Goodreads asked Ben Schafer:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Ben Schafer My debut novel, Son of Syria, was actually inspired by a bit of character development I did several years ago for another series I was working on. That series was ultimately discarded, but the character of Kyle Hoyek, Knight of the Order of St. Adrian, stuck out and I decided to make him the focus. I had a story outline ready describing Kyle's adventure in Syria which was serviceable but in hindsight was rather bland. Then the Syrian Civil War started. It was providential timing. Suddenly, I had the hook that I needed. The rest, as they say, is history.

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