Inspiration (With Guest Donna Grant) Back to Blog
Update: Donna’s winner is…Kelly Mueller. Congrats, Kelly!
I’m thrilled to have fellow Danger: Women Writing author Donna Grant as my guest today. Donna writes absolutely amazing stories about sexy, strong men and fierce, intelligent women. Love, love her work. Donna, welcome!
Thank you to the talented and always lovely, Cynthia, for inviting me to her blog. She comes up with the most unique themes for authors to come blog about. I also want to give a shout out to Cynthia for her newest release DEADLY HEAT and the upcoming DEADLY LIES. I couldn’t put DEADLY HEAT down, and I’m very impatient for DEADLY LIES to get into my hot little hands. 🙂
There are many things that inspire me before – and during – a book. I can become inspired by something as simple as a lyric in a song or a line in a movie. Often times it’s the look of a character in a movie that will make me think of an upcoming hero or heroine in one of my books, and its like a light goes off in my head, an “ah,ha!” moment.
My first inspiration…Taylor Kitsch. There is just something about the actor Taylor Kitsch. I noticed him not from Friday Night Lights, but in the move The Covenant, then as Remy LeBeau/Gambit from X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The overconfident, slightly wounded, and suspicious look Remy had was just what I was looking for to match my hero, the youngest MacLeod brother, Quinn. With Kitsch’s long hair and piercing eyes, he was a definite match for the bad boy of the MacLeods.
Music…it always inspires me. Usually there is one song or one album that will seem to fit whatever book I’m working on. For WICKED HIGHLANDER it was the soundtrack to King Arthur staring Clive Owen and Keira Knightly. The sweeping, haunting music always took me to Scotland, to a world filled with magic and mystery. As soon as I hear the first strings of that soundtrack, the words seemed to flow so much easier.
I often find myself inspired by…research. With the villain and the heroines in the series being Druids, the lack of certain evidence to what the Druids really wore (healers and wise men, or people who sacrificed the innocents and called up evil) allowed me to craft my Druids into what I need – which was both the good and bad I had read about in the Druids. In WICKED HIGHLANDER, the heroine is a Druid who has the spell to once more bind the primeval gods inside the Warriors. But it’s buried deep in her mind.
Another inspiration was the Celts. Their stunning knot work, their history, the legends and lore, all of it inspired me. The MacLeod brothers each wear an ancient Celtic torc around their necks, each with a special animal head that symbolizes them. For Quinn, his torc has the heads of a wolf which meant cunning and intelligence. Those are the characteristics that Quinn uses to his advantage throughout the series, but especially in his book. In my books, the MacLeods were steeped in their traditions, and the sons of the laird all wore torcs with animals chosen by their mother. Those torcs bound them to their clan – and to their past. It also inspired me to have them give the women who would capture their hearts something with their animal as well. For Quinn, he gives Marcail an arm cuff bearing a wolf’s head, and declaring to all she is his.
I’ll be giving away the third book in my Dark Sword series which released in Nov 2010, WICKED HIGHLANDER, to a commenter who answers this question:
What inspires you?
To find out more about me please visit my website at www.DonnaGrant.com. To learn more about the Dark Sword series, see pics of the Warriors, search characters, take the quiz, or watch the book trailers, please visit www.donnagrant.com/DarkSword.
Hugs,
D
Book 3 in the Dark Sword series
The Dark Sword series unleashes the magic, passion, and fury of three legendary brothers – cursed by fate but bound by desire for the women they love…
A HEART IN CHAINS…
The most reckless and fierce of the MacLeod brothers, Quinn is a prisoner of the god inside him, tormented by his inability to save his family from slaughter. His fury governs him, and day by day he loses himself to the darkness in his soul. But Quinn has a profound yearning for a woman’s love…
A PASSION UNBOUND…
Raised by Druids, the achingly beautiful Marcail is as spellbinding as the ancient magic that surges through her body. To Quinn, she is the most desirable woman he has ever known. But to his enemy Deirdre, she is the perfect bait to lure Quinn into her trap. Once the two lovers are in her wicked grasp, their passion will be put to the ultimate test…
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My daughter always inspires me. 🙂 Even when she drives me nuts!! LOL
lol. I can so relate! 🙂
In my next book, I based my dragon hero on Leonard Nimoy’s Spock from the original series. It helped me get a sense of his character. I wrote a WF once, and one of the characters was based on Sandra Bullock. Another one was based on a writer friend. She was my favorite character. lol
How neat!
