How Mythology and History Shape My Writing

 

If you’ve been following me for a little while, you probably know that I have a background in history. I earned my BA in it, and I’ve always been drawn to mythology. Honestly, I don’t think I could separate the two even if I tried. Both have been shaping the way I see stories since before I ever thought about writing my own.

Why I Keep Coming Back to History

For me, history has never been just about memorizing dates or battles. It’s about people. Their struggles, their victories, and the little things they did just to get through the day. I love how every culture leaves behind clues about what mattered most to them, whether it’s a tradition, a political system, or even the kind of food they ate.

When I sit down to write, those details sneak into my worlds. I want readers to feel like the cultures in my books have roots, like they’ve been around for generations before the first page even begins.

My Obsession with Mythology

Then there’s mythology. This is where my imagination really runs wild. Myths were how ancient people explained the mysteries of life. It's how they explained why the thunder rolled, why crops failed, and why love and loss could feel like battles of their own.

I think that’s why I loved writing my Witch series so much. I loved weaving myth-like elements into their story. They give my fictional cultures a spiritual heartbeat. I ask myself: What do these people fear? What do they hope for? Who do they call on when they feel powerless? 

Blending the Old with the New

Now, I don’t just lift myths or historical events and drop them straight into my books. That would feel too on-the-nose. Instead, I treat them like seeds. 

Most of the time, readers won’t even recognize where those seeds come from, but they’ll feel the weight of them. They’ll sense the echoes of real history and old myths, even if they can’t name them. That’s the kind of texture I want in my stories. Worlds that feel bigger than the words on the page.

Why It Matters to Me

At the end of the day, drawing on history and mythology reminds me that storytelling is one of the oldest things we do as humans. Long before books, before writing itself, people gathered around fires and tried to explain the world with stories. Every time I write, I feel like I’m joining that same tradition, just adding my own voice to it.

And honestly? That’s a big part of why I love writing.