeful cinematic quality because I've been greatly influenced by directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Wim Wenders, Krzysztof Kieslowski, Sally Potter, Louis Malle, Jane Campion, Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard. If you love those old black and white New Wave films, mixed with an edge of danger and menace, chances are you'll get into The Venus Trilogy.

[Shiromi]

What a great idea! Gosh, I get my ideas truly from everywhere, dreams, something I read, visions, and I often dwell on them, sometimes for years before I put anything on paper.

The Huntsman's Tale came to me as this fully formed idea, this man's voice telling this terribly lonely, sad story. Unfortunately, that was during nanowrimo so I had to keep it on the back burner for a while.

Becca came as sort of a vision. I saw Becca, this single woman on a space craft far away from anyone. It took a long while to really discover who she was and what her story was.

The story I'm writing right now, The Long Night was an idea that came to me when I couldn't sleep. I think I was getting ready for an early morning flight and I couldn't sleep, and I had this idea of what it would be like the night before a battle. The story has changed drastically since the idea originally came to me but it still has that scene of a warrior trying to get some rest.

[Curtis Hox]

Hi fellow authors!  I thought it would be fun for readers to know the inspiration behind your novels.  
So tell us.  What was your inspiration?  

BLEEDOVER's a novel that blends intellectual subject matter with popular genre tropes in an examination of what narrative is and how we consume it. I wanted a story that pits literary sensibilities vs. the stuff of pulp fiction and popular culture. This emerges as a battle between the protagonist Dr. Hattie Sterling and an old book club member, Corbin Lyell. Hattie's a professor with an attitude who thinks she knows how to explain (and control) bleedover events seeping into reality. The conflict focuses on how Corbin counters her, and her response. He believes that the sword-and-sorcery fiction of R.E. Howard and the science horror of H.P. Lovecraft is just as important as the serious literature she champions. I threw in a few fun pulp fiction tropes like a sword-wielding barbarian, a demon-thing and monstrosities from deep space, even a red-goddess. These, I hope, are handled in an original fashion that avoids the clichés and contrived mechanisms we've all seen a million times. In the end, I tried to write a smart novel with all the fun stuff I liked as a kid.

I know Bleedover takes risks in alienating readers who expect more standard contemporary fantasy, but the slow build is worth the pay off in the end when Hattie and Corbin duel.

[Miriam Minger]

One week already into the New Year and I know all of you are out there conjuring up all kinds of cool stories!  So...let us in on the inspiration behind your short story/novella/novel.  Dare you.

Miriam Minger

[brianbigel]

For "Get The Job" my inspiration was multiple ones.
1. My Sons who are 20 years old and seem to need a lot of help finding jobs so I wrote a book a help them out a bit, gave them paperback copies for Christmas. Charlie, when I talked to him the other day, said he's getting some good ideas from the book for his present job hunt to replace a part time job. Since this is the main reason I wrote the book it made me feel really good.

2. Since the book is about me in my job hunts it was good to remember and write it all down for all time. I now have in one book most of the techniques that I used for finding jobs the last few years. Really, it's also helped me to write my blog a bit better which is a good thing since I'll be turning a number of the postings into another book about job hunting.

3. I wanted to help others find jobs which resonates well with some of my altruistic notions. I'm hoping that many of the free Kindle copies will help some to be able to find jobs though of course it would nice to sell quite a few copies too.

[Iain Edward Henn]

Initial inspiration for my mystery novel, The Delta Chain, came from a newspaper article about the body of a man found floating in a local bay. He'd been in the water for more than a day.  A month later his body had still not been identified and he had not been reported missing. Who was he? How could no-one - no-one - have noticed he was missing?

I researched the subject and found there were many similar cases around the world. Like anyone, I wondered who they once were, what had happened to them, and why no-one missed them. The "what-if?" side of my brain kicked into action.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004INHROC/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_g351_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-4&pf_rd_r=1AWNP5BZ97NSSREHNY67&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470939031&pf_rd_i=507846

[Miriam Minger]

Gosh, I get my ideas truly from everywhere, dreams, something I read, visions, and I often dwell on them, sometimes for years before I put anything on paper.

Anyone else store up the inspiration for their stories for years before striking out to write?

Miriam Minger

[Mark Fassett]

Inspiration for me is mostly the need to write something. The last two novels (one is not out yet) both came about because of workshops.

