Where do you get the ideas to write?
By Rebeka Harrington
Like most authors, predominantly my writing ideas spring from an overactive imagination; but there are other factors to consider. One of my biggest influences or inspirations is history. History fascinates me, almost as much as do vampires.
In my late teens I worked as a tour guide at an historical site near the little town where I grew up. It was an old flour mill. It was rich in history regarding the brothers who built it, the innovations they used and their sheer determination to make it work. The brothers had built a rail line where there was none, simply so they could supply the mill. There were so many great stories about what these men had achieved. Between visiting groups, I would walk around the mill reading scribbles on the wall at what had been work stations for the men employed there. The awe I felt at standing in the same place as someone else had two hundred years before me was incredible.
Vampires to me represent “living” history, taking me anywhere and anywhen. Imagine having lived for hundred’s, even thousands of years, watching the world around you change, while you remain the same. To have lived through the rise and fall of empires and civilisations. Watching humanity repeat the same mistakes again and again. I can’t even begin to imagine how much knowledge could be accumulated over such a length of time. Now imagine the places they have travelled, the people they have met, the wonders they have seen. Imagine how many stories they would have to tell. This is a small glimpse of what happens inside my mind.
I have an insatiable curiosity and a never-ending list of questions about — everything. This is where writing steps in to save me from myself.
Through research I am able to satisfy my need for facts and knowledge. For a lot of authors, research is a tedious but necessary evil to produce good work. To me it’s one of the best parts of being a writer. For my first book, I spent more time researching than I did writing. Through my writing and characters I can explore these facts and times in history.
You could be forgiven for thinking I write historical fiction, but really I don’t. History is my “go to” place for ideas. In my latest book, one of the things I look at is the historical role of women. Add a female character who has 21st century ideals in the 16th century and things get interesting.
One of the ideas I’m toying with at the moment is how much, if at all, vampires get involved to sway history in their favour or based on their principles. How much fun would that be? Having vampires pop up here and there in history trying to stop humanity from committing crimes against itself. Doling out justice to offenders and changing the course of the world. But why would vampires even care? Humans are just food, right?
Another of the things I like to use and which gives me a great number of ideas is comparing humanity to vampires. As a race, humanity likes to think it’s top of the food chain (no pun intended), superior to all other creatures on the planet. Yet we decimate our environment, are cruel to each other and don’t seem to be learning from our past mistakes. What might an ancient vampire make of all this? If after centuries you witnessed humanity going to war, persecuting, murdering and stealing; what would you think? Could the one or two humans you meet, who are genuinely decent, caring individuals give rise to hope?
For me ideas are bountiful, I have so many “what if” questions running through my mind constantly. This is also why I am incapable of writing in one genre. My ideas have no limits and neither does my writing, the only time I’ll stop is when my fingers fall off.
Desires Revealed the latest release from Rebeka Harrington
The follow up title to her debut release Vampires Revealed, reunites the reader with 3000 year old vampire Bektamun. Feel the joy as her relationship with Nicole grows, experience the rage as she fights the Eleiveb.
Escape from the religious war leads Nicole and her family to the most unlikely rescuer, a vampire. Nicole discovers love and a new life, but finds herself inexplicably drawn in to a private war between her protector and an extremist faction of vampires.
The deeper she gets involved in the vampire world the higher the price she will have to pay to obtain her desires.
Available for Purchase
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Desires-Revealed-ebook/dp/B008DBGM2S
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174232
About Rebeka Harrington
Raised in country Victoria, Rebeka started her writing career working for the local newspaper as a teenager. While she decided not to pursue this as a career, she has always enjoyed writing and being creative
With so many varied interests and eccletic taste in most things, Rebeka enjoys incorporating all of them in her writing. She particularly enjoys writing about vampires.
Rebeka seeks to define and explain vampires in a way not done before. This was achieved with her debut title “Vampires Revealed”. Following titles revolve around exploring the world and characters created in her first release.
She currently lives in Melbourne with her “demented” but lovable cat, dividing her time between writing and managing a small boutique entertainment agency.
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Rebeka Harrington Giveaway
*Exclusive to Ramblings From A Chaotic Mind, for the next week Rebeka is giving you the chance to get both of her books FREE. Use the links and codes below.*
Vampires Revealed: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/86670
Use code: CM44L
Desires Revealed: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174232
Use code: FP28K
