Rowan asked Sarah Ash:

I've just started The Tears of Artamon trilogy and was wondering about the names you've used - Kiukui, Gavril, etc. I'm getting a pretty Russian vibe from this. Also, have you visited places that remind you of those in your book?

Sarah Ash Hello, Rowan - and thank you so much for taking an interest in the Artamon trilogy (very much in my mind at the moment as I'm checking proofs for Book 4!) You're absolutely spot-on about the Russian vibe for the names (and the place names too) for the characters who come from Azhkendir and Muscobar. Nearly all their names come from historical documents or folk and fairy tales from Russia/Eastern Europe. Sadly, I haven't visited Russia or Eastern Europe but I've drawn on my travels to some off-the-beaten-track parts of Europe and some rugged mountainous country (getting snowed in in the Spanish Pyrenees for a couple of days)... I wrote one or two pieces for the publisher's blog when the books were first published - and I'll plan to reprint them on my website when Book 4 launches.

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