Under the Influence

Naughty or Nice? We won't judge!

I've been playing a lot of Skyrim on my PS4 lately. Which is to say I haven't been getting a lot of writing done. I haven't been on the computer much at all lately, to be honest. Now there really is a legitimate reason for this.... maybe excuse is a better term... but the details fall under the category of things you don't really want to know about your author. Let's just say, if I had the option of cranking out chapters at the computer over playing video games because of this reason, boy howdy, I'd be a much happier camper.

There is a slight upside to succumbing to this particular distraction. For those of you who don't know, Skyrim is a medieval fantasy RPG (roleplaying game) that takes place in a world not entirely unlike Chalisaria. You can learn more about it HERE. Obviously there are some pretty stark differences. To my knowledge, nobody talks with a questionable Scandinavian accent in Chalisaria. Magic beyond practical applications (lighting, running water, minor repairs, etc.) in most places is more than just taboo; it's violently opposed by militant forces in Chalisaria. In Skyrim, the guards look at you, somehow mystically know what kind of magic user you are, and instead make cracks about "Hey conjurer, how about you conjure me up a nice warm bed while you're here." Also, most of the territories in the world of Chalisaria seem pretty tame in comparison to Skyrim's world of Tamriel. Unless you live out in the wilderness, you have to work pretty hard in Chalisaria to get attacked by giants, dragons, bears, elementals, vampires, and the like. In Skyrim you can't go ten paces outside the city limits without some horrible beasty wanting to have you for dinner (or even in the cities in the case of dragon attacks). How those folks in Tamriel manage to get anything done is beyond me, I tell ya.

But back to why this "wasted time" is actually mildly beneficial: The game developers at Bethesda have consistently done an outstanding job of bringing their world of Tamriel to life. From the home interiors to the sprawling landscapes, it's easy to get lost (sometimes very literally) in the world that they have created. As someone who writes about a very similar world in regards to technology levels, day to day living, and what city/village life looks like, it's helpful to have the outstanding level of detail that this game offers as a reference. It offers an excellent visual guide as to what a world of high magic and low technology might look like. I have a pretty good imagination, but let's be honest, I can always use a little help in keeping things realistic.

On a different slant, I would be remiss if I didn't use the platform of the holiday season to discuss seasonal influences that have shaped my creative tendencies.

No, not torture porn...

The holidays have always been a major boon to the development of my imagination. Sidestepping any theological or antitheist traps, I refer more to the fantastic stories that come out of the mothballs only around this time of year. Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol immediately springs to mind. This story of the supernatural and life altering experience of a cruel miser transported through time and space by spirits of Christmas has always been a personal favorite of mine. If you've never read it, I highly recommend it.

The story behind The Nutcracker Suite, one of Pyotr Tchaikovsky's most prominent ballets, is likewise a fantastic tale of magical mayhem and transportation to other worlds (Adapted from E.T.A. Hoffman's The Nutcracker and the Mouse King). The story and score for the ballet was first introduced to me by my grade school music teacher, Mrs. Steinlage. We did an adaptation for it in an all-school production every four years or so. The music has always gripped me (I absolutely guarantee you've heard samples of the score whether you know it or not), but the story of a seemingly ordinary girl, Clara, getting swept up in the Nutcracker Prince's Christmas Eve battle with the evil Mouse King and their celebratory journey through a magical kingdom that follows has always had a whimsical appeal to me.

The magic and mythos surrounding Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman's tale of magical animation and frivolity, It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, every story depicting the power of love, hope, and charity; every one of these stories has shaped who I am as a person and as an author.

So as we roll on through the holiday season, I look back on these influences and I give thanks: Thanks to the people who shared these stories and musical compositions, thanks to the people who helped to make the holidays a time of wonder and cheer, thanks to the people who allowed me to "Believe" in magic and the power of hope even if only during this special time of year.

So from all of us here at the Chronicles, we wish you a Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas! May you find Love, Warmth, and Light this season to carry you through into the new year!