Influences & Inspirations
The influences for Codex Sohrakia are many and varied. I have always been fascinated by duality. The Yin and Yang, the conflicted mind, the contentions and clashes between two individuals that are either closely related or two parts of one whole. From Ichigo Kurosaki and his Hollow Soul Zangetsu to the dichotomy of Goku and Vegeta (those characters being some of my favorites). I have found that I love playing with that trope, but I wanted to toy with it in my own fashion with Saham’a’iel and Sohrn’o’rak.
The classical Renaissance arts, as well as ancient statues of Rome and Greece, all lit a fire in me long before I had the concept for Codex Sohrakia. The faces, forms, and beauty of those incredible works play a large role in the shapes, forms, and beauty of my characters.
The surreal and eerie works of HP Lovecraft, the wildly creative worlds and pulp adventures of Edgar Rice Burroughs, and my favorite modern author, Brian Lumley—especially the Necroscope series—inspire and color my writing in nearly every aspect. Lumley’s style has greatly influenced mine. I aspire to achieve Lumley’s superb balance, clever and poetic descriptives, character development, emotion, and world-building. The dark and macabre nature of each of these authors’ works holds endless fascination for me.
Then, there are the massive inspirations of my author friends; RL Davis Hays, author of the incredible Books of Jorthus series, and Heather & Christopher Dumbar, authors of the wonderful Morrigan’s Brood series. Jeff Doten’s Weird Worlds is excellent, too.
Early inspiration for Saham’a’iel and Sohrn’o’rak came from watching James Purefoy as Mark Antony, as well as seeing his look as portrayed on the cover of the Doctor Who radio play CD for Dracula. As the two characters took form during the creative process, they became very much their own beings, though you will certainly feel the influence of James and his particular method of expression when you read them, especially as it comes through in Sohrn’o’rak.
Many varied and intensely vivid dreams and their most bizarre imagery also played a huge part in the development, the feel, and the descriptions of Codex Sohrakia. Some details, even scene descriptions, come directly from my dreams.
Thestora’s first meeting with Anu’ver’os was taken from a dream I had of interacting with the Egyptian god Anubis. In the dream, Anubis and I were dear friends, and to this day I can feel that dream and his energy as if I was actually in his presence…as if the dream happened only yesterday. I relayed much of the description of him directly from that dream.
The Sea of Ash was also taken directly from a dream I had. Its description, the surrounding shores, and the feelings Thestora experienced down to the smallest detail were pulled almost word-for-word from my dream journal. Many small details came either directly from dreams or from that mental state in those moments upon waking, when things flash into the mind. Most of the names used in the book popped into my head in the wee hours of the morning. -KM
Codex Sohrakia: The Gifted Dark Playlist
Inspiring songs, lyrics, and music that informed my writing for Codex Sohrakia, Book One. I will add more to this over time.