The first, Questioner's Shadow, came about after I spent an evening trying to come up with the most powerful opening I could. I needed to have something to work on for a workshop with Dave Farland, so I combined the opening with an idea I had for writing something that was a mix of Jack the Ripper and Beowulf.

The second, I was staring up at the ceiling while lying in my bed at the Anchor Inn in Lincoln City, OR. I was at a marketing workshop and had to come up with yet another story idea for a synopsis. We had to come up with a new idea every day for six days.

There are few (if any) things that I write where I could point out a specific inspiration. I can't even think of something in the real world that made me think "I need to go write a story about that".

[jumbojohnny]

I am surprised we can all have a gab about our stuff on here, as we usually cannot post more than once on any one title, but, hey ho.

The inspiration for Mike Miller, Son of Pendragon were the pre - Rowling magic books which put the centre of power in magical schools and colleges (ah, how many knew there were similar but only moderately successful books in this genre years before HP? Not too many, I know, but some will know and perhaps some will have read them.) I thought, as the wannabees no doubt thought in the Cavern in '62, 'I want to do that'.

The Old Man's Trousers. Oddly enough, this is mainly inspired by big Uncy Vern' from HP, in tandem with three men in a boat, and some daft short-lived tv comedy featuring two upper-class bumblers who did nothing but fret as to what they could wear at the next seasonal gathering at the various regattas, manor house parties, shooting parties and the like. My story is nothing like those, but the bare bones provided the central character and his mannerisms.

The Happy Harold Stories. The ultimate inspiration were the over-sentimental twee internet funnies or sometimes rants about life for kids now as opposed to years ago. You know, they use the image of a spotty oik in danger of developing Diabetes before he's 20, sitting at his PC, then flash back to life in the fields in the shires, kids fishing, building dens, rabbiting with their dogs. So this gave me for the idea of my own Just William type character - Happy Harold.

The Marble. I have always been taken by the idea of short stories, each standing on their own, but with a common and perhaps even just a tenuous link, but a link nonetheless, and this gave me the idea to make a kid's marble as the link between all of the stories - or chapters, although this was expanded a tad to also have a recurring human character.

Ghosting in on the Blind Side. Two facets of British life in the good old days of empire have always fascinated me. The spartan men playing football in all weathers on the worst pitches you can imagine, and the empirical / military attitudes which prevailed, complete with plummy accents and senior civil servants there more because they have a double-barrelled surname than their admin' or even intelligence skills. I had the idea to bring the two together in a footy and spy adventure.

Words. This is more to do with either when I am ancient, or gone, and future generations of the family opening a dusty old box in an attic, opening the book, and them saying 'Old John wrote poetry and stuff? Wow!' (Well, let's hope they go wow, it may be the post-apocalyptic era and they're looking for emergency fuel.)

[Jean E]

Where does my inspiration come from?  I wish I knew, I'd spend more time there.  Though I have a lot of writing under my belt, articles, letters, etc.  It was only recently that I sat down to write a book.

I did not take that chair with an outline already in my head.  But what I did bring to the table was a style.  That was a good start.  I spent a few moments staring at my laptop, then all of a sudden the first two words were there,  Eloueese Turtlewine.  For the next few minutes Eloueese Turtlewine introduced herself to me.  I learner of her strange objection to Tuesdays and I learned that she was a very tidy person.  But then we were interupted as a she noticed a tiny piece of yellowy paper float into her garden. 

For me the story built from that point.  I almost felt as if I were following the characters through the tale.  But the guiding principle I did manage to impose was that of community.  My single idea as I took my seat was that whatever happened everyone would pull together.  I suppose what I am saying is that the process inspires me.

I found it impossible to fathom what might happen next while I was away from the keyboard.  I had to be there, engaged, living the thing.  It was great.

[Claudine Gueh]

My Clearest Me is inspired by my experience as an insecure introvert during childhood and adolescence.

I was often unsure about

1) how I ought to be;
2) or if others had found me too quiet;
3) I didn't realize I could pursue BIG dreams either.

[Miriam Minger]

Where does my inspiration come from?  I wish I knew, I'd spend more time there. 

I love that!  Hey everyone, Happy February! 

So get deep with us and share what inspired YOUR book.

