Thank you to Ethan for hosting me, and thank you to Ethan's readers for joining us! <waves at everyone>
I'm here as part of the Rhew 2 Rhew tour! My husband, Deek Rhew, wrote an amazing thriller called 122 Rules, published by Pandamoon on April 5! In addition, my publisher chose the month of April to feature my trilogy, so Deek and I decided to make a thing of it. And the Rhew 2 Rhew Tour was born! ;) Stay tuned because there's an opportunity for you to enter a Rafflecopter drawing for a chance at a $50 Amazon gift card!
Today, I'd like to talk about inspiration. I believe it can be found anywhere. All aspects of life—the good, the bad, and
the ugly—can be a springboard for creativity.
I challenge you all to look at the world, the people, and the art around
you. Let your mind wander. Let your
imagination soar.
I can’t exactly trace the origins of The Fulfillment Series to any one thing or person. The inspiration for it came more from a
collection of ideas. One night, as I watched a movie based on Arthurian legend,
the words Ethereal and Vanguard popped into my mind, and I just
knew they were two warring nations. Over the next few days, character names
joined the two kingdoms: Layla, Wil, Nash, Samson. A story took root. At the time, I’d been reading the Game of
Thrones series by George R.R. Martin. I
liked the idea of combining olden times (castles, kings, queens, etc.) with
fantastical elements, so I think reading that series definitely influenced my
story. When I sent out my query letters,
I labeled The Prophecy “Game of
Thrones meets Arthurian legend.”
After the idea sprung to life, I wrote a brief
three-paragraph synopsis and sent it to my friends. These four ladies eventually became my Dream
Team and a source of great inspiration and accountability for me. I asked them if the little blurb I wrote became a story, would they be interested in reading it? All four gave an enthusiastic “yes,” so I
started writing. Whenever I found myself
stuck in the story or on a logical hang-up, I called one (or sometimes all
four) of my Dream Team members to ask for help.
The Dream Team
(From left to right: Danielle Craver, Dawn Ward, Ginny Hunsberger, and Kim Sharp--I'm kneeling.)
Sometimes when I'm creatively stumped, I seek inspiration
from artistic sources that spark my imagination—book, arts, television, movies,
etc. I love that moment when I’m
watching or reading a really great story, and I feel my own creative juices
start to flow. Ideas form—sometimes in a
trickle, sometimes in a torrent—and before I know it, I’m back on track. Lately, my husband and I have been watching Vikings, and it's sparking all sorts of creativity and questions for both of us.
My husband inspires me in a thousand different ways. First of all, he's the culmination of all the best characteristics of men in books, movies, and TV. The man is a complete and total dream come true! His writing also inspires me. The way he constructs a story, and the eloquence and humor with which he tells it, challenges me to be better. I love to read his work because I come away renewed. Moreover, our constant conversations (we joke that we talk all the time about everything and nothing) stimulates my mind to create new worlds and new characters. I've never met anyone so inspirational in all my life. He's truly my muse--both in life and writing--and my Ideal Reader for my stories.
I encourage you to go out and experience the world: fall in
love, get your heart broken, make mistakes, take risks, go on adventures, talk
to fascinating people, sit in silence and ponder, pursue a seemingly impossible
dream. Let all those moments, all the
people you meet, all the beauty you encounter serve as muses for your own art.
For those that don't know, Erin is a young adult fantasy author who is married to adult thriller author, Deek Rhew. Together, they are "the Rhews," and their street team is the Rhewination!
Deek and Erin-- Join the Rhewination! ;)
The Prophecy (Fulfillment Series Book 1)
Title: The Prophecy
Author: Erin Rhew
Publisher: BookFish Books
Cover Design: Anita at Race-Point
Available Now! Amazon Buy Link
Synopsis:
Growing up on a small farm in the kingdom of Vanguard, seventeen-year-old Layla Givens lives a deceptively tranquil existence. But her carefully constructed life quickly falls apart when she's abducted by a religious zealot who proclaims her The Fulfillment of an ancient peace prophecy and whisks her away to marry her greatest enemy.
Wilhelm, Prince of the Ethereals, is reluctant to meet his new bride. He's grown up believing Vanguards are evil, an enemy to fight and fear...not love. Can he set aside his prejudices and work alongside Layla to bring lasting peace after centuries of war?
Nash, a loner who has never fit in, carries a huge secret, one big enough to destroy both kingdoms. When he accidently meets Layla, he's no longer content to live in the shadows, but he must resist his growing attraction--for her safety and for the longevity of the two kingdoms.
When Nash's secret is revealed, a firestorm sweeps through both realms, with Layla at the center. Now she must choose between duty and desire while the fate of two nations hangs in the balance.
Wilhelm, Prince of the Ethereals, is reluctant to meet his new bride. He's grown up believing Vanguards are evil, an enemy to fight and fear...not love. Can he set aside his prejudices and work alongside Layla to bring lasting peace after centuries of war?
Nash, a loner who has never fit in, carries a huge secret, one big enough to destroy both kingdoms. When he accidently meets Layla, he's no longer content to live in the shadows, but he must resist his growing attraction--for her safety and for the longevity of the two kingdoms.
When Nash's secret is revealed, a firestorm sweeps through both realms, with Layla at the center. Now she must choose between duty and desire while the fate of two nations hangs in the balance.
The Outlanders (Fulfillment Series Book 2)
Title: The Outlanders
Author: Erin Rhew
Publisher: BookFish Books
Cover Design: Anita at Race-Point
Available Now! Amazon Buy Link
The Fulfillment (Fulfillment Series Book 3)
Title: The Fulfillment
Author: Erin Rhew
Publisher: BookFish Books
Cover Design: Anita at Race-Point
Available Now! Amazon Buy Link
About Erin Rhew
 |
| Erin Rhew |
Erin Rhew is an editor, a running coach, and the author of The Fulfillment Series. Since she picked up Morris the Moose Goes to School at age four, she has been infatuated with the written
word. She went on to work as a grammar and writing tutor in college and is still teased by her family and friends for being a member of the "Grammar Police."
A Southern girl by blood and birth, Erin now lives in a rainy pocket of the Pacific Northwest with the amazingly talented (and totally handsome) writer Deek Rhew and their “overly fluffy,” patient-as-a-saint writing assistant, a tabby cat named Trinity. She and Deek enjoy reading aloud to one another, running, lifting, boxing, eating chocolate, and writing side-by- side.
Connect with Erin Online!
For the latest and greatest, visit her web page:
About Deek Rhew
 |
| Deek Rhew |
He and Erin love to share books by reading aloud to one another. In addition, they enjoy spending time with friends, running, boxing, lifting weights, and exploring the little town--with antique shops and bakeries--they call home.
Connect with Deek Online!
For the latest and greatest, visit his web page:
Find Deek's Novels Online!
Random Fun With Deek and Erin
Always laughing together
Celebrating their anniversary in style! ;)
Enjoying every moment!
Their cat and literary assistant, Trinity--leader of Rhewination!
Sharing every secret and every facet of life with each other!
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Thanks so much for hosting me today! I wish you all the best with life and blogging!
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