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.