Miriam Minger

[Istvan Szabo, Ifj]

The initial inspiration for the world of Crystal Shade? There are many answers for this. My usual official statement is; the character and the basic world was born from a "whisper in my mind". As some said jokingly, maybe an angel whispered her own forgotten story. However I won't confirm or deny this. It's a different type of fantasy and not a "I'm so serious archangel Michael, I'm the greatest warrior, Raphael, God vs. Satan's war X trillion, fallen angels come to love virgin woman, etc, etc...", but a completely different, yet believable story and strange new, yet somehow familiar world which may serve also as a fairy tale for young ones. The reason why people used to ask what the inspiration behind Crystal Shade is, as many part of it is sometimes too believable and detailed, just as our world. So as they said. And the main character is also close to a real, believable character. However there are many tiny secrets in that book, such as why the eight's chapter in the first book is called 888 instead of 8 (And many of these strange things got into this book accidentally, even I haven't realized their meaning until a later time. However each part has a real meaning as I look back at them. But I don't have a clue where those parts came from.). So the inspiration and the details of this book is strange and a mystery, sometimes even to me. However winged Gracie's origin is a secret, but not to me.

As for Pale Moonlight. That's an easy one. I love noir, I love the 30s and I wanted to open a window to this era. Few months ago I've found a site with plenty old photos when I've made a tiny research about New York and the 1930s and that research, those details turned to a funny little novelette (People who was born and lived in New York said I've made a pretty good research job regarding NY and that era as their grandfather had told the very same about those times.).

[wraylewis]

When I retired, I decided to learn more about computer generated images. That led me to Pose and DAZ Studio, which led me to some wonderful characters from a German artist who calls himself Nursoda at Renderosity.com.

I fell in love with these little guys, and, as I created a world for them, they started to tell me stories.

So, I wrote my first Nusodian Tale - Kelm's Revenge, with a bunch of these illustrations.

Within the week, number two - Teo's Big Deal, will go up on Amazon.

Thanks Frank! [Frank van Reuschen (frank@klopfholz.de) is the artist who created these lovely creatures]

[Miriam Minger]

When I retired, I decided to learn more about computer generated images. That led me to Pose and DAZ Studio, which led me to some wonderful characters from a German artist who calls himself Nursoda at Renderosity.com.  I fell in love with these little guys, and, as I created a world for them, they started to tell me stories.

Characters telling you their stories.  I can relate to that!  I love it when you're writing a book and you think it's going one way and then the characters decide to take it into another direction.  Who else but a writer would understand this phenomenon. 

Any more tales of inspiration? 

Miriam Minger

[Liz Davis]

You can read about the inspiration behind Tangi's Teardrops here: http://novel-moments.blogspot.com/2012/02/true-story-behind-tangis-teardrops.html

[xandy3]

My new short story Daddy's Little Girl was inspired by actual current events, and my outrage at how the Criminal Justice system handled it.  I was being my usual big mouthed, smart alec self over the subject for the past few years...
The defenders of a certain athlete keep telling me to shut up about it,...as a matter of fact even those who agreed with me were telling me to just shut up about it.

So I decided the best way to express my thoughts and feelings on the matter would be through creative writing, and to create a totally fictional story on the subject. 

[TommyJCharles]

Thirst came about because I was wondering what would happen to society if aliens came down, but then did nothing. If they just stayed in their ship. How quickly would society fall, and what would happen to our civilization? Would we simply destroy ourselves? Would the aliens actually have to do anything at all?

Then I wondered how a teenage girl would deal with all of this, and how she would deal if she learned that she was the sole hope for humanity.

[Miriam Minger]

If you're a music fan, you'll probably notice that chapters in both Remain In Light and Conquering Venus are named after some of my favorite songs. The music of Miles Davis, Kate Bush, Vanessa Daou, Massive Attack, Samuel Barber and Bjork was constantly playing while I was writing.

Anyone else inspired by music?  Voodoo Chile by Jimi Hendrix was the inspiration for my medieval Ireland historical romance, WILD ANGEL...yup, Voodoo Chile.   When I closed my eyes and listened to the sheer exhilaration of that song, I could see a band of rebel Irishmen crashing through the woods on horseback after a successful raid against the invading Normans.  Amazing.

Miriam Minger

[DolphinWatcher]

The inspiration for writing my wild dolphin watching guide came from a captive bottlenose dolphin I met many years ago. Being young and naive, I signed up for a "dolphin encounter" program with the hope of getting close to the animals I loved.

It just didn't feel right. The pool was small and the dolphin's dorsal fin was bent to one side. I later learned this bending is due to the animal not being able to swim in a straight line for any distance.  I vowed to only watch dolphins in the wild and on their terms. I thought others might like to know where they could do the same.