What a great question! What inspires me? I find my inspiration in many peopple, places and things. My family inspires me. Music inspires me. Watching the birds at our feeder can inspire me. We are surrounded my so many beautiful and amazing things.. We just have to open our hearts and minds to see them.
Music always inspires me!
this book sounds awesome. Can’t wait. Inspiration comes from everywhere for me, even overheard cell phone calls- I HATE it when people talk on their cells in public about inane things- but when they are so loud,I can’t help but be inspired by some of it- like the lady who gave out her credit card info and address on her cell in Subway. I had this great plot going on with the guy behind her pretending to text message and typing in her info and then…
You get my drift? LOL! Enjoyed your post!
Thank you, Jillian! That’s my daughter’s name except her name is spelled with a “G”. 🙂
lol. That’s great!!!!
Nature inspires me. The sound of wind through the trees, the way the sunlight brings out diamonds in the snow, watching animals care for their young. Music inspires me, it can take me from a sad mood to happy.
Nature is a great one, Rebecca!
This is kind of a difficult question for me to answer honestly because it will seem rather petty. But I will, looking at my mothers side of the family inspires me. They are all obese and I am very small. I workout like crazy because I refuse to end up like them. They are always ill with one thing or another. Full disclosure – I have had breast cancer (at 43) but that came from my father’s side of the family.
On a cheerier side just looking around inspires me to smile. We here in the States have been so greatly blessed with so much beauty and I thank God for it every day.
Thanks for the wonderful post.
No need for you to feel petty about stating the truth about what inspires you. 🙂
My conscience. If I don’t do something I think I should do, I feel bad until I do it. So, I do it.
Family and pets too. When my oldest cat gives me the big round love you eyes it’s amazing how I do something.
Viki-
Dr. Oz was just mentioning on his show this week that it’s one of the top cancer myths that you only get breast cancer from your mother’s side, as you obviously know. Hope everything is fine now.
Anne – You’re right so many people think it only comes from the maternal side. Dr. Oz can drive me crazy at times but he does get the information out there for which we can all be thankful.
lol. Yes, I can see where pets might inspire you. 🙂
My children and their love of life.
Oh, good one!
Water – it can be the ocean, a river, or even a fast moving creek. But something about water soothes and settles my mind – lets me think clearer. It almost hypnotic to me and a better stress reducer than anything I can think of. So usually when I’m trying for inspiration, I go to the water.
Yes! That’s a really good one. 🙂
My husband and kids always inspire me! When times are hard and I’m worried they are the ones who are positive and know that everything will be fine!
Candy
Ontario, Canada
cgorcsi AT hotmail DOT com
Someone being positive in a bad situation can certainly help out. Sounds like you’ve got a great family. 🙂
What inspires you?
To set a good example for my teenage daughter… Hoping that I can show her that she can be everything she wants to be without the use of drugs, alcohol, smoking or sex (she is only 15 so yes, NO sex for her).. She is a great kid..
Kelly M
crazybookfairy@gmail.com
That’s a great answer, Kelly. Good for you! Hope you succeed, and it sounds like you are. 🙂
Travel inspires me. Because of my husband’s business trips I have been able to tag along and see the most beautiful parts of the world. Other cultures put less emphasis on work & success and more focus on living life to the fullest. My last trip to Italy inspired me to do the same.
My goodness Donna that is a gorgeous cover. That is pretty inspiring all by itself!
🙂 Thanks, Stacie!
I love to travel, so I can definitely see how seeing the world and different cultures can inspire.
