Hey there! Want to know some fun insights and connections my books have to my real life?
Check them out below!
I must reiterate that NONE of the characters in my books are real. Although I do use events and incidents from my own life and those around me to inspire my writing, all my characters are fictional.
Bound by Prophecy
Legends of Airidia
- I first met Drustan and Elandria in a dream. I dreamt about their connection and Drustan protecting her. I knew that he was tormented because of what he is and the incidents from his past.
- Drustan and Elandria are seven years apart and so are my parents. It’s my tribute to them. Think about this—when my dad graduated from high school, my mom was in the 6th grade, crazy!
- The Midsummer Festival has ties to events that happened in my teen years when I attended SCA events with an aunt and uncle. My sisters and I made our own dresses and cloaks. We attended medieval dances, plays, tournaments and bardic events.
- This same uncle, is talented at making anything he puts his mind to. He has made his own armor, puppets, outfits, weapons, art, and his wife is just as gifted and is an excellent seamstress. They inspired my two characters Jurgen (Y-urg-in) and Lynette.
- Some medieval events I attended were at a place called Somerville Manor in Idaho. One of the events was a greased pole climb, complete with a bag of coins at the top. One year, the pole broke while a young man was climbing it and that is what I visualized as I wrote the greased pole scene in my book. Sadly the place in Idaho is now closed.
- I wanted Drustan to have the power of shadows, which is sometimes reserved for villains. It is to prove that it doesn’t matter what or who people are, but it is choices that define people.
- My two main characters cannot do things alone and they have to rely on each other. This is true in life. We are not meant to go through life alone whether we rely on friends, family, God, or neighbors we need each other to help make it through the rough times and to celebrate the good times.
- As an outcast werewolf, my heart went out to Lupin from Harry Potter, and it inspired me to write Drustan just as rejected as Lupin.
- Several of the horse names are actual horse names my in-laws have owned over the years.
- I have been thrown from one of those same horses, and got right back on (but I’m not going to tell which horse did it…).
- The story Gareth shares about his pony is based on true events about my husband and the ponies he had growing up.
- There are five child or youth characters that are mentioned briefly. These are in honor of my five kids who put up with all the time I spend writing. Can you guess which are their Airidian names?