Goodreads asked Mark Cushen:

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

Mark Cushen It started off as a short fairytale that was to be included in a larger collection. The basic premise was the standard "peasant boy saves the princess", but over time and multiple revisions and grew and expanded, to the point that the only similarity it shares with its origin is the name.
I drew inspiration and ideas from lots of sources. Such video games as The Legend of Zelda series, and Child of Light are big contributors, as is the stop-motion fantasy movie Kubo and the Two Strings. The biggest influence, however, is The Hobbit.

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