What Inspired Me To Write YA Fantasy
The echoes of laughter, the shouts across the house, and the patter of little feet have faded from our halls. As our youngest prepares to move into his first apartment, my wife and I find ourselves reminiscing about the glorious commotion that once filled our home. We miss the noise—the joyful chaos that only a house full of kids can bring.
But it’s not just the noise we miss. We long for the excitement that accompanied each new Harry Potter book and movie release. It was a cultural phenomenon that our kids were the perfect age for, and we relished sharing that experience with them. Pulling them out of school for the movie premieres wasn’t just about playing hooky; it was about creating unforgettable memories. Watching their eyes light up as they donned Hogwarts robes, we felt like kids again ourselves.
We immersed ourselves in the magic of Harry Potter and the adventure of Star Wars, marking our calendars for every new release. From the first book in 1998 to the final film in 2011, these stories became the backdrop of our family life. We geeked out together, bonding over tales of wizards and galaxies far, far away.
In December 2021, we took our youngest—our two oldest now had careers that didn’t allow time off— and joined the family of my wife’s best friend for a trip to Orlando. We spent a full week split between Disney World and Universal Studios. Of those seven days, one was devoted entirely to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and two full days were lost in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Stepping into these worlds, we were enveloped by the sights, sounds, and even the scents of places we’d only imagined. Wandering through Diagon Alley, sipping butterbeer, piloting the Millennium Falcon—it felt surreal. Being immersed in those worlds wasn’t just fun; it was profoundly inspiring. Seeing, touching, and experiencing physical representations of universes that once existed only in a writer’s mind left me awestruck.
As we exited the Hogwarts Express, the seed of an idea planted itself firmly in my mind. If these incredible worlds started from a single thought in a writer’s mind, why couldn’t I create my own? That night, back at our VRBO, I began jotting down notes—sketches of characters, fragments of a world that would soon become Rhigov.
Back home in New Braunfels, those notes began to grow. I fleshed out the framework for the story, developed settings, and breathed life into the main character. On January 18, 2022, I put down the opening line of what would become Woods and Wings, and I’ve been living in the world of Rhigov ever since.
Now, after months of pouring my heart into this new world, Woods and Wings is set to release in just 39 days. It’s a YA fantasy adventure that explores the journey of a young protagonist navigating a realm filled with magic, mysteries, and the challenges of growing up. I can’t wait to share it with you.
The experience of creating this story and its world has been more enjoyable and rewarding than I could have possibly imagined. Perhaps one day, I’ll be lucky enough to see Rhigov brought to life on the big screen. And if that day comes, you can bet I’ll be arranging a special screening during the school year—because some traditions are too precious to let go. Want to play hooky with me?
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P.S. While working on this blog post, I made a list of the release dates of each Harry Potter book and movie that came out during that timeframe. I also added the two new Star Wars movies that premiered during those years, as those were big events for our family as well. Because it was so much fun for me to assemble the list, I wanted to share it with you. Enjoy!
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Book) – September 1, 1998
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book) – June 2, 1999
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book) – September 8, 1999
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book) – July 8, 2000
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Film) – November 16, 2001
- Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – May 16, 2002
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Film) – November 15, 2002
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book) – June 21, 2003
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Film) – June 4, 2004
- Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith – May 19, 2005
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book) – July 16, 2005
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Film) – November 18, 2005
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Film) – July 11, 2007
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book) – July 21, 2007
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Film) – July 15, 2009
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (Film) – November 19, 2010
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (Film) – July 15, 2011
