Certain things spark the creativity in all of us. Perhaps a smell associated with a powerful memory, or a long walk in the park or a drive through the countryside. Maybe a newspaper article, or a book we read. For me it’s often visual – a piece of fantasy art or a tv show or movie. **If a piece of art or photograph is your work and you’d like it removed, please let me know and I’ll do so ASAP.

So what have I been up to this week in order to get myself inspired? I've hit a bit of a snag in book three, so all sorts of things! First off, I started reading a biography of Napoleon by Alan Forrest. I've not been particularly secretive about the fact that Field Marshal Tamas is based loosely on the lives of both Napoleon and Arthur Wellesley (but far more on Napoleon). So far the book is quite interesting. As one of my side projects is a novella based on Tamas' rise to power, it's a good book for me to be reading.

I also watched the Millennium series this week. I watched the series on a whim, starting with the American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as I'm a huge Daniel Craig fan. I absolutely loved it. The way the movie combined both European and American styles of filmmaking was really cool to me.

I will warn you that the movie is insanely dark. It contains brutal violence and rape, though neither are treated lightly. I fully admit that I couldn't watch some parts. Despite this, the overall payoff of the movie was worth it. It delves deep into the human psyche in a way that very few movies are able. I couldn't help but find the second and third movies (the Swedish versions, as the American ones haven't been made yet) on Netflix and watch them on consecutive evenings.

On a lighter note, here's a cool picture I came across here last weekend. It struck me enough that I decided to save it. It's not particularly majestic or thought-provoking. It's just pretty, and sometimes I need that when I'm looking for inspiration.

This picture is majestic. I found it over here. Not sure about the photographer. I like the snow on the mountains and the trees. It makes me want to go sit by a warm fire (despite the fact that it's 80 degrees outside right now). A picture like this helps me get in the mood for writing. In book three, fall has come to Adro and by the end we'll be deep in winter.

*The photographer is Robert Schmalle, and the original can be found here.

I'm a real big fan of this picture. Of course I like the reflection and the forest, but what I'm particularly fond of is: this is much the vision that someone would have from a boat on the Adsea looking east toward South Pike Mountain. Found here, but as you can see the picture comes from Bay Photography.

Finally, something to make you feel insignificant. Stumbled upon this one in the usual place. It's incredible how tiny the buildings are in this. That water is just dumping on whole towns. I mean, I know it rains every week in many parts of the world, including mine, but to see it from this angle just really shows how incredible it is.

Weekly Inspiration 9/20/13