The Origin of an Idea--Erie Tales

Post date: Dec 02, 2018 1:56:8 PM

The current project I'm working on blossomed from an idea...like all stories do. The idea began as I thought about the subject of Chosen Ones. I knew I didn't want to write that story arc, not because it's been done well so many times, but because I wanted to explore a different angle of it. I wasn't sure that I wanted to subvert it, like the 5 books mentioned on the Tor/Forge blog.

The basic premise I began with was "what if Harry Potter met Draco Malfoy first, instead of Ron Weasley". From their ideas blossomed and the subject of my focus changed. As the idea matured and generated new ideas and new story lines, I began to realize that what I was writing was actually a "what if Harry Potter's son joined Voldemort". Which, I suppose, some might say isn't too far off the plot of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

It just seemed interesting. You have this character who's grown up hearing about the deeds of their famous parent and living in the shadow of them. Maybe they want to live up to the hype or surpass that greatness. All they know is that they don't want to be overshadowed by their parent's legacy.

That's where Ted began. He fell into this trap of thinking how he'd become greater than his famous father who succeeded in fulfilling prophesy, defeating a relentless enemy, and saving the world by ending a centuries long war. Ted loves his father, but everywhere he goes, he hears about how "Merlin's heir is so great"; he begins to wonder if his whole life will be lived in the shadows of his father. When the opportunity to strike out on his own and forge his own legacy emerges, he jumps at it without fully considering the consequences until too late.