Sarah J. Maas
'A Court of Thorns and Roses,' big surprise, was inspired by music. By actually listening to the 'Princess Mononoke' soundtrack.
'A Court of Thorns and Roses' was actually inspired by three of my all-time-favorite fairy/folktales: 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' and 'Tam Lin.' I got the kernel of inspiration by wondering: 'What if 'Beauty' was a huntress?'
Don't let anyone shame you for what you read or what you love in general. Many people are gonna tell you not to do xyz things.
We find ourselves attached to fantasy worlds sometimes when it's hard to process what's going on in our world. It's reassuring to see the good winning.
The Wall on Shabbat was one of the coolest experiences, full of joy and energy. I left Israel overflowing with pride. It's a magical, welcoming place.
I've always been a huge fantasy fan. I was always interested in fairy tales and anything with magic or dragons... I was always drawn to those types of stories.
I got the idea for 'Throne of Glass' when I was sixteen. Music always inspires my books, and when I was listening to the 'Cinderella' soundtrack, I thought, 'What if Cinderella was actually an assassin who liked getting dressed up all pretty and going to the ball, but then she wouldn't mind kicking butt?'
Honestly, I think there's a cycle to the popularity of fantasy and fairytales that usually coincides with times of unrest or hardship in our own world. By retelling these legends or immersing ourselves in fantasy realms, we can safely explore the very real, very day-to-day darkness of our own lives.
I have to have music on when writing, or else the silence swallows me whole.
'Throne of Glass' readers tend to be passionate, talented, clever, and welcoming - in fact, I'm consistently moved by just how welcoming 'TOG' readers are to new fans.
As a massive fangirl myself, having people ship any of my characters is just beyond cool.
I don't think I'll ever stop being grateful to my readers for everything they've done for me.
My goals for myself have changed as my career has evolved and as I've grown as a writer.
Since my 'Crown of Midnight' tour in 2013, we've had such a rapid jump in audience numbers that we've had to move to bigger venues, cap events, and find new and creative ways to keep the line flowing while still allowing me the chance to chat with each person, which will always be very, very important to me.
I love fairy tale retellings and mash-ups.
Hearing that people read my books when they were sick, or that the books helped them find an escape when they were having a hard time... stuff like that makes all the hard work pay off.
You can't get any more epic than a lightsaber battle.
James Horner, James Newton Howard, John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Michael Giacchino, or Ramin Djawadi would all be a dream come true for a 'Throne of Glass' soundtrack.
I've always been online and available to my fans.
I think of myself as a fantasy writer.
Once I fall in love, finishing a story leaves a hole in my heart. The characters become your friends.
My parents told me any and every fairy-tale from all around the world. I usually gravitated towards ones with interesting, strong heroines.
You could be great. You could rattle the stars. You could do anything if only you dared.Collection: Stars
You could do anything, if only you dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That’s what scares you most.Collection: Scare
Libraries were full of ideas-perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.Collection: Powerful
Don't feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy.Collection: Joy
We all bear scars,... Mine just happen to be more visible than most.Collection: Bears
Words could be just as deadly as steel.Collection: Steel
No. I can survive well enough on my own— if given the proper reading material.Collection: Reading
Life isn't easy, no matter where you are. You'll make choices you think are right, and then suffer for them.Collection: Thinking
If you can learn to endure pain, you can survive anything. Some people learn to embrace it- to love it. Some endure it through drowning it in sorrow, or by making themselves forget. Others turn it into anger.Collection: Pain
Some things you hear with your ears. Others, you hear with your heart.Collection: Heart
What's the point in having a mind if you don't use it to make judgements?Collection: Judgement
We each survive in our own way.Collection: Way
Sometimes, the wicked will tell us things just to confuse us–to haunt our thoughts long after we've faced them.Collection: Long
Still, the image haunted his dreams throughout the night: a lovely girl gazing at the stars, and the stars who gazed back.Collection: Girl
She was the heir of ash and fire, and she would bow to no one.Collection: Inspiration
And then I am going to rattle the stars.Collection: Stars
We need hope, or else we cannot endure.Collection: Needs
The people you love are just weapons that will be used against you.Collection: People
I worry because I care. Gods help me, I know I shouldn't, but I do. So I will always tell you to be careful, because I will always care what happens.Collection: Love
You cannot pick and choose what parts of her to love.Collection: Picks
Names are not important. It's what lies inside of you that matters.Collection: Lying
The best lies were always mixed with truth.Collection: Lying
I'm sure I'll find some use for the dress before summer."Kavill nodded, and closed his thick ledger. "Do let me know if it causes anyone to faint-or start a riot."She laughed under her breath, and turned to go, stuffing her hands into her pockets and praying her fingers didn't fall off on the way home."Here," Kavill said, and she turned to find a pair of exquisite dove-gray suede gloves in his hands. "On the house. For many years of loyal patronage." His face bore its usual mask of polite calm and courtesy, but his brown eyes were bright. "And a gift-for a year spent without any gloves at all.Collection: Love
I was as unburdened as a piece of dandelion fluff, and he was the wind that stirred me about the world.Collection: Life
It would not take a monster to destroy a monster - but light, light to drive out darkness.Collection: Light
Pity those who don't feel anything at allCollection: Pity
I wish you to become who you were born to be. To become queen.Collection: Queens
I claim you, Rowan Whitethorn. I don't care what you say and how much you protest. I claim you as my friend.Collection: Care