Where Do Ideas Come From? by Eliza Hampstead – Guest Post and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

That’s how The Nephilim’s Fate began. Before I had any concept of the world, the plot, or even the characters’ full backstories, I had this vivid scene in my mind. It was charged with chemistry, unspoken desire, and an insurmountable conflict between two people who clearly couldn’t be together. The scene was so compelling that it made me wonder, “Why can’t they be together? What’s stopping them?” That simple, burning question set the entire book into motion.

For The Nephilim’s Fate, that initial scene was the one where Alissia and Nate meet for the first time. There’s an undeniable pull between them, but they can’t act on it—something ancient and powerful stands in their way. That one moment made me ask myself a series of questions: Why can’t they kiss? What is this force keeping them apart? Why would it matter if they did? And just like that, the characters’ backgrounds and the world they lived in started to take shape.

I quickly realized that Nate had to be a Nephilim, a being part-angel, part-human. But what about Alissia? She felt like she needed to be a witch, someone who could balance Nate’s power with her own magic. But again, why could Nephilim and witches not be together? That’s when the idea of an ancient text came into play—a law forbidding their union. But why was that law created in the first place? Who wrote it, and what would happen if they defied it?

From those initial questions, an entire world was built, layer by layer. The history of the Nephilim, the witches, and their centuries-long feud unfolded before me. I created a conflict that went beyond just a forbidden romance—it became a battle of ancient magic, powerful prophecies, and a looming threat to both worlds.

I think that’s the beauty of starting with a spicy, tension-filled scene. It’s like a spark that ignites the whole creative process. You don’t need to have every detail figured out from the beginning. You just need that one intense moment, that one central conflict, that makes you curious enough to dig deeper, to ask yourself more questions. What started as a simple “Why can’t they kiss?” became a full-blown love story set in a world of magic, danger, and destiny.

Every writer’s process is different, but for me, ideas often come from exploring the emotional and physical tension between characters. Once that connection is there, the world and the plot start to build themselves. All it takes is a single scene—the right amount of conflict, desire, and intrigue—and suddenly, I’ve got an entire story in front of me, just waiting to be written.

She will find a way, even if it leads to a war between Heaven and Hell.

In the heart of London, Alissia’s ordinary life takes a thrilling turn when she is attacked by bloodthirsty vampires. When Nate, the man she dreamed about for years, swoops in to save her, her reality shatters as she discovers a shocking truth: she’s a witch, and he’s a Nephilim. But their love is cursed, forbidden by ancient laws that threaten to tear their world apart.

As old rivalries resurface and dark secrets come to light, Alissia and Nate must confront their deepest fears and fight for their love, even if it means igniting a war between Heaven and Hell.

With unforgettable characters, steamy romance, and gripping plot twists, this captivating new fantasy series by award-winning author Eliza Hampstead delves into a world of angels and demons, forbidden love, and the inexorable power of fate.

If you crave the intensity of Shadowhunters with an added dose of spice, don’t miss out on this spellbinding series!

Enjoy an Excerpt

Letting the magic come to me in the same way it had begun in the park, I smelled pine needles and mushrooms. At that moment, I wanted to push to get it deeper, but I forced myself to stay relaxed and let it flow through me while I told the plant how terrific it would be outside. Sun, water, and CO2 for photosynthesis, all were waiting for her if she would come out of the soil, and that my magic would help her grow faster, that she doesn’t have to wait any longer. The feeling of earth magic got stronger, and the inner picture before me was bathed in green. I said the words of the spell. After that, I focused again on the plant, imagining how the seed germinated, how the sprouting fought its way to the surface, how the seed leaves opened, sheeting the seed coat, and how the first leaves developed and opened.

Suddenly, I heard clapping. Losing my concentration, I opened my eyes. Umbra stood before me, a broad smile on her face.

“You did it!”

I frowned for a second before I looked down. The seedling stood before me, the seed coat next to it on the soil. Exactly how I had imagined it. I put my hand in front of my mouth, tears welling in my eyes.

“I did it. I did it!” I jumped up and down, clapping my hands. I was a real witch! I could do magic, after all! Full of joy, I embraced Umbra and circled her around while we both laughed.

About the Author: Award winning author Eliza Hampstead, a scientist by training, lives with her family in the UK. When she’s not writing, she spends her time as a geek. Playing all sorts of games (board games, video games, RPGs) and being a big fan of medieval history are only a few of the many hobbies she has. Passionate about fantasy, she’s always planning her next adventure.

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