I
had to do a brief blog post about this. I ordered a bunch of books from Book
Depository, including one I’ve lusted after for years. What book is that?
had to do a brief blog post about this. I ordered a bunch of books from Book
Depository, including one I’ve lusted after for years. What book is that?
Dinotopia.
Not
quite what you expected *grin*, huh? I read Dinotopia nearly 20 years ago (and
yes, I feel old now ;p) and fell utterly in love with it. I desperately wanted
a copy but in NZ they were $40-$60 new and I could never find a copy in the
stores when I finally had the cash saved up for it. That beautiful, glorious
book is actually responsible for the Griffons in my book! It’s so funny where
inspiration comes from and I thought I might enlighten you guys on where some
of my other ideas came from.
quite what you expected *grin*, huh? I read Dinotopia nearly 20 years ago (and
yes, I feel old now ;p) and fell utterly in love with it. I desperately wanted
a copy but in NZ they were $40-$60 new and I could never find a copy in the
stores when I finally had the cash saved up for it. That beautiful, glorious
book is actually responsible for the Griffons in my book! It’s so funny where
inspiration comes from and I thought I might enlighten you guys on where some
of my other ideas came from.
Sasha
and Nesha.
and Nesha.
These
were the names of two wolves a character on a cartoon show used to have. I
watched the show as a littlie. It stuck absolutely in my mind and I ALWAYS
wanted two ‘wolves’ when I grew up (I ended up with two fur critters, Sable and
the late Otis *grin*). This character (a man) also had a really neat weapon!
Throwing stars that returned to his sleeve. So that cartoon gave me the name
Nesha, inspired the name Loushka, and I borrowed his sleeve idea (couldn’t
resist, I always wanted it *hee*).
were the names of two wolves a character on a cartoon show used to have. I
watched the show as a littlie. It stuck absolutely in my mind and I ALWAYS
wanted two ‘wolves’ when I grew up (I ended up with two fur critters, Sable and
the late Otis *grin*). This character (a man) also had a really neat weapon!
Throwing stars that returned to his sleeve. So that cartoon gave me the name
Nesha, inspired the name Loushka, and I borrowed his sleeve idea (couldn’t
resist, I always wanted it *hee*).
The
dragons and their ability to ‘leap’.
dragons and their ability to ‘leap’.
Nnelg
is a throwback from my, My Little Pony days (anyone remember little Spike? I
always liked him) and the teleporting idea was from the Unicorn ponies and the
way they ‘winked’ in and out. I was so utterly obsessed with that show as a
kid. I used to insist on my dad watching the episodes with me *hee*. I don’t
really like the new version they have out now… I’ll have to hunt down an
original version on DVD at some point. I really wish I’d kept some of the
ponies I had. Especially my super pretty flutter pony. Ahh nostalgia.
is a throwback from my, My Little Pony days (anyone remember little Spike? I
always liked him) and the teleporting idea was from the Unicorn ponies and the
way they ‘winked’ in and out. I was so utterly obsessed with that show as a
kid. I used to insist on my dad watching the episodes with me *hee*. I don’t
really like the new version they have out now… I’ll have to hunt down an
original version on DVD at some point. I really wish I’d kept some of the
ponies I had. Especially my super pretty flutter pony. Ahh nostalgia.
The
idea of the big dragons and the lack of fire, well that just seemed sensible to
me. If you can explain such thoughts as sensible ;p Also, Sito is directly
inspired by my beautiful staffy Otis (reverse the name and what-do-you get…)
and his personality, which was very larger than life (and cuddly!).
idea of the big dragons and the lack of fire, well that just seemed sensible to
me. If you can explain such thoughts as sensible ;p Also, Sito is directly
inspired by my beautiful staffy Otis (reverse the name and what-do-you get…)
and his personality, which was very larger than life (and cuddly!).
So
why Griffons?
why Griffons?
Eagles
and lions are some of my favorite creatures. I am a Leo and that’s always made
the lion special to me. Eagles were the first animal I got really good at
drawing and I think it must have been due to the documentaries my family was
watching at the time. Every week on Sunday arvo/night there was a National
Geographic documentary on the T.V and that cemented both mine and my brother’s
love of animals. From a young age my dream jobs varied from vet, to zoologist,
to biologist, to paleontologist. Animals, extinct and current, are something
that always fascinates me. Dinotopia presented dinosaurs in such an unusual and
friendly light that it had me obsessing over the concepts for months. So when I
was originally daydreaming while watching a storm gather over the Wellington
harbor and the five Griffons landed around the four heroines in my daydream, it
was totally natural. I could see them in their absolute glory. Hard, muscular
wings with thick, wild manes and strong beaks and talons. The idea of
communicating with them is very ‘Dinotopian’ too. They were such a clear,
invigorating concept that it really is those five gorgeous characters that
inspired me to actually put fingers to keys and begin typing what would
eventually be, The Arrival.
and lions are some of my favorite creatures. I am a Leo and that’s always made
the lion special to me. Eagles were the first animal I got really good at
drawing and I think it must have been due to the documentaries my family was
watching at the time. Every week on Sunday arvo/night there was a National
Geographic documentary on the T.V and that cemented both mine and my brother’s
love of animals. From a young age my dream jobs varied from vet, to zoologist,
to biologist, to paleontologist. Animals, extinct and current, are something
that always fascinates me. Dinotopia presented dinosaurs in such an unusual and
friendly light that it had me obsessing over the concepts for months. So when I
was originally daydreaming while watching a storm gather over the Wellington
harbor and the five Griffons landed around the four heroines in my daydream, it
was totally natural. I could see them in their absolute glory. Hard, muscular
wings with thick, wild manes and strong beaks and talons. The idea of
communicating with them is very ‘Dinotopian’ too. They were such a clear,
invigorating concept that it really is those five gorgeous characters that
inspired me to actually put fingers to keys and begin typing what would
eventually be, The Arrival.
Anyway,
enough blabbing. I better get back into drafting.
enough blabbing. I better get back into drafting.
Take care all!
Nic
The Arrival, available at at Amazon : Barnes&Noble : iTunes : Kobo : Smashwords (for
those UK kindlers)
those UK kindlers)
Awakening available at Amazon : AmazonUK : Barnes&Noble : Smashwords (in
every e-format for Nooks/Sony/PDF readers)
every e-format for Nooks/Sony/PDF readers)
Love that this was an inspiration to you!
*grin* it's not exactly what people expect of a fantasy writer ;p
LOL. My life has been consumed by My Little Pony. Never liked them myself but my sister collected them, and then my daughter.
Take inspiration where you can I say!
i love that you have found the childhood book that has inspired lots of you creativity! Yay for Book Depository!