Many people ask me where I got the inspiration for my Redcliffe novels LGBT fantasy book series. Inspiration comes in many forms. That’s a phrase I picked up somewhere a long time ago, and I like the way it sounds.

My inspiration was collected over a period of roughly ten years, when I was finally ready to write my first novel Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel).

#AtoZChallenge Day 9: Inspiration

A large source of inspiration is the beautiful country in which I live. I thought for a long time about where exactly I should locate the supernatural town of my dreams. I live in the North of England, and my home town is in rural Staffordshire. I now live in rural Cheshire. Both counties have their charm and amazing scenery. I also toyed with the idea of featuring the city of Manchester, since it too is a beautiful place.

My Muse decided that we needed a coastal town. My thoughts turned to family holidays, a store of memories and wonderful experiences collected over the years. I hit on the perfect place when I remembered Cornwall. It is a county that has managed to step into the 21st century without comprising its heritage and traditional charm. I can use the old pirate stories, ghost stories and other folklore traditions as part of my tapestry.

Inspiration in Cornwall

There was only one part of Cornwall that I focused on for my inspiration. It was the tourist town of Looe, near the Devon border. I have friends who owned a hotel in that town, and so we would visit frequently for weekend breaks and special occasions. I had lots of time to explore the town, enjoy the beach and the sea, and soak up the atmosphere to add to my memories. I also included elements of the fishing village Polperro, because Redcliffe needed a harbour and it resembled the one in Polperro (with a little creative license).

Inspiration for stories does not only include physical location. I needed inspiration for my characters. Where did they come from? Who are they, really? I cannot answer those questions. On the one hand, yes, I created them all. On the other, they came to me, and offered themselves to my stories. The characters tell their stories from their own experience, and I am simply the translator. Their personality traits and physical appearances are modelled on my own friends, family and acquaintances.

Step into my world

Would you like to step into my world? Then check out the first novel, Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel) for free on Wattpad now for a limited time only. Then you can move on to book two, Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel), and book three, Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel).

Now I invite you to check out my fellow #atozchallenge bloggers. You will find some weird and wonderful articles, and we can all make new friends. See you tomorrow for the next letter in our #atozchallenge.

Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here.