Ron C. Nieto
My most recent book is The Wild Hunt. I like unlikely heroes (and even more unlikely swoon-worthy male leads) so I had been toying with the idea of writing something with a Kelpie in it.
Now, some myths claim that the Monster of Loch Ness is a Kelpie. All folklore agrees on Kelpies being "dark faeries", tricksters who take on the shape of a horse to lure humans and magically bind them, drowning them before eating them. Not exactly hero material, is it? It was such a beautiful challenge!
So, there the idea was, lurking in the back of my mind, not a real project but not forgotten either. Suddenly, one day while I'm strolling through the park (where there's a lake, by the way) a scene hits me. It's so vivid I can almost smell the girl's fear, see the droplets of water dripping down the Kelpie's hair. Moreover, I can hear his voice... and boy, was it hero-worthy voice! Mysterious, dark, enticing. The girl was a fighter, too: real, with weakness evident in her uncertainty and confussion, and yet so very strong.
I began to think how the pair got to that scene. I began to wonder where they'd go after.
Frankly, I had to do very little thinking. Lily and Troy had been born, and they had a story to tell. By the time I returned home, I had the first book and two short stories clearly outlined in my mind, and knew exactly where the rest of the series had to take me.
Oh, and in case you're wondering... That one inspiring scene made it into the final novel. Here's a teaser quote:
"I don't want to ride you," she blurted, blushing. His smile widened and she cursed her pale skin.
"I thought all the little girls wanted their own pony."
Now, some myths claim that the Monster of Loch Ness is a Kelpie. All folklore agrees on Kelpies being "dark faeries", tricksters who take on the shape of a horse to lure humans and magically bind them, drowning them before eating them. Not exactly hero material, is it? It was such a beautiful challenge!
So, there the idea was, lurking in the back of my mind, not a real project but not forgotten either. Suddenly, one day while I'm strolling through the park (where there's a lake, by the way) a scene hits me. It's so vivid I can almost smell the girl's fear, see the droplets of water dripping down the Kelpie's hair. Moreover, I can hear his voice... and boy, was it hero-worthy voice! Mysterious, dark, enticing. The girl was a fighter, too: real, with weakness evident in her uncertainty and confussion, and yet so very strong.
I began to think how the pair got to that scene. I began to wonder where they'd go after.
Frankly, I had to do very little thinking. Lily and Troy had been born, and they had a story to tell. By the time I returned home, I had the first book and two short stories clearly outlined in my mind, and knew exactly where the rest of the series had to take me.
Oh, and in case you're wondering... That one inspiring scene made it into the final novel. Here's a teaser quote:
"I don't want to ride you," she blurted, blushing. His smile widened and she cursed her pale skin.
"I thought all the little girls wanted their own pony."
More Answered Questions
Bonnie
asked
Ron C. Nieto:
Good evening Ron, I am finishing your Faerie Sworn Series (on The Wild Curse now).... so I'm looking Exile of Angels Series. I have ...Broken Pieces (1.5) and Fall from Grace [1.0], but can't find Return from Exile [0.5]. You made this story available in your nwslttr. Do you still have a copy of Return from Exile (or know where I can get it? Amazon.com doesn't have it now. Thanks for your consideration.
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