Kate Douglas writes the DemonSlayers series for Kensington Zebra, the latest installation of which is called StarFire. Below the author—also an avid traveler—answers the age-old question: Where do you get your ideas?
Readers: Where do you get your best ideas for creative projects? Let us know in the comments.
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Where DO You Get Those Crazy Ideas?
Guest post by Kate Douglas
It happened to me again this weekend—someone asked me the question all of us who write often have to answer: “Where do you get your ideas?” Since I write both erotic and paranormal romance, I guess it’s understandable curiosity. Needless to say, I’d much rather discuss the ideas for my paranormal stories. I’ll leave the other to your imagination.
My husband and I love to travel. We’ll take off with Rufus the mutt in our little motorhome and head out with a somewhat nebulous destination in mind. The thing is, when you’ve got your own bed, kitchen stove and potty close at hand, the destination isn’t important. It’s the journey that counts.
"Yes, I am working."
Writing is a lot like that. I always know where I’m going to end up—hopefully with a soft sigh and a “happily ever after” ending—but getting there is what it’s all about. For that you need ideas, and those wandering trips often spark the next story.
Mt. Shasta
A couple of years ago, we took off for a long weekend of camping up near Mount Shasta, an absolutely glorious dormant volcano in northern California. Shasta is famous as an energy vortex, similar to those around Sedona, Arizona. While we were in the little town of Mount Shasta, we wandered in and out of the tourist shops. Two of them really held my attention—a rock, gem and crystals shop, and a funky little bookstore. The gem shop had absolutely gorgeous stuff, including some of the most beautiful geodes I’d ever seen. Geodes are totally normal looking stones on the outside, filled with unimaginably beautiful crystals on the inside.
An amethyst geode
If you’ve read Crystal Dreams in the Nocturnal anthology, you’ll know exactly what story I found in that shop. Before I’d even stepped outside, my head was filled with images of Marigold Moonbeam Schwartz, aka Mari, wielding a powerful geode against demonkind as she fights beside Darius the Lemurian warrior.
Our next stop was the bookstore, which had a wonderful selection of books on local legends. I picked one up about an entire civilization deep inside the dormant volcano and was immediately reminded of the tales my dad used to tell about the Lemurians—for those of you who’ve read any of my DemonSlayers stories, you’ll know where this is heading, too.
By the time we were driving out of town, my head was filled with the first scenes of DemonFire, where demon-possessed garden gnomes are attacking Dax, my demon-turned-demon fighter. Obviously, Lemurians were involved, and the energy vortex that eventually led us on another trip, this time to Sedona, Arizona.
I can’t really explain the segue between a visit to a gem shop and the completed story about an accountant-turned-witch, but trust me on this, if I’d not held those geodes in my hands, if I hadn’t camped in the shadow of Mount Shasta, those stories might never have been written. There truly is a connection between the smallest visual, the slightest comment, the tactile experience of grasping a strange piece of stone in your hand, and the books lined up on the shelves. I know where the idea begins and I know how it ends, but the rest of it in between remains a mystery. And isn’t that what makes reading such a joy? Wondering how it’s all going to turn out, and then going along for the ride?
StarFire, the third book in my DemonSlayers series, came out April 5, and the danger to my band of demon slayers is heating up. Selyn, one of the Forgotten Ones, is badly beaten, but she survives due to Dawson Buck’s medical intervention. He might only be a veterinarian, but he treats Selyn’s broken ribs and punctured lung and saves her life. Drawn into the battle between Lemurians and Demonkind, Dawson is an unlikely hero, but he proves that a strong heart and stronger will can overcome the greatest obstacles, and that with love, anything is possible.
The DemonSlayers story began with a beautiful mountain and a legend about Lemurians. Where it finally ends up is what makes the trip such fun. Read StarFire, and then watch for CrystalFire, the final installment in the series, scheduled for release in Fall 2011.
[Thanks, Kate! Read an excerpt from StarFire on Kensington's website, where you can also watch a book trailer. Want more paranormal romance? Check out the archives BookPage.com.]
Loved the blog Kate. Having read this series, I love knowing where the ideas for it all came from.
The scene with Edie and the garden gnome at the beginning of Demonfire is still one of my favorites.
I also enjoyed the crystal shop story in Nocturnal.
Thanks for such wonderful stories.
Thanks, Heather. You never know where or when inspiration will strike. Some stories just come in from out of the blue, but the shops in the little town of Mt. Shasta (which I call Evergreen) really got me going! And those garden gnomes were fun–I’ve always hated the little monsters. I equate them with clowns. They’re all obviously devil’s spawn!
I love reading your books ;o)
It’s wonderful how you with your travels come up with amazing stories!!! Keep on writing please you have given me so many hours of R&R
amethyst is my birthstone.
Hey Rita~amethyst was also my grandmother’s birthstone, and I have some of her jewelry. One necklace sat on my desk for inspiration, reminding me of the rich color of the stones.
Now, wonder what kinds of stories I could get from a trip to your part of the world? LOL…Have never been even close to South Africa! Thanks for stopping by.
I love this post. I am not a published writer but I get the weirdest ideas just driving home from work. Now if only I could remember them…
Ti–try carrying either a notepad or call yourself and leave a message w/the idea. Those little snippets are much too valuable to lose!
LOL, my mom had that clown phobia (Coulrophobia) and an over active imagination, some where she had gotten one of those little clowns in the 90′s with the porcelain face and satin stuffed body. I used to hide it in her things or just sit it in a doorway and wait for her reaction. It is making me smile just thinking about it remembering her face, we used to have a good time with it. Just to let you know what kind of fun and adventurous person she was she also used to say that when she died she wanted to be dressed as a vampire for a viewing and one of us would stand by the coffin to open it for visitors, lol, she was such a nut.
You’re speaking of your mom in the past tense, which tells me she’s gone now, but what great memories. I imagine that keeps her close for you.
I had no idea there was actually a NAME for a fear of clowns! LOL…mine goes back to when I was little and my parents would take us to the county fair. Walking along the rows of booths where the carnies pitched the sideshows used to terrify me, especially the ones in costume. I’m sure that’s where it came from, but I’ve never liked clowns and for some reason I equate them with gnomes. Go figure!
Yes, she past away 6 years ago this may due to liver failure from Hep C, she was an amazing woman and my best friend. She always wanted he life celebrated not morned, so was a shooting star and I just feel lucky to have had the time I did have with her.
And yea I know the name because of her (ok so I teased her a bit, but she gave it as well as she got it) but she had the clown experience just like you!
Yeah, but teasing is a good thing when you can BOTH laugh about it! Still, I’m very sorry for your loss. My father died very young and I still think of him daily–he’s been gone almost forty years.
Sorry for your loss Kate. I know what you mean, you never quite get over it, they are always there in your heart.
I haven’t got my Starfire yet. M’lady your imagination is wonderous!
I get drawn into every story you create. I believe in all of it. If you
ever read the Secret, belief in imagination, the unseen. It’s magic, it’s
real!
Hi Tracy! I have to admit that whatever I write, at the time I am writing it, I believe with all my heart. I think I have to in order to make it real for my readers. Those characters are real people, and I live with them for as long as it takes to tell their story.
Of course, there are always a few who move in and stay forever. You hear that, Anton?
Ah yes, lovely, sexy, alpha male Anton… the stuff fantasies are made of.
LOL…can I tell you that both Anton and Stefan are sort of based on my spouse? He’s tall and lean with long hair–it USED to be dark, but no longer. Still, a lot of his mannerisms and personality are incorporated into Anton and Stefan, who are like two sides of the man I’ve been married to for almost 40 years. Makes it really easy to write them since the model is always close at hand.
Well now Ill be having fantasies about your husband, but whatever, LOL! You have to tell your hubby that he has a blonde 32 year old Florida girl admirer because of you, lmao.
I know what you mean though, sometimes I cant believe how lucky I am to have 2 (or 4) perfect men wrapped up in one guy. The sensitive side, the alpha side, the comical side, and caring side. Some girls have all the luck
Hi Kate — I love the garden gnome scene too! Thought about you a couple weeks ago when we passed by Mount Shasta. It’s a beautiful place — would love to see it in the summer!
Nicole, I love your description–today mine is “geek guy.” He’s doing his best to master a video program so he can make more of my book trailers. He did the one for StarFire and I love it! (First page of my website at http://www.katedouglas.com)
Dani, that mountain is absolutely gorgeous, isn’t it? Especially this time of year when it’s covered in snow. It’s such a perfect setting for my series!
No kidding, I swear I married the younger version of your hubby, he is a web programmer we own a Web Design Firm together and it is his passion. I have to just laugh he is working on a store locator for Dicks Sporting goods right now with all three monitors going.