Inspiration strikes in the strangest of places…
In March of 2024, I attended Planet Comicon in Kansas City as a featured author. During downtime, my best friend/PA and I wandered the event, taking in all of the amazing art and costumes.
As I walked up to a booth with gorgeous art prints, one caught my eye. It was darkly beautiful—a hooded being with antlers and bat wings. Something in my brain sparked, but I walked away. Not even meeting Charlie Hunnam and getting my picture taken with him could stop me from thinking about that picture, although it was an amazing opportunity, not going to lie. *FUN FACT* His character on Sons of Anarchy was my inspiration for Eli from my Darkness Series.
I was completing my current series and was stuck as to what was going to be next for me. Throughout the rest of the day, I could not stop thinking about the hooded creature. After dinner that night, my bestie and I went back to our room and began to talk about the painting, which she had noticed as well. Within an hour, the main plot was fleshed out for what is now the Messengers of the Realm series. I have only once before had a book idea come to me so quickly (Savage Lands was born from a trip to Hungary), clearly, and intensely. I knew that the hooded being would be a major part of what is now my first traditionally published book.
As soon as the Comic Con opened the next day, my friend and I bought the only two prints available. As soon as I had him in my possession, ideas spilled out; it seemed like he was feeding the story right to my brain.
The creature in the hood now hangs in a prominent spot in my home. He has watched me write White Raven, book one in the series, along with the remaining two books, Night Hunter and Leatherwing King. He has kept me constant company and been a source of inspiration.
So who is the being in the hood? You will have to read to find out….
Stacey Marie Brown is the USA Today bestselling author of the Savage Lands series who writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and contemporary romance (under the pen name S. Marie). Her books have been translated into many languages. In her free time, she enjoys reading, binging TV shows, tacos, hiking, and design. She has been lucky enough to live and travel all over the world.
