I always say Beauty and the Beast is one of my 3 favorite films of all time (the Disney classic animation). Casablanca is my favorite film. I also love Newsies.

Beauty and the Beast had two major influences on the Herezoth trilogy, I think. The first was unconscious. It’s Belle’s “provincial town.”

Belle may hate where she lives, but I’ve always found her little village enchanting. And I think it influenced my image of Hogarane, Kora’s home village (“Hogar” means “home” in Spanish).

You don’t see much of Hogarane in book one, and what you see of it is during a tough time. But I think of it as a place where everyone knows and cares about each other. Where family matters. Where people work hard and stick together. It’s rustic and idyllic.

The other influence from Beauty and the Beast comes in books two and three, when you see a bit more of the Crystal Palace than in book one.

If you know me personally, you won’t be surprised that I’m talking about the palace library!

I’ve always been a bookworm. I’ve always connected with Belle as my favorite Disney princess. The Beast’s library took my breath away when I first saw it as a kid. When I envisioned a library for the Crystal Palace, I couldn’t help but base it on that beautiful room in my way–at least the wall to ceiling books!

What are your favorite movies, and what are the images you take from them?