Influenced by Brave

Many people who read Shadow Fire compare main character Ashlyn to Katniss from The Hunger Games. Truth be told, I did not read The Hunger Games until after I'd finished the first draft of my manuscript. Right before I began my first round of revisions, I saw Brave. Merida and Ashlyn are very similar in so many ways: they're both fiery redheads, both are fantastic with a bow, they both love their families, and both have independent/adventurous personalities. Even after reading The Hunger Games I really don't see a similarity between Ashlyn and Katniss beyond the obvious: they both use a bow and both are chosen for something potentially deadly. The soundtrack from Brave also played an important part in both Shadow Fire & Stolen Moon. The Celtic theme fit my fantasy world so well. Most of Stolen Moon was written to the melodious Celtic strains.