People who strive everyday to make themselves successful in life inspire me. As a stay at home mother of 3 young children, inspiration is something I always need 🙂 My children, who are completely unselfish and love to help others, also inspire me every day, they amaze me! I love your work Donna!!! Thanks for the contest!
Aw, thank you, Shawna!
Sounds like you’ve got some wonderful kids. 🙂
Waving Hi Donna, Wow gobsmacked Taylor K is B&^$*#(y gorgeous & Canadian to boot BEG,
As you know Quinn has always held my heart more than Fallon & Lucan though they both have a wee piece.
It’s a great question What inspires you? ermmm before 2000 I would have relay had to think about it Now I dont Life is Short We are not immune to anything sometime It does not just happen to other people, Sometime you can go for a regular appointment the nurse says 2 ladies in the office center has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer You should book a mammogram I was sure before I left the office I had a booking a week later My DOCTOR CALLED you need a biopsy result was positive I am !0 years CANCER FREE so my Inspiration Life Health Family My Darling DH Who was a rock when I was like Butter.
Donna I adore your writing I love that they are Scottish sexy Highlanders I can’t wait for the rest of the Clan…
Have a good One, OOO You have to listen to The Celts By Enya Love her music.
Ann
P.S. sorry it is long.
Hi, Ann! So glad to hear you’re cancer free! Breast cancer – well any cancer – is a scary thing.
I find inspiration in nature. Use to live in the country, living in the city now, so I try and get out into the parks as much as I can.
Jean, I’m such a country girl myself, I totally get the nature as inspiration. 🙂
Children inspire me.
They do, don’t they? Their innocence and sweet smiles and trusting nature. 🙂
My daughter inspires me. She’s 10 yrs old and so full of life and wonder that I never cease to be amazed at her. She possess although process that most children couldn’t even conceives of and her creativity is astounding.
That’s awesome, Kate!
Oh, it’s been wonderful reading everyone’s posts. Very positive vibes here.
What inspires me is people with talent really making it. Whether it is authors, singers, cross stitch designers….hehe. Yes, cross stitch has become a passion of mine and Joan Elliott my new designer goddess…lol!!
Valerie
in Germany
What great inspiration, Valerie! Good luck with your cross stitching. 🙂
Nature & Music are inspirations for me… 😀
Two of my favorites, Colleen. 😀
My family and music inspire me.
Stephanie, great inspirations!
The story I’m working on was inspired by the movie Ladyhawke. It’s one of my all time favorites. I love the time period. One thing that relaxes me and helps me write is listing to Celtic music with nature in the background. Like running water from a spring or the sound of the ocean. Sometimes it something unexpected. A song, a movie, or a story I might be reading. You never know. 🙂
Oh, I loved Ladyhawke. What a great movie! 🙂
I can be inspired by the most random things. Like a hat, or the wind. See? Random 🙂
lol. Those are random, but I totally understand. Same thing for me. 🙂
What inspires me? Variety of things. I have two friends that I role play with. These role plays end up being incorporated into stories. They can say one little thing and sparks many ideas that hammer at my head. Sometimes something so innocent as a song could spark an idea, something seen or something read.
I bet role playing is a great thing to get ideas from, Raonaid! 🙂
Sometimes, all I need to do is to look around. Sometimes I forget what a great place where I live is.
What a great outlook! 🙂
What inspires me? More like who… My bff is the most wonderful friend and she has achieved so much in her life, namely, having gastric bypass surgery and achieving her ideal weight. I recently underwent the surgery myself and I’m working on getting there myself.
Cathy, that’s awesome! Good luck in achieving your goal. I know you can do it. 🙂
Hi Donna *waving*
Such a great blog post today. Thank you for blogging here.
My husband inspires me. He is such an amazing man that works so hard to get what he wants in life. I look at him and his success an I can’t help but feel inspired to work just as hard.
(((HUGS)))
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! CAN’T WAIT TO READ!!!
first visit and I just wanted to stop by to say hi